Hirundine Migration

Just as other correspondents have noted in recent blogs, visible migration can be a marvelous spectacle. Couple the experience with a walk out to Giltar Point on what may arguably go down as the lovliest weather day this year, and you have the ingredients for an extravaganza.

At least that is how the picture came into focus for us as we neared the beach having crossed the golf course from Penally. Here we noted a steady passage of swallows flying parallel to the beach in a westerly direction.

On reaching the headland they jinked south and flew off the Point heading for Caldey Island. When we reached the Point many more birds were seen coming from the direction of Lydstep. They too turned south on making the Point. Some birds flew at sea level, some at marram grass level others passed our head!

Sash T's comments came to mind, though briefly. This was too good an experience to apply any serious methodology. We counted for just 2 minutes, one facing east and one facing west. C350 birds trooped past, not as a wave, but as a conveyor belt of continuous movement.

When did it start/stop. Who knows? But for the hour or so we were in the vicinity of the headland 350 x 60 equates to 21000 birds per hour. Wow.