Swifts have been on my street in Aberdeen for about ten days now but the numbers are still quite low as far as I can tell. Once they're in I'd normally expect to see groups of 10-15 in the evening but I'm just seeing 5 or 6 at the moment.
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Swifts have arrived (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Euan Buchan
- Start date
rockfowl
Mark Andrews
Same here in terms of numbers, and only arrived on Friday.
JWN Andrewes
Poor Judge of Pasta.
Plenty here, have been for at least a week.
rockfowl
Mark Andrews
Ours are still not back, only four cruising around this evening. There has obviously been a problem, how severe a crash we won't know unless folk submit data.
I've still got very few Swallow, no locally breeding House Martin returns and species such as Common Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler etc also are notably lower locally this year.
I've still got very few Swallow, no locally breeding House Martin returns and species such as Common Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler etc also are notably lower locally this year.
Monahawk
Well-known member
Numbers are well down on past years here in this part of Ireland. Although I saw my first on the last week of April as is usual, mostly there are just single birds or couples. A place were I work in Co. Monaghan was once an old workhouse. Each year it is teaming with swifts even at this time of year. So far I have counted just two.
Swallow and house martin numbers are also down and I have yet to see a sand martin this year, even in areas where I normally see them. They are absent.
What has gone wrong?
Si
Swallow and house martin numbers are also down and I have yet to see a sand martin this year, even in areas where I normally see them. They are absent.
What has gone wrong?
Si
rockfowl
Mark Andrews
Worrying - https://twitter.com/SaveourSwifts
There seem to be more on my street this evening. Prior to today the most I'd seen had been 7 but there are at least 13 around at the moment. That's a bit closer to a normal number at an evening gathering early in the season. Odd that their arrival has been so gradual, as they normally tend to come in en masse.
lewis20126
Well-known member
Around 8 screaming over my road in Basingstoke today, with at least one pair in my loft, very vocal under the eves - great to have them back; will wait a few weeks to see how many pairs I have, have been up to three.
cheers, alan
cheers, alan
Farnboro John
Well-known member
Still haven't had any on breeding buildings at work, hirundines still well down. Haven't been into the countryside to judge Whitethroats etc this week. Fingers crossed.
John
John
Andy Adcock
Worst person on Birdforum
On a home visit to Nottingham and seeing what I think are the same 2 birds, very, very few here, no Housemartins either.
No Greenfinches either but loads of Goldfinches..
A
No Greenfinches either but loads of Goldfinches..
A
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I saw my first ones yesterday.
Five flying above the town. Lovely to see.
Five flying above the town. Lovely to see.
Saw some Swifts this morning screeching away.
