Forum Topic

Swallows over Ealing.

I've noticed quite a few swallows this week in the skies over Ealing.  Or are they swifts or martins?  Also, a spotted woodpecker was seen in our garden.  Is this unusual at this time of the year?

Gerry Tan ● 3923d14 Comments

Last year we had a pair of sparrows who hung out in next door's tree which is covered in ivy. Over the last couple of weeks around four other sparrows have joined them resulting in a fair bit of squabbling around the bird feeders.Here's hoping they have a successful brood.

John Walker ● 3913d

Interestingly, after mourning the loss of the dozens of sparrows that used to mob our front garden, I spotted my first sparrow for 15 years just the other week.The wrens that used to nest in our ivy every year have also returned this year after a few years of absence.

Tony Colliver ● 3913d

Both yesterday and this morning I've seen a couple of red kites gliding over the fields north of Brent Valley golf course. I've spotted the odd kestrel before in Ealing but these are the first kites I've seen.

John Walker ● 3914d

Has anyone noticed how few sparrows and little wrens there are in our Ealing gardens this year?

Gerry Tan ● 3916d

There's a healthy population of thrushes around Chruchfields in Hanwell. I saw two fighting off a magpie on Sunday who was no doubt trying to raid their nest for an egg based lunch!There are loads of starlings in north Hanwell and Greenford. Last summer I hung up a cocnut shell full of mealworms and within minutes there were at least 30 squabbling starlings in the garden. Quite a sight.

John Walker ● 3917d

One of my friends is a psychologist who refers to corvids as "feathered apes" but I suspect even she would be impressed by their ability to Twitter ;). Thanks for the clarification. We seem to have a lot more robins tits and magpies than usual this year but I can't remember when I last saw a thrush or a starling.

Andrew Mcauley ● 3917d

Excellent-another female Terry who spells her name with a "y"! And I will see you on Saturday as I booked that with Emma this morning. What a coincidence.Yes, swallows have white undersides and don't screech.

Terry Freestone ● 3917d

Hi Folks. I'm an amateur birder and I can confirm that we get swifts and house martins in Ealing. Swallows are not an urban bird but will be in places such as Oxfordshire (mentioned in this thread). You can tell a house martin from a swift fairly easily. Swifts are jet black. (Fly like them, too! :) Martins are brown with white on their rumps and often twitter softly. They nest communally and build cups of mud on the outside of buildings. Swifts are noisy and their nests are tucked away under the eaves. Swifts leave early - they're a rare sight after mid August. Martins and swallows hang around till October. Sadly, all 3 species are still declining. **SHAMELESS ADVERT** if you want to learn more about birds you can join the monthly bird survey in Walpole Park on Saturdays, 8am start. Email Emma Allen (AllenE@ealing.gov.uk) for details. See ya there! (Ms) Terry Jones

Terry Jones ● 3917d

Can someone of an ornithological bent confirm whether they're swallows swifts or house martins? I'm fortunate to live by the Ascott Avenue allotments and love watching them soar overhead.

Andrew Mcauley ● 3917d

I love the swifts coming back each year. For me it is the start of summer. They remind me of fighter plans involved in dog fights in the sky, such speed and agility.

Jamie Fuller ● 3918d

In the early 60s we used to get cheap holiday to the Mediterranian and went twice a year - in April and then in late September. At each time of year we'd witness swifts(or maybe swallows or martins), fly over the swimming pools of the holiday places and apparently pick up in their beaks the little insects which when buzzed over the pools. We didn't see any doing this acrobatic flying recently.

Gerry Tan ● 3918d

I went to Lisbon last summer and there are literally thousands of swifts - they're an incredible sight at dusk. I think the reason is that about 20% of the buildings are in obvious disrepair - fantastic for house nesting birds.

John Walker ● 3918d

Welcome back Gerry!The swifts arrived in Windsor Road on Monday. So lovely to see them again.When we first moved here 25 years ago, there used to be dozens of them, whizzing about and screaming when I came home from work. Then their numbers kept going down until one summer about five years ago, not one could be seen. Then the numbers began to grow again. Last year I counted at least 12 and already this year, at least 8. So there'll be more soon.Apparently, the reason for their decline was that people were "tidying up" their houses and the swifts couldn't nest in roof spaces. Not sure why the numbers are rising now.

Terry Freestone ● 3918d

Yes, the swifts have arrived this week. I love sitting out on warm clear evenings watching them zig-zagging through the air and hearing their communal screaming.I saw loads of swallows in Oxfordshire last weekend but haven't seen any in Ealing yet. I'm sure they're around though.

John Walker ● 3923d