British or Irish dopers: have you seen many swifts, swallows or martins this summer?

In My Humble Opinion
1

I don’t think I’ve seen many swifts or swallows this summer, or any house martins or sand martins. Normally I notice big flocks of swifts screaming overhead in the evenings, house martin nests under house eaves, and swallows flitting around everywhere. It might be because I’m in a different location, but there are no obvious reasons why there would be fewer here. Have you seen as many as you’d normally expect?

2

Now you mention it, no. I haven’t been counting them up til this point, but I have a feeling I will be from now on. This - which should be authoritative - notes that populations fluctuate. As an allotmenteer, I have noticed that the weather this year has been very different from, say, last. Hot spells, but on the whole a coolish summer.

j

3

Down here in Devon I’ve seen loads, actually, maybe even more than I normally would. Perhaps they aren’t going as far north as usual?

4

I’m in Birmingham, English West Midlands – not a dedicated and diligent birder, but for what my observations might be worth: home in Birmingham, have been not much aware of presence of hirundines this summer – but have not been looking with great diligence. I know swifts often like cities and their buildings – for all I know, Birmingham might have had plenty of them this summer.

In late May, I spent a week in the Isle of Wight – plenty of swallows in evidence then and there. The IOW is a fairly behind-the-times and idyllic place: generally good for wildlife.

5

South England here - a fair number of swifts and swallows in our area.

6

I’m giving this a bump because I’d like to see more data.

Since I last checked in on this thread, I have not seen a - whatever Sangahyando called them. It’s starting to seem quite striking to me.

j

7

What do you mean, African or European swallows?

8

I’m still seeing very few. I was out for a run in the countryside today, didn’t see any. I went through a large farm complex where you’d normally expect to see a lot of swallows and house martins. The nesting season must be coming to an end but I don’t think they usually start their migrations so soon.

I have a vague recollection of being surprised to see some swallows or martins as early as March or something this year. I’ll need to keep better records next year.