Come first of May I scan the skies for telltale  glimpse  of sickle wings, those joyful screaming cries. And yes, the swifts are back.

My first sighting occurred on the evening of 5th May, three days later than last year due to the area of low pressure and gale force winds in early May which the birds fly hundreds of miles to avoid.

Then, on the morning of 6th May as the weather improved all my local swifts, arriving overnight, scythed through the air screaming in groups over the rooftops. Many made for the river where a large hatch of mayflies lifted from the surface to be snapped up by the swifts demonstrating breathtaking speed, agility and lightening changes of direction. Incredible  eyesight ensured that they caught with ease  the weakly fluttering flies thus topping  up energy levels expended  on their epic flight from Africa.

Meanwhile our Kingston swallows returned in force in mid April.  First to arrive were the longer tailed males (pictured) to begin reclaiming nest sites and await females as they flew in a few days later.

Nesting is well under way now and the first brood youngsters can be heard uttering demanding twittering calls as their parents arrive with food.

When I was at junior school, our teacher, a  keen birdwatcher himself, devised a game called  'swifts and swallows' whereby all the class ran around the playground whistling with arms outstretched, weaving in and out avoiding one another just like the birds do.

Great fun and good exercise. I wonder if any schools do anything like that nowadays!!