Wednesday 6th May 2020

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

The chimney nest
The bedroom nest

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.

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.

Second swift arriving in bedroom nest
The pair in the bedroom nest
Second swift arriving in chimney nest
Reacquainting in chimney nest

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.

The arrival
The pose

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.