This time last night the sky was a cloudless light orange and filled with 100s of swallows as I looked out. Never seen so many, it was more like a cloud of gnats. The sky tonight is equally stunning but not a single one. I think they were gathering and off they've gone. Winter on the way.
Actually by my house I hadn't seen any swallows all summer until about 3 weeks ago. We have had a huge number of housemartins though and they went a couple of weeks ago.
Housemartins and swifts gone too, I always feel a little sad when they leave, but then there are redwings, fieldfares and all the winter migrants. I hope its rubbish feeding in Siberia I want a waxwing winter