ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

Well, it’s finally happened. In all our time at Hampstead Towers, we have never been without our summer visitors, the swallows. It has not come as a great surprise as it has been on the cards for several years. Last year we only had three come to stay with us and instead of the 20 or sometimes 30 that gathered on the wires next to the cottage before their departure back to warmer climes, there were only four or five last autumn.

Decline

The numbers have steadily been declining over the last few years. Ten years ago, every shed, barn, tractor store and even the outside closet had at least one nest. As a testament to how well constructed they are is some of the nests date back to when we first moved here in the Seventies.

At the other end of the scale, about four years ago, I rebuilt a small shelter for the North Ronaldsay sheep. I got it finished in the spring just before the swallows’ return and within a month of it being finished, nests were being built up in the roof trusses.

Daughter Lucy thought she saw an odd one flying