Sorry, have been busy the last few days. Very little flying activity, saw three in a very short screaming party last week. On the whole the weather has been good. Today we had a very wet morning but the afternoon was fine and sunny. I probably have not said this before but these swifts have been great parents. When its been cold there has always been one adult in the nest, when the weather has been good there has been plenty of food they bring food almost hourly. I have still not seen any parasites so am fairly sure this is a new nest and almost certainly first time parents. They seem to be a little less tolerant of the hassle when they return with food but all four huddle up for the night.

One photo from today. its so difficult. They are a couple of feet from the only position I can get the camera, I have to use the screen as can’t get my eye to the eyepiece and need a torch held in my other hand to focus. This photo took 40 minutes to get.

First clip is one parent arriving with food

Second clip shows the chicks with an adult. They are almost full size now but a bit paler.

The earliest the first one may fledge is the 18th August. Its very late and may be a bit later as the food supply has been on and off. Many swifts are already on their way to S Africa. Its so hard to understand that when the chicks leave they will not touch the ground again for at least two years. The adults will not see each other until they return to this nest next May.

Sorry its been a few days. Up until today the weather has been great. Plenty of food and both chicks growing fast. Today has been wet and windy. I read today from the Oxford University Museum of Natural History where they have a swift tower with cameras and have been ringing swifts for 50 years that my experience this Because of the weather the breeding season has been extended. Usually they have all gone by mid August but they expect to still have swifts fledging in September. Its nice to have your own thoughts confirmed by experts in the field. Some photos from the nest. All very similar as I don’t want to spend too much time in the eves disturbing them.

These are uncropped but heavy removal of shadows as flash is behind a beam. Now a couple of clips. The first shows a common sight with the two chicks patiently waiting for food.

The second shows the second adult arriving for the night I expect as its raining outside. Now 19.30.

Not much room for four swifts!

Another hot sunny day. Swifts were well fed, both of them getting several meals. I ventured into the attic space with my camera and managed a few good shots of the larger chick whilst one of the adults was present. The flash did not seem to disturb them. Her are 3 of them.

The adult is upper right looking out.

Watching them later they both went walkabout in the attic space. I was worried about the little one who seemed to fall some distance from the nest.

It was a real struggle to get back

Finally the larger chick decided to exercise his wings.

I was beginning to worry about the smaller chick over the last few days. Up until yesterday the weather has been not good for swifts. After the rain it remained cold and windy. I have noticed this year very few aphids on the veg the staple food of our swifts. In common with other species the larger infant gets more food and I had noticed the younger swift was getting smaller in comparison to the other one. At last we have had a couple of good days. The chicks have been fed frequently and the smaller one has grown a lot in the last couple of days. The first clip shows the two chicks side by side. The smaller one nearest the camera and preening for the second half of the clip.

The second clip shows how the adults are greeted.

These are very late! A blog from Bristol where a house has nest boxes with cameras and was on Springwatch reports 12 fledged with only 5 left expected to fledge in the next week or so. Ours have about 4 weeks to go.

Yesterday was another dreadful day for the swifts. Heavy rain until late afternoon. The next clip shows one parent arriving to be greeted by very hungry chicks. As can be seen no food was offered.

Managed another photo. Very hard to get the flash to light the chicks due to a beam. The two faces are clear though.

Yesterday we had dreadful weather. From the middle of the night until about 21.00 we had heavy rain, strong wind and it was cold. One of the adults was out all morning arriving back very wet at 14.00 with no food. They both went out late evening when the rain was stopping but again no food was brought back. This clip is just after the second one returned and the chicks demanding food but none offered.

Swifts are very adaptable and the chicks can survive for up to 4 days without food living on fat reserves.

This morning I ventured into the eves and managed 1 decent photo. It shows the head of the youngest on the right and the back of the older one showing the appearance of feathers. the wing feathers are developing well.

This clip this evening after a much better day, sun not too windy and warmer. Gives a good view of the pair of the chicks who are still obviously different sizes.

Checking other swift blogs most chicks are fledging or very near to fledging so this is a very late brood. Its hard to pick them out on the cam so when I was sure the adults were away,ipad in hand I crawled into the eves and managed to get this picture. From my experience two years ago the chicks are very tolerant of human presence. I will visit them regularly over the next few weeks. Here is the photo of not very attractive 10 and 7 day old swift chicks.

Back from a trip to Scotland. Our swifts are showing great parenting skills. The chicks are still very different sizes but both are being fed regularly, if anything the smaller chick appears more active and demanding. Their small size makes filming them hard but here are two clips. The first shows both chicks.

The second clip shows feeding time. The adults collect the flies and creat a bolus that they regurgitate for the chicks.

Not much time but had to add this clip. Last night a male house sparrow arrived at the nest. He stayed outside until the second swift came back and he was pushed onto the nest. I think its lovely that when the chicks opened their beaks he appears to try to feed them. I missed the clip but there was a bit of aggression from the swifts and the sparrow left with his tail between his legs.

Great news! We now have a pair of swift chicks. Not sure if the second one hatched today or yesterday. An obvious difference in size but both chicks are looking quite feisty. The first clip shows the chicks, smallest one farthest from camera with parent looking on.

The second clip shows youngsters doing what youngsters do when mum and dad are away.

I am going away for a few days so will hopefully catch up next Tuesday.