This summer we had some swallow visitors from Africa nesting in our garage. Swallows are such beautiful, graceful birds, with their ruby throat, snow-white clothes and witch’s cloak. We used to have swallows there all the time, but sadly, in the last three years, we haven’t had a single pair nesting. We noticed a pair hanging around in early May and we hoped they would nest here again, and thankfully they did. There’s a little window in the garage that is always open, but the swallows haven’t worked that out yet. Instead, they wait until we open the garage door. The garage has always been a popular place for wildlife – even when the swallows weren’t nesting. Last year, we had a visit from a tawny owl and I used to sing to him. I have had to rescue several birds and butterflies that were struggling to escape. I liked to go and check the nest; I think the swallows took it in turns sitting on it. They were such acrobats with their swooping, twirling, diving and dancing. I always thought they didn’t make a sound, but they were always chatting to each other. I also loved their tails, always swishing about leaving invisible traces in the air. But now they have left. I hope the swallows have arrived safely after their 6,000-mile flight back to South Africa. Even though they are gone, there is still plenty of wildlife to watch. On misty mornings deer prance around the field. Mummy pigeons raise squabs and I watch them learn to fly. And only this week I saw a mouse climbing in the passiflora, nibbling the leaves. Scarlet, 11 Read today’s other YCD piece, by Aisha, 12: ‘What’s this hiding on the coastline?’ Young Country Diary has moved to the fourth Saturday of each month