I saw my first Swift of the year this morning at Stanwick Lakes. In fact it was my earliest record there since I started using Birdtrack in 2005. Spring really has arrived when the Swifts are back – although it was just the one for me this morning! And I still haven’t seen a House Martin. But I also recorded my first Garden Warbler of 2018 so a good morning. Every day offers the promise of something else that is new. What will it be tomorrow?
| 2005 | 24 April |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 11 May |
| 2007 | 28 April |
| 2008 | 26 April |
| 2009 | 9 May |
| 2010 | 1 May |
| 2011 | 29 April |
| 2012 | 26 April |
| 2013 | 27 April |
| 2014 | 5 May |
| 2015 | abroad |
| 2016 | 25 April |
| 2017 | abroad |
| 2018 | 23 April |
House Martins have arrived here in North Ayrshire slightly later than I would normally expect and, so far, in fewer numbers.
Danny – I’m glad they have got to you.
House Martins arrived back at my home in Lincolnshire yesterday and have been busy investigating last years nests
Eric
Eric – that’s good!
Remarkably, one was back inside a Bristol nest box, watched by a web cam, over the night of 20/21 April…..it left at 8 am the following morning.
UK Swift Awareness Week runs from 16-23 June this summer and there will be a guest blog post about it here on Mark’s blog nearer the time.
If you want to find out more or see what’s happening the details are on the excellent Action for Swifts blog.