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I don't mean The Wire TV series (although apparently it's brilliant). I mean the real one: telegraph and phone wires. Because this weekend they could be getting very busy as house martins and swallows show off their tightrope balancing skills. My bird book, Birds of Britain and Europe , says...

Of course, Aristotle said 'one swallow does not make a summer' , but I think a swallow could make your weekend. They've already been seen as far north as Orkney , so your local ones are bound to be back soon. They're coming to a barn, shed or garage near you! Five swallow facts...

Coming into work this morning, I noticed a lone swallow perched on a wire by the side of the road. Although fairly impossible to tell what mood a bird is in, he looked a little lost and forlorn, and I imagined him sitting on the wire, wondering where all his mates had gone. I didn't have time...

I stepped out of the front door to begin my journey to work. It was a beautiful morning, with the vibrant, green young leaves of the horse chestnuts illuminated perfectly. And there they were, bickering for space to perch on the telegraph wire. Our next-door neighbours, the swallows , were back! Lots...