The European Swallow winters in South Africa. Its estimated unladen flight speed is 24 mph. Its migratory trip from Africa, over the Sahara, Morocco, Spain, France and finally to England is hazardous. Many die.
It would be a little churlish then, to complain when they're late.
Ordinarily they've arrived in the UK by April / May. I hadn't seen any this year.
Today Northumberland has been scorching hot. Not a breath of wind, or a cloud in the sky. So we've been in the garden all day. Right now, our first barbecue is burning down ready for cooking. A true lazy day.
Meg & I were were de-weeding this morning when we saw our first Swallow of the year. Not only that, it had decided to build its nest in the eves of our house. It wasn't long before we spotted many many more.
I know it's a bit sad, but I found it pretty cool that an animal, as beautiful as a Swallow would risk life and limb and fly thousands of miles, simply to make it's home with us.
Even if the little irk was a bit tardy.
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