Lovely sunny day today. All 4 swifts were off before 9.30 and back around 6pm. I did for the first time see 2 swifts flying high over the house this evening. I am sure they were from the nests with cameras. 2 clips one from each nest
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Tuesday 5th May 2020
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.
Monday 4th May 2020
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.
Sunday 3rd May 2020
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.
Saturday 2nd May 2020
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.
Friday 1st May 2020
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.
Thursday 30th April 2020
Nothing to add today. Wet on and off all day. The single swift left the nest from 12 TIL 2pm then 3.30 TIL 5.15. Same view so no clip today. Sounds like the large group of swifts due the middle of next week.
Wednesday 29th April 2020
Not a lot to add tonight. Still just the one swift still who left when the rain stopped at midday. Came back at 6pm and still here. Due to straw from sparrow nest very poor views. This short clip is all I can see.
Tuesday 28th 2020
A wet start to the day then overcast with drizzle for the rest of the day. The single swift taped in the nest until 12.15 and returned at 6.15. The sparrows have learned their lesson and stayed away most of the day. One returned and sat outside the nest on a ledge for a few minutes. The swift was aware but took no notice. The sparrow left with no encouragement. In the clip the sparrow is to the right of the swift.
Monday 27th April 2020
Not much activity today. The single returnee left at 10 past 10 this morning. Soon after the sparrows returned. The sparrows came and went all day and one was in the nest when the swift returned at 18.15. Almost before the swift had arrived the sparrow had left. Too quick for me to record. No views of flying swifts and no more arrivals up to 9pm this evening. Short clip of the returning swift unfortunately after the sparrows departure.