The weather has been poor except for one day since I last posted. The bedroom pair have stayed on the nest for a lot of the time when it has been raining. On the one good day there were 5 screaming round the house whilst the bedroom pair were in.

This is a short clip of the pair on the nest at mid day. This is quite unusual.

Today I moved the other camera I have in the attic. Its not possible to place it in the best spot but I hope to see another pair who have nested there before

Today I was just checking the cams and saw this.

Its hard to see but I went into the attic to check and yes it is an egg. This is very early for this pair. I have not seen eggs before the last week of May before. Last year it was the 27th. Will keep you updated.

Been out most of the last couple of days. Monday was lovely and they had an early start. Returned at about 6pm and 1/2 hour later.

Earlier this evening had a lovely screaming party of 5 swifts around the house. They returned to the nest about 7pm. I have, from the outside, identifies 2 more previously used nest sites being used. These are almost impossible to access inside the house. Do not want to disturb them too much so as it is early days will explore the attic in a couple of days.

Great news This morning checked the camera to find 2 swifts in the bedroom nest. Last year it was 2 weeks before the second one arrived. Looking out there were 8 swifts flying together with our 2 still in the nest. Later there was a couple of screaming fly pasts of 5 birds. This is much more usual for here so I suspect the others were just flying by.

Short clip showing the 2 of them together on the nest.

Its amazing that they have probably not seen each other since last year yet they return to the same nest within 2 days of each other after a winter in S Africa.

This morning checked cams at 9.15am to find a swift in what I will call the bedroom nest. This is the nest that has fledged 2 swifts for each of the last two years. I think that 2 years ago this was their brood. I am fairly sure that the nest had not been used before. I note that this is an early arrival with the first large influx of swifts noted at Berry Head and Portland yesterday. I think it is amazing that in 2015 I first saw a swift in this nest on the 6th May, last year it was the 5th of May and this year its the 5th of May again. Flying all the way from South Africa they arrive 3 years in a row within a day. I am told that once on the nest swifts, like me, are late risers. They wait until the flies are out and about.

The swift had been in the nest overnight but was fairly inactive this morning. Just a short clip to announce its arrival.

Just to update. We have another nest site under the eves in the corner of the house. This nest site is outside the wall of the house so I am unable to monitor it. I did see another swift enter this nest site with another flying. Total of 3 swifts. Another clip of the above swift preening. It returned at about 4.30pm and is still there now at 9.30.

We have been away for a week in Northumberland watching and photographing puffins, arctic terns a few little terns and a very obliging barn owl. Whilst away was able to keep an eye on our swift chicks. What a change in a week. They have open eyes, are growing feathers and are exploring their nest area. These two seem to be more adventurous than last years at this age.

Two clips one showing all four in the nest area just after one of the adults came back.

One just showing the chicks.

Since last week I have discovered that I was wrong last week. On Sunday I noticed that there were two chicks in the nest. I have tried very hard to get some good video showing both of them Not succeeded yet but here are three clips . The first shows one being fed with the other behind fed right at the end of the clip.

One being fed with the other one visible.

One either side of the adult.

Sorry. Its been a while since I posted. There has been little to say. Sometime last week another egg was ejected from the nest. I can’t find out why they do this. If the egg is not viable how do they know?

Since then there has been one bird on the nest constantly so I have not even been able to check if there was still one egg, but assumed there was to keep one bird so constantly on the nest.

Today just caught this. I think it has only just happened as the egg shell is still in the nest.

We have been away for a few days. Back home yesterday but was playing in a big band gig last night so not much swift watching until today. News of the nest is a little disappointing. One egg has been rejected and the remains can be seen on the conservatory roof. The swifts remain very attentive with one on the eggs most of the time. Briefly tonight they both went out together for an evening fly at 9.45 returning 5 minutes later. A short video just after they returned.

I spent a couple of hours outside this evening and counted 5 swifts screaming round the house but have only been able to locate one other nest site that unfortunately is not accessible to a camera. I will keep trying to find out if we have any more.

There has not been much to add over the last few days. The weather was good until today and there has been one swift on the nest most of the time. A couple of days ago I got a short clip of both birds in the nest showing both eggs.

Today the weather was not great. Rain fairly windy and cold. As it dried up after lunch both swifts left for a feed and I got a lovely view of three eggs.

If the weather remains okay they may start hatching 15th to 20th June.

I have been busy today playing in a 7 piece swing band on the veranda of a hotel overlooking Torbay. On return home checked the cam and found, in the brief moments when both birds were out that we now have 2 eggs. Not able to photograph them as at least one swift is in the nest most of the time. Took a short clip.

I was outside last night with 4 swifts screaming round the house while my two were still in the nest. Saw two entering another nest entrance, a nest that’s almost impossible to reach but still not sure were the other two have their nest. Will keep looking.