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Goldenmane
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4964 Posts |
 Posted - 15 Apr 2014 : 5:41:24 PM
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| Blast, I still have bats (and keep my hair up now!) |
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garnet
Platinum Member
2382 Posts |
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Fee
Platinum Member
2601 Posts |
Posted - 15 Apr 2014 : 8:53:49 PM
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Mine arrived this afternoon! 
They've arrived two weeks earlier than last year. So love the swallows 
Fee
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pat day
Moderator
United Kingdom
5324 Posts |
Posted - 16 Apr 2014 : 6:06:31 PM
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Great News Folks.
Don't forget if you are lucky enough to have dry ground, please make sure they have some damp earth to do repairs or build new nests. |
       
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~TREASURES AT TEMPLEWOOD~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Ziadomira
Platinum Member
England
1635 Posts |
Posted - 16 Apr 2014 : 6:54:41 PM
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| Saw one two days ago a couple of miles away and at last one here all in South Gloucestershire |
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Quarabian
Platinum Member
Wales
4340 Posts |
Posted - 17 Apr 2014 : 09:32:07 AM
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It is obvious reading these posts that swallows lift our spirits. I am happy when they come home and sorry when they go to their winter home.
The ones I saw a few days ago didn't stay, just passing through. Still looking forward to the first residents. |
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sab2
Platinum Member
8467 Posts |
Posted - 17 Apr 2014 : 12:02:23 PM
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Your right Quarabian they do seem to lift our spirits, to me it means summers on the way, i love seeing them arrive back, another single arrived home last night, hope his/her mate arrives back too. Its always so quiet when they leave and i miss them chattering away on the stable beams. Fingers crossed yours arrive home soon  |
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Hillbilly
New Member
United Kingdom
19 Posts |
Posted - 22 Apr 2014 : 4:45:09 PM
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In Norfolk…ours arrived this afternoon….. well one of them…. I hope more to follow. We usually have about 3 or 4 pairs nesting in the sheds and stables and then lots more gathering on the electricity cables at various times. Feels lovely to see the first arrival!
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heathermcbreen
Platinum Member
England
2132 Posts |
Posted - 22 Apr 2014 : 5:04:27 PM
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| two of mine came back yesterday afternoon. Hooray !! |
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Faracat
Silver Member
270 Posts |
Posted - 22 Apr 2014 : 7:14:59 PM
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| We've had one pair here (Powys) for a few days, but we normally have three pairs nesting in the stables, I hope that the other two pairs turn up soon. |
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lulu
Gold Member
763 Posts |
Posted - 23 Apr 2014 : 10:28:28 AM
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| Nothing down here in Sussex so far but wonder if they have been put off by our buzzards which come very close to the stables. They didn't stay long last year. |
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Quarabian
Platinum Member
Wales
4340 Posts |
Posted - 24 Apr 2014 : 09:44:38 AM
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| I don't know if our swallows are in danger of the 'happy hunters' in Malta. They are killing songbirds as they fly over on their way to summer homes. Hats off to the people wh are protesting out there against the mindless killing, among them is Chris Packham. Thank you Chris for bringing this to our notice. I knew it happened, but didn't realise the scale of it. Seems very ubnfair that Maltese hunters get pleasure from killing what we get pleasure from seeing alive. Chris was on th radio reporting that he had picked up, of all things, a swift, which had been shot. |
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sab2
Platinum Member
8467 Posts |
Posted - 24 Apr 2014 : 11:24:18 AM
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| Hadn,t heard of this Quarabian, why are they killing them, please do not tell me its for pleasure . |
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Ari
Platinum Member
1657 Posts |
Posted - 26 Apr 2014 : 5:13:02 PM
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We had local "gamekeeper" go past today with crows in cages, very upsetting and don't know the reason but could well be something to do with them killing baby pheasants. Can't imagine any reason to kill tiny harmless songbirds other than idiotic pleasure in cruelty.
Meanwhile swallows in Bingley West Yorks are doing great, building nests and waking Yard Owner up happy with dawn singing.
Pat, I passed on your advice about damp earth but when it was dry the clever swallows were already onto it and using the morning stables routine of tipping leftover water down yard to run into field. |
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faymouse
Silver Member
United Kingdom
412 Posts |
Posted - 27 Apr 2014 : 5:59:42 PM
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My first pair arrived over a week ago and are busy repairing last years nest.. still waiting for my second pair even though they are in the tack room and poop over everything! old feed bags laid on surfaces is a good way to keep things relatively clean! |
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Quarabian
Platinum Member
Wales
4340 Posts |
Posted - 28 Apr 2014 : 08:48:50 AM
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Crows in cages could be to lure other crows. They used to do that with magpies so that others came close enough to be shot.
sorry off topic again. Still no swallows in the barns, but I think I might have seen some out on the hill. |
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lulu
Gold Member
763 Posts |
Posted - 28 Apr 2014 : 11:16:16 AM
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| After saying no swallows they appeared over the weekend and are repairing nest in my stable. |
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pat day
Moderator
United Kingdom
5324 Posts |
Posted - 29 Apr 2014 : 3:59:31 PM
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I am three pairs down at the moment.
This is very worrying.
Will keep you informed.
Two weeks ago a golden pheasant cock bird turned up on our lawn.
He is coming to feed on the ground feeders.
Quite tame, I can get really close, a yard or so, but just cannot catch him.
He has obviously escaped from somewhere for we do not have any wild ones around here.
Very worried about predators or getting run over on the lane.
He doesn't move away when cars are very close.
People that have seen him think he is a parrot at first glance.
Just something else to worry over!!
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~TREASURES AT TEMPLEWOOD~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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garnet
Platinum Member
2382 Posts |
Posted - 30 Apr 2014 : 7:53:45 PM
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| I know what you mean, Pat. I feel the same about 'my' blackbirds in the garden and frogs which next door cat tortures. All we can do is hope for the best! |
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Quarabian
Platinum Member
Wales
4340 Posts |
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sab2
Platinum Member
8467 Posts |
Posted - 01 May 2014 : 11:20:22 AM
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Quarabian   so pleased some are home.
My stables were singing last night well not singing but what a din, i always do a check on horses before bedtime and last night i went out popped light on and the Swallows started making such a din not sure if they were telling me off or not, i will try going out a bit earlier tonight and not putting the light on |
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Quarabian
Platinum Member
Wales
4340 Posts |
Posted - 02 May 2014 : 11:19:04 AM
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| They were telling you off sab2. The lights make them fly about at our farm, I have to leave them on until they have all settled again because i worry about them flying into something. |
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Ari
Platinum Member
1657 Posts |
Posted - 04 May 2014 : 8:52:58 PM
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| We have Swallows but only 5, usually I can't count there's so many. Could they still be on their way or has something gone wrong with weather or their food over winter. On a brighter note we have a pair of Robins |
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sab2
Platinum Member
8467 Posts |
Posted - 07 May 2014 : 10:31:03 AM
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| We have had another few turn up in the last few days, getting quite noisy and busy out there, you have to watch as you go into inside stables as they swoop down through the door and often make you duck The window pair have returned which is good as my OH and the chap that helps us in the garden were going to pull the nest down as its by the window and the poo falls down the window, but i overheard them talking and we fell out about it as i banned them from removing it and low and behold the pair have turned up yesterday , it was a new nest last year nd so pleased they are back |
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DianaSC
Bronze Member
Spain
184 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2014 : 3:11:37 PM
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There is a derelict house on land behind ours and the swallows used to nest there and fly over our land. When we had the stables built, I asked our builder to fix some half roof tiles high on the inside back wall. So, ready for Spring 2012, we had 4 little ledges, each with a dipped bit for a nest and a flat bit for Mum and Dad to perch. High up, out of the weather but easy access through the arches. Perfect for swallows, I thought.
Our local swallows never returned so they are still empty. I'm so disappointed, I think it's too late now. Oh well, there's always next Spring.
Our swallows are the ones who can't be  ed to fly all the way to the UK!
A pair of wagtails have nested on a ledge inside the chimney of our outdoor kitchen. So no barbecues there for a few months. |
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~~SWALLOWS~~
