17/4/15 & 18/4/15 Saw my first swallows over Daisy Nook country park- Oldham/ashton under Lyne border
Neil Ferguson said
Fri Apr 17 6:50 PM, 2015
Saw my first Swallow earlier tonight at the Garswood Landfill site.
Carl Fletcher-Poole said
Wed Apr 15 3:07 PM, 2015
Sorry Ian, yes Wood Warblers maybe texting shortened words has finally drove me insane!! Anyways, both warblers there again today with a pair of Reed Bunting and a couple of Bullfinch. Really is a nice place to go, but stay away at weekends as far to busy.
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Apr 15 9:28 AM, 2015
Carl Fletcher-Poole wrote:
I have seen a lot of Willow Warblers and Wood
...and Wood Warblers?
Carl Fletcher-Poole said
Wed Apr 15 9:14 AM, 2015
Jamie, not sure of your location but in Boothstown at the bottom of Vickers Hall Lane along the Bridgewater Canal I have seen a lot of Willow Warblers and Wood. if your not far from there, its well worth a visit. Hope this helps.
Doc Brewster said
Mon Apr 13 10:37 PM, 2015
Saw my first two at Marbury CP on 21st March & being seen daily now. Quite a few dropped in to the huge Sand Martin gathering yesterday morning and brought a couple of House Martins with them. Marbury CP is always a magnet for hiirundines
JamieDunning said
Mon Apr 13 10:35 PM, 2015
This thread should be 'where have all the willow warblers gone' as far as me and my notebook are concerned so far this year.
Neil Ferguson said
Mon Apr 13 9:34 PM, 2015
Another year and no Swallows seen anywhere yet.
I was up in the Lakes at the Weekend. Not a sign up there either.
I always consider Spring has arrived by the sight of my first Swallow.
-- Edited by Neil Ferguson on Monday 13th of April 2015 09:34:53 PM
Simon Johnson said
Sun Aug 10 10:37 PM, 2014
I had an estimated 5000 at Heaton park today in the heavy rain never seen so many. Loads of young birds and also a partially leucistic bird!
-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Sunday 10th of August 2014 10:38:20 PM
JOHN TYMON said
Sun Aug 10 9:15 PM, 2014
Neil Ferguson wrote:
Street Swallows have gone again already this year.
They must be on penny, as there's bloomin hundreds there today .I think its been the best year for a long time for successful swallow breeding :) plenty young uns about :)
Neil Ferguson said
Sun Aug 10 8:15 PM, 2014
Street Swallows have gone again already this year.
Neil Ferguson said
Sat Jun 28 12:47 PM, 2014
Lots better this year.
Came home from work on Wednesday and watched 4 Swallow fledglings sat on the apex of the roof opposite being fed by Mum & Dad !!!!
M Gannon said
Sat Apr 26 9:09 PM, 2014
6 Swallows flew over my house today at noon, and then 2 more at around 5:30pm. They nested in my neighbour's porch last year; hopefully they will do so again this year
Andy Bissitt said
Sat Apr 26 8:52 PM, 2014
Better news. A pair was at Hyde's Farm, Woodley this afternoon another site with permanent residence, this time for over twenty years. Another (or the same?) pair were zooming around the back of Sunfield estate, Romiley, about 45 mins later, so at least some are back although I'm inclined to think things are not quite right out there. Yet.
-- Edited by Andy Bissitt on Saturday 26th of April 2014 08:52:48 PM
Andy Bissitt said
Fri Apr 25 8:29 PM, 2014
I've been looking out for the pair that has nested just outside the county in Poynton which I have noted every year on my daily drive to work. This is the eleventh summer. They're not yet here.
Neil Ferguson said
Tue Apr 22 3:58 PM, 2014
One of my street Swallows has arrived today as well.
Neil Ferguson said
Mon Apr 21 8:26 PM, 2014
Neil Ferguson wrote:
Still no signs in Highfield.
Delighted to report siting 3 Swallows over the farmers fields near Brook Lane Highfield this afternoon.
Neil Ferguson said
Fri Apr 18 10:43 AM, 2014
Still no signs in Highfield.
Andy Bissitt said
Thu Apr 17 8:58 PM, 2014
I must say that things do look a bit worrying up to now. Let's hope that this weekend sees a lot more coming back to places where they are currently missing from.
Jon Bowen said
Tue Apr 15 9:19 PM, 2014
a good dash of swallows on my route home from Southport to Horwich with singles and doubles starting with a fly past as I left work and finishing with two flying over the house as I got home. All told 20 birds seen in a 23 mile journey home
Tim Wilcox said
Mon Apr 14 8:53 PM, 2014
10 flew low over Altrincham ETW yesterday am Seen w Tony Darby. They kept going NW in what was at the time murky and cold conditions
Keith Mills said
Sun Apr 13 11:03 PM, 2014
Swallows at Martin Mere this midday, over the reed bed; albeit my first this year.
Neil Ferguson said
Sun Apr 13 5:58 PM, 2014
Well I've been down to Wembley and Woking and back this weekend.
Not seen a single Swallow or Martin anywhere.
Great numbers of Red Kites and Buzzards patrolling the M40 corridor in Oxfordshire and Bucks though. Fantastic to see so many Kites.
Austin Morley said
Fri Apr 11 9:41 AM, 2014
I had one yesterday late afternoon in Golborn/Abram near that sofa distribution centre happily sitting on the telegraph wires
Paul Wilson said
Fri Apr 11 12:22 AM, 2014
Neil Ferguson wrote:
Hello
Has anyone seen any Swallows so far this year?
None at all so far in my part of Wigan.
Saw my first this year on 21 March at Marshside. First at Elton was reported on 1 April I think. Since then there have been regular reports of up to a handful of birds per visit, although many have just been flying through.
-- Edited by Paul Wilson on Friday 11th of April 2014 12:23:02 AM
Neil Ferguson said
Thu Apr 10 11:26 PM, 2014
Hello
Has anyone seen any Swallows so far this year?
None at all so far in my part of Wigan.
Andy Bissitt said
Wed Aug 28 4:23 AM, 2013
Steve Suttill wrote:
The main thing that was confirmed by the Swallow Feeding Survey that was carried out a few years ago was that Swallows love dung or, to be more accurate, the flies that are attracted to it. The more dung the better, so cow and horse fields score highly.
As David points out, horses tend to have stables which provide the added bonus of nest sites.
Stables being a bonus for swallows is indeed a tiny bonus when you consider the amount of land laid waste by horses. Much of our local green belt (actually a green noose, but lets not get too depressed) is in tatters thanks to every last thing that isn't a blade of grass being removed to make life as sweet as possible for these pampered super-pets. On a lighter note (thank God), there was a very uplifting sight of 90+ swallows around Ludworth Moor yesterday. Fantastic seeing them come down to drink (without landing, of course) at the pond I was photographing dragonflies on. Let's hope more come back next year. I'm sure the diabolical early spring diverted some of them elsewhere.
Steve Suttill said
Tue Aug 27 4:39 PM, 2013
The main thing that was confirmed by the Swallow Feeding Survey that was carried out a few years ago was that Swallows love dung or, to be more accurate, the flies that are attracted to it. The more dung the better, so cow and horse fields score highly.
As David points out, horses tend to have stables which provide the added bonus of nest sites.
David Lumb said
Tue Aug 27 3:12 AM, 2013
Good numbers of Swallows around Edgworth area today, as there have been this year around Egerton/Bromley Cross.
Both areas have one thing in common which has seen a gradual increase over the last few years. Extra stables have been built to cater for the increase in horse riding. All of them seem to have Swallows nesting. I spoke to Tony who has one of these establishments as we watched 20+ Swallows this morning, and he has them nesting in the usual areas plus the new block even in it's first year.
Bill Myerscough said
Mon Aug 26 2:01 PM, 2013
Mike Passant wrote:
Hi Neil and Bill,
I'm way out of area of course here in Co. Durham, but I have been asking myself the very same question as Neil. The farm next to us has been occupied since the 1700's and for the first time in living memory this is the first year in which swallows have failed to nest in the outbuildings. A single bird turned up in late April and was joined by..... nothing. The farmer told me last week that the solitary bird hung around for some weeks and then just cleared off. Normally at this time of year we have good numbers of swallows on our roof, garden walls and massing on the telephone wires in the bottom field. I was heartened a little one evening earlier this last week when a half dozen or so house martins were hawking around overhead, but generally the garden areas are ominously quiet this year with no spotted flycatchers seen at all this July when normally we see family parties in the trees at the bottom of the garden. Butterflies also have been really scarce. I hope it's just a temporary blip this year?
Hi Mike,
It's obviously saddening to hear of the situation regarding your local Swallows. This to my mind is of greater concern than Neil's situation, given the length of time that this species has bred at this particular farm and this being a species which shows a known affinity to return to the area of its birth and previously used breeding sites. Obviously you will know the site very well but as I'm sure you are more than aware there are lots of things that can alter year on year. Locally the loss of hedgerows for feeding over, changes to livestock farming practices, loss of suitable nesting sites and the use of pesticides can all be a factor. Also for a species which travels such vast distances on migration, with two journeys over the Sahara and the risk of mortality on their wintering grounds when the rains fail, then I sometimes marvel that any manage to survive at all! On the traffic light system used for birds of conservation concern, this species is listed as being of amber concern - being categorised as a species of European conservation concern. Obviously it is then a species that we still need to keep an eye on. If I can quote from the GM 2007 County Bird report it stated in that year that for Swallow "there were only 14 records submitted for confirmed, probable or possible breeding". Obviously this figure should have improved during the years of our local breeding bird's atlas (2008 - 2011) sadly to probably drop back again in subsequent years but it just goes to show how remarkably and worryingly little direct breeding information is normally received on such a common summer visitor, making it difficult to monitor its progress or otherwise, without using figures from organised national surveys such as the BTO's Breeding Birds Survey. I'm sorry to be such a nerd and a bore by once again regurgitating figures from this survey! Still here goes! This shows that nationally for the years 1995 to 2011 then this species has shown a statistically significant increase of 36% (following an earlier period of decline) and that your local area of North-East England (admittedly from a comparatively smaller number of survey plots when compared to other areas of England) has done slightly better with a 42% increase. So whilst it is very sad to hear of the loss of your local birds this year then the overall picture maybe looks a little brighter? Let's hope, as you say, that this is just a temporary local blip for a species which we all care for and worry about but for which we would all expect year-on-year population fluctuations.
Finally, whilst flicking through the BTO's Migration Atlas (2002) I read and learnt (without judgement) of another added pressure for this species that I personally wasn't aware of, being apparently subjected to "persecution for food" at some of its huge West Africa roosts, with "efforts being made to reduce the annual take of 100,000 Swallows". Further research found this following link (also from a good while back in 2006) on the subject - http://www.talking-naturally.co.uk/pierfrancesco-micheloni-barn-swallows-ebbaken-boje/
I'm sure Ian doesn't want this particular thread going off at a tangent on this last paragraphs topic but in my opinion it just goes to show that not all challenging wildlife scenarios such as this one are that easy to pass simple judgement on or to resolve.
Regards,
Bill.
Craig Higson said
Mon Aug 26 7:29 AM, 2013
More on my usual route this am than I remember for a good few years.
Neil Ferguson said
Sun Aug 25 8:55 PM, 2013
Just call me a big fat liar but ......................................
I was out with Archie (worlds cutest dog) this morning. I got to the path as you come out of the woods near Brook Lane where I last saw the flock of Swallows at the end of July and heard familiar twittering.
On the wires above me were not 1 but 17 Swallows.
Delighted to see them again !!!
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Aug 25 5:12 AM, 2013
Andy Bissitt wrote:
See my 'Tipping point reached' thread where all of this has gone before.
Perhaps we could keep such negativity (about human populations and the gloomy potential future for wildlife) to the one thread then...
Andy Bissitt said
Sun Aug 25 3:51 AM, 2013
See my 'Tipping point reached' thread where all of this has gone before. Good news in the Times today, though, where a fine article on one-child families quotes the drop in population expected in a wide number of countries by 2050 (given current trends). Therein lies the only hope for wildlife. The U.K. of course, might already have been wiped clean of much of its wildlife by then.
Mike Passant said
Sat Aug 24 6:23 PM, 2013
Hi Neil and Bill,
I'm way out of area of course here in Co. Durham, but I have been asking myself the very same question as Neil. The farm next to us has been occupied since the 1700's and for the first time in living memory this is the first year in which swallows have failed to nest in the outbuildings. A single bird turned up in late April and was joined by..... nothing. The farmer told me last week that the solitary bird hung around for some weeks and then just cleared off. Normally at this time of year we have good numbers of swallows on our roof, garden walls and massing on the telephone wires in the bottom field. I was heartened a little one evening earlier this last week when a half dozen or so house martins were hawking around overhead, but generally the garden areas are ominously quiet this year with no spotted flycatchers seen at all this July when normally we see family parties in the trees at the bottom of the garden. Butterflies also have been really scarce. I hope it's just a temporary blip this year?
Neil Ferguson said
Thu Aug 22 6:07 AM, 2013
Thanks Bill.
Food for thought there but I've never ever seen the skies so devoid of Hirunidae at this time of year.
Bill Myerscough said
Thu Aug 22 2:30 AM, 2013
Neil Ferguson wrote:
Perhaps they haven't where you are,but here in Highfield, Wigan they seem to have vanished.
There's been a nest under the porch of a house opposite the end of our close for at least 5 years now and always loads more Swallows and Martins overhead constantly at this time of year.
The pair were back and nesting as usual up to us going on holiday in July.
However they've disappeared as have the others normally seen overhead.
On the 30th July though I was out early with the dog - about 6.30am and observed about 30-40 Swallows and Martins perched on the telephone wires near Brook Lane.
This is normally a sight seen at the end of September not July though ...........................................
Since then nothing.I had a long walk up to the motorway bridge on Saturday morning.Fields of Wheat either side. Loads of Wood Pigeons and eventually one lone House Martin.
I don't see any either driving to work either.I work in St Helens. There are a couple of Martins zipping around at Carr Mill lights but that's it.
Thoughts anyone?
Hi Neil,
It is always very interesting to read of local observations and think about their possible interpretations. However, it is pretty difficult to draw any conclusions from any one individuals observations and that's why the BTOs more structured approach to bird recording is to me anyway always of the most interest and relevance. One of the BTOs "citizen science" schemes for monitoring bird presence and arrivals and departures is Birdtrack. The following link shows nationally for Swallow the "proportion of complete lists submitted that include this species" and the graph in the middle of this page link seems to suggest that as at 21/8/13 that reporting rates were not substantially different from the preceding two years. This graph can be seen at
Just as an afterthought. If your local birds appear to have gone early is that interpreted to be a bad or a good thing? I certainly don't have the answer but I suspect most people might suggest that something could be wrong or that they possibly have failed in their breeding attempt(s). And indeed they might have. However, maybe completely the opposite is true and they could have had a really good season and got all their broods fledged and there is no further reason to remain on territory? Imagine it's like we have some tasks to do at work and have been super efficient and got them done well ahead of schedule and our kindly boss has allowed us to go home early! I'm sure it happens somewhere occasionally!
Regards,
Bill.
Neil Ferguson said
Thu Aug 22 12:40 AM, 2013
I can't ever remember them departing this early though.
They are normally around where I live until well into September??
Ian Campbell said
Thu Aug 22 12:00 AM, 2013
Just spent an hour in my back garden and in that time at least 80 Swallows past over heading South on migration. Cheers Ian
Neil Ferguson said
Wed Aug 21 11:29 PM, 2013
MJKeating wrote:
I live just near Highfield, Wigan and must say that there isn't much in the skies at present (although I did hear an owl at the back of the house the other night!). However, near the DW stadium (up until about a week ago) there were hundreds of either Swallow or Swift flying around each night and then all descending onto the grassy area. Think they have all migrated now as I was there yesterday evening and there was nothing but gulls and a grey heron.
There were several Blue Turkeys as well.
I was also there last night.
Louis Hill said
Wed Aug 21 4:39 PM, 2013
The RSPB states that the population is declining in parts of its range and population fluctuations are linked to changes in Africa, however Swallow numbers seem fairly stable (726,000 pairs in the UK) and I do agree with your comment relating to the BTO.
Steve Suttill said
Wed Aug 21 4:26 PM, 2013
Louis Hill wrote:
Swallows have declined in recent years...
Have they? I quote the following from the BTO's Bird Trends webpage:
There has been little long-term change across Europe since 1980, but a moderate decrease since 1990. Modern methods of estimating population change from CBC give evidence of fluctuations but not for long-term decline in the UK. BBS data suggest increases throughout the UK since 1994. The BBS map of change in relative density between 1994-96 and 2007-09 indicates that decrease has occurred in that period in Northern Ireland and in eastern coastal regions of Britain, and increase most strongly in western Britain. Analysis has shown that the population fluctuations are most strongly related to variable losses on their wintering grounds.
MJKeating said
Wed Aug 21 3:05 PM, 2013
I live just near Highfield, Wigan and must say that there isn't much in the skies at present (although I did hear an owl at the back of the house the other night!). However, near the DW stadium (up until about a week ago) there were hundreds of either Swallow or Swift flying around each night and then all descending onto the grassy area. Think they have all migrated now as I was there yesterday evening and there was nothing but gulls and a grey heron.
Louis Hill said
Wed Aug 21 2:46 PM, 2013
Swallows have declined in recent years...
Neil Ferguson said
Wed Aug 21 2:18 PM, 2013
Perhaps they haven't where you are,but here in Highfield, Wigan they seem to have vanished.
There's been a nest under the porch of a house opposite the end of our close for at least 5 years now and always loads more Swallows and Martins overhead constantly at this time of year.
The pair were back and nesting as usual up to us going on holiday in July.
However they've disappeared as have the others normally seen overhead.
On the 30th July though I was out early with the dog - about 6.30am and observed about 30-40 Swallows and Martins perched on the telephone wires near Brook Lane.
This is normally a sight seen at the end of September not July though ...........................................
Since then nothing.I had a long walk up to the motorway bridge on Saturday morning.Fields of Wheat either side. Loads of Wood Pigeons and eventually one lone House Martin.
I don't see any either driving to work either.I work in St Helens. There are a couple of Martins zipping around at Carr Mill lights but that's it.
Saw my first swallows over Daisy Nook country park- Oldham/ashton under Lyne border
...and Wood Warblers?
I was up in the Lakes at the Weekend. Not a sign up there either.
I always consider Spring has arrived by the sight of my first Swallow.
-- Edited by Neil Ferguson on Monday 13th of April 2015 09:34:53 PM
-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Sunday 10th of August 2014 10:38:20 PM
They must be on penny, as there's bloomin hundreds there today .I think its been the best year for a long time for successful swallow breeding :) plenty young uns about :)
Came home from work on Wednesday and watched 4 Swallow fledglings sat on the apex of the roof opposite being fed by Mum & Dad !!!!
6 Swallows flew over my house today at noon, and then 2 more at around 5:30pm. They nested in my neighbour's porch last year; hopefully they will do so again this year
-- Edited by Andy Bissitt on Saturday 26th of April 2014 08:52:48 PM
Delighted to report siting 3 Swallows over the farmers fields near Brook Lane Highfield this afternoon.
Not seen a single Swallow or Martin anywhere.
Great numbers of Red Kites and Buzzards patrolling the M40 corridor in Oxfordshire and Bucks though. Fantastic to see so many Kites.
Saw my first this year on 21 March at Marshside. First at Elton was reported on 1 April I think. Since then there have been regular reports of up to a handful of birds per visit, although many have just been flying through.
-- Edited by Paul Wilson on Friday 11th of April 2014 12:23:02 AM
Has anyone seen any Swallows so far this year?
None at all so far in my part of Wigan.
Stables being a bonus for swallows is indeed a tiny bonus when you consider the amount of land laid waste by horses. Much of our local green belt (actually a green noose, but lets not get too depressed) is in tatters thanks to every last thing that isn't a blade of grass being removed to make life as sweet as possible for these pampered super-pets. On a lighter note (thank God), there was a very uplifting sight of 90+ swallows around Ludworth Moor yesterday. Fantastic seeing them come down to drink (without landing, of course) at the pond I was photographing dragonflies on. Let's hope more come back next year. I'm sure the diabolical early spring diverted some of them elsewhere.
As David points out, horses tend to have stables which provide the added bonus of nest sites.
Both areas have one thing in common which has seen a gradual increase over the last few years. Extra stables have been built to cater for the increase in horse riding. All of them seem to have Swallows nesting. I spoke to Tony who has one of these establishments as we watched 20+ Swallows this morning, and he has them nesting in the usual areas plus the new block even in it's first year.
Hi Mike,
It's obviously saddening to hear of the situation regarding your local Swallows. This to my mind is of greater concern than Neil's situation, given the length of time that this species has bred at this particular farm and this being a species which shows a known affinity to return to the area of its birth and previously used breeding sites. Obviously you will know the site very well but as I'm sure you are more than aware there are lots of things that can alter year on year. Locally the loss of hedgerows for feeding over, changes to livestock farming practices, loss of suitable nesting sites and the use of pesticides can all be a factor. Also for a species which travels such vast distances on migration, with two journeys over the Sahara and the risk of mortality on their wintering grounds when the rains fail, then I sometimes marvel that any manage to survive at all! On the traffic light system used for birds of conservation concern, this species is listed as being of amber concern - being categorised as a species of European conservation concern. Obviously it is then a species that we still need to keep an eye on. If I can quote from the GM 2007 County Bird report it stated in that year that for Swallow "there were only 14 records submitted for confirmed, probable or possible breeding".
Finally, whilst flicking through
I'm sure Ian doesn't want this particular thread going off at a tangent on this last paragraphs topic but in my opinion it just goes to show that not all challenging wildlife scenarios such as this one are that easy to pass simple judgement on or to resolve.
Regards,
Bill.
I was out with Archie (worlds cutest dog) this morning. I got to the path as you come out of the woods near Brook Lane where I last saw the flock of Swallows at the end of July and heard familiar twittering.
On the wires above me were not 1 but 17 Swallows.
Delighted to see them again !!!
Perhaps we could keep such negativity (about human populations and the gloomy potential future for wildlife) to the one thread then...
Hi Neil and Bill,
I'm way out of area of course here in Co. Durham, but I have been asking myself the very same question as Neil.
The farm next to us has been occupied since the 1700's and for the first time in living memory this is the first year in which swallows have failed to nest in the outbuildings. A single bird turned up in late April and was joined by..... nothing.
The farmer told me last week that the solitary bird hung around for some weeks and then just cleared off. Normally at this time of year we have good numbers of swallows on our roof, garden walls and massing on the telephone wires in the bottom field.
I was heartened a little one evening earlier this last week when a half dozen or so house martins were hawking around overhead, but generally the garden areas are ominously quiet this year with no spotted flycatchers seen at all this July when normally we see family parties in the trees at the bottom of the garden. Butterflies also have been really scarce.
I hope it's just a temporary blip this year?
Food for thought there but I've never ever seen the skies so devoid of Hirunidae at this time of year.
Hi Neil,
It is always very interesting to read of local observations and think about their possible interpretations. However, it is pretty difficult to draw any conclusions from any one individuals observations and that's why the BTOs more structured approach to bird recording is to me anyway always of the most interest and relevance. One of the BTOs "citizen science" schemes for monitoring bird presence and arrivals and departures is Birdtrack. The following link shows nationally for Swallow the "proportion of complete lists submitted that include this species" and the graph in the middle of this page link seems to suggest that as at 21/8/13 that reporting rates were not substantially different from the preceding two years. This graph can be seen at
http://blx1.bto.org/bt-dailyresults/results/s322-20-13.html
Just as an afterthought. If your local birds appear to have gone early is that interpreted to be a bad or a good thing?
Regards,
Bill.
They are normally around where I live until well into September??
Cheers Ian
There were several Blue Turkeys as well.
I was also there last night.
Have they? I quote the following from the BTO's Bird Trends webpage:
There has been little long-term change across Europe since 1980, but a moderate decrease since 1990. Modern methods of estimating population change from CBC give evidence of fluctuations but not for long-term decline in the UK. BBS data suggest increases throughout the UK since 1994. The BBS map of change in relative density between 1994-96 and 2007-09 indicates that decrease has occurred in that period in Northern Ireland and in eastern coastal regions of Britain, and increase most strongly in western Britain. Analysis has shown that the population fluctuations are most strongly related to variable losses on their wintering grounds.
There's been a nest under the porch of a house opposite the end of our close for at least 5 years now and always loads more Swallows and Martins overhead constantly at this time of year.
The pair were back and nesting as usual up to us going on holiday in July.
However they've disappeared as have the others normally seen overhead.
On the 30th July though I was out early with the dog - about 6.30am and observed about 30-40 Swallows and Martins perched on the telephone wires near Brook Lane.
This is normally a sight seen at the end of September not July though ...........................................
Since then nothing.I had a long walk up to the motorway bridge on Saturday morning.Fields of Wheat either side. Loads of Wood Pigeons and eventually one lone House Martin.
I don't see any either driving to work either.I work in St Helens. There are a couple of Martins zipping around at Carr Mill lights but that's it.
Thoughts anyone?