Fly away, little birdies!

Well, I managed to enjoy the company of Redbeard and his new clan for around week after I got back to Japan. Sadly though, they have all departed, their nest of dried mud and twigs now sits empty above my front door. Recently I have watched them all go crazy whenever I came home (I doubt they were happy to see me, more disturbed by me being so close to the nest), or from a night out, but now, after a week of remaining vigilant, I'm certain they have headed back west towards Thailand or Cambodia, wherever Redbeard came from originally. I will miss their excited chatter whenever I leave my house in the morning, but I have to say I won't miss the growing mound of poop they left on my doorstep. Which reminds me, I really should clear that up...

New lodger

A few weeks ago I came home to discover splashes of mud on my front door and leaves and twig all over the porch. Ever the sleuth, I looked up to discover the beginnings of a nest being built on my front door frame. I was curious but cautious, after all, the nest could have been a hive too. I decided very firmly to keep my eye on it.

A few weeks later I am delighted to discover the now-finished nest belongs to a lovely little swallow(s). Since the nest first appeared I'd been finding bird poop on my car and seeing a pair of little black birds shooting around the house, so am rather chuffed to find they have chosen to lodge with me.

Some nights ago I came home from Karate to find a black head poking over the nest, staring at me as I unlocked the front door. Owing to his nice reddish-orange facial markings I've named him Redbeard.


Redbeard in his nest