The swallows' first broods have fledged and the adults are now incubating eggs for the second brood.

If the weather holds they may even squeeze in a third brood.

In contrast to several other species, swallows usually build their nests in safe, secure spaces, so predators are less likely to find them.

As a result the chicks have a relatively long fledging period of about three weeks before they leave their nests, thus allowing them valuable time to build up strength prior to their first flight.

When leaving their nests, the young continue to be fed by the adults for another two weeks. The adults also feed young when airborne. The two meet head-on in flight at some speed and the adult transfers food in a split second before breaking away. An astonishing feat of avian aerobatics, so incredibly fascinating to watch.

It is odd to realise that around September 2, when the young birds are just a few weeks old, they embark on a hazardous 8,000-mile flight to the sunny South African reed beds where they spend our winter, then next March, they return to the same nest sites where they were born a year previously.

Now is the season for damselflies to be on the wing.

Evolving more than 300 million years ago, they are the comparatively new kids on the block as their cousins, the larger, more robust, dragonflies first appeared on earth 400 million years ago, even before dinosaurs evolved and of course they are still with us today, whereas dinosaurs died out 60 million years ago.

My favourite insect is the banded demoiselle, our largest species. The species is at home on slow-flowing water and there can even be quite large groups fluttering around, the male using his deep blue banded wings as semaphore to attract females or deter rival males from their territories.

Eggs are laid into water plants below the surface and the nymphs take two years to mature before emerging as perfect insects.

Favourite haunts are the River Wandle in Morden Hall Park, and Beverley Brook in Richmond Park.

Apart from the banded demoiselle, there are six other species found locally.

Many years ago, their slim abdomens earned them the name devil's darning needles. All can perch on vegetation but not walk because their spiny legs point forward forming a sort of aerial fishing net into which they catch prey as they fly.

It is great to take a mindful moment or two to watch damsel flies going about their business.