Swallows

Swallows are small birds with dark glossy-blue backs , red throats , pale underparts and long tail feathers. They are very agile in the air and spend most of their time flying. Many pairs breed in the Northern Hemisphere and then fly south for the winter. Swallow numbers have gone down in England in the last 30 years. The species is amber due to a population decline across Europe.

Swallows are found in areas where there is a good supply of insects. They like open pasture with access to water and farm buildings. Large reed-beds in  late summer and early autumn are a good place to look for pre-migration roosts

They flock in large numbers to fly to Africa, south of the Sahara in September. They return to the United Kingdom in early April.