10th August - Lympsham, Somerset

Lovely weather again today and the light around the fields and house was excellent first thing in the morning.  The Small Coppers were still in the field.

Rather than try for the flight shots in the field, there were a good number of juvenile Swallows on the overhead wires waiting to be fed by the parents.

As the adults flew past they would beg in hope.

The adults performing acrobatics as they tried to get to the best position to feed the juvenile.

One of the adults coming in with a beak full of insects.

Here the approach from behind.

And the insect meal is pushed down the youngster's throat.

We had a drive around the area.  We had hoped that fossil hunting on Klive beach would be worthwhile, but looking at the beach it wasn't suitable for the grandchildren.

Burnham-on-sea offered a little more, but like Weston the sea goes out for miles and there was a lot of mud.

Back at the house late afternoon the Swallows were everywhere, many gathering on the house roof and along the wires.

There was a lot of coming and going.

As well as the Swallows there were a few House Martins.

There was constant movement and chattering all around the wires and on the house roof.  Then suddenly a different call and everything went up, all calling.  I looked around, expecting to see a raptor and hopefully a Hobby, but above me was a circling Peregrine.

A ringed adult bird, but it is not possible to read any numbers, only that it was blue.

The Peregrine drifted away to the south and eventually calm was restored and it was back to the chattering on the roof and the wires.  I suspected that this was a pre-leave gathering and that a lot of the swallows would probably leave for the trip south, not all bu t a good number.

Later the swallows were joined by a group of Starlings on the wires, then suddenly the Starlings took off and were in a rush as they crashed through the trees.  A falcon zipped through and this time it was a Hobby, but it was too quick for me and all I managed was it flying away.

Tomorrow I get the chance to head inland to the Somerset Levels and the RSPB reserve at Ham Wall.