SWALLOWS

Living in the countryside, we always welcome the swallows in the spring, and enjoy listening to the chatter of them on the wires, meeting their mates and making nests. The interesting time is seeing the babies come out of the nest and having their first flight. What a wonderful feeling that must be for the young ones.

This year was a funny year as the first lot of swallows had their first flight and I never saw them again. I reckon there were not enough flies and midges. Soon though all the building and repairing nests started again, a busy time for the parent swallows. I knew we had four pairs nesting but I will never forget the scene I was to have on early afternoon of September 2nd when more than twenty young swallows all came out of their nests at the same time, all doing their flying techniques, swooping and swerving and landing on the roof for a rest and to catch flies etc. I stood watching them for a long time till they dispersed, getting more confident and flying further over the surrounding fields. They line the wires now just gaining weight and getting ready to fly off later on in the month.

I wouldn’t choose to live anywhere else and miss all the wonders nature provides

Lillias Johnston