Just back from a few days in Cornwall. As expected no swifts at home in the attic. All 4 have fledged. This is great news. Will continue to look out for adults who stay around for a week or so to feed up before their long flight. If I see no more swifts this will end this years blog. Thanks for the few who have logged in.

The bedroom nest chick fledged this morning between 8.15 and 8.30. Only one to go.

Was surprised today as one of the chicks in the bedroom nest fledged today. They usually go first thing in the morning but both were in the nest at 2pm but only one at 2.30. I am away until Friday so expect them all to have gone by then. A couple of clips. Firstly the lone chick in the bedroom nest trying to work out what to do with his or her wings.

Secondly the chimney nest last occupant looking apprehensively at the big wide world. I know it’s a bit anthropomorphic but I know them well.

One of the chimney nest swifts fledged this morning. I took clips of them all last night expecting them to fledge soon. I have read that it all depends on the weight of the chicks. When the parents feel they are strong enough to fly but not overweight to make flying hard they stop feeding and leave the chicks in the nest. I have been monitoring both nests all day and at 5pm have not seen an adult bird in the nest. The lone swift in the chimney nest has been searching the attic space visiting areas not yet explored. He looks very lonely and I fully expect him to fledge tomorrow. The pair in the bedroom nest have been stretching their wings and will be gone soon.

The 2 chicks with a parent in bedroom nest last night.

One of the bedroom chicks stretching wings today

The lone chick in chimney nest looking lonely.

Quiet dat swift wise today. Not so hot, more cloudy and some wind. I have been in the garden most of the day and no swifts flying that I have seen and no screaming. I am expecting the chicks to fledge next week.

Short clips from each nest showing quiet chicks.

Still great weather for swifts. Not much new to show in the nests bur great screaming parties between 9 and 10 morning and evening. They scream flying close by the nest entrance and sometimes stopping at the entrance cling on for a few seconds. Whilst this is happening at least one adult is sat in the nest entrance screaming back. First clip shows both adults in bedroom nest on guard and screaming back.

I tried with my phone to film the dive bombing swifts from the conservatory below the bedroom nest. They are so fast it’s not easy.

Last try from in the garden. The nest is to the left of the middle window. At the end of the clip you will see one of the bangers entering a nest site. Two of them spent days practicing getting in. They are now proficient at it. I suspect a new nest there next year. Hope so as it has easy access so a good place for a camera.

As one gets older time just seems to get faster and faster. I thought it was a couple of days since last post now find out it was 5. Weather remains great for swifts. Hot, sunny and fairly humid. Aphids are an important part of a swift diet and from the evidence in our garden this is a bumper year. Swifts flying round the house almost all day. Screaming follow my leader flights at about 9 am and 9 pm. The chicks are doing very well. I have just worked out that they are likely to fledge in about a couple of weeks.

Clip from bedroom nest showing chicks exploring.

Clip from chimney nest showing how far they are moving. The first one seen is a parent in the nest.

Also from chimney nest, chicks yearning to get out.

It’s been hot and sunny and swifts screaming round the house most of the day. The chicks are doing great. Parents very attentive and bringing plenty of food. When the “bangers” the non breeding swifts scream flying up to the used nest there is always a parent looking out and screaming back. This is normal swift behaviour.

Managed with the right light to get a clip of the chicks in the chimney nest in colour without IR.

Not much room in the chimney nest to stretch wings

More room in the bedroom nest!

Got back home late last night. Was greeted by screaming swifts all around the house. Between 9 and 10pm counted at least 11 individual swifts. The most so far this year. The pair trying to get into the attic near the bedroom nest are now very proficient at getting in. May have a peep late one evening to see if they are staying for the night. This accounts for 6 swifts so will have to check the other side of the house to see if other nest sites are being surveyed. The chicks are all doing very well. They can now see and are exploring their environments avidly.

Firstly a clip from the bedroom nest showing wing flapping. It’s early as still 3 to 4 weeks before they fledge.

Second the chimney nest chicks exploring.

Lastly today the bedroom chicks with a parent.

Back from a few days away. At long last we have swift weather. Hot sunshine and plenty of insects. The chicks are doing very well and are now very obviously swifts. Not caught on camera yet but they are exploring the area around the nests.

First clip from bedroom nest.

The chicks from the chimney nest posing for the camera.

And the bedroom nest with an adult showing the size difference.