Just saw 40-50 house martins and swallows flying lowish over West Norwood station while I waited for my train. Bon voyage.

The weather is awful here and across much of Europe right now. That makes it even more poignant thinking about those little things flying through it all.

Why do they leave SO much later than swifts? Even a second brood of chicks must have fledged ages ago?

Seeing them right at the beginning of those incredible journeys is profoundly touching.