I spent Bank Holiday weekend at the Hay Festival, talking to people about nature. Driving home along the borderlands and the North Wales coast, how many Swallows did I see? Four.
Four Swallows in 133 miles at the end of May.
My own experience reflected one of the most common questions from festivalgoers: “Where have all the Swallows/Swifts/House Martins gone?”
But how representative was my journey or the observations of others? BirdTrack, the online database holding lists collected by thousands of birdwatchers, provides some clues.
Compared to the historic average, there were 21% fewer records of Swallows and Swifts in Wales in May, and a whopping 30% fewer House Martins.
House Martins and Swallows are down across Britain and Ireland, though the drop in Wales is far greater.
Swift sightings in Wales are one-third down on last year, but on a par with summer 2017.
It’s difficult to know why, but both weather and food supply play a part. All these birds depend on flying insects, and most surveys of invertebrates point to huge declines across Europe.
What else is around at the moment?
A smart Woodchat Shrike at Cemlyn over the weekend was a rare visitor from the Mediterranean.
It’s been seen only half a dozen times previously on Anglesey , though four of these records are from the Cemlyn area.
This North Wales Wildlife Trust reserve also hosted a Little Stint and a Hen Harrier at the weekend.
A White-winged Black Tern swapped the marshes of southeast Europe for RSPB’s Burton Mere Wetlands on Friday, where three Spoonbills include a nest-building pair.
Last week’s Western Orphean Warbler on Bardsey proved to be a one-day wonder, and a Common Rosefinch was scant compensation for those who missed it.
A Pomarine Skua flew past RSPB South Stack on Sunday, among counts of 1,500 Manx Shearwaters and over 100 Gannets.
Go birding: Talks, walks and activities in North Wales this week
You can turn up to any of these events unless a phone number to book is provided.
- Daily until June 30: ‘Birds in Flight’, photo exhibition by Martin Garnet, RSPB Ynys-hir SY20 8TA.
- Wed, June 29, 8am: Guided walk, RSPB Ynys-hir SY20 8TA. Booking: 01654 704119.
- Wed, June 29, 9am-1pm: Conwy Farmers’ Market, RSPB Conwy LL31 9XZ.
- Wed, June 29, 10am: Pollinator Day activities, The Bug Shack, Brindle Close, Buckley CH7 3FB. Booking: 01978 269568.
- Wed, June 29, 11am: Bluebell walk and family picnic, NWWT Coed-y-felin, near Mold CH7 5QL. Booking: 07961 698437.
- Wed, June 29, 11am: Wild Wednesday activities for 4-12 year olds, RSPB Lake Vyrnwy SY10 0LZ. Booking: 01691 870278.
- Wed, June 29, 2pm: Wild Wednesday activities for 3-8 years, RSPB Conwy LL31 9XZ. Booking: 01492 581025.
- Wed, June 29, 2pm: Wild Challenge Wednesday for 4-12 year-olds, RSPB Ynys-hir SY20 8TA.
- Wed, June 29, 7pm: Guided walk, RSPB Conwy LL31 9XZ.
- Thu, June 30, 11am: Guided walk, Aberffraw coast. Meet at bridge LL63 5LJ.
- Thu, June 30, 11am: Walk for Welsh learners, RSPB Lake Vyrnwy SY10 0LZ. Booking: 01691 870278.
- Thu, June 30, 2pm: Drop-in family activities, RSPB Conwy LL31 9XZ.
- Fri, June 31, 11am-3pm: Funplay Friday activities for 3-8 years, RSPB Conwy LL31 9XZ.
- Fri, June 31, 1pm: Heritage walk, RSPB Lake Vyrnwy SY10 0LZ.
- Sat, June 1, 9.30am: Grŵp Gwyllt for children, Ysgol Llanfair DC, Ruthin LL15 2RU. Booking: 07584 311583.
- Sat, June 1, 11am: Guided walk, RSPB Conwy LL31 9XZ.
- Sat, June 1, 11am: Go Wild in June, Llandudno West Shore promenade.
- Sat-Sun 1-2, 10am-4pm: Binocular and Telescope Weekend, RSPB Conwy LL31 9XZ and RSPB Lake Vyrnwy SY10 0LZ.
- Tue, June 4, 5.30pm: Wild flower walk, NWWT Cors Goch, Llanbedrgoch LL76 8TZ.
- Tue, June 4, evening: Bat and Nightjars walk, NWWT Gwaith Powdr, Penrhyndeudraeth LL48 6LT. Booking: 07834 575008.
