As I sat in the hide yesterday I became aware that a Swallow (Hirundo rustica), known as a barn Swallow in the US, was collecting mud from an exposed bank just opposite. They use this to plaster their nests which are made entirely of mud.  In the Uk Swallow nest in barns, out buildings and in some cases even indoors if allowed. They are a well known and well loved bird here  and are as much a part of a British summer as Ice Cream and trips to the seaside. In the US, I am not sure that they are quite so popular, for example, my niece in upstate New York has them nesting on her porch and she finds them messy and a nuisance.  European birds migrate and spend the winter in sub-Saharan Africa returning to the same nest sites year after year. Their little twittering song is not unlike a Sparrow to my ears. On the Alphin Brook, they glide over the water to catch flying insects and from time to time dip their beaks for a drink, proving yet again how important the brook is   Their presence to me is a real indication of the importance of areas like the Alphin Brook to the local wildlife.  Imagine if the brook had been diverted underground as it meandered through the trading estate? The numerous bird species and insects would have been deprived of a habitat and we would have been deprived of their presence.  My portfolio of Alphin Brook wildlife is growing and you can have a look by clicking on the link to visit. Alphin Brook Wildlife Images. There are photographs of 22  different species of birds but the list is actually in excess of 30 bird species noted but not all photographed.