May 6, 1774
Posted by sydney on May 6th, 1774
The redstart whistles perching on the tops of tall trees near houses. Few swifts yet. In Devon near Exeter Swallows did not arrive ’til April 25; & house martins not ’til the middle of May. Swifts were seen in plenty on May 1st. At Blackburn in Lancashire swifts were seen April 28: Swallows April 29. House-martins May 1st. In some former years, I see, house-martins have not appeared ’til the beginning of May the case was the same this Year & yet they afterwards abounded. These long delays are more in favour of migration than of a torpid state. House-martins afterwards were very plenty.