These days we normally welcome home swallows in early April, earlier than
in
the past. We had one swallow that for several years consistently returned
at
the end of March (and made home the same favoured barn), possibly/probably
the same bird each time. This bird survived fierce -4C April frosts and
snowstorm (though we did put a heat lamp on for him for some warmth at
night, which it roosted above - no mug he, and a sheltered dry home must
have helped). Whatever swallows are pretty tough, just not tough enough to
survive winter or prolonged cold?

Peter

I was looking at the Hertfordshire bird records for 2003 which shows that
Sand Martins arrive at the beginning of March and House Martins and Swallow
at the end of the month. The current records are definitely unusual as they
are well in advance of normal arrivals and I can only assume was as a result
of the air mass source being a long way to the south.

Alan