The Arrival of the Long-Distance Migrants to No 7
Wonderful image of recently fledged Swallows: Photo Alan Smith
You will probably remember that in the spring of 2022 we witnessed the arrival of a pair of Swallows to our back door area where they set up camp and made the remarkable construction of a nest from mud pellets collected from the mud on the shore.
I am very happy to report that they have once again returned. After much chattering between the two birds in restoring the bond between them, having probably never seen each other since last year, they soon started the spring clean and refurbishment of the nest that housed 4 offspring last year. It didn’t take long before Mrs Swallow settled down to the laying of four eggs. We again took the decision to keep the door between the two yards closed for the duration of incubation.
The nest and recently hatched chicks: Photo Alan Smith
After approximately 18 days the young had hatched and after a further week I re opened the door gradually to see once again four smiley faces appearing from the nest, we then left the door open to allow the new arrivals to view a little more of the world they will later explore and also it allowed both parents to fly in from both directions to feed.
Feeding the growing chicks: Photo Alan Smith
The rapidly maturing chicks: Photo Alan Smith
We witnessed the rapid growth of the youngsters and after another ten days the nest was positively bulging with four very healthy young Swallows stood on the edge of the nest exercising their wings and standing on each other doing the same thing.
‘Please make room for me’: Photo Alan Smith
Soon after they had fledged, they were spending quite some time perched on a nearby basket being fed constantly - but all piling back in to the nest at night time. Whereby, and as I had done each evening, closing the door quietly to reduce the chance of predation in this instance Stoat or Magpie.
Out of the nest but still being fed: Photo Alan Smith
They have now dispersed but the parents for reasons they only know have built another nest a little distance away, the chicks have just hatched and she is beginning to feed clutch number two, you can just see beak number two behind the feather, I don’t yet know how many there are in the second brood.
Feeding the new born second clutch: Photo Alan Smith
Mum takes a well-deserved break: Photo by Alan Smith
Once again let us marvel at these incredible happenings that within the space of twelve months after traveling in excess of 15 to 18,000 miles we have witnessed the arrival of 8 newcomers to the species with more on the way.
Here at Sunderland Point we have our own Serengeti, enjoy it.
Postcript
Alan has added an update, “I have now determined there are another four youngsters hatched in the new nest to this amazing pair of Swallows. Mum and dad are on a continuous feeding run despite the adverse weather for catching insects.”
The feeding run: Photo Alan Smith
Hungry chicks: Photo Alan Smith