Swift Diary 2021
     
                 left - gable boxes, middle - under eave boxes, right - under eave back
gable boxes

nb = non breeder from 2020

  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                      
 
 
2021 Observations
(bracketed dates are from previous seasons)

nb = non breeder from 2020

 
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
 
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

April 22nd – a swift was seen at Craigavon lakes

April 25th – very hot day
11.20 2 screaming swifts over the house
13.30 11 swifts over the house. Soon after 2 quite low flew by the gable
 
April 30th
2 screaming swifts above the house
 
April was sunniest on record and frostiest on record
 
May 1st sun rise 05.57 sun set 21.02
 
May 2nd - 2 swifts over the house
Gable box 9 – 13.32 first swift seen entering a box - orange ring
Gable box 9 – 21.16 pair reunited
 
May 5th
under eave 4 - 21.26 first back - not ringed
 
May 8th
gable box 6 21.36 a nervous swift arrives and leaves at 22.45
 
May 9th
gable box 6 - 19.22 a swift arrives
gable box 7 - 21.13 - a swift arrives (5/5/20), (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 2 - 21.40 a pair arrive eggs due around May 19th. One has colour ring Orange 3
gable box 4 21.39 pair reunited
gable box 5 - 21.43 a swift arrives (5/5/20), (4/5/17), (4/5/16), (4/5/15), (2/5/14), (7/5/13), (10/5/12), (5/5/11), (16/5/10)
 
May 10th
under eave 4 12.33 - mate arrives
gable box 7 20.58 the mate arrives
gable box 2 20.39 both swifts arrive
gable box 2 pair in over night
 
May 11th
gable box 2 09.08 a swift arrives and leaves at 09.33
gable box 6 11.33 pair reunited
gable box 2 20.21 a swift arrives
gable box 2 020.24 the mate arrives. Both leave at 13.44
gable box 2 19.44 both arrive
gable box 2 pair in over night
 
May 12th
gable box 2 10.26 a swift arrives and leaves at 1042
gable box 4 12.27 a swift arrives and leaves at 12.45
gable box 2 12.55 a swift arrives and leaves at 13.07
gable box 2 15.08 a swift arrives and leaves at 15.11
gable box 2 20.51 a swift arrives
gable box 9 20.31 three enter close together causing a fight
gable box 2 pair in over night
 
May 13th
gable box 4 08.15 a swift arrives and leaves at 08.22 - no rings
Gable box 5 19.47 a swift arrives
Gable box 5 20.07 a second swift arrives fight
gable box 2 1 in over night
 
May 14th
gable box 4 10.10 a swift arrives and leaves at 10.47
gable box 2 20.18 a swift arrives and leaves at 21.21
gable box 4 21.21 a swift arrives and leaves at 21.41
gable box 4 20.37 a swift arrives and leaves at 20.52
 
May 15th sunrise 05.32 sunset 21.26
gable box 4 18.49 a swift arrives and leaves at 19.59
gable box 4 20.02 a swifts arrives and leaves at 20.12
gable box 4 20.39 a swift arrives and leaves at 20.43
 
May 16th
gable box 4 10.35 a swift arrives and leaves at 10.38
gable box 4 20.40 a swift arrives and leaves at 20.50
 
May 17th
16.30 nothing so far
 
May 18th
gable box 9 1st egg 17 days together
gable box 4 20.30 a swift arrives and leaves at 20.35
 
May 19th
gable box 9 2nd egg!!!
 
gable box 6 11.16 a swift entered but didn't stay
gable box 6 11.20 a swift entered but didn't stay
gable box 6 11.22 a swift entered but didn't stay
gable box 4 20.31 a swift arrives and leaves at 20.38
gable box 1 20.14 a swift arrives - no rings and stays over night
 
May 20th
gable box 1 03.49 the swift leaves
gable box 6 1st egg 9 days together
under eave 4 1st egg 10 days together
gable box 2 21.55 a swift arrives and stays all night
 
May 21st
gable box 7 1st egg
gable box 2 21.55 a swift arrives and stays all night
gable box 2 1 in over night
 
May 22nd
under eave 4 2nd egg
gable box 4 12.28 a swift arrives and and leaves at 12.37
gable box 5 1st egg 9 days together
gable box 6 2nd egg
gable box 4 21.13 a swift arrives and and leaves at 21.18
 
May 23rd
gable box 5 05.36 swift enters causing a fight - orange 02
gable box 5 06.02 an intruder arrives
gable box 4 21.07 a swift arrives and stays all night
gable box 2 22.06 a swift arrives and stays all night
gable box 2 21.55 a swift arrives and stays all night
gable box 2 1 in over night
gable box 4 1 in over night
 
May 24th
Gable box 4 10.41 an egg is laid - no mate
gable box 4 20.34 a swift arrives and stays all night
gable box 2 1 in over night
gable box 4 1 in over night
 
May 25th
gable box 4 20.45 a swift arrives and stays all night
 
May 26th
gable box 2 21.02 a swift arrives and leaves at 22.21
gable box 4 22.21 a swift arrives and stays all night
gable box 4 22.23 the egg is dumped
gable box 4 1 in over night
 
May 27th
gable box 4 09.50 a swift arrives and leaves at 11.13 white spot on right wing is using boxes 2 and 4
gable box 4 21.14 a swift arrives and stays all night
 
May 28th
gable box 4 1 in over night
 
May 29th
gable box 4 1 in over night
 
May 30th - 24C
gable box 2 22.09 a nervous swift takes 45 seconds to enter. It stays close to the entrance and leaves at 22.37
gable box 4 1 in over night
 
May 31st
gable box 2 08.31 a nervous swift enters and leaves at 08.40
gable box 4 19.50 a swift with a orange ring arrives and leaves at 20.29
gable box 11 21.55 a swift arrives and stays all night
 
June 1st
gable box 5 1st egg 8 days after the fight
gable box 4 20.40 a swift arrives and stays all night
 
June 2nd 25C
gable box 5 09.10 accidentally knock out their egg
gable box 8 09.14 a nervous swift enters and leaves at 09.20
gable box 5 11.24 an intruder arrives causing a fight
gable box 11 20.41 a swift arrives and leaves at 20.54
 
June 3rd
gable box 5 2nd egg
 
June 4th
gable box 11 22.08 a swift arrives and stays until 22.20
 
June 5th
gable box 5 3rd egg
gable box 2 11.07 a nervous swift arrives and leaves at 11.08
Gable box 10 11.09 a swift arrives first time used and leaves at 12.05
gable box 2 11.25 a swift arrives and leaves at 12.12
gable box 10 22.20 a swift arrives and stays until 23.00
 
June 6th
gable box 10 07.28 a swift arrives and stays until 08.26
gable box 10 22.16 a swift arrives and stays until 22.23
 
June 7th
gable box 9 1st chick out
gable box 10 07.45 and leaves at 08.46
gable box 2 08.22  swift arrives and leaves at 08.25
gable box 10 13.24 a swift arrives and leaves at 13.51
gable box 2 13.37  swift arrives and leaves at 13.57
gable box 4 17.00 a swift arrives and leaves at 17.05
gable box 4 20.55 a swift arrives and leaves at 21.20
gable box 10 22.12 a swift arrives and leaves at 23.21
 
June 8th
gable box 4 06.08 a swift arrives and leaves at 06.23
 
June 9th
gable box 10 09.00 a swift arrives and leaves at 09.15
gable box 10 09.41 a swift arrives
gable box 10 09.43 a 2nd swift arrives but no fighting
gable box 10 12.08 and 12.09 both leave
gable box 4 12.51 a swift arrives and leaves at 12.52
gable box 10 22.16 a swift arrives
 
June 10th
under eave 4 1st chick hatched
gable box 10 swift leaves at 04.05
gable box 10 06.22 a swift arrives
gable box 10 06.39 a 2nd swift arrives
gable box 10 both leaves at 08.16
gable box 10 09.09 a swift arrives 09.11 a 2nd swift arrives
gable box 10 they leave 10.21 and 10.24
gable box 10 12.43 a swift arrives 12.56 a 2nd arrives and leaves at 12.32 and 12.36
gable box 10 15.15 a swift arrives. 15.22 a 2nd arrives. They leave at 15.13 and 15.13
gable box 2 15.23 a clumsy swift arrives and leaves immediately
gable box 4 15.23  swift arrives and leaves at 15.26
gable box 10 swift stays all night until 04.45
June 11th
gable box 10 06.20 a swift arrives. 06.34 the mate arrives
gable box 10 09.15 both leave
gable box 10 13.00 a swift arrives and leaves at 13.14
gable box 10 21.24 a swift arrives and leaves at 21.57
gable box 10 22.02 a swift arrives and leaves at 22.08
gable box 10 22.09 a swift arrives and leaves at 22.14
gable box 10 22.17 a swift arrives. 22.18 mate arrives
 
June 12th
gable box 10 both stay until 07.52
gable box 10 08.21 a swift arrives and leaves at 08.45
gable box 4 13.37 a swift arrives and leaves at 13.54
 
June 13th
swifts using boxes 1 and 2 above the back door - is this the pairs that were using gable boxes 1-4?
 
June 14th
back door 3 21.02 and 21.06 the pair return
 
June 15th
sun rise 04.46 sun set 22.3
 
pair is back door 3 leave at 09.14
back door 3 09.58 the pair return and leave at 11.07
back door 3 11.57 the pair return and leave at 12.32
back door 3 the pair arrive and stay all night
 
June 16th
back door 3 the pair leave at 06.27
back door 3 11.53 a swift arrives and leaves at 12.33
back door 3 12.56 the pair arrive and leave at 13.44
back door 3 14.24 the pair and leave at 14.39
 
June 17th
back door 3 the pair arrive and stay all night and leave at 06.14
back door 3 06.13 a swift arrives and leaves at 06.43
back door 3 06.46 a swift arrives and leaves at 07.10
back door 3 07.57 a swift arrives 08.12 the mate arrives. Both leave at 09.56
back door 3 11.54 both arrive. Both leave at 12.36
gable box 4 20.14 a swift arrives and stays until 21.08
back door 3 arrive at 22.24 and 22.27
 
June 18th
back door 07.29 bangers at the boxes
back door 3 the pair leave at 08.12
back door 3 08.40the pair arrive and leave at 09.50
gable box 4 a swift arrives in the wrong box with nest material
 
June 19th to 22nd
back door 3 continue to use the box frequently
 
June 23rd
back door 3 late lie in until 12.56
 
June 24th
OMG back door 3 have an egg 11 days after moving 'house'
Gable box 5 1st chick/s out
 
June officially a very dry, warm moth
 
July 1st
sun rise 04.55 sun set 22.03
 
July 2nd
gable box 3 11.05 a swift arrives and leaves at 11.13
gable box 5 colour ring orange 02
gable box 4 21.38 a swift arrives and leaves after 30 seconds
 
July 3rd
gable box 3 11.47 a swift arrives and leaves at 12.28
 
July 4th
gable box 3 05.33 a swift arrives. it left at 09.53
gable box 4 11.21 a swift arrives
gable box 4 11.39 a swift enters the wrong box causing a fight resulting in the new swift leaving
 
gable box 4 11.47 a swift returns and leaves at 11.58
gable box 4 12.02 a swift arrives and leaves at 12.05
gable box 3 12.05 a swift arrives and leaves at 12.09
gable box 2 12.33 a nervous swift arrives and leaves after 30 seconds
 
July 5th
gable box 3 08.55 a swift arrives and leaves at 09.17
gable box 4 09.18 a swift arrives and leaves at 09.24
gable box 3 13.41 a swift arrives and leaves at 13.57
gable box 3 14.58 a swift arrives
gable box 2 15.04 a swift arrives
gable box 3 15.06 the swift leaves
gable box 2 15.15 the swift leaves
gable box 4 17.35 a swift arrives and leaves at 17.41
gable box 3 22.25 a swift arrives and leaves at 22.49
 
July 6th
gable box 4 05.28 a swift arrives and leaves at 05.41
gable box 2 05.41 a swift arrives and leaves after 10 seconds
gable box 3 05.42 a swift arrives and leaves at 06.00
gable box 4 07.05 a swift arrives and leaves at 07.32
gable box 3 10.18 a swift arrives and leaves at 10.42
gable box 3 10.52 a swift arrives and leaves at 10.54
gable box 4 11.02 a swift arrives and leaves at 11.07
gable box 6 15.27 yellow 20 visible of this years chick
gable box 6 15.46 yellow 27 visible of this years chick
under eave 4 17.51 yellow 29 visible on a chick
 
July 7
gable box 3 07.47 a swift arrives and leaves at 08.00
gable box 3 09.47 a swift arrives and leaves at 09.58
 
this evening
under eave 4 was caught and ringed
a non breeder was caught and ringed
 
July 8th
gable box 4 12.41 a swift arrives and leaves at 12.55
 
July 9th
gable box 4 07.20 a swift arrives and leaves at 07.50 and comes in again leaving at 08.28
gable box 3 08.32 a swift arrives and leaves at 09.07
gable box 4 09.31 a swift arrives
gable box 3 09.59 a swift arrives and leaves at 10.35
gable box 4 10.54 the swift leaves
gable box 4 12.36 a swift arrives and leaves at 12.46
gable box 3 14.00 a swift arrives and leaves at 14.16
 
July 10th
gable box 3 09.51 a swift arrives
gable box 3 09.53 a 2nd swift arrives
gable box 3 12.50 one leaves. Second leaves at 12.54
gable box 3 12.56 a swift arrives
gable box 3 12.59 a 2nd swift arrives
gable box 3 14.03 one leaves. Second leaves at 14.12
gable box 4 14.35 a swift arrives and leaves at 14.38.13
gable box 3 14.38.20 a swift arrives and leaves at 14.42
gable box 3 22.11 a swift arrives
gable box 3 22.22 a 2nd swift arrives
 
July 11th
gable box 3 both stay over night
gable box 4 06.48 a swift arrives and leaves at 06.50
gable box 3 10.18 both leave
gable box 3 11.05 a swift arrives and leaves at 11.08
 
under eave 3 13.44 orange ring ?14
 
gable box 3 22.24 a swift arrives. 22.27 the mate arrives
 
July 12th
gable box 3 00.06 the pair flee their nest when fireworks are set off
 
gable box 3 07.02 and 07.18 the pair return and leave at 09.44
gable box 3 15.32 a swift arrives and leaves at 15.35
gable box 4 15.32 a nervous swift arrives and leaves at 15.38
 
under eave 4 the ringed bird abandoned for 5 days after getting ringed. It returned this morning
 
July 13th
gable box 4 10.28 a swift arrives and leaves at 10.19
gable box 3 12.56 a swift arrives and leaves at 13.06
gable box 3 13.10 a swift arrives and leaves at 13.18
 
July 14th 27C at 4pm
back door 3 egg hatched this morning
gable box 4 07.06 a swift arrives and leaves at 07.15
gable box 3 07.37 and 07.38 the pair arrive
gable box 4 08.04 a swift arrives and leaves at 08.14
gable box 4 08.36 a swift arrives and leaves at 08.41
gable box 3 the pair leave at 09.41 and 09.45
gable box 3 10.13 a swift arrives and leaves at 10.33
 
July 15th 26C at 4pm
gable box 3 07.52 a swift arrives and leaves at 8.10
gable box 3 08.21 a swift arrives and leaves at 8.35
gable box 3 10.05 the pair arrive - is one ringed? Both leave at 11.05
 
July 16th 27C at 4pm
gable box 3 06.24 a swift arrives and leaves at 07.35
gable box 3 07.59 a swift arrives and leaves at 07.35
gable box 2 07.59 a swift arrives and leaves after 10 seconds
gable box 3 08.01 the mate arrives. Both leave at 09.00
gable box 4 09.43 a swift arrives and leaves at 09.44
gable box 3 09.46 a swift arrives and leaves at 09.51
 
July 17th hottest day EVER!! 31.2C
gable box 3 06.16 a swift arrives. 06.18 the mate arrives
gable box 3 they leave at 07.40 and 07.42
gable box 3 08.32 the pair arrive
 
July 18th 27C at 4pm
gable box 3 06.06 a swift arrives and leaves at 06.13
gable box 9 09.01 1st chick fledges 42 days
 
July 19th 28C at 4pm
gable box 9 07.25 2nd chick fledges ?42 days
gable box 7 08.00 1st chick fledges 38 days
gable box 7 10.29 2nd chick fledges 38 days
gable box 7 22.14 3rd chick fledges 38 days
 
July 20th 29C at 3.30pm
under eave 4 07.58 1st chick fledges 42 days
under eave 4 21.43 2nd chick fledges 42 days
 
July 21st hottest day EVER!! 31.3C
gable box 4 07.14 a swift arrives and leaves at 07.25
gable box 3 08.01 a swift arrives and leaves at 08.11
gable box 9 07.52 2nd chick fledges
gable box 6 12.40 1st chick fledges
 
July 22nd hottest day EVER!! 31.4C
gable box 3 06.38 a swift arrives and leaves at 06.49
 
July 27th - 18C at 4pm
gable box 6 07.05 1st chick fledged
gable box 6 07.12 2nd chick fledged
 
July 31st
gable box 5 11.44 1st chick fledged
 
August 1st
gable box 5 11.59 2nd chick fledges
 
August 2nd
gable box 5 11.59 3rd chick fledges
 
August 23rd
back door 3 the chick fledges at 07.18 aged 41 days
 
How many days do adults stay post fledging?
gable box 5 - 5th/8 - 1
gable box 7 – 0
under eave 4 – 0
gable box 9 – 9 both in, 2nd/8 1, 3rd - 1, 4th - 1, 5th - 1
Gable box 6 - 2 both in, 3rd - 1, 4th - 1, 5th - 1
back door 3 0
 
Feeding rates very wet compared to cloudy but dry. Under eave box 4
 
August 12th
06.02 both out.
06.59 returns with food and stays in.
07.31 returns with food. 07.40 both leave.
09.23 returns with food and leaves at 09.31.
11.15 with food and stays until 12.04
12.26 returns with food and leaves at 12.37
15.54 returns, wet with food and stays in.
16.11 arrives with food
16.19 both leave
20.32 arrives with food and stays in
20.42 arrives with food both stay in
21.06 leaves
21.28 arrives with food