If any group of birds had a good reason to fly back to Africa it has been the Hs Martins on my West wall over the last week or so! The furious westerly winds have led to some of the most masterly flying techniques I’ve ever seen with the parent birds having to make up to twenty desperate attempts each visit back to feed their chicks; they were actually flying backwards and flipping at the last second. It’s quietened down a bit now and the two nests still with chicks popping out and being very vocal have 10 days or so before they are ready to fledge. Last Swift spotted flying with the Martins was on the 25thAugust. A Heron is back in its usual haunt across the field on the Clarach stream. Down the river very handsome male Sparrow hawk around Capel Bangor and large flocks of Goldfinches showing well. Garden quiet despite massive crop of elderberries all going to waste.
Tony Clark