First Chiffchaff

[Kleiber]

Report from up this mountain - Just heard my first chiffchaff of the year, in the back field. Where are the swallows?

[chaptazbru]

I have only seen one swallow so far this year - quite late isn't it ?

[Kleiber]

Yes, chaptazbru, mine are usually back late March/early April and the chiffchaff was back in March last year. Even the cuckoo was around on 24th April (I made a note!). Still, the weather's improving and more birds are coming in every day, so hopefully my stable will soon have its feathered residents back!

[chaptazbru]

Hope so ....

[julia-mag]

oh Kleiber do you get owls in your stable? I love them!

[Kleiber]

No owls in the stable, julia-mag, but they are about. Loads of tawny owls and I have seen barn owls around late at night, but not for a while, unfortunately. They were nesting for years in the attic of the holiday cottage (almost) next door, but then the owners decided to do a "re-furb" and the owls moved on.