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
April 24th
hottest day of the year 22c
first swift seen over the house
April 25th
swift widely reported this week
April 26th
20.00 two swifts mating above the house
21.02 first swift home
gable box 9 7
days earlier than previous earliest in 2014 (12/05/19) and 16 days earlier
than 2019
How does this compare to previous years
May 6th 2009, May 3rd 2010, May 3rd 2011, May 10th
2012, May 7th 2013, May 2nd 2014, May 3rd 2015, May 4th 2016, May 4th
2017, May 7th 2018, May 5th 2019
April 27th
10.55 3 screaming swifts
April 28th
4 screaming swifts that were present frequently
April 29th
21.17 a second swift tried to enter gable box 9
warmest and 5th driest April since records began
May 1st sun rise 05.57 sun sunset 21.02
Gable box 9
0700 the resident leaves
08.22 a swift with messy flight feathers arrives
and leaves at 08.32
08.34 a swift with neat flight feathers arrives
Can swift fix the problem in 2 minutes?
Gable box 9
18.52 a pair arrive (12/05/19) 10 days earlier than 2019
May 3rd
6 swift screaming party this afternoon
May 4th
Gable box 9 19.15 the pair are back together
for the first time since dawn on May 2nd
May 5th
Gable box 7 05.55
first back
(4/5/17), (5/4/16),
(13/5/15), (7/5/14),
(7/5/13), (12/5/12),
(3/5/11), (3/5/10),
(6/5/09)
Gable box 9 the pair have been 14 hours
Gable box 6
11.34 and 11.35 both birds arrive
Gable box 521.20 first back
(4/5/17), (4/5/16),
(4/5/15), (2/5/14),
(7/5/13), (10/5/12),
(5/5/11), (16/5/10)
Gable box 3 21.53 a swift arrives 43 minutes after sunset
May 6th
gable box 7 08.41 second swift arrives
Gable box 1 21.55 1 lux a swift tries repeatedly to enter a nest
box, any nest box!
May 7th 20c today
under eave 4 (was under eave 6) 10.25 the
pair return
here's a reminder about this pair. The male for
the last 10 years has used under eave box 9. In 2019 his mate
returned but soon after it disappeared. He went out and brought back a new
mate but it disappeared. He remained single. On June 3rd a swift moved in
to under eave 4 amazingly laid 2 eggs. Incubation doesn't go well because
the eggs are left for long periods. On June 8th the swift from under eave
4 moves to under eave 6 with the lone male from under eave 9
Gable box 3 21.38 a lone swift arrives after
many failed attempts
Do swifts feed with their beaks open like
basking sharks? Of course not
May 8th 20c
the non breeder made two attempts to enter a box
and flew off
May 9th 20c
the
non breeder didn't show this evening
May 10th
10c
today and set to last all week
21.00 7c 0.2c at 6am
the non breeder didn't show this evening
Gable box 5 the
swift left at 00.04 and hasn't been seen since
May 11th
mostly sunny with a max of 11c 3c at midnight
May 12th
mostly sunny with a 13c max today 1.7c at 1am
pairs in gable boxes 6, 7, 9
singles in 5
May 13th
sunny all day and a max of 12c. No wind -.9c at
5am
Gable box 9first egg
12 days back as a pair
May 14th
cloudy all day no rain with a max of 15c
Gable box 6 first egg 9 days back together
Gable box 7first egg 8 days back
together
lone swift from gable box 5 is back or is that the
mate who was late?
May 15th sun rise 05.31
sun set 21.26
May 16th
Gable box 6 2nd egg is late
Gable box 72nd egg
Gable box 9 2nd egg
three days after the 1st
May 17th
Gable box 6 2nd egg
three days after the 1st
under eave 4 egg due but nothing so far
first rain since March 17th. Light rain all
day with a max of 15c
May 18th
cloudy but bright. 21c
Gable box 93rd egg on time
under eave 61st egg 11 days back together
May 19th
cloudy very humid 20c
Gable box 7
have 3 eggs
May 20th
sunny 20c
under eave 4
2nd egg
May 21st
sunny
May 22nd
15c and strong gale blowing
under eave 4
3rd egg
May 23rd
under eave 4 change overs
06.47 first to leave, 08.01 returns with nest
material,
09.27 swift leaves, 14.38 returns,
leaves at 15.00
incubating swift leaves the nest at 21.12 -
incubating for 6hrs 12mins
first swift back at 21.32 second back at 22.02
May 24th
under eave 4 change over
05.24 first out and arrives at 07.38 2rs 14mins
leaves at 07.42 and returns at 11.09 4hrs 30mins
leaves at 11.17 and returns at 12.17 1hr
leaves at 13.00 and returns at 13.56 56mins
leaves at 14.40 and arrives 16.35 55mins
leaves at 16.40 and arrives at 18.45 2hrs 5mins
leaves at 18.50 and arrives at 21.40 3hrs 50mins
leaves at 21.47 and arrives at 22.05 17mins
May 25th
Gable box 5 10.40 a swift arrives and leaves
at 12.00 no swift in here for
15 days
Gable box5 14.48 a swift arrives
Gable box 9 14.58 an intruder arrives causing
a 2 minute fight
Gable box 5 15.33 the swift leaves this
must be the missing mate
Gable box 5 16.13 the swift arrives and
leaves at 16.56
Gable box 5 19.36 the swift returns
May 26th 18c
hot and sunny
Gable box 4 08.26 a swift arrives and leaves
at 08.32
Gable box 5 09.35 a swift arrives
Gable box 5 09.38
the pair are back together
May 28th
hottest day this year 25c
May 29th
22c today hot and sunny
spring
2020 has been the hottest and driest since records began
Gable box
May 30th sun rise 05.11 sun set 21.48
23c hot and sunny
May 31st
hot and sunny 22c
Gable box 11 08.39
a swift arrivesand leaves
at 09.25. First used July 3rd 2019 for the 1st time
Gable box 11
09.36a swift arrives and
leaves at 09.50
Gable box 11 09.59a swift arrives and leaves
at 10.18
Gable box 11 10.36 a swift arrives and
leaves at 10.49
Gable box 11 11.04 a
swift arrives and leaves at 11.12
Gable box 11 12.41 the swift returns and
leaves at 12.49
Gable box 11 13.03 the
swift returns and leaves at 13.10
Gable
box 11 14.14 the swift returns and leaves at 14.22
Gable box 11 15.52 the swift arrives and leaves
at 15.57
Gable box 11 the swift
arrives at 22.15 and leaves at 22.35
June 1st hot and sunny 24c
sunrise 05.10 sunset 21.51
Gable box 11 swift comes in at 06.34, 0700, 12.50 and
22.00 but leaves at 22.36
a lot of bangers between 12.30 and
13.00
best evening for screaming parties and
bangers
June 2nd
hot and sunny 23c
Gable box 5
1st egg six days back
together
Gable box 11 09.37 - 09.42 a swift inside
Gable box 11 15.10 - 15.20 swift inside
Gable box 11 21.53 swift arrives
Gable box 11 21.56
a second swift arrives and
by 22.10 they are on the nest
both left at 23.43 and 00.06
June 3rd
warm and cloudy today 14.4c
Gable box 11 11.45
both birds return and leave
at 13.29 and 13.53
Gable box 7 1st chick out
Gable box 91st chick has hatched
Gable box 11 21.05 a swift arrives and
leaves at 21.45
June 4th
wet today
Gable box 5 2nd egg
Gable box 6 1st chick hatched
Gable 11 14.09 a swift arrives and leaves at
14.21
Gable 11 14.23 a swift arrives and leaves at
14.30
Gable 11 14.35 a swift arrives
Gable 11 14.42
the mate arrives they leave
at 16.58 and 17.07
Gable 11 22.25 the pair are back together.
One left at 23.15
June 5th
wet and very windy
Gable box 11 The pair return at 22.09 and
22.15
June 6th
Gable box 11 first night in the box leaving
at 09.07 and 09.08
Gable box 5
11.50 a swift leaves the eggs 3 hours 25 mins after
the mate left to feed at 08.25. It's been on the nest for 13 hours.
They returned at 15.17 and 15.40 Eggs unattended
for 3.5 hours
June 7th
World Swift Day
Eaves box 4 1st chick out
June 8th
under eaves 4 chicks get fed
Gable box 11
possible intruder/nervous swift
12.00 to 12.17 and from 12.57 to 12.59
Gable box 11
13.43 the pair arrive
June 9th
wet most of the day
Gable box 5 change over at 12.07 but by 19.15 the mate hasn't
returned and the incubating bird has left the eggs unattended.
One returns at 19.24 and 19.51
Gable box 11 the
pair stay together until the morning
June 10th
bright overcast no rain 14c
Gable box 11 pair arrive
at 22.35 but leave at 23.15 and 23.59
June 13th hot and
sunny 16c
Gable box 4 06.21a
confident swift arrives left at 09.47
3.5hrs
Gable box 11
08.55 a swift arrives and leaves at 09.08
Gable box 11 09.31 a
swift arrives and leaves at 09.38
Gable box 11 09.50 a swift
arrives and leaves at 09.56
Gable box 4 10.48 a swift returns
and leaves at 11.01
Gable box 3 14.47
a swift arrives and leaves
at 15.11
Gable box 3 15.00 a swift arrives and leaves at 16.23
Gable box 11 15.28 pair
arrives both leave at 15.38
Gable box 4 16.05 a swift
arrives and leaves at 16.27
Gable box 3 16.33 a swift arrives
and leaves at 17.04
Gable box 4 16.37 a swift arrives and leaves
at 17.00
Gable box 3 21.13 a swift arrives and leaves at 21.34
Gable box 4 21.15 a swift arrives and leaves at 21.22
Gable
box 3 22.15 a swift arrives
22.22 a second swift arrives causing a minor fight
June 14th hot and sunny 23c
Gable
box 3
pair leave at 08.03
Gable
box 3 08.23 a swift arrives and leaves at 08.35
Gable box 4 08.23 a swift arrives and leaves at 08.55
Gable
box 3 08.43 a swift arrives and leaves at 08.48
Gable box 4 09.14 a swift arrives and leaves at 09.34
Gable box 3 09.54 a swift arrives and leaves at 10.29
Gable box 4 10.09 a swift arrives and leaves at 10.37
Gable box 4 10.48 a swift arrives and leaves at 11.02
Gable box 3 11.07 a swift arrives and leaves at 11.35
Gable box 4 11.35 a swift arrives and leaves at 11.52
Gable box 3 11.35 a swift arrives and leaves at 11.37
Gable box 3 11.52 a swift arrives and leaves at 12.03
Gable box 4 11.58 a swift arrives and leaves at 12.14
Gable box 3 12.26 the pair
arrive and leave at 13.06
Gable box 4 13.48 a swift arrives and leaves at 13.58
Gable box 3 14.07 a swift arrives
14.09 the mate arrives
Gable box 3 11.58 still in at 15.30 both leave at 15.42
Gable box 2 17.04 a swift arrives
and leaves at 17.13
Gable box 4 17.07 a swift arrives and leaves at 17.39
Gable box 3 22.10 a swift arrives
Gable box 4 22.17 a swift arrives and leaves at 22.21 and back at
22.24 and leaves at 22.26
June 15th hot and sunny 22c
sunrise 05.03 sunset 22.02
Gable
box 3
06.45 the pair arrive. One leaves at 09.57. entries frequently
Gable box 214.18 swift
arrives and leaves at 14.24
Gable
box 3 16.44 the pair arrive
June 16th
Gable
box 3 pair in over night and leave at 08.02
Gable
box 3 09.05.46 a swift arrives and leaves at 09.06.10
Gable
box 3 09.06.50 a swift arrives at leaves 09.07.14
Gable box 2 09.07.38 a swift arrives and leaves at 09.14.53
Gable
box 3 09.20 a swift arrives and leaves at 09.22
Gable box 2 09.28 a swift arrives
Gable box 2 09.33 the mate arrives. They leave at 10.49 and 10.53
Gable box 4 10.25 a swift
arriveswhile the new pair are in 2 and leaves at 10.58
Gable
box 3 12.03 the pair arrive and leave at 12.34 and 12.42
Gable box 2 12.43 a swift arrives and leaves at 12.47
Gable box 1 12.47 a swift
arrives and leaves at 12.48
Gable box 114.21 a swift
arrives and leaves at 14.49
Gable box 2 22.07 a swift arrives and leaves at 22.10.19
Gable box 1 22.28 a swift arrives
Gable box 4 22.31 a swift arrives
Gable box 1 22.51 the swift leaves
Gable box 4 22.59 the swift leaves
large number of swifts above the house 20+
June 16th hot and humid 20c
Gable box 2 06.09 the pair are back
Gable box 4 06.10 a swift arrives and leaves at 06.18
Gable box 2 08.35 the pair leave
Gable box 2 08.35 a swift arrives and leaves at 08.39
Gable box 3 09.08 a swift arrives 09.12 the mate arrives
Gable box 509.55 an intruder causes a fight. Due to the
eggs the fight is broken and one swift marked
Gable box 3 10.43 the pair leave
Gable box 2 11.36 the pair arrive and leave at 12.26 none have
the mark
Gable box 1 12.30 a swift arrives and leaves at 12.41
Gable box 3 13.20 a swift arrives and and leaves at 13.42
Gable box 3 13.54 a swift arrives and leaves at 14.06
Gable box 1 14.10 a swift arrives and leaves at 14.22
Gable box 3 14.12 a swift arrives and leaves at 14.22
Gable box 1 14.25 a swift arrives. 14.34 the mate arrives.
Both leave at 14.43
Gable box 1 14.43 a swift arrives and leaves at 15.00
Gable box 2 15.19 3 swifts
arrive, one with feathers, and a fight starts. One leaves the nest
Gable box 3 15.27 a swift arrives and leaves at 16.20
Gable box 2 15.55 the fight is broken up by myself because on is on
it's back creaming loudly
Gable box 5 16.03 the incubating swift leaves the eggs returning at
19.06
Gable box 2 21.50 a swift arrives and leaves at 22.04
June 22nd
Gable box 5 first chick out
June 24th
Gable box 5 second chick out
Gable box 6 11.13 a short fight
Gable box 6 11.26 an intruder slowly pushes in
Gable boxes 1, 2 and 3 multiple entries by single swifts
June 26th
very hot and sunny 26C
Swifts present most of today but nothing unusual going on in nest
boxes
July 1st
July 2nd
gable box 11 07.20 a
nervous swift enters and leaves at 07.28
Nothing to report from July 2nd until July 14th
July 14th
gable box 622.30 1st chick
fledges 42 days
July 15th
sunrise 05.22 sun set 21.52
gable box 910.47 first
chick fledges 43 days
gable box 9 10.52
2nd chick fledges 43 days
July 16th
gable box 7 08.54 first
chick fledges 44 days
Gable box 7 09.05 2nd chick
fledges 44 days
gable box 9 09.20 3rd chick
fledges 41 days
gable box 6 10.44 2nd chick
fledges 44 days
July 17th
gable box 6 21.07 3rd chick
fledges 36 days
July 18th
Under eave 41st chick has fledged38 days
gable box 7 21.19 3rd chick
fledges
July 19th
under eave 4 10.50 2nd
chick fledges 39 days
July 20th
under eave 4 13.15 3rd
chick fledges 39 days
July 23rd
gable box 616.00 a non
breeder arrives and leaves at 16.10
July 29th
Gable box 6 11.00 a swift arrives with nest material
July 31st
gable box 5 chicks 39 days
August 1st
sunrise 05.48 sun set 20.33
gable box 5 chick looking out for the first time aged 40 days
How long to adults return after chicks fledge?
under eave 4 (last chick 20/7) ) 0 nights
Gable box 4 now a single 31/7
Gable box 5
Gable box 6 (last chick 17/7) so far 14 nights now a single 31/7
