How lovely JonesK. You're doing a grand job of parenting
I work at a stable so we have loads of old buildings and swallows have been nesting there as long as I can remember - which is well over forty years. You can't help smiling when you see them
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
It really is amazing they flew all the way from Africa to use my little old shed. The problem is they have nested on the plastic strip of my fluorescent strobe light. It's fine now as I don't need to turn it on but I don't want to start a fire in the winter!!! I'll post a pic to this thread when I get a chance without disturbing the adults too much and get your advice on whether I might have to take down the nest when they have migrated in the Autumn.
Northern Lass - where do you live!!!?? The Swallow population is certainly doing well near you!!
Fairy girl - I'm an ex rider myself, I put my mare on loan when I went to university, since then I've had 2 daughters (the eldest is 2 and pony mad already!!) I'm hoping to get back into riding again when the girls are a little older, do you have horses yourself?
Jo and Dove - thank you!!! will keep the updates coming, it's nice to know that others are on my wavelength (my husband thinks I'm a bit loopy that I freak out at the repeated 'non-emergency' trips into the shed!!!)
It was my job JonesK - for twenty years before I had my girls. We had competition horses and ponies. I now work in a different part of the organisation - we make rosettes for events all over the country and further afield too
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Ahhh! Makes me moist of eye to think of these beautiful birds flying thousands of miles every year and finding their way back to the same place to raise the next generation. Nature is so amazing Do let us know how they get on!
"Northern Lass - where do you live!!!?? The Swallow population is certainly doing well near you!!
Fairy girl - I'm an ex rider myself, I put my mare on loan when I went to university, since then I've had 2 daughters (the eldest is 2 and pony mad already!!) I'm hoping to get back into riding again when the girls are a little older, do you have horses yourself?"
North Northumberland. (see my profile) We have an equestrian centre too Our house has snow boards and large overhang which makes it perfect for those birds and we've loads of outbuildings too. Obviously there's a good food chain for them.
Just been out and taken this now so you can see what I mean by we've got hundreds !
Gorgeous pic Northern Lass, not sure if I'm more shocked at the amount of birds or the blue sky - been miserably raining all day here in North Wales! ... and another nature loving, gardening equestrian!! I guess the 3 go hand in hand.
Despite cats sniffing round and crows taking an interest I went into the shed this morning and a flurry of birds flew out!!!! They are circling overhead supervised by their noisy anxious parents as I type. So pleased I really was starting to worry as more and more potential predators had begun to eye things up.
Well I guess that was the easy bit!!! I read very few swallows fledglings make it through their first year. Hoping I see a return next year.
Off to clear up the pile of dropping they left and hopefully reclaim my shed
Posts
Thank you Jonesk - how lovely
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Well done with your birds. I love to see them.
We've ever such a lot of swallows, swifts and house martins.
I've more than 70 nests round the house and a lot more besides on every outbuilding we have.
How lovely JonesK. You're doing a grand job of parenting
I work at a stable so we have loads of old buildings and swallows have been nesting there as long as I can remember - which is well over forty years. You can't help smiling when you see them
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thank you guys - I do feel a little proud!!!
It really is amazing they flew all the way from Africa to use my little old shed. The problem is they have nested on the plastic strip of my fluorescent strobe light. It's fine now as I don't need to turn it on but I don't want to start a fire in the winter!!! I'll post a pic to this thread when I get a chance without disturbing the adults too much and get your advice on whether I might have to take down the nest when they have migrated in the Autumn.
Northern Lass - where do you live!!!?? The Swallow population is certainly doing well near you!!
Fairy girl - I'm an ex rider myself, I put my mare on loan when I went to university, since then I've had 2 daughters (the eldest is 2 and pony mad already!!) I'm hoping to get back into riding again when the girls are a little older, do you have horses yourself?
Jo and Dove - thank you!!! will keep the updates coming, it's nice to know that others are on my wavelength (my husband thinks I'm a bit loopy that I freak out at the repeated 'non-emergency' trips into the shed!!!)
It was my job JonesK - for twenty years before I had my girls. We had competition horses and ponies. I now work in a different part of the organisation - we make rosettes for events all over the country and further afield too
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Ahhh! Makes me moist of eye to think of these beautiful birds flying thousands of miles every year and finding their way back to the same place to raise the next generation. Nature is so amazing
Do let us know how they get on!
"Northern Lass - where do you live!!!?? The Swallow population is certainly doing well near you!!
Fairy girl - I'm an ex rider myself, I put my mare on loan when I went to university, since then I've had 2 daughters (the eldest is 2 and pony mad already!!) I'm hoping to get back into riding again when the girls are a little older, do you have horses yourself?"
North Northumberland. (see my profile) We have an equestrian centre too
Our house has snow boards and large overhang which makes it perfect for those birds and we've loads of outbuildings too. Obviously there's a good food chain for them.
Just been out and taken this now so you can see what I mean by we've got hundreds !
Gorgeous pic Northern Lass, not sure if I'm more shocked at the amount of birds or the blue sky - been miserably raining all day here in North Wales! ... and another nature loving, gardening equestrian!! I guess the 3 go hand in hand.
No updates today - too wet to venture out
They fledged!!!
Despite cats sniffing round and crows taking an interest I went into the shed this morning and a flurry of birds flew out!!!! They are circling overhead supervised by their noisy anxious parents as I type. So pleased I really was starting to worry as more and more potential predators had begun to eye things up.
Well I guess that was the easy bit!!! I read very few swallows fledglings make it through their first year. Hoping I see a return next year.
Off to clear up the pile of dropping they left and hopefully reclaim my shed