Very wet and windy morning then overcast with drizzle all afternoon. No movement until after 2 pm then they left the respective nests one at a time. All home and settled by 7pm. Just one short clip showing good view of one of the chimney nest swifts.

Wonderful day. Was watching cameras this afternoon. At 3.45pm saw a swift entering the bedroom nest. It wandered round the whole nest site. I thought the behaviour was unusual and wondered if it was the second swift returning. 20 minutes later it flew off so I was hoping to see a pair in that nest later. At 6.40pm the second swift arrived in the chimney nest and quickly snuggled up with its partner. 15 minutes later there were 2 swifts in the bedroom nest. They have not seen each other for 9 months and flown safely to Southern Africa and back and found the nest. First clip shows what I think was the new swift returning to the bedroom nest. Second clip the pair together. Clip 3 shows the arrival of the second swift in the chimney nest. Clip 4 shows them getting reacquainted.

A cold overcast drizzle all day. Both swifts left about 10.30 returning between 6 and 7.30pm. No signs of any more. A couple of sparrows had a look in the chimney nest while the swift was present. The swift took no notice. I hear a large group of swifts are feeding up in southern France and are due here in a couple of days. Here’s hoping.

Great news. My second swift arrived at 7.09 this evening. I was watching the cameras at the time so the first clip is literally seconds after it arrived. That’s 2 out of 6 I am hoping for. The second clip was it showing off to the camera. The other one enjoyed the much less windy and much warmer day leaving before 8.30 this morning and returning just before 8 this evening.

Much better day today. Cold, windy but sunny. The single swift had left by 9am and stayed out until 6.45 pm. No sightings of any others and just the singleton on the nest. Still hoping the others will return soon.