Just wondering whether people elsewhere in the country have noticed a dramatic decrease in swallow numbers this year. Usually we are inundated with them, lots of nests in the stables and barns but we've only had one nest this year. Possibly slightly fewer swifts as well. Have they moved elsewhere to nest? Is this a weather/climate change thingy here or are they being hit during the winter in Africa.
(one tends to muse about these thing sitting out in the garden with a drink, pondering the dried up lawn and wondering if it's going to rain properly in the forseeable future :roll: :roll:)
we had one pair last year, and have two pairs this year.
There are the usual 5 or 6 pairs at the hotel.
Pretty much "normal" numbers of martins and swifts.
I've seen plenty of sand martins and swallows, but I think house martins and swifts have been less abundant. My casual observations make it difficult to know if this is a real decline though.
Yes this was covered on BBC's Springwatch a few weeks ago - though I've forgotten the reason! It was weather related, I can;t remember if it was the cold winter or more to do with the higher altitude wind streams.