The Swallows Are Back…
Marking The Official Start Of Spring!
Since moving into this house twelve years ago, every year without fail, we have been lucky enough to have swallows nest on our balcony. Some years we have two lots of swallows trusting us enough to rear their young literally meters from us and our dogs.
And every year I still get as excited about it as the first year. We watch the swallows rebuild their old nests, lay their eggs and rear their young. Most years they have two lots of young and even after the first brood have flown the nest they still continue to congregate with their family on the wires.
If you look closely you’ll see two dots on the lines…That’s the closest shot I could get today!
This Morning…
I was heading out the door for a run (you can read here about how I’d gotten lazy) when I happened to glance up and see a swallow on the line that runs from our house. They are very trusting little birds and will spend hours just meters from us and it’s not unusual for them to fly into the house in the summer (just for a nosey round I suspect!).
The swallows are not adverse to roosting in the children’s room for the night (old picture).
I have been expecting them back for a few weeks now. We’ve had them return as early as the end of February; this year they are late as I had not seen any sign of any of the little birds until now.
Just seeing the swallow made my spirits lift, I ran back into the house to grab my camera….And the little bugger, flew off, ducking and diving, seemingly happy to be back. It was then I spotted it’s partner…How do I know it was it’s partner? I could tell, they sort of flirt with each other, dancing on the wing.
Seeing the two of them made me happier still, as often one arrives back and is alone for a couple of days. My guessing is that sometimes it’s partner never makes it back from Africa (something like a 6000 mile journey).
The Neighbours And My Family…
Now know what they have suspected for a long time to be true.
I have spent the day stealthily creeping round the garden or lying in wait on the roof armed with the camera, in the hope of getting the first close up of the year…But no. hat wasn’t going to happen today.
They did land briefly on the basket ball hoop a couple for times, but before I could click the button on the camera they flew off laughing…How do I know they were laughing?…I could just tell!
My jammy daughter managed to get this picture though…
I couldn’t not give her credit for it… Well, I could, but she’s bigger than me…
Just Seeing And Hearing The Swallows…
Every morning will brighten my day. I love nothing more during the summer, than to go out into the garden and be greeted by chattering swallows. Sitting and drinking a coffee whilst watching them go about there daily chores is a real stress reliever.
They make me laugh. They make me smile and I am full of admiration for these plucky little birds.
One Final Picture…
Last summer these baby swallows decided that the light fitting looked more comfortable than the nest and settled there for the night. I even managed to get some of it on video…
Are you lucky enough to get any annual visitors?
© 2015 – 2018, Debbie. All rights reserved.
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