Country diary: Mayday, mayday … the heatwave is killing the swallow chicks | Kate Blincoe

Caistor St Edmund, Norfolk: Adult swallows travel across the world to breed in Britain’s supposedly temperate climate.

Instead, this week’s temperatures have been deadly

Mouth gaping, the swallow chick leans perilously over the edge of the nest cup.

It is young, just a scrap of body, and at least a week away from being ready to fledge.

But under the tin roof the heat is rising, becoming unbearable.

The chick perches on the edge of the nest, opening and closing its mouth, trying to stay cool in the absence of sweat glands.

Then, it’s hard to tell if it overbalances, seeking cooler air, or makes a decision.

Either way, it plunges down, dropping with no hope of flight.

Somehow it misses the hard breezeblock ledge, and fortunately lands on the horse bedding.