Sign of Summer ?

It certainly doesn't feel like it, but like it or not the Swallows and Martins are on the river. I saw the Martins last week, but the Swallows only arrived to my knowledge in the past few days. 

This is the usual time for them but that Arctic air is chilling ! 

Trying to get a shot of Swallows in flight is pretty difficult,  homing in on one then trying to keep pace while pressing the shutter is really the only hope.

The Beauty Of Birds

Some shots I took earlier this year of other beautiful but common birds. The song Thrush - not as common as it used to be.

Then this Starling who likes to nest in the cooker hood vent of one of the harbour street houses, and 2 Swallows gathering nesting material. 

Weekend Look Back 2 - Swallows Arcade

Harbour Street Arcade is being demolished to make way for new flats, sadly this is the end of a Swallows nest site too. Last year I noticed Swallows going in and out of the Arcade entrance canopy, and was delighted to see some beautiful chicks peering down at me when I looked up. This year they started to build there again, but I think the cold weather and lack of insects drove them back south for a while. It was the closest I have ever witnessed Swallows nesting.

Swallows

I suppose there is one way to avoid the council wreckers, build your nest off the ground and up a building. This afternoon I discovered a swallows nest with at least 4 young birds in a most unlikely spot - which I may reveal at a later date. Swallows are fabulous birds and a joy to watch, their epic Africa flights every year always catch the imagination too. The Sand Martins also seem to have re-emerged after the demise of the Mink, I have seen several coming out of the old river pipeworks lately. I am still annoyed at the council destruction of the bramble bushes along the riverside, they were used constantly by the sparrows and finches too, we need more of these bushes not less!