Whilst sitting out late last night (in a sheltered spot) I noted Swallows newly arrived hugging the valley floor and making their way inland against the ferocious wind, amongst them were at least two Swifts flying nose to tail (skimming my greenhouse roof) not the first I have seen this year but certainly the lowest. I spotted my first Swifts on Good Friday flying with House Martins in the thundery weather they were so high they were virtually invisible to the naked eye. It was only the fact I was looking at another group of birds feeding lower that I noticed them. On the subject of Hs Martins they are quite slow arriving this year I have two nesting pairs in residence but in general the birds have been few and far between. I also noted nice pair of Buzzards in the field displaying one virtually all white on the underside. More generally in the garden this year we appear to have more Blackbirds around (flickers as the wife calls them) than usual.
Tony Clark
Bow Street