IN 2004 I was out in my garden on the evening of St George's Day, musing on how chilly it was.

Not 20 feet away on an electricity cable was a swallow, chittering away at me as much as to say: "So you think its cold."

I kept watch, and he stayed for a week on his own, and then disappeared, to return with others another week later.

In 2005 he returned again on St George's Day, alone. In 2006 it was a bit warmer and he turned up on April 18, and I thought: "Ah, global warming."

This year I watched earlier for proof, but he let me down. He turned up on April 24 with five others. On reflection, I don't think it is global warming - just the luck of the draw with regard to tail winds.

Ken Barnes, North View, Catterton, Tadcaster.