At Last! Barn Swallows arriving at Mount Moreland
In view of our South African barn swallows seeming to
arrive a little late the comment from Blackawton, Devon, UK I received from friends is somewhat
contradictory. Maybe they dallied on their way knowing about our drought which seemed to
affect a large area of the country and would, of course, have affected the insect
food.
Marion Pratt reports on the English swallow season:-
Here is this year's data on the birds.
18th April House martins start arriving all here about a week later.
21st April Swallows arrive
13th May Swifts arrive
End August Swifts left
1st week Sept swallows left
Mid Sept majority House Martins left. We still have a few late leavers. There is
one pair in the village with unfledged chicks in the nest. This is very unusual.
The birds arrived a little late this year and most have left earlier than
usual.
For Mt Moreland our previous date for arrival has been 20
September but this year they were decidedly late. Interestingly having now had a little rain
here, in Mt Moreland, last week and now again, yesterday and today, the swallows are finally
beginning to appear in increasing numbers. Quite a few flitting in the grey skies last
night - 4 October. It is looking hopeful for the end of October swallow numbers become watchable and
our swallow season begins in earnest. .
NB: We have to add that we do not know where the English flocks go to in South Africa
so far in Mt Moreland we have recaptures leading us to Finland and Ukraine. It will be interesting to see
if we a lucky enough to again net ringed swallows and find out their country origin.
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