Swallows, Who's Still Go Them?

[Prudie]

A lot have gone but I still have a few around, just saw a couple. Who else still has them?

[Tilly2]

All our swallows have gone but there are still some house martins around, scudding over the fields.

[april1693]

Ours left about a fortnight ago, we had 3 nests and at least one of them produced 3 sets of young. I'm always sad to see them go, it's lovely listening to them chittering on the TV aerial!

[boxtops]

Ours left in early-mid September, I didn't see many after the end of August this year- but we had a good crowd when they were here. Roll on May 11, when they come back again!

[ChillDoubt]

Not seen them here in a while. For the first time I can recall they were abundant this year where I holiday in France. By strange coincidence, the cicada's were almost non existant, when they've usually been noisy!
Anyone know if they're a particular delicacy of swallows?

[boxtops]

possibly, chill! http://www.purplemartin.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=172616&sid=ea801efdec18d34e5d06530c1c5ed9bc

[ChillDoubt]

Thanks for that boxy, most enlightening! It is amazing that an insect of moderate size can make the racket they do. I'm hoping the swallows return to the happy hunting ground of Lanquedoc-Roussillon next year, preferably August as I'm going a few weeks later than usual.

[boxtops]

I was in Port Grimaud many years ago, a cicada got into the apartment and took up residence on the pelmet above the door. I have never heard such a din in an enclosed space!

[ChillDoubt]

I was a bit taken aback the first time I found one(dead).
I put it in a 35mm film case and there was little room to spare!
I've preserved it in a small bottle of formalin from work as ideally I'd like to have it encased in a perspex type mixture and turned into a keyfob.