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Post by rowanberry on Sept 19, 2015 20:38:44 GMT
Yesterday we were out in the playing fields near the house, when I realised there seemed to be a lot of small-ish birds flying about and skimming along near the ground where the grass had been recently cut. Not sure if they were swallows or martins, we decided to watch for awhile to see if we could see one close enough to be sure... and then more and more of them started to appear until there had to have been upwards of about 60 or 70 of birds altogether... it looked like a swarm of very large bees darting back and forth across the fields. They gradually started to fly higher and higher, moving up away until they vanished out of sight. I'm guessing this was a flock of them gathering prior to their migration- I've never seen so many of them in one place together like that. We finally decided that they were definitely martins, (tails weren't long enough, and they were white underneath) and it was an extraordinary sight... if we'd been fifteen minutes later we would have missed them.
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Post by aeshna5 on Sept 20, 2015 4:53:31 GMT
Large numbers of both Swallows + House Martins were reported from various sites across London yesterday,especially of the former species. Most days this past week I've noticed small numbers of Swallows passing over wherever I've been. Shall see what happens on my local patch when I'm there in an hour's time!
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Post by alf1951 on Sept 20, 2015 14:08:03 GMT
Not seen a House Martin locally for a few weeks and a couple of weeks ago I realised I hadn't seen a swallow either for some days - guessed they were congregating somewhere ready to leave. Then, one evening last week about 30-40 swallows appeared overhead heading South - they're on their way I thought. Next day a similar number appeared - but this time heading North! Seems a bit early but I guess they'll soon be gone for another year.
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Post by aeshna5 on Sept 20, 2015 16:53:51 GMT
Had just over 20 Swallows pass over my patch once the heavy mist cleared this morning but didn't see any martins.
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Post by tigertom on Sept 20, 2015 18:44:56 GMT
Lots of swallows moving though Cheshire today (Frodsham marsh) some House Martins Too, still a lot of martins locally with young still in the nest so not expecting them to move on just yet
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Post by grumpyaudeman on Sept 20, 2015 21:37:37 GMT
Hi Here in the Aude (I am a hour from the med) France they have been congregating and also appear on the move in great numbers P8140004 Large by Wabi Gallery, on Flickr
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Post by htcdude on Sept 22, 2015 9:45:42 GMT
Still numbers moving through yesterday. Seems like they'll all be gone soon! No we just wait for the ducks to arrive Nige
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Post by shirl100 on Sept 25, 2015 15:15:53 GMT
Saw 4 Swallows feeding this morning near Middleton by Wirksworth as if they had only just arrived, they don't seem in a hurry to head off just yet.
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Post by NellyDee on Sept 27, 2015 12:46:22 GMT
Saw various little groups of swallows feeding over newly cut hay fields en route between Crianlarich and Stirling yesterday, did not look as if their were ready to leave.
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