Kitchen Garden Forum

Around the Sussex cliffs yesterday we spotted lots of swallows, and saw our first "V" formation of migrating birds heading south across the Channel.

Isn't this rather late for both swallows and migrating birds? Normally we expect to see the last of them much earlier at the beginning of September.

I tool a pic of some swallows on the wires on Sunday seemed awfully late to me too, but then we have crab apple and quince on there second flowering seasons gone to pot

They must have come over us next Gilly. The fine afternoons last week we were seeing probably over 50 swallows an hour going North to South. We live on the original Western Roman road over the Forest of Bowland so they must have agreed with the swallows on the best route.

Two swallows flew over our house on Monday, heading southwestwards. It's the latest I have ever seen them, but others have seen swallows around here into November in previous years. So, I suppose, there are always stragglers.

Our spring roses have just flowered for the third time this year, so it's definitely an odd one!

Hi Primrose,
Swallows have been flying over in dribs and drabs for several days now and this happens every year.
We have been muck spreading this week and the Swallows have been coming down and quartering for a morsel or so and continuing on their journey.
Yesterday it was Skylarks and they were going over in droves. They are probably the ones that have been in Scotland and are simply flying to the warmer climbs of the south for the winter. With Skylarks some migrate and others stay. Jays are in great evidence at present here as are Ravens who seem to be in greater numbers than of previous years.
Jackdaws have put in a good appearance and have been absent from the scene for several years. A very pleasant country sound. A couple of pairs of Sparrows have appeared since 'Deluge Friday' when they all mysteriously disappeared. I have yet to see any Merlins but they should appear shortly.
JB.