Swallows

Now that most of the sparrows living in our verandah roof have fledged (although we're still finding the odd corpse) our attention has now been grabbed by the swallows. We'd been seeing them flying around and occasionally swooping down to drink from the swimming pool. Then one evening they started showing an uncommon interest in the underside of the verandah roof. We thought they might be after insects but it transpired that they were looking for a nest site.

Last weekend they started building just outside the kitchen window and fascinating viewing it was. The pair worked together, one bringing mud (although in this dry climate it must have been been pretty dry) and the other bringing straw. Given the amount of building materials that were dropped we were surprised how quickly the nest took shape and by Sunday evening they were both sleeping there.

• Video of nest building for Facebook friends

The female is now sitting - with luck in a fortnight or so there should be babies. Watch this space ...

Sparrows

If you've ever wondered about the sparrow population, which has declined markedly in the UK over recent years, we're not the only ex-pats in Cyprus. There is a large community in our garden, many currently nesting in the tiles of the verandah roof. Unfortunately the odd fledgling falls out of its nest. We tried to keep one alive but it succumbed last night. At least it had a peaceful, dignified death in an empty ice cream container. Another older one blundered into the pool. I fished it out but it didn't make it.

According to the RSBP the UK house sparrow population peaked during the 1970s at 12 million but declined dramatically during the '90s with a 62% reduction over 25 years.

The worst thing about the sparrows is the mess, particulary around the pool area and on the fence. And the incessant twittering depending on your opinion. For me, I'm reliving the sound of my childhood.

All this talk of small birds unfortunately reminds me of the story I heard reported on The Today Programme about a week after Sean was offered the job here - that Cypriots are catching and eating as a delicacy British songbirds such as the robin. See here for the full gruesome story.