Swallows have arrived back in Ireland for the summer, BirdWatch Ireland confirmed yesterday, writes Seán Mac Connell.
One of the first sightings was in Kilcoole, Co Wicklow, nearly a week ago and there have been further reported sightings in Wexford and in the west.
Niall Hatch of BirdWatch Ireland said that great numbers of swallows have not arrived here yet but the first arrivals were in line with the migratory patterns of last year, when the first recorded sighting was in Co Clare on March 20th.
The organisation has already logged reports on the arrival of sand martins, which normally reach the southern part of Ireland around St Patrick’s Day.