Monday 16 April 2012

Does not make a Summer.


They say 'one swallow does not make a Summer', but how about two swallows? This morning, when the farmer and Tess went out for their morning walk at 8am, not one but two swallows sat on the electric line across the yard.

It is always a very special day when the swallows arrive here on the farm, back to nest in the barns and sheds where they nested last year. It is amazing to think these tiny little birds have been to Africa and back since they left here in early October.

We always note the date of their arrival. The earliest was April 9th, and that was in the days when the farmer was still milking his cows. One flew into the milking parlour one morning as he milked (they always nested in there). It was a fortnight before it was joined by its mate. This time two birds have arrived together, which begs the question - are they a pair or are they just two individual swallows who happened to arrive on the same day?

Whatever the answer, one thing is for sure - they will be finding it jolly cold (8.5 as I write this) after the Sahara Desert.

Thank you for all your kind comments on the wedding. I must say that after approaching the day with some trepidation - the hat, the dress, the speech (to name but three worries) - I enjoyed every single minute of it.

12 comments:

Unknown said...

I'd bet they're a pair :) Otherwise they might have just gone their separate ways to wait for their own mate's arrival?

Loren said...

The tree swallows have arrived here, but I've yet to see a barn swallow.

I love walking on the trail as swallows swoop around me, hopefully catching all the nearby mosquitoes.

Heather said...

If your two swallows can tolerate our chilly weather I feel I should stop moaning about it!
So often an approaching event will fill us with fear, dread or trepidation, yet when it takes place, all this is unfounded and we are able to enjoy ourselves. You must have so many happy memories of the big day.

Rachel Phillips said...

Your swallows "up north" are very early. I usually record them arriving down here around about 25th April and later. Funny that.

Tom Stephenson said...

Didn't I make this joke last year? ('One swallow does not Ann Summers make')

ChrisJ said...

We went looking for swallows today since the local Nature Center said they were back. But we only saw one. Maybe the cold windy rainy weather this weekend slowed them down.

Pondside said...

I've just had a lovely catch up on your posts of the past few days. The hat....it's gorgeous and suits you to a 'T'.
Swallows - well, it will be a while before they are here again, but then I'll go flat on my back on the lawn top watch them swoop above me.
Rape Seed - it's big in the prairie provinces here - beautiful against the endless prairie sky.

Reader Wil said...

Two swallows? That must mean that the summer is on its way!!

MorningAJ said...

I used to love it when we had swallows outside the house. I'm looking out for them.

Bovey Belle said...

I saw two Swallows at Newton House yesterday when I was in for volunteering. First two of the season, but "our" barn swallows have yet to arrive . . .

The Weaver of Grass said...

No more swallows yet but today there is a strong south-westerly wind and bright sunshine, although there is torrential rain higher up the dale. It is too cold for a mass arrival I would guess - but lovely to see these two. Thanks for visiting.

Mary said...

We have a lot of beautiful birds here but not these pretty swallows.

Our weather has been HOT the past few days, but not humid thankfully. Coming home from the recent trip, and catching up with blogs, is keeping me busy........but I'm off to work in the garden again today.

Know the Dales are much cooler, those swallows ARE brave to arrive from Africa, Nature is amazing!

Have a lovely week - Mary