THE EARLY ARRIVAL of feathered friends to Courier Country has sparked excitement among bird watchersand may give hope for better weather soon.
This week twitchers in the area started recording flocks of swallows, with one man spotting around 60 at Friockheim near the Lunan on Tuesday.
Bob McCurley, of Angus and Dundee Bird Club, said the swallows are back about a week early despite the recent cold weather.
“In the last few days there has been a big influx. They must sense the cold spell is about to leave,” he added.
“It is very difficult to know why they have come back early, but hopefully it indicates that we are going to get some warmer weather soon.”
The first recorded sighting Mr McCurley is aware of was at the Loch of Balgavies on Saturday and they were later spotted at the Loch of Kinnordy on Sunday in the company of some house martins.
Sand martins, usually earlier than the swallows, made their first appearance this year at Monikie and Kinnordy.
Mr McCurley said: “Those three birds are known as hirundines and they have come all the way from Africa and arrived back in Angus.
“It is very early for them but it is nice to see them make it back safely.”
The much-loved ospreys have also returned to the area although they were on time with sightings at the Montrose Basin at the beginning of the month and laterKinnordy.
They have already started to build their nests and people can also look out for fellow migrant chiffchaffs as the breeding season begins in earnest from now until May.
As these birds are settling back in, the area will have to say goodbye to its waxwings as they prepare to return to northern Europe.
The Met Office predictions say the UK has a bit more wind and rain on the way before a change at the end of this month but it is gearing up to be a fairly typical spring.
jethomson@thecourier.co.uk