Some Kingston riverside swallows reared a third brood in August (pictured).

Swifts, with a reduced population flew south about a week earlier than usual so were with us for barely three months. Possibly the heatwave generated more insect prey so they were able to shorten their nesting period.

House martins seem to have enjoyed a successful summer and on holiday on the Devon coast I was privileged to enjoy one of the most amazing wildlife spectacles I have ever witnessed as a flock of over a hundred very vocal house martins, both adults and fledglings perched on or flew around my hotel roof or swooped en masse  past my window. They did this early in the morning and late afternoons, but there was only one nest visible that they seemed to use as a focal point.

On these occasions about forty swallows mixed in with the martins voicing their attractive 'wit-wit' contact calls. Many of the young birds perched on a tall wire fence calling to be fed or flew up to be met by a parent bird when they briefly met head on in mid air for an exchange of food, almost as if they were kissing, and a delight to watch.

On several occasions the swallows alighted on a playing field adjacent to the hotel and fed on the ground which is most unusual or flew just above the sea's surface or above the beach picking off sand flies.

The swallows will be flying south sometime this month to commence their 6000 mile trip to spend the winter in the Capetown reed beds.

House martins linger into October before departing but nobody is quite sure exactly where on the African continent they overwinter. So many martins and swallows certainly made my summer!