Swallow fledgling newly out of its nest this morning when this photo was taken.
Total distance travelled = 6ft. Truly awesome that this young ‘life’ which can be held in the palm of my hand can, in just a few week’s time, cross the English Channel, fly over south western Europe, across the Sahara, down through the length of Africa, right down to the southern Cape. Then, next spring this same bird can retrace its route right back to the very nest it came from.
I’ve noticed that, as summer draws to a close, our swallows will disappear for 3 days and return, and I’m sure the parents are showing the youngsters the necessary landmarks ‘near home’ for their return trip next year. Because soon after, the elder swallows born this year will begin their own long migration south, just as the last clutch of the season is ready to fledge.
Over the years I’ve also noticed the swallows create a ‘no fly zone’ over the garden and will not tolerate magpies, jays, sparrow hawks or even buzzards coming too close to be a potential danger to the youngsters.
Today, we had ‘flying ant day’. They used to last all day and were quite a nuisance, but now they attract dozens and dozens of swallows from all over and the ants are gone in about an hour.
