Can swallows overwinter?

[bungeejumper]

We were visiting a crumbling stately home pile in Shropshire yesterday, and what should we find in the barn but a single adult swallow, with three fat fluffy chicks which were nowhere near ready to fly.

It was evident that this mother had had a late brood and hadn't been able to join the southbound migration. Admittedly, there are a few swallows and swifts still knocking about the skies in Wiltshire, but this particular one would have had to wait many weeks before her chicks were airborne and sufficiently fattened up for the terrible journey. They tell me that British swallows go all the way down to South Africa, a journey which takes them six weeks. Whereas other European countries' birds settle for Morocco or Tunisia and leave it at that!

It was all rather painful to contemplate. Can these birds survive a winter in the UK if they have to?

BJ

[AleisterCrowley]

Not sure about the answer, but where was your crumbling pile if you don't mind me asking (being a Shropshire Lad and all that)?

[bungeejumper]

Not sure about the answer, but where was your crumbling pile if you don't mind me asking (being a Shropshire Lad and all that)?

Berrington Hall. Nice lake and landscape (Capability Brown), shame about the house. (Gloomy red Shropshire sandstone.) But the walled gardens are fantastic - currently being restored. Deffo worth a visit on a sunny day.

BJ

[UncleIan]

It was all rather painful to contemplate. Can these birds survive a winter in the UK if they have to?

I would guess no, otherwise they would. That's nature for you.
They don't lay down fat for winter, as they migrate they catch food on the wing. If they stayed here, there would be nothing to eat.

[AleisterCrowley]

Not sure about the answer, but where was your crumbling pile if you don't mind me asking (being a Shropshire Lad and all that)?

Berrington Hall. Nice lake and landscape (Capability Brown), shame about the house. (Gloomy red Shropshire sandstone.) But the walled gardens are fantastic - currently being restored. Deffo worth a visit on a sunny day.

BJ

South of the border I think, in Herefordshire
My grandfather was vicar of a parish in the Leominster area, towards Weobley

[PinkDalek]

South of the border I think, in Herefordshire

Stone me, Rodney one of the greatest Navel Commanders of the 18th-century from https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/berrington-hall/features/the-creators-of-berrington-hall

[AleisterCrowley]

A man in command of his own umbilicus

[bungeejumper]

Stone me, Rodney one of the greatest Navel Commanders of the 18th-century

Ah yes, but the Rodney period didn't work out so well. From the same website:

"Unfortunately George, the 7th Lord Rodney, lost the family wealth in the late 19th century. First selling off furniture and paintings, he was finally forced to sell the house in 1901."

Rodney, it seems you were a plonker.

BJ

[PinkDalek]

Ah yes, but the Rodney period didn't work out so well.

His name liveth on via his descendants and as below (and elsewhere), for you know who:

http://theadmiralrodneycriggion.co.uk/

One of those places in Criggion, nr Shrewsbury, Wales.

[AleisterCrowley]

Interesting place Criggion.
It used to be a VLF radio transmitter site used to communicate with nuclear armed subs... I went there exactly once, before they pulled the masts down.

Rodney's Pillar is impressive, but Lord Hereford's Knob probably wins the gold medal