When I made a vague Twitter enquiry about our migratory friends arriving, heralding the start of our summer, I was intrigued to see there is something of a definite pattern emerging:
(I have left the Twitter names of the contributors so you can follow them if you want)
@jwtwits
Numbers in Spanish hills near Malaga are definitely dropping. Keep a look out…
@rossimilburn
Swallows flying around garden of the Falcon pub at Hatton Easter Monday Warwickshire
@christiaan_may
Swallows in. No swifts yet Shropshire
@petermc0104
Swifts arrived in last week. They’re on their way! Swallows r also about too! Co.Antrim, NI
@KenHigham
Swallows in spotted 21/04/2014 Lancashire
@Treespers42
Swifts seen passing over yesterday @RSPB_OldMoor Barnsley
@Steveredwolf
Swallows and some sand martins in but no house martins or swifts yet West Yorks
@Jon_D_Clarke
Swallows in Tomnaverie Stone Circle. Aberdeenshire
@PhilipMillns
Swallow which I tweeted yesterday from Gib point . No Swifts yet. Skegness
@drmtbishop
Swallows in East Lothian
@naturesgreat
Swallows at Claines in on 13th april – aprox 10 days early Worcester
@6_tailed_comet
Swallows here no swifts yet! Notts
@LauraAOwen
Swifts preparing to nest near this weekend. Lovely! Brecon
@John_Ranson
Swallows around for 3 or 4 weeks. Keeping an ear out for Swifts but none yet Norfolk
@hurst_liz
Swallows seen yesterday near but no swifts Cambridge
@bertikusmaximus
Swallows around our estate in Gloucester.
@RyanClarkNature
Swallows but no swifts so far Buckinghamshire
@GillABanks
Swallows are in the Vale of Glamorgan
@MMandyjackson54
Swifts and swallows over Sandy Water Park in last week so they’re here! Llanelli, S Wales
@BirderChris
Swallows been around in small numbers for a couple of weeks. No swifts yet Lincolnshire
@Skylarkingforu
Swallows in but not seen any swifts yet Essex
@theleeshore
Swallows yesterday at Wilmington, East Sussex
@WeimaRunner
Swallows / martins seen coming in over the Solent
@amythebirder
Swallows. Also Sand Martins & House Martins Hampshire
@brunc222
Swallows in Wiltshire. More in Hants/Dorset. No swifts but house martins in Devizes
@oldciderhouse
Swallows around #NetherStowey and the #Quantocks Somerset
And I am delighted to say I saw 2 swallows in Marshwood west Dorset yesterday!
So as you can see there is a concentration in from the Midlands to the north of England with less in the south.
Interesting and thank you all very much for your responses!
