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,
2025 – April 26th, April 27th, April 29th,
April 29th, 2nd May, 4th May
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 14thto April 22nd.
The average date for first sightings is April 18.9
colour ringed adults
gable box 1–32
gable box 2–03
and ?16
gable box 3–18 and
no ring non breeders from 2022
gable box 4–
14and ?
gable box 5–02and17
gable box 6–19and
gable box 7–03and27
gable box 8–
25 relocated
gable box 9–01and29
gable box 10–
gable box 11–
under eave4 – ?and
? didnt return in 2023
back 1–
back 2–
back 3–14 and
25 separated in
2024
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 - new pair
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 -19°C
April 8th
hottest day of the year -
20°C
3-5 house martins high above the house
April 9th
hottest day of the year - 21°C
a lone house martin entered a nest close by
April 11th
hottest day of the year - 23°C
briefly 24°C
April 23rd
single swifts seen over Lisbellaw and Holywood
April 24th
3 swifts are RSPb's WoW
April 25th
2 swifts back at Caulside 4 swifts back in Brookborough
April 26th
11am a lone house martin flew up to the gable
gable box 6 -
19.26 first swiftorange 19 home
April 26th
gable box 6 - 06.50 orange 19 left
April 27th
gable box 8 -18.49 orange 25 1st home
gable box 1 - 19.59 no ring home
1st
gable box 6 - 20.05 pair reunited
April 28th 19°C
gable box 3 18.6C 20.6 at 18.30
April 29th 23C at 18.00
gable box 7 - 20.13 orange 27 1st home
gable box 9 - 21.19 no ring1st home
April 30th 27°C temp in a nest box 24.6C at 21.00
May 2nd
gable box 2 - 21.19 no ring
1st home
May 4th
gable box 3-
07.14 a swift, no rings, arrives
8am very noisy outside
gable box 4 - 12.28 a swift, no rings,
arrives
gable box 5 - 10.45 an intruder arrives and leaves
very quickly
gable box 3 - 20.47 pair reunited
21.10 a house martin is
investigating the apex boxes