Swallows, Swifts or Martins - is that the question?

Like many folk who enjoy being outdoors, I've been anticipating the return of the Barn Swallow Hirundo Rustica, or else just plain old 'Swallow' for the past few weeks.  Typically they arrive on territory where I live around the last couple of days of March, or the first few days of April.


This year though, they were somewhat languid in their trip north from Africa.  It wasn't until this morning, Sunday 15th April that they arrived this year.  I was having a conversation with The Dude about why they were late, and when they might arrive, and whether they would arrive before or after the Housemartins and suddenly there was the distinctive chattering of a pair of Swallows overhead, by Great Wilsey Farm - a breeding territory.


Given I'd been fretting over why they were late and so on, I had been following @SwallowSighting on Twitter so I could track their arrival.  Several, solitary records had been posted - the West Country, Edinburgh, Rotherham and so on, but few pairs, and most just passing over.  I was beginning to think our local birds had met their fate crossing the Atlas, or the Channel.  Then just yesterday @MostlyScarce was retweeted as having said that several birds had arrived on territory in Surrey.  They were streaming in apparently.  Wouldn't be long and they would arrive in Suffolk.  I posted something along the lines of "send some my way" etc and was assured they would be with me soon.  They were!


I love the return of our breeding migrant birds in the Spring.  For me they fill the air with lovely noise, and action.  They give me something to look out of the office window at when I need to blow my stack.


I can tell a Housemartin, from a Swallow, from a Swift etc from a hundred yards and for me, it's not that difficult.  That's not me showing off - anyone can do it.  I'm so sure about it that I will try to show you how using this blogpost.  Here goes:


Let's start with the birds we are talking about;
 - The Sand Martin - Riparia riparia
 - The Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica
 - The House Martin - Delichon urbica
 - The Common Swift - Apus Apus


I have listed them in that order because that is the order in which they return to the UK in Spring.  Sometimes there are anomalies, and sometimes the odd Swallow doesn't go on it's Winter holiday to Africa at all.  So here are a few methods which should help you identify the bird at which you are squinting.


Method One - Arrival Time: 

• If you are looking at one or better still, a group of these birds at the start of March, then you are probably looking at a - or at a group of - Sand Martins.  These birds - the smallest of them all - arrive before any of the other birds mentioned above.

Method Two - Visual Appearance:

• Getting a good view of these birds isn't always easy, but assuming you do here is what to look out for.  We'll start with the Swallow given that it is probably the best known of them all.
• Swallow
• The give away for this bird is it's long tail streamers.  They are long and thin, not at all stubby, and are at least a fifth of the entire length of the bird.    Take care using this feature in identification later in the Summer as the juveniles have much shorter - but still thin - streamers.
• The underside of the bird is white, or at least very pale, from the beneath the chin, all the way down to where the streamers begin.
• They do not have any white on their faces, nor on their backs which are totally dark, black even.
• The Swallow is the only bird to have any red on their plumage and this is restricted to the front of the face.  This is not always easy to see against a bright sky, but if you can get your binoculars on them, especially against a dark backdrop, it will be clear to see.  Juvenile birds have a paler pink face, but it is not white.
• All Swallows have a black chin-strap.  This is less easy to see in adult birds in some situations.
• The Swallow has black, or rather dark feet.
• Swift
• This bird is the largest of the group, although size is nearly impossible to compare unless another species is flying close by.
• This bird is all-black but can appear to have a lighter patch beneath the chin.
• The Swift has a shorter tail, which although still forked is not in any way long or thin.  
• The body of the Swift appears short in comparison to their long wingspan.  They are often referred to as being 'sickle-shaped' and this is an excellent description.  
• The wings appear much more pointed than any of the other birds in our group.
• House Martin
• Getting a good look at this bird, you will probably find the House Martin the easiest in our group to identify.
• Viewed from directly underneath, the bird is totally pale, and white aside from it's tail which is black.
• The tail is more like that of the Swift, being more moderately forked and stumpy.  No streamers here.
• The House Martin's feet are also white.
• The back of this bird has a distinctive white patch on it's rump.  Other than this patch, the back is black.
• The House Martin does not have a chin-strap.
• Sand Martin
• The smallest of our group, this bird is most often confused with the House Martin but on closer inspection there are several differences.
• The bird is noticeably more brown than black.
• The tail, whilst still forked is much more rounded and 'stubby'.
• The Sand Martin has a chin-strap, or chest band.
• It has wings that are much darker than the body.
• It does NOT have a white patch on it's rump as with the House Martin.

Method Three - Behaviour/Locations/Nesting

• Swallow
• Other than when grouping and on migration, Swallows do not hold such large groups as the rest of our group.  They tend to nest in more rural locations, although are also seen nesting in towns.
• These birds often perch on wires, allowing good views of their tail streamers.
• Their flight is almost bouncy and they rarely glide, making regular strong wing beats.
• The nest are almost always in buildings, and under cover.  I often see Swallows nesting inside toilet blocks on camp sites.
• The nest is a muddy cup about the size of a very large man's hand and is usually open topped.
• The Nest is always supported underneath, on a platform such as an exposed timber beam or jutting brick.  
• The back of the nest is usually formed by the building in which it is made.
• The Swallow usually hunts its prey - insects - at low level such as over crops or water.
• Swallows have a constant, chattery voice, quite pleasant sounding.  They seem to always be in communication with one-another.
• Swift
• Swifts never perch, EVER.  In fact, if they do land on the floor it is usually impossible for them to take back off again.  If you see one floundering or struggling on the floor, pick it up and let it fall from about head height.  **important - Sean Clayton of www.oookworks.com quite rightly pointed out that it might be wise to check for other injuries BEFORE dropping the Swift from head height! Thanks Sean.**
• Swifts are often seen in high Summer in groups of 4 to 8 dashing together at break-neck speed through and between buildings, even in the High Street.
• Swifts almost exclusively nest in the roof cavities of buildings, but their natural nests are NOT visible.  Occasionally Swift nestboxes are put up under the soffits of houses and other buildings.  The boxes will typically have an off-set slightly elongated entrance hole.  
• They are very occasionally seen clinging to a crag or wall beneath their nest site.
• Swifts have the most direct flight pattern of the group gliding fast and often, with strong bursts of accomplished wingbeats.
• Swifts hunt their insect prey up high, occasionally very high.
• Their call is unmistakeable once identified.  They scream loudly as they hurtle through the skies, usually right above our heads in the High Street or Car Park.
• House Martin
• As with Swallows, House Martins also perch.
• They have a tendancy to make the occasional glides and appear much more aerobatic, making more turns and twists than the remainder of the group.
• The House Martin nests on buildings creating mud cup which does NOT sit on tip of an existing support like that of a Swallow.  The nest is usually fixed to a wall AND an overhang such as the eaves of a house using both soffit and fascia as their anchor.  
• The entrance hole is more of a semi-circular hole than a slot and the top of the nest is NEVER open, other than during construction.
• Nests are usually colonial, with several individual nests that can be adjoined, or terraced.
• These birds are less easy to disturb than the rest of the group, and are much easier to get close to.  They can be coaxed to peek out of their entrance holes by making a kissing sound with your lips.  Try it later in Summer.
• They feed quite high in the sky, sometimes with Swifts.
• House Martins are also very vocal, their voice being a vast collection of squidgy sounding, fart noises, much less sweet than the Swallow, but still has a charm about it.
• Sand Martin
• This bird is most often found near, or over water.  Rarely in towns, unless suitable nesting or feeding sites are close by.
• The Sand Martin nests colonially in burrows made in a river bank, usually sandy as the name might suggest.  Some reserves have created aritificial Sand Martin nesting colonies which seem to be readily used by the birds.  
• Typical hunting is low and over water, although not exclusively.
• Their voice is distinctive, raspy and dry like.  I haven't paid too much attention to this call myself so have to rely on descriptions in bird guides.

I do hope that this has helped those of you who struggled like me to separate these birds when out and about.  Feel free to leave a comment or ask questions below.  I'd love to hear from you.

Planning for Birds - an important re-post

Birdwatch (www.birdwatch.co.uk) recently posted this on their website:

RSPB Scotland has launched a new resource for groups and individuals concerned about the impact of development on nature and wildlife in their local area.

The Local Planning Pack is a step-by-step guide to the planning system and provides advice to help communities influence decisions that affect nature.

Information about the planning system, including tips on how best to influence planning decisions and advice on how to assess the value of a site for wildlife, are all included in the pack. In addition, the pack provides guidance on contacting local media, taking the message to local politicians and a list of organisations that may be able to help.

Kate Bellew, RSPB Scotland Conservation Planner, said: “Unfortunately, RSPB Scotland cannot get involved in every planning case that might affect wildlife. We want to empower local people to get involved in the planning process and help protect their local wildlife and environment. A personal interest and local knowledge can be key to influencing decisions at an early stage, perhaps preventing a harmful development or enhancing a proposal’s value to wildlife.

“We have put The Local Planning Pack together to help those who wish to help nature in their area and are keen to join the debate.”

The Local Planning Pack for Scotland is available to download for free.  

This article is balanced towards Scottish planning process, but there are versions for the rest of the UK here:

http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/takeaction/

Can I please suggest that you share this with your friends, colleagues and neighbours?


It really would be a boon for our natural legacy.

To Hatch a Crow: Planned badger cull thrown out by Welsh government...

Some encouraging news from Wales regarding the badger cull, with a particularly interesting appeal from the RSPCA to Caroline Spelman too.

To Hatch a Crow: Planned badger cull thrown out by Welsh government...: Is it safe to come out yet? The Welsh government has scrapped plans to exterminate badgers, blamed by the farming lobby for spreading bo...

A local walk that leads to a ramble with you and a pal.

I went out for my weekly pre-breakfast stroll again on Sunday.  I have been heading out at 7am for a 6-miler for the past few weeks.  I don't require much encouragement, the Skylarks are waiting for me over the 'hill'.


So, with a full pack, I set off on the old railway line heading East out of town and just as I reached the River Stour I was greeted by a the azure dash of a Kingfisher no more than a mile and a half from my door.  A mental note was taken for a summer picnic with Mrs M and the two whirlwinds - sitting on a blanket eating cheese and crackers watching kingfishers with the bairns sounds grand.


Turning North I was distracted by the chacking of a Grey Heron as it hauled it's heavy self across the clouded sky.  The sun was trying to pull through the fluffies and thankfully it managed to break through and shine down on me for almost an hour.


Next up was a handful of Yellowhammers, calling frequently from their prominent perches.  We seem to get more than we used to around our way, but maybe I just notice them more.  They are magical little passerines.  Speaking of which, it was a great walk for bird life - as my next treat was a pair of redpoll in the hedgerow.  These were the closest to town I have seen also.  A second mental note was made to return here, but this time I'd need to come alone - the whirlwinds would soon see off a twitchy pair of redpolls.


A couple of muntjac were hurrying into the scrub, sprinkled by the low and dappled sun.  They didn't see me so I watched them until they were concealed.


In and out of the village, crossing the Stour again and heading East-Southeast towards Skylark hill the wildlife petered out a little until I reached them.  This trip there were scores of them.  Skylarks up high, in the hedgerow, on the fields and dashing and hovering over the short blades of wheat which were now taking hold in the dry earth.  My goodness what a sight, then Yellowhammers again and Blue tits, Great tits, Long-tailed Tits  -  the place was alive!  I soaked it all up until I reached the farm where I had promised myself to seek out the local Ordnance Survey Triangulation Pillar which had eluded me on this walk for so many years.  I was determined.


I had stood on the exact 10-digit grid reference many times before but the Trig point was nowhere to be found.  It was there, on the map but on the ground - nothing!  This time though I was armed with knowledge.  Google had told me that the Trig point had been misplaced, or rather relocated, nay, dragged out of its field corner home, and on to a pile of rubble and builders' waste.  The hardcore-destined survey post was there.  Cast aside like a useless slab of concrete, never to be tapped-on-the-top again.  It was quite sad really.  I actually began thinking of ways I could retrieve it and relocate it to my own garden as a tribute.  Surely a better end than the scrapheap?
I always try to look for the upside of a situation (and often fail miserably) but there was one here.  Where the benchmark plate had been, was a bed of mosses and tiny wildflowers - flowers I have yet to identify.  Nature had begun to take it back.

The final resting place of an old friend.

I left 'Trig' and aimed myself downhill and back towards town.  The woodpeckers were there again, drumming high and hard on the decaying boughs of old Oaks in reply to one another.  Then another woodpecker, Green this time - yaffling away at the top of its voice.  Still no chiffchaffs but they'll come soon enough - next Sunday I imagine.  I hope.


I have so much to look forward to this year.  A crossing of Scotland - on foot, a trip or two to the Paralympic Games, my wife's fortieth birthday - and her birthday week in Liverpool (she is a big fan of The Beatles), my little girl's first day in pre-school, so, so much to look forward to that won't happen again.  2012 looks like being a fabulous year and a unique year too, although the whole year will be woven with all my regular anticipations.  
There are things that lead me through each year, like the first Swallow, Swift, Bumblebee.  The first harvest of rhubarb, or strawberries, or raspberries.  The emergence of the first Great Tit chick from the nestbox.  The first leaf to turn on the Oaks, and the first Sloes to ripen and blet after the first frosts.  


I'm drifting off  bit here, but I like it so I will carry on.  These kinds of things are those that keep me walking.  They keep me returning to the outdoors and keep me going from one year to the next.  I can see a day when we all get back to nature, and get back to taking care of things that matter.  To help this on its way, I would love for every one of you to take at least one long walk in the countryside - be it highland or lowland - with someone who hasn't been out before.  Get them excited about things, teach them about why you love to do what you do.  Spread the word, the joy, the excitement, the beauty of it.  Look here at what can happen >>>>

Two good friends on the heights of Ben Hope

The same good friends on the summit of Ben Hope

Two more good friends on Lingmoor Fell

New friends on Meall na Meoig - Mountain Leader Training expedition

Me and my beloved Mrs M on The Cairnwell.  We saw Golden Eagles that day, and Mountain Hares, and Ptarmigan, and Ravens, and Frogs, and... you get the picture.

Go for a walk, take someone new with you, and drink it all in.   

Ickworth Red (nay White) Route

It's not often I agree to a walk around a colour-signed route on a National Trust property but last Sunday I made an exception.  My Brother in Law Dave was itching to get his new boots muddy and I wanted to get a few miles under my plates, so I thought 'go on then'.  
We always have a good walk regardless of the venue, Dave is good company and absolutely laps up the chance to be outside.  


Despite the thaw that was emerging, black ice had spread itself across the 'macadam of the Social Club car park.  On the Friday night I recorded my lowest ever temperature on my shed-located sensor...   ...-15.1c.  That's stonkingly cold for my parts.

Sometimes I am glad to see the back of Dave

The path around Ickworth Park was mainly compacted snow apart from the sections in deeper woodland which was gloriously fluffy.  There were few people about and this made for a more appealing walk around this National Trust land.  The house itself took more than 45 years to build and I recommend you Google "Ickworth House" and take a look at some of the images.  It's a cracking, and unique property.  You'll find out alot more about the park than I can tell you on the National Trust website.  

Can I take a photo of ewe?

All around was a picture of wintry rural Britain so Dave and I made sure we took a few snaps. Once again, my point and shoot delivered less than average results in the main, so I retouched a few and some made it onto this blog post.

David "Don't call me Bailey" Peddar

Just over a third of the way round is the Fairy Pond which made for a couple of lovely pictures of reeds and rushes, Swans and Coots.  Some folk had been testing the strength of the ice with bricks and they were strewn over the surface.  I cussed for a while about this, then remembered that is exactly what I used to do when I was a young 'un.  So I let them off. I am sure they were pleased.

Lingered a bit at the Pond as you can tell.  It was a nice place to be.


We stopped for a brew as we emerged from the woodland and found a spot looking out over the open countryside, which would have been nice had the view not been clagged in!  It was a good opportunity to try out a different stove which has been lent to me by a fellow outdoor blogger, Martin Rye.  He suggested I give it a go to see if I like it before going on the TGO Challenge in May (see my TGO Challenge 2012 blog here).  It boiled up a cuppa in around a couple of minutes even at temperatures close to freezing, so it's looking like a contender so far.

Emerging into more open countryside

The wildish section of the walk was quickly drawing to a close, and the mist was growing thicker.  It's not a long walk by any means, and Dave and I agreed that it would have been nice to go around again.  Lunch, and the families were waiting for us so it was not to be.
Dave made a snowball and we moved on, following the tiny River Linnet as it gained momentum in the vale. I'd been wearing a softshell jacket which I won in a twitter competition by J E James Cycles.  It's a cycling softshell with removable sleeves.   I have to say performed rather well, and I didn't even have my bike with me, it's a bit too small for me even in Large, but only around my belly.  I am promised unto myself to remove said belly by May so I will keep it for WHEN it fits me properly.

Like I said, Dave made a snowball

and we followed the little River Linnet

The long hike up the drive was dreary, but we stopped in front of an old Oak tree for Dave to take a self-timed shot of us both, before popping out of the front gates and round the green to the car park, where we'd started a couple of hours earlier.  The walk was over.

Chuffing heck, I am Ghandi!

Alan Sloman posted on his blog - Alan Sloman's Big Walk - a link to a rather nifty survey which lays bare your political standing in front of your eyes.  I had a go, and here is what it came up with.  I am rubbing shoulders with Ghandi, The Dalai Lama and Nissan Main Dealer!

Give it a try yourself, go on.


http://alansloman.blogspot.com/2012/02/political-compass.html

Badger Cull Update - MP response and Badger Trust Legal Action?

An update on the Badger Cull subject...

I wrote back to my MP Matthew Hancock following his email which I posted earlier on this blog.  Here is my post, together with his latest response:

___

Dear Matthew,

Thank you for your reply.  Since your last email, the counties for the proposed culls have been revealed, albeit not the precise locations of the pilots.

I have been paying relatively close attention to this subject in the counties concerned and what you say doesn't stack up.  A usable vaccine IS available, and data from the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust(GWT) confirms that it would cost just £51 per hectare to administer.  I presume that the vaccine to whcih you refer is the Cattle vaccine.  GWT use a vaccine on the Badgers, and I am sure that given the funding, the GWT and the other wildlife trusts would be happy to carry this work out.  The suggested success rate in terms of creating resistance to the disease by vaccinating Badgers has been found to be 74%.  All this without killing a single animal.

Was this option considered by the government?  If so, why was it cast aside?

I look forward to your response.

Regards,

Carl.

___

Mr Matthew Hancock's reply to my latest email was in letter form, which I suppose is more difficult to copy and paste into a blogpost, but I am able to read and type so copying it was a doddle.

___

Dear Mr Mynott, 

Thank you for your further email regarding Bovine TB and the culling of Badgers.  I note your continued interest in this subject.

The vaccine your [sic] refer to in your email is the BadgerBCG, an injected vaccine.  The vaccine is being used in a Defra-funded Badger Vaccine Deployment Project in Gloucestershire.  There have been some positive results, however the Government set out its view in the original consultation:

"The results of the laboratory and small-scale field studies do not lend themselves to giving a definitive figure for BCG vaccine efficacy.  This could only be determined by vaccine field-testing on a large scale over a long period of time and several thousand badgers would need to be removed to allow the determination of the presence and severity of TB at detailed post-mortem." (Defra, Annex C: Badger TB Vaccines, September 2010)

An oral badger vaccine, which may be a more practical option in terms of field deployment, is still in the research stage and will not be available until 2015 at the earliest.

I hope this is useful and clarifies what I was saying in my previous reply.

Yours sincerely, 

Matthew

______

Where Matthew refers to the removal of thousands of Badgers for testing by post mortem, I see his point but unfortunately, the point is to eradicate TB in CATTLE isn't it?  The testing efforts (including developing a reliable test) should be focussed on the cattle, not the badgers.

Anyway, I am writing to an MP who appears to be entirely PRO-killing and has been sucked in to an illusion that free-shooting badgers will be the answer to every cattle farmer's prayer.  I have decided that I am writing to the wrong person, so I am going to write to the Badger Trust for a wee bit of advice to avoid wasting my time.  I'll ask them what help I can give them.  They are on their own mission which appears to have gathered pace and gusto somewhat.  

See the link below for their press release dated today - 9/2/2012.

http://www.nfbg.org.uk/_Attachments/Resources/638_S4.pdf

This press release states that the Badger Trust will launch a legal challenge to the proposed badger culling citing 3 reasons why the cull is wrong and should be stopped.

Best of luck to you Badger loving boys and girls in the Trust - I look forward to hearing about DEFRA's response....

Comments, observations and contributions are more than welcome, and feel free to spread the message.