Swift Diary 2022
     
                 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                      
 
 
2022 Observations
(bracketed dates are from previous seasons)

nb = non breeder from 2021

 
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
 
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

March 21st - 27th the hottest days of the year 18-20C

May 6th sunrise 05.34 sunset 21.08
under eave 4 - 21.26 first back - number 15
May 7th
gable box 9 - 09.25 first back
gable box 5 - 21.25 first back - number 20
May 8th
back 3 - 05.50 first back - ring 14
gable box 6 - 19.07 first back and gets attacked by a starling

 

May 9th

gable 9 – 21.34 mate returns

gable 5 - didnt come home tonight

May 10th
back 3 – 07.14 mate returns
under eave 4 - 10.17 mate arrives
gable box 7 - 21.19 first home ringed 03
gable box 6 21.27 - mate returns
gable box 9 ring 01
gable 5 -  not in all and didnt come home tonight
May 11th
gable box 7 - 21.44 mate home
gable 5 -  not in all and didnt come home tonight
May 12th
gable box 5 - 21.18 mate arrives but the mate has been absent for 4 days and nights
May 13th
gable box 5 - 21.40 pair reunited
gable 21.45 a single late swift ?non breeder trying to get in a box
May 14th
15.15 house martin showing interest at the gable
May 15th
13.00 house martin back this afternoon
gable box 4 - 16.01 non breeder from 2021 is back. Leaves at 16.07
under eave 4 21.41 missing mate returned returned on May 10th but hasnt been back until now
May 16th
gable box 4 - 20.41 non breeder from 2021 is back
May 17th
gable box 4 non breeder leaves at 06.30
gable box 9 - 1st egg 8 days back together
rear 3 - 1st egg 7 days back together
May 19th
gable box 6 - 1st egg 9 days back together
gable box 7 - 1st egg 8 days back together
gable box 9 - 2nd egg
rear 3 - 2nd egg
May 21st
gable box 9 didnt lay a 3rd egg
gable box 6 - 2nd egg
gable box 7 - 2nd egg
mating on the nest
May 22nd
gable box 9 - 3rd egg
gable box 5 - 1st egg
May 23rd
gable box 6 - 3rd egg
gable box 3 - 08.28 swift arrives and leaves at 09.11
gable box 3 - 21.48 swift arrives and leaves at 22.39
May 24th
under eave 4 - 1st egg
gable box 5 - 2nd egg is late
gable box 7 - 3rd egg
May 25th
gable box 5 - 2nd egg
gable box 3 - 13.34 a swift arrives and leaves at 13.47
May 26th
gable box 3 - 11.21 swift arrives and leaves at 11.26
under eave 4 - 2nd egg
under eave 4 - 2nd egg
gable box 3 - 22.10 swift arrives and leaves at 22.53
May 27th
gable box 3 - 13.29 swift arrives and leaves at 13.35
May 29th
gable box 3 - 12.43 a swift arrives during a banging session
gable box 2 - 12.57 a swift arrives and leaves at 13.09
gable box 3 - 13.14 the swift leaves
gable box 3 - 13.22 a swift arrives and leaves at 13.52
gable box 3 - 14.19 a swift arrives and leaves at 14.41
May 30th
gable box 3 - 06.34 swift leaves
gable box 3 - 11.07 - swift arrives and leaves at 11.37
gable box 3 - 13.00 swift arrives and leaves at 13.40
gable box 3 - 22.11 swift arrives
May 31st
gable box 3 - 04.57 swift leaves
gable box 4 - 05.00 a swift arrives and leaves at 05.14
gable box 4 - 06.44 a swift arrives and leaves at 06.47
gable box 3 - 09.15 a swift arrives and leaves at 09.19
gable box 3 - 09.25 a swift arrives and leaves at 09.55
gable box 3 - 10.19 a swift arrives and leaves at 10.21
gable box 3 - 11.27 a swift arrives and leaves at 11.29
gable box 3 - 11.35 a swift arrives and leaves at 11.45
gable box 3 - 11.54 a swift arrives and leaves at 12.00
gable box 2 - 11.57 a swift arrives and leaves at 12.00
gable box 4 - 13.19 a swift arrives and leaves at 13.25
June 1st
gable box 3 - 12.48  swifts arrives and leaves at 12.57
June 2nd
gable box 3 - 04.58 a swift arrives
gable box 3 - 05.00 a 2nd nervous swift arrives and leaves at 05.05
gable box 3 - 06.12 the 1st swift leaves
gable box 3 - 06.43 a swift arrives and leaves at 06.49
gable box 3 - 09.09 a swift arrives and leaves at 09.19
gable box 3 - 10.11 a swift arrives and leaves at 10.23
gable box 3 - 10.32 a swift arrives
gable box 1 - 10.33 a swift arrives
gable box 3 - 10.36 the swift leaves
gable box 1 - 10.34 a swift arrives and leaves at 10.40
gable box 4 - 18.09 a swift arrives and leaves at 18.18
June 3rd
gable box 3 - 08.45 a swifts arrives and leaves at 09.00
June 4th
gable box 4 - 04.59 a swift arrives and leaves at 05.09
gable box 3 - 08.14 a swift arrives and leaves at 08.25
gable box 3 - 08.31 a swift arrives and leaves at 08.46
gable box 3 - 10.55 a swift arrives and leaves at 10.58
gable box 3 - 11.01 a swift arrives and leaves at 11.05
gable box 3 - 22.28  a swift arrives
- gable box 322.29 a 2nd swift arrives
- 22.29 a swift arrivesgable box 1 and leaves at 23.06
- gable box 3 22.34 the 1st swift leaves
June 5th
gable box 3 - 08.56 the swift is still in the box when a 2nd arrives
- they leave at 10.34 and 10.39gable box 3
22.34 the 1st swift leaves - gable box 3

gable box 2 – 10.53 a swift arrives and leaves immediately

gable box 3 – 10.53 a swift arrives and leaves at 10.57

gable box 3 – 21.53 a swift arrives

gable box 3 – 22.14 a 2nd swift arrives

gable box 1 – 22.16 a swift arrives and leaves at 22.21

 

June 6th

gable box 3 - 05.38 and 05.40 they leave

gable box 4 – 05.39 a swift arrives

gable box 3 – 05.44 a swift arrives

gable box 4 – 06.27 the swift leaves

gable box 3 – 06.27 a swift arrives. Both leave at 08.32

gable box 3 – 09.23 both arrive. Both leave at 09.56

gable box 3 – 10.36 both arrive. Both leave at 11.01

gable box 3 – 11.16 a swift arrives and leaves at 11.20

gable box 3 – 11.24 both arrive and leave at 11.49

gable box 3 – 12.18 a swift arrives and leaves at 12.25

gable box 3 – 21.38 a swift arrives. The mate arrives at 21.41June 7th gable box 3 - 06.53 the pair leace

gable box 2 – 22.22 a swift arrives and leaves at 22.59

 

June 7th

gable box 3 - 06.53 the pair leave

gable box 3 - a lot of coming and going up to 11.27

gable box 2 - 09.31 to 09.37 a swift is inside

gable box 3 - 12.57 to 13.04 a swift is inside

June 8th

gable box 3 - 04.59 both leave

gable box 3 - a lot of coming and going up to 08.59

gable box 3 - 14.00 a swift arrives and leaves at 14.06 first time with nest material

gable box 3 - 14.16 a swift arrives and leaves at 14.19 more nest material

gable box 3 - 19.22 a swift arrives

gable box 3 - 22.07 the mate arrives

 

June 9th

gable box 3 - a lot of coming and going up to 09.25

gable box 3 - 15.29 a swift arrives and leaves 15.51

gable box 3 - 21.50 and 22.13 the pair arrive

June 10th

gable box 3 - some coming and going up to 07.21

gable box 1 - 09.19 a nervous swift arrives and leaves at 09.23

gable box 3

 

June 11th

gable box 3 - 07.03 both leave

gable box 3 - a lot of coming and going between 10.12 and 12.23

gable box 1 - 20.56 a swift, with Crataerina, arrives and stays for 1 minute

gable box 3 - 22.00 the pair are in for the night

 

June 14th

gable box 3 - eggs are expected 10 days after pairing. Sadly it didnt happen

 

June 15th - hottest day since March - 25C

 

June 17th

gable box 3 - orange 18 lives here

gable box 5 - orange 17 lives here

 

June 18th

gable box 4 - 22.21 a nervous swift arrives and leaves at 22.29

 

June 19th

gable box 4 - 22.12 a nervous swift arrives and leaves at 22.16

June 20th

gable box 3 - 1st egg after many years together and 16 days back togther in 2022

 

sadly the lost both eggs

 

June 23d 23C outside 

 

Nothing to report

 

July 1st

22.50 a late swift trying to find somewhere to roost

 

July 11th

gable box 4 - 07.08 a nervous swift arrives and leaves at 07.11

July 12th

gable box 3 - the pair didnt return today or tonight

July 13th

gable box 3 - the pair didnt return today or tonight

July 14th

gable box 3 -

07.00 a swift arrives and leaves at 07.27

09.00 a swift arrives and leaves at 09.04

09.52 a swift arrives and leaves at 09.54

22.31 a swift arrives and leaves at 22.48

 

July 12th to 16th no activity in gable box 3

 

July 17th

gable box 3 08.25 a swift arrives followed by its mate at 08.29. Both leave at 09.29

ringed adults

back 3 - 14

gable box 2 - 3 seen 2021

gable box 3 - 18

gable box 5 - 17 and 18

gable box 6 - 19

gable box 9 - and 20