THE FIRST SWALLOW HAS BEEN SPOTTED

For the second successive year I spotted the first swallow swooping around the house and garden on April 7^th.

It means they’re returning a full two weeks earlier compared to in 2015.

The current dates, since 2014, are:

2014 – 19^th April

2015 – 21^st April

2016 – 10^th April

2017 – 8^th April

2018 – 7^th April

2019 – 7^th April

I could go on endlessly about these birds, but for me they are my favourite bar none.

I think it goes back to growing up on a farm in Wales and having them nest every year in the outbuildings, often rescuing a chick that had fallen out of a nest.

They are graceful while airborne and close up, if you can catch them staying still for long enough, the colours are breathtakingly beautiful.

I’m hoping to get more glimpses of them over Easter weekend, and see just how many have returned.

A pair of great tits have been marking out the main nest box as theirs this year, including singing very loudly from 5am every morning by the bedroom window and regularly occupying the trees and bushes around the garden warning each other when we’re in the garden.

I’ve not seen any nesting activity, but hopefully Easter will again reveal evidence.

Finally, the pond and the area around it are really brightening up in the warming spring air, well maybe the sunny conditions with warming up starting about now.

It’s great to see the pond back and looking so good, and it means the girls can uncover more facts about wildlife in the garden and pond.

Luckily both are very happy to learn and take in the new flowers, birds and insects the garden and pond attracts.