Was a bit worried last night. At 23.00 still only one parent in the nest. Reassured first thing this morning to find them both there. Still just the one egg. Looks like that’s it for this year but should it hatch it should be well fed. Nothing new to show from cam today Here is a video clip from last year of 3 day old swifts.
Yesterday we had gale force winds all afternoon and overnight with at least 2 inches of rain.The swifts went out in the morning for a couple of hours but returned at lunch time just before the wind and rain. They stayed in the nest overnight and only left at midday just before the rain stopped.
Still just the one egg. I am beginning to think that is all for this year (they fledged 3 last year). Short video showing the egg in the breeze this afternoon.
Managed to get a clip yesterday showing the Swift Lousefly (crataerina pallida). This little bug is a blood sucker but usually does little damage. They lay eggs in the nest that wait in the nest until the swifts return next year. You can see one running across the back of the nearest sweft at the start of the video.
Here is a photo I took last week. It shows one of the other swifts nesting in our attic missing the entrance to the nest. The entrance is behind the barge board not between it and the gutter. It managed next time round.
It was cold wet and windy this morning and one of the swifts was on the nest until 12.30. When he or she left there was only one egg as yesterday. They both returned at 17.00 and have stayed all evening. Please leave comments or questions. I am a rank amateur but am in regular contact with the South West leading swift expert so can pass on questions I cant answer. Also if anyone would like to view the live cam leave a message with email and I can get back to you with log in details.
I expect the next couple of weeks will be fairly similar but if all goes well this egg should hatch the week beginning 15th June.
One clip from today. As I said earlier it was cold today so does it require two swifts to keep the egg warm.
The swifts were more attentive today. There was one of them on the nest most of the day, they only left the egg unattended for !/2 hour.Both in the nest at 20.00.
A clip from today.
From the swift cam yesterday
A new egg in the nest this morning
They left the nest about 10.30 this morning leaving the egg. They both returned at 18.00
I live in an old farm house that is now in a built up area of Torbay. After retiring I discovered that we have swifts nesting in our attic space. Two years ago I purchased an IP Cam overlooking one of the nests. It was in an easily accessible area in the attic and managed to photograph the fledglings in the nest.
Here are some of the pictures.
Two parents at nest entrance
Earliest picture of young in nest. About 2 weeks old.
Three days later.
Five days later
twelve days later
fifteen days later with parent
As above Fifteen days later with parent.
Seventeen days later
Nineteen days later
Twenty one days later
They fledged two days later.
Only one swift returned to that nest last year and only stayed a week. That net was not used last year or this.
I have moved the cam onto another nest but am unable to take photos as it is tucked away in an difficult to access area in the attic.
This year they arrived on the 6th May 6 days earlier than last year. The first egg was laid on the 27th May 6 days later than last year.
First egg on nest 27th May 2015.
Torbayswifts 