Swift Diary 2025
       nb = non breeder from 2024
  bird 1 bird 2 egg 1 egg 2 egg 3 1st out 2nd out 3rd out 1st fledged 2nd fledged 3rd fledged
1                      
2                      
3                      
4                      
5                      
6                      
7                      
8                      
9                      
10                      
11                      

under eave boxes - front

  bird 1 bird 2 egg 1 egg 2 egg 3 1st out 2nd out 3rd out 1st fledged 2nd fledged 3rd fledged
1                      
2                      
3                      
4                      
5                      
6                      
                       
                       
                       

under eave boxes - back

  bird 1 bird 2 egg 1 egg 2 egg 3 1st hatch 2nd hatched 3rd hatched 1st fledged 2nd fledged 3rd fledged
1                      
2                      
3                      
 
 
2024 Observations
(bracketed dates are from previous seasons)

nb = non breeder from 2024

 
my videos can be seen here www.youtube.com/user/sandersii/videos

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