Swift Diary 2017
     
                 left - gable boxes, middle - under eave boxes, right - under eave back
gable boxes

nb = non breeder from 2016

  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 4/5 7/5 15/5 17/5 19/5 due c9/6          
6 8/5 nb 8/5 nb awol                
7 4/5   26/5 28/5 ?30/5 due c20/6          
8                      
9 6/5 nb 9/5 nb 19/5 21/5 23/5 due c13/6          
10                      
11 17/5 awol                  

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                      
7                      
8                      
9 5/5 6/5 22/5 24/5 26/5 due c16/6          

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 5/5 awol                  
2                      
3                      
 
 
2017 Observations
(bracketed dates are from previous seasons)
 
videos can be seen here https://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,
 
average date = May 8th/9th
 
April 15th two swifts at Oxford Island
 
April 22nd
c.10 swifts at Oxford Island
a swift is back in a box in Cullybackey
 
April 27th two swifts very close to the house
 
May 1st
sunrise 05.46 sunset 21.00
 
May 3rd 20.00 2 swifts over the house
 
May 4th
21.10 5 screaming swift fly by the gable
Gable box 5 21.40 a swift arrives (4/5/16), (4/5/15), (2/5/14), (7/5/13), (10/5/12), (5/5/11), (16/5/10)
Gable box 7 21.40 a swift arrives (5/4/16), (13/5/15), (7/5/14), (7/5/13), (12/5/12), (3/5/11), (3/5/10), (6/5/09)
 
May 5th
Under eave back 1 19.32 first bird returned (19/5/16), (14/5/15), (19/5/14) (5/6/13) (11/6/13)
Under eave front 9 20.57 GPS swift home
 
May 6th
Gable box 9 21.30 non breeder from 2016 returns
Under eave front 9 21.19 the mate returns
Gable box 7 swift hasn't been back
 
May 7th hottest day of the year 22c
Gable box 5 18.20 second swift arrives
 
21.40 An under eave swift that lives in number 9 entered gable box 7 for 10 minutes, left and tried to enter under eave 8, went back and entered gable box 7, stayed a couple of minutes, left and entered its own box
 
May 8th
Gable box 7 0855 a nervous swift enters and leaves at 08.56
Gable box 4 08.56 a nervous swift enters and leaves at 08.58
 
12.10 three swifts acting like bangers
 
Gable box 6
18.58 a swift arrives and leaves at 19.04
19.10 a swift arrives and leaves at 19.11
none have been seen since today
 
May 9th
Gable box 9 12.15 second swift arrives
Gable box 6 19.30 a swift arrives with a feather
Gable box 6 19.38 the second swift arrives
Under eave front 9 22.58 the agitated swift left its nest in the dark
 
a swift colony in Nice, France
 
May 10th
Gable box 6 12.12 a nervous swift enters and leaves at 12.13
Under eave front 9 22.15 the agitated swift left its nest in the dark
 
May 13th
Gable box 4 16.29 a swift enters and leaves at 16.31. A swift arrives at 16.32 and leaves at 16.35
 
May 14th
Gable box 6 15.36 a swift arrives and leaves at 16.40
Gable box 6 16.41 in and out three times in 5 minutes
Gable box 4 16.47 a swift arrives and leaves at 16.50
 
May 15th
sunrise 05.18 sunset 21.25
 
Gable box 5 1st egg 8 days together  
 
May 16th
Gable box 2 21.46 a swift arrives and leaves at 21.53
 
May 17th
Gable box 5 2nd egg
Gable box 7 swift hasn't been seen for 11 days - where's its mate?
Gable box 7 09.36 a swift arrives. Is it the missing swift, its mate or a non breeder? It stays until 10.45
Gable box 4 10.53 a swift arrives and leaves at 11.37
Gable box 7 13.10 a swift arrives and leaves at 13.45
Gable box 11 19.18 a swift arrives and leaves at 19.40
Gable box 11 21.32 a swift arrives and stays over night
Gable box 7 21.53 a swift arrives and stays over night
 
May 18th
wasp nest in gable box 4
Gable box 3 10.45 a swift arrives and leaves at 10.50
under eave back 1 13.41 a nervous swift arrives and leaves at 13.45
Gable box 7 14.50 two swifts arrive. No fighting
Gable box 6 16.14 a swift arrives and leaves at 16.16
Gable box 7 20.40 a swift arrives 20.44 a second swift arrives. No fighting!
 
May 19th
Gable box 5 3rd egg
Gable box 9 first egg 10 days back together
Gable box 4 07.55 a swift arrives and leaves at 08.07
Gable box 3 08.28 a swift arrives and leaves at 08.32
Gable box 7 08.38 an intruder arrives, residents inside, and leaves immediately
 
Gable box 3 09.30 a swift arrives and leaves at 09.33
Gable box 6 10.16 a swift arrives and leaves at 10.18
Gable box 2 10.21 a swift arrives and leaves at 10.28
Gable box 4 10.40 a swift arrives and leaves at 10.55
Gable box 3 11.43 a swift arrives and leaves at 11.50
Gable box 4 12.18 a swift arrives and leaves at 12.30
Gable box 3 12.33 a swift arrives and leaves at 12.35
 
May 20th
Gable box 5 18.44 an intruder and a quick fight
 
May 22nd
under eave front 9 - first egg
Gable box 9 second egg
 
May 24th
under eave front 9 - second egg laid at 10.49
 
 
May 26th
Gable box 7 16.28 1st egg
 
May 27th
Gable box 7 egg accidentally kicked out buy it was replaced later
 
Gable box 7 mating on the nest
 
 
May 28th
Gable box 7 2nd egg at 13.05
 
Nothing to report. Very quiet outside and in the nest boxes
 
June 1st
sunrise 04.55 sunset 21.51
 
June 4th
Gable Box 5 first chick out
 
June 8th
Gable box 6 12.05 a nervous swift arrives and leaves at 12.36
Gable box 6 13.32 a swift arrives and leaves at 13.55
15.00 bangers outside
Gable box 6 15.24 a swift arrives and leaves at 15.52
Gable box 2 18.44 a swift arrives and leaves at 19.38
Gable box 6 22.16 a swift arrives and stays over night
 
June 9th
Gable box 6 05.50 the swift leaves
Gable box 4 06.13 a swift arrives and leaves at 06.29
Gable box 6 06.34 a swift arrives
Gable box 7 06.44 an intruder arrives causing a fight that lasts for 4 minutes
Gable box 6 08.00 a swift arrives and leaves at 08.45
Gable box 6 09.30 a swift arrives and leaves at 10.45
Gable box 6 15.50 2 swifts arrive with 1 doing the I have a nest call. One doesn't go in. It leaves at 16.00
Gable box 6 19.12 a swift arrives and leaves at 19.23
Gable box 6 19.24 a swift arrives
Gable box 6 19.24  second swift arrives and leaves at 19.30
 
Gable box 6 19.45 the first swift leaves
Gable box 4 19.52 a swift arrives and leaves at 20.03
Gable box 6 20.03 a swift arrives
Gable box 6 20.04 a second swift arrives and leaves at 20.08
Gable box 6 20.18 first sift leaves
Gable box 4 21.23 a swift arrives
 
June 10th
Gable box 4 09.22 the swift leaves
Gable box 5 10.59 an intruder enters
Gable box 6 10.59 a swift arrives and leaves at 12.35
Gable box 6 13.38 two swifts arrive. 14.50 both are on the nest. They leave at 16.42 and 16.58
Gable box 5 17.36 an intruder arrives and they fight until 18.13
Gable box 6 21.52 a swift arrives
Gable box 6 22.03 a second swift arrives
 
June 11th
Gable box 6 09.00 both leave
Gable box 4 09.44 a swift arrives and leaves at 10.17
Gable box 6 11.24 a swift arrives
Gable box 6 11.29 a second swift arrives
Gable box 6 they leave at 13.16 and 13.24
Gable box 4 16.06 a swift arrives and leaves at 16.16
Gable box 6 18.28 a swift arrives and leaves at 19.00
Gable box 6 20.36 a swift arrives and leaves at 21.11
Gable box 6 21.32 a swift arrives
Gable box 6 21.34 a second swift arrives
 
June 12th
Gable box 4 10.07 a swift arrives and leaves at 10.10
Gable box 6 is being used frequently
Gable box 3 20.35 a swift arrives and leaves at 21.23
 
June 15th
sunrise 04.47 sunset 22.04

Too quiet. Not much activity from non breeders

June 24th
Gable box 6 amazed to see the new pair have an egg. 15 days together
Gable box 5 11.33 two intruders a few seconds apart
 
June 26th
Gable box 6 second egg
 
All quiet again. Not much happening during the day other than breeders feeding chicks
 
July 1st
sunrise 04.52 sunset 21.51
 
July 5th
Gable box 11 10.24 a swift arrives and leaves at 10.34
Gable box 11 14.24 a swift arrives and leaves at 14.30
Gable box 11 21.44 a swift arrives and leaves at 21.46
two months late!
 
July 6th
Gable box 11 04.55 a swift arrives and leaves at 05.00
Gable box 11 05.05 a swift arrives and leaves at 05.10
Gable box 11 06.28 a swift arrives and leaves at 06.36
Gable box 11 06.47 two swifts arrive. No fighting. Both leave at 09.12
Gable box 11 22.04 a swift arrives and leaves at 22.06
Gable box 11 22.27 a swift arrives
 
July 7th
Gable box 11 04.30 the swift leaves
Gable box 11 06.15 a swift arrives and leaves at 06.38
Gable box 11 06.45 a swift arrives and leaves at 06.49
Gable box 11 07.41 a swift arrives and leaves at 08.12
Gable box 11 08.15 a swift arrives and leaves at 08.47
Gable box 11 14.47 an intruder arrives and leaves at 14.52
Gable box 11 17.24 a swift arrives and leaves at 17.44
Gable box 11 21.30 a swift arrives and leaves at 21.31
Gable box 11 21.40 a swift arrives and leaves at 21.44
 
July 8th
Gable box 11 05.38 a swift arrives and leaves at 05.45
Gable box 11 05.48 a swift arrives and leaves at 05.55
 
July 10th
Gable box 4 07.40 a swift arrives and leaves at 07.47
Gable box 11 08.25 two swifts arrive and there isn't a fight. They leave at 09.13 and 09.17
Gable box 4 10.15 a swift arrives and leaves at 10.26
Gable box 4 12.23 a swift arrives and leaves at 12.30
Gable box 4 12.45 two swifts arrive and there isn't a fight. They leave at 13.28 and 13.30
Gable box 11 15.02 a swift arrives and leaves at 15.10
Gable box 11 22.20 a swift arrives and leaves at 22.24
Gable box 4 22.29 and leaves at 22.47
Gable box 11 22.50 a swift arrives
 
July 11th
Gable box 11 04.46 the swift leaves
Gable box 4 04.48 a swift arrives 04.52
Gable box 11 06.34 a swift arrives and leaves at 06.44
Gable box 11 06.45 a swift arrives and leaves at 07.02
Gable box 3 07.28 a swift arrives and leaves at 07.42
Gable box 11 09.05 a swift arrives and leaves at 09.12
Gable box 11 11.12 a swift arrives and leaves at 11.18
Gable box 11 11.22 a swift arrives and leaves at 11.23
Gable box 11 12.05 a swift arrives and leaves at 12.25
Gable box 11 13.25 a swift arrives and leaves at 13.44
 
July 12th
Gable box 11 06.13 a swift arrives and leaves at 06.38
Gable box 11 06.46 a swift arrives and leaves at 07.11
Gable box 2 08.16 a confident swift arrives and leaves at 08.25
Gable box 11 08.30 a swift arrives and leaves at 08.35
Gable box 4 08.47 a swift arrives and leaves at 08.54
Gable box 4 11.16 a swift arrives and leaves at 11.46
Gable box 4 22.45 a swift arrives
 
July 13th
Gable box 4 05.05 the swift leaves
Gable box 4 05.40 a swift arrives and leaves at 05.50
Gable box 4 05.59 a swift arrives and leaves at 06.02
Gable box 2 10.35 a swift arrives and leaves at 11.07
Gable box 6 first chick hatched this afternoon
 
July 14th
Gable box 11 05.02 a swift arrives and leaves at 05.06
Gable box 4 06.34 a swift arrives and leaves at 06.09
Gable box 5 10.02 first chick fledged aged 40 days
Gable box 6 second chick hatched this afternoon
 
July 15th
sunrise 05.08 sunset 21.52
 
Gable box 5 an intruder arrives causing a 5 minute fight
 
July 16th
Gable box 5 10.02 second chick fledged aged 42 days
 
July 18th
Gable box 5 10.02 third chick fledged aged 44 days
 
July 21st
Gable box 9 13.20 first, and only, chick fledged aged 44 days
Gable box 5 21.47 ?foster chick fledged
 
July 22nd
under eave 9 13.23 first chick fledged
Gable box 4 22.08 a swift arrives and leaves at 22.13
 
July 23rd
under eave 9 second chick fledged between dawn and 7am
 
July 25th
under eave front 6 a new pair. DVR on at 08.29. They leave at 09.49 and 09.52
under eave front 6 12.32 a swift arrives and leaves at 12.40
under eave front 6 12.49 a swift arrives and leaves at 12.53
under eave front 6 13.28 a swift arrives and leaves at 13.57
under eave front 2 14.24 a swift arrives and leaves immediately
under eave front 6 14.24 a swift arrives
under eave front 4 14.26 a swift arrives 14.29
under eave front 2 14.32 a swift arrives and leaves at 14.34
under eave front 6 14.48 the swift leaves
 
July 26th
under eave front 2 14.40 a swift arrives and leaves at 14.54
 
July 27th
under eave front 2 06.16 a pair of swifts arrive 30 seconds apart. No fighting. Both leave at 07.13
under eave front 2 14.10 a swift arrives and leaves at 14.16
under eave front 5 14.16 a swift arrives
under eave front 6 14.16 a swift arrives at 14.25
under eave front 5 15.43 the swift leaves
under eave front 22.00 a swift trying to enter a nest box
 
July 29th
gable box 7 10.00 a nervous swifts enters and leaves immediately
under eave front 4 10.01 a swift arrives
under eave front 6 10.01.30 a swift arrives
gable box 11 10.03 a swift arrives and leaves at 10.45
under eave front 6 10.52 the swift leaves
under eave front 4 11.30 the swift leaves
under eave front 6 22.10 a swift arrives and leaves at 02.55
 
July 30th
under eave front 6 08.12 a swift arrives and leaves at 08.36
under eave front 2 21.56 a swift arrives and leaves at 22.10
gable box 11 22.01 a swift arrives
 
July 31st
gable box 11 the swift leaves at 05.34
 
August 1st
sunrise 05.35 sunset 21.25
 
under eave front 6 07.26 a swift arrives and leaves at 08.25
gable box 9 foster chick fledges at 08.38
  •  
    August 12th
    Gable box 6 21.30 2 hour fight starts
     
    August 23rd
    Gable box 6 - The first chick fledges aged 40 days
     
    August 24th
    Gable box 6 - The second chick fledges aged 41 days
     
    That brings 2017 to an end.
     
    Over all it was a quiet season. 4 pairs, breeders and non breeders, either returned and left or didn't turn up.
     
    Plus side is on June 10th a new pair moved in to gable box 6 and reared 2 chicks.
     
    2 pairs of non breeders inspected the gable boxes and late in the season on July 25th a new pair arrived in an under eave nest box

    Fingers crossed for all 9 pairs to return in May 2018

     
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