The Return of the Swallows
Swallows 2023
In July and August of last year Alan provided a vivid account and some amazing photographs of a family of Swallows who built nests and raised families at number seven. It will be remembered the second brood was attacked by a predator which Alan believed to have been a Sparrowhawk.
The Sparrowhawk
Alan has kindly picked up his pen and provided an update for 2024
The Return Once Again of the Long Distant Migrants
After last year’s sad misfortune when one of the parent swallows was killed by a predator (I thought Sparrowhawk but I now suspect Stoat) along with three young we didn’t know whether anyone would return to the nest site in 2024.
In anticipation of a return, I checked the first nest they used in 2022 and 2023 during late winter to check the condition and sure enough the dried mud pellets crumbled through my fingers; reason enough I thought for moving to another nest site nearby. I fitted a new fine meshed wire base for the construction of a new nest and placed some thin strips of wood in the bottom.
Late April and one Swallow arrived on the telephone wires and started to fly around the yard, joined a few days later by a mate. In the early days of May the new nest base was being checked over, I found one of the small strips of wood on the floor and placed it back, I did this three times thinking the wind had dislodged it but soon realised that it was not required by the new occupants so stopped interfering.
Eventually one bird - presumably the female - was seen sitting on the nest, however I noted how nervous she was and the slightest noise opening the back door and she would leave the nest. This had not been witnessed in previous years and was an indication that the female was his new mate and the swallow killed last year was the female. With the back door usage cut to a minimum four hatched and four fledged without me causing possible upset by not getting any photographs!
Just like last year, for a second brood the pair used the other nest site where the predation took place, happily, four healthy youngsters appeared and all fledged safely. Due to the nest being a safe distance away I managed to get some shots without causing distress to any member of the family.
Four young in the nest, recently hatched
Ready to be fed
Close-up of feeding time
Back again - hungry chicks
Here you go.
Amusingly they were reluctant to leave the nest on a permanent basis with them all piling back in early evening and during a horrible wet miserable day last week they stayed in all day. Even two weeks after fledging they still continued to return to the nest each evening.
God speed all you little ones on your forthcoming marathon journey.
And finally -
The Swallows 2024. (One of Alan’s very best photographs)
As we wrote last week, Rosemary Thacker (nee Taylor) has generously taken the time to write a very interesting account of her Grandfather George Armstrong and his family in the cottage they knew as ‘Brachium Forte’ , now number 19. This article will be published next time…
As a child Rosemary spent holidays over a number years at the Point and has kindly sent us many wonderful photos, we asked Alan to help with identification. In this one he recognised himself. Here he is with Rosemary and her sister Gill. Taken not that long ago…
Rosemary and Alan sitting on the edge of the Pad in front of the garden door to Dolphin House, Rosemary’s sister Gill in front with unknown child. Perhaps 1952.