Swallow

Regular birds sometimes in very good numbers, but notoriously difficult to count especially when mixed in with Martins. The best numbers are usually seen in bad weather, often a wet and windy day in April.

27/08/70 - 600 birds. Maximum number combined with House Martins. Frequently seen during passage times this year

01/04/85 - 3 birds. First record for the year

04/04/98 - 3 birds. First record for the year

02/11/98 - 4 birds heading south. Latest record for the year. (AJB)

1999 - First record for the year 50 birds on 21/04. 50+ birds on 01/10

2000 - 60 on 09/09 and birds passing through all day on 02/10

2001 - First single bird of year on 28/03. 50 on 24/04, 100 on 06/05, 100 on 24/09

2002 - First bird on 07/04. 400+ hirundines in dramatic weather on 28/04 containing all 3 species (and a Swift). 100 on 30/04, 70 on 28/09

2003 - First birds on 10/04. 100 on 30/04. 50 on 01/05. 50 on 12/09. 3 on 09/10 were the last seen

2004 - First bird on 02/04. 50 on 14/04 and 16/04. 'Large numbers' of hirundines reported in hail storm on 18/04. 80 on 19/04. About 200 on 04/09, 100 on 22/09, 150 on 23/09 and 70 on 24/09

2005 - First bird on 29/03. 'Hundreds' of hirundines in the rain on 22/04. 50 on 13/05

2006 - First birds on 27/03. 50+ on 12/04, 40+ on 18/04, 60 on 19/04 and 40 on 25/04. 60 on 02/09

2007 - First birds on 29/03. c.70 on 10/05

2008 - First bird on 28/03, 70 on 21/04 in wet weather

2009 - First birds on 02/04 with max 170 on 02/09

2010 - First birds on 29/03 and 50+ on 14/04

2011 - First birds on 30/03, up to 35 over the summer. 150+ on 02/09, 40+ on 18/09 and 100+ on 20/09

2012 - First bird on 31/03. Recorded on 70 dates with 'too many to count' on 20/04 in an evening rain shower, 'lots' passing through on 22/04, c.350 on 28/04, 150+ on 03/05, Hundreds on 29/08, 100+ on 08/09, 100+ on 16/09

2013 - First bird on 22/03 is the earliest ever record and coincides with the arrival of 10 Sand Martins and an unprecedented fall of chiffchaffs. 500+ on 23/05, 200+ on 27/05 and 28/05, also 200+ on 21/09

2014 - First bird on 25/03 doesn't beat last year, but is still very early. No big numbers, but about 50 on each of these dates: 26/04, 10/05, 24/05, 31/08

2015 - First bird on 01/04. Hundreds of hirundines on 06/05 in strong SW winds & showers included Swallows and both Martins. 150 on 10/05 and 100+ on 24/08

2016 - First bird on 27/03. c.750 on 09/04, c.150 on 10/04, 150+ on 17/04, c.500 on 22/04 and c.1500 on 21/05. Last date 20/10 when c.20 were seen

2017 - First birds on 29/03. 500+ on 30/04. Last seen on 18/09 when there were 100+

2018 - First bird on 01/04. Max 80 on 29/04. Last seen c.20 on 23/09

2019 - First birds on 31/03. Max c.75 on 29/09 which was also the last sighting of the year

2020 - First bird on 23/03. Max of c.40 on17/04. Last seen 5 on 06/10

2021 - First birds were 2 on 27/03. Single figures until 03/04 when 20+ started a larger influx with 100+ the next day. Max of c.400 on 24/03. No summer records. Last sighting of 10 on 05/10

2022 - First bird on 31/03. Single figures until 14/08 when 12 birds arrived. Up to 200 hirundines during September, being a mix of Swallows and House Martins. Last observed date was 01/10 with c.10 hitundines

2023 - First bird on 23/03. Only up to 6 from then on until c.100 on 02/09. Hundreds reported on 04/09. Last seen were 3 on 30/09