Few Swallows Is is because of the frost that the
swallows are said to be fled ? Some came to us, of course, much earlier than the date of the frost, but the bigger immigrations are usually the latest. The " single spies " of April were early and fairly numerous ; but the battalions have not followed, though house martins are common enough. It is a good year for most migrants. Willow wrens, wood wrens, black- caps and nightingales have all been singing divinely, and are nesting successfully. The turtle dove, which is among the latest of all our immigrants, is not yet as common as it has been of late years. Of rarities, the golden oriole, whose short fluty song is as unmistakable as the cuckoo's, has been recorded on the south coast. It ought, so to say, to be with us every year. In Northern France during the War I found the bird so common that its song, like that of Calverley's egotist, almost " became a bore." The bird has a rapid and very strong flight.
* * * *
Previous page
