the dates when the first
swift of each pair has returned to their nest boxes on my house
- 2009 – May 6th, 8th, 9th, 9th, 9th, 13th
- 2010 – May 3rd, 3rd, 3rd, 4th, 9th, 9th,
16th
- 2011 – May 3rd, 5th, 5th, 6th, 8th
- 2012 – May 10th, 10th, 10th, 12th
- 2013 – May 7th, 7th, 7th, 12th, 17th,
17th, 31st
- 2014 – May 2nd, 3rd, 3rd, 6th, 6th, 7th
- 2015 – May 5th, 5th, 8th, 8th, 13th, 14th,
14th, 15th
- 2016 – May 4th, 4th, 4th, 4th, 4th, 5th,
5th, 5th, 8th
- 2017 – May 4th, 4th, 5th, 5th, 6th,
- 2018 – May 7th, May 7th, 7th, 9th
- 2019 – May 5th, May 6th, May 6th,
12th,12th,
- 2020 – April 26th, May 5th, May 5th, May
5th, May 7th
- 2021 – May 2nd, May 5th, May 6th, May 9th,
May 10th
- 2022 – May 6th, May 7th, May 7th, May 8th,
May 8th, May 10th
- 2023 – April 29th, April 29th, April 29th,
April 29th, April 30th, May 2nd, May 2nd
- 2024 – April 22nd,
-
- average date = May 7th/8th (May 7.5)
Looking at
my notes over the last 10 years the first swifts seen in Northern
Ireland range from April 14th to April 22nd.
The average date for first sightings is April 18.9
colour ringed adults
gable box 1 – 32
gable box 2 – 03
gable box 3 – 18 and
no ring non breeders from 2022
gable box 4 – ? and ? didnt
return in 2023
gable box 5 – 02 and 17
gable box 6 – 19 and
gable box 7 – 03 and 27
gable box 8 –
24 relocated
gable box 9 – 01 and 29
gable box 10 –
gable box 11 –
under eave 4 – ? and
? didnt return in 2023
back 1 –
back 2 –
back 3 – 14 and 25
what happened in the gable boxes in 2024
-
Box 1 - 2023 failed first time breeders.
2024 reared young
-
Box 2 - failed first time breeders
-
Box 3 - not in use
-
Box 4 - didnt return in 2023
-
Box 5 - failed established breeders
-
Box 6 - successful
-
Box 7 - successful
-
Box 8 - successful
-
Box 9 - successful
-
Box 10 - not in use
-
Box 11 - not in use
-
-
The earliest to return in 2024 were the earliest ever with swifts
returning on April 22nd, 26th, 28th and 29th. Will it happen again
in 2025?
-
-
April 6th
-
a lone swift has returned to a colony in Crumlin
-
April 7th
-
hottest day of the year - 19C
-
April 8th
-
hottest day of the year -
20C
-
3-5 house martins high above the house
-
April 9th
-
hottest day of the year - 21C
-
a lone house martin entered a nest close by
-
April 11th
-
hottest day of the year - 23C
briefly 24C