Swallows still here?

:cnfs:I know this is only vaguely gardening-related, but is anyone else still seeing swallows? We had a flock of about 40 around our garden this year and 2 weeks ago they were all agitatedly flying around and gathering on the phone wires. Now, most have disappeared but we have a nest of young ones (second brood) in the stable and the parents are still flying around catching insects to feed them. The babies are fledged and are probably almost ready to leave the nest. This is the first year we've had 2 broods. Is it late for them to be starting on their long trek south? Won't the babies need a few more weeks to mature?

 

Most of our swallows have gone too, just one family left with a second brood of babies still in the nest. You do worry that they won't be strong enough to make it all the way to Africa but I guess we have to trust that their parents know what they're doing! Good luck little guys!

 

I reckon that the Swallows are as confused as we are.
stony

 

Yes,still quite a few here. I was watching some skimming over a Mirror pond during the week.

 

There are plenty here but most will have arrived here on the coast in large numbers for 'take off'. It is not uncommon for Swallows to stay here on the south coast until late October.
Swifts compared to Swallows and Martins are the short stayers, only here for 5 months and Africa for 7, the others are the opposite staying here for 7 and Africa for 5. Strange!

 

Still got a few up here in North Wales. The weather's been so cold and wet I think they're waiting for an indian summer.

 

Still a few here in West Yorkshire but the main body of them must have gone.
I don't think there have been as many here this year either, seems to have been a poor summer food wise for them.

 

Today we've had a huge flock of swallows swooping around and catching insects on the wing as if there were no tomorrow! It all looked a bit frantic! Looks like all the swallows in our area gathered over our garden, just when we thought they'd all gone. The second lot of babies have left the nest. Don't think they'll be here much longer.