Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Common summer visitor and passage migrant.

Breeds every year. Pair seen with 4 young on 9th July 2002.

Migrants:
Earliest: 1 on 15th March 2015
Latest: 1 on 30th October 2010 (Chris Parnell).

Other arrivals:
2009: 31st March
2010: 30th March
2011: 30th March to 11th October
2012: 27th March
2013: 24th March
2014: 15th April
2015: 15th March
2016: 2nd April to 28th September

High counts:
1. 150 on 1st May 2004.
2. 70 on 21st April 2004.
3. 130 flew SE in 40 minutes on 2nd September 2006.
4. 150 on 12th September 2007.
5. 5000 on 3rd May 2012 eclipsed all previous counts during a massive fall in bad weather. There were 600 on the island on LR South alone, and another 2000 on the emergent willows towards the south end.
6. Still 1000 present on 4th May 2012 (Trevor Thorpe).
7. Yet again, some 1000 present on 9th May 2012 (Chris Parnell).

Ringing:
2011: 4 ringed (July 20th, September 9th and September 16th (2))
2012: 7 ringed, 4 in September.
2013: 0 ringed.
2014: 3 ringed, all in September.