Coconuts

If you've looked up at all in the last few days, chances are you've seen some small, dark shapes tumbling along in the wind. There has been an impressive passage of House Martins and Swallows in the South East these last few days. On a mild but blustery walk over the North Downs at the weekend, I watched an endless parade of these birds pass by, 500 at least...maybe more. The martins largely preferred to stay higher up while the swallows came in low and silent over the fields, at times their wings almost touching the ground. Each and every bird shared the same determined goal - head south. These birds were headed west with the prevailing winds, but eventually they will turn southwards, out over the channel and onto Europe. I thought about a friend in central France looking off her balcony, these birds today may be hers tomorrow. During migration, swallows at least will cover 200 miles in  a day and may reach their destination in South Africa in around 6 weeks.

Thinking of swallows and martins migrating I'm naturally reminded of that scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, you know the one...

Coconuts or not, it's a feat that never fails to amaze me. What a privilege it is to witness.

House Martins (Delichon urbicum)
Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Delichon_urbicum_-Ireland_-flying-8.jpg?uselang=en-gb

This post is for Sal - see you soon kid  x