Swallows at Martlesham

SWALLOWS AT ELSIE R .

MARTLESHAM LINGWOOD

IN 1955 a pair of swallows nested for the first time in the porch of our house here at Martlesham. Each year I have kept brief notes of their doings. These are somc of the highlights : 1955 Apl. 26

Swallows arrived.

July 14

Five young hatched (three adults apparently feeding

July 28

Young flew, subsequently returning every evening about 8.30 p.m. to sleep on a ledge in the porch.

Aug. 2

Young prevented by adults from entering the porch.

Circled round tili past 9 p.m.

Aug. 5-8

Parents endeavouring to start new nest in porch, . summer house, neighbour's garage and finally back to our front porch.

Aug. 13

Parents started to build new nest round nail. Nest collapsed but remade.

Third bird often in attendance.

Aug. 19

Nest

Aug. 27

Parent started to incubate eggs.

Sept. 16

Nestlings heard cheeping.

Sept. 29

Three young seen, one of which was ftepping its wings on side of nest.

Oct. 1

Young left nest, returning to roost in porch on cold wet nights only. Last lone bird seen at 6 a.m. on 22nd October.

finished.

1956 May 3

Pair of swallows arrived.

June 15

First nest finished in porch.

July 19

Two young left nest for short flights. Remaining two left following day and did not return at night.

Aug. 9

New nest finished opposite old one, but incubation did not begin tili about 26th.

Sept. 8

Sounds of young birds in nest.

Oct. 1

Three young left nest.

SWALLOWS AT MARTLESHAM

357

1957 Apl. 22

Pair of swallows flew straight into porch and examined old nests*. They were not seen again for several days.

May

Swallows often visited porch but did not nest there this year.

1958 Apl. 25

Swallows arrived. Their first nest was subsequently built in neighbour's garage but they then came to our porch and used the year-old nest for their second brood of four young.

Sept. 8

Young swallows on wing for first time in thick mist.

1959 May 1

First swallow seen.

May 11

Swallows busy with nest in porch, with third bird in attendance. When a jay or magpie appeared the third swallow (or another) at once came to help drive away the intruder. N o second brood.

1960

When the house was painted this year, the porch was left unpainted until the autumn. In spite of this thoughtfulness the swallows did not build. Yet whenever guests came the swallows always mobbed them.

1961 Apl. 13

First swallow arrived in porch.

Apl. 24

Two swallows now present.

Apl. 29

Swallows started building.

June 6

Young hatched.

June 18

Three young left nest. In evening tried again and again to enter porch but were driven away by parents.

In less than 24 hours adults were back looking for spot in which to build new nest.

June 21

New nest begun.

Aug. 25

Four young birds left nest. Other swallows (earlier family ?) constantly driven from porch while brooding was taking place.

A t H ä r t e s t in 1963 the first h o u s e m a r t i n to a r r i v e w a s seen to fiv s t r a i g h t u p to its n e s t a n d enter it.

It then flew off a n d w a s not seen a g a i n for s o m e d a y s .

[Ed.]

358 Transactions

of the Suffolk

Naturalists',

Vol. 12, Part

5

1962 A p l . 23

First swallow seen.

July 5

Y o u n g swallows in nest. O w i n g to m y absence f r o m home for some days they were not seen to fly but on 1 I t h J u l y parent birds were busily b u i l d i n g new nest opposite old one.

July 31

Second brood hatched. its mate at night.

Sept.

First nest removed f r o m p o r c h w h e n the distressing discovery was made o f four little feathered skeletons inside i t — t h e first family.

T h e male (?) b i r d sat beside

1963 A p l . 22

A single swallow arrived.

May 3

A pair visited the porch.

M a y 18

Swallows endeavouring to b u i l d nest but constantly disturbed by other swallows.

M a y 27

Nest

June 24

Birds no longer came to nest. perished ?

A u g . 18

D Ăź r i n g a day of cold and continuous rain a f a m i l y o f y o u n g swallows came into the porch where they remained u n t i l 8.30 a.m. the next day. T h e y also visited the porch for three evenings f o l l o w i n g , leaving early i n the mornings.

finished.

Eggs infertile or young