Sir

The swallows have definitely arrived! This morning (Saturday, April 27), around 7 am, my husband and I watched a line of at least 50 exhausted swallows that had just settled on the ridge tiles of a neighbour's roof, some so weary after their long flight from Africa that they had collapsed in the guttering. Most of them barely moved, just perched there, but two or three of the stronger ones began to preen their wings and look more refreshed.

After about 20 minutes, an irritated seagull flew at them noisily and chased them off and away towards Penally. What a sight!

Jean Frobel,