Blacksmith's Barn Swallows

By Peter John

Today I travelled to a farm where a skilled engineer blacksmith runs his farm plus most interesting workshop. He showed me the unusual places within these premises that Barn Swallows have chosen to build their nests. They have the whole farm buildings spoilt for choice, but no they wana be where you are.

This is the view swallows have entering blacksmiths out building attached to the working farm.


Picture shows swallows nest now deep in premises. Nest situated low on a steel beam. I watched the swallows flying from this nest feeding young.

View of nest entrance, the nest is within a store room and the owner leaves the door ajar so the Barn Swallows can enter and exit without hindrance. 

Another swallows nest at farm of the more conventional type

This is the view of the farm from the boating club. There is a large river below flags where lots of swallows skim for insects etc Had to say that as one might think where's the boats. Tides out river low. Hidden boats.