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 – 3 2
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 – 1 4 and 25
what happened in the gable boxes in 2023
Box 1 - failed first time breeders
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
April 21st hottest
day of the year 19C
swifts seen in Sligo, Hilden and Coalisland
April 22nd
swifts reported from Portmore Lough and Oxford Island
a swift has returned to a Caulside nest box 12 days earlier than
2023
a swift has returned to a nest box in Stranmillis
swifts were over Springhill, Moneymore
Gable box 9 - 20.33 the first swift returns
7 days earlier than 2023 29/4/'23
orange
April 26th
Gable box 8 - 09.38 the first is
home 6 days earlier
. It left at 09.56
orange
Gable box 6 - 20.42 the first home
3 days earlier orange 25
should be in gable box 8
April 28th
Gable box 7 - 07.45 the first is home 4 days
earlier orange
April 29th
Gable box 6 - 21.05 what is
orange 25 doing
in here?
An observation
gable box 9 has come home every night since April 22nd
gable box 8 has not been seen on the 28th at
08.38
gable box 6 has been in every night since April 26th
gable box 7 has not been seen
since April 28th
gable box 6 April 29th 21.05
orange 25 ring is seen. It should be in gable box 8
May 2nd
Gable box 9 - 09.55 pair reunited. Mate has
one white tail covert. ringed but no darvick
May 5th
Gable box 9 - the pair were last
together on 4th/5th night
May 6th
Gable box 6 - 21.20 a swift arrives
Gable box 1 - 21.22 a swift arrives. Ringed
with metal and darvick. No swift in the box since May 1st
Gable box 2 - 21.39 a swift arrives
May 7th
Gable box 1 - 21.30 pair inside
orange 32 and
Gable box 6 - 20.18 pair reunited
May 9th 23C hottest day of the year
Gable box 4 - 05.55 a swift arrives - no rings
- and leaves at 06.41
Gable box 5 - 19.38 a swift arrives - no rings
- and leaves at 19.43
Gable box 5 - 22.13 swift arrives. No darvick
Gable box 7 - 19.48 a swift arrives.
Last seen on 12 days ago on 28th May
May 10th 23C
Gable box 4 - 04.49 a swift arrives and leaves
at 06.57
house martin having a look at 10.10 May 11th Gable box 8
- 12.01 a swift arrives
Gable box 7 - 13.05 the pair arrive
orange 03 and
orange 27
May 11th
27C at 13.30
Gable box 8 - 12.01 a swift arrives and leaves
at 13.06 orange
3pm 8 house martins in the air chatting but not looking
May 12th
Gable box 4 - 04.57 a swift arrives and leaves
at 07.23
Gable box 2 - 18.59 a swift arrives
Gable box 4 - 20.20 swift arrives
Gable box 4 -
20.32 2nd arrives. One has a ring
May 13th
Gable box 2
- 08.16 a swift arrives.
Ringed and darvick . It leaves at 09.05
Gable box 3
- 09.08 a swift arrives.
orange 14 . It leaves at
09.48. It should be in gable box 8
Gable box 3
- 11.35 orange 14
arrives and leaves at 11.50
Gable box 3
- 12.38
orange 14 . and leaves at leaves at
12.47
Gable box 3
- 13.05 orange 14
arrives and leaves at leaves at 13.32
orange 14 was ringed at another site as a
banger/fighter on 11th July 2021
______________________________________________________________________________________
orange 14 &
orange 25 a history
2021
June 13th
a new pair move in to back foor boxes 1 and 3
June 15th
they move to back door 3
June 24th
first egg
11 days after moving 'house'
July 11th
orange 14
is ringed as a banger at another site 1.9km 1.2 miles away
May 2nd 2023
the first returns
May 7th 2023
orange 25
is fighting in under eave 4. The day it gets ringed
May 9th
under eave 4 - 06.00 orange
25 returns to the nest for the frst time since
the fight on 7th
under eave 4 - 11.47 orange
25 returns and leaves at 11.52
Back door 3 - 12.33 orange
25 arrives and leaves at 12.39
May 11th
Gable box 4 - 10.42 a swift orange
25 arrives and leaves at
Back door 3 - 13.25 the
mate arrives both leave at 14.28
May 12th
gable box 8 - 07.28 a swift, orange
25 , arrives and leaves at 06.50
gable box 8 - 08.22 a swift, orange
25 , arrives and leaves at 08.32
May 13th
both relocate to Gable box 8
2024
May 26th
Gable box 6 - 20.42 the first home 3 days earlier
orange 25
should be in gable box 8
April 29th
Gable box 6 - 21.05 what is orange 25
doing in here?
Gable box 3
- 09.08 a swift arrives. orange 14 .
It leaves at 09.48. It should be in gable box 8
_______________________________________________________________________________________
May 14th
Gable box 1 have been in the box since 15.37 yesterday. Both
leave at 13.59 -
Gable box 4 have been in the box since 16.26 yesterday. Both
leave at 14.13 -
Gable box 5 - 11.52
orange 17 arrived and
leaves at 13.01
Gable box 3 - 15.04 orange 14 arrives and
leaves at 15.28
Gable box 9 - 21.43 a swift arrives. First time
since 10/5. The pair have not been together since 2/5
May 15th
Gable box 4 - 11.57
orange 14 and
orange 17 fight.
Orange 17 should be in
gable box 5
May 16th
Gable box 7 -
1st egg after 6 days together
Gable box 1 - 1st egg
after 9 days together
Back
door 3 - 12.45 a
pair of swifts arrive. No fighting means
they know each other
VIDEO
Only orange 24
returns that night
Gable box 8 - a swift uses
the box for the first time since April 28th - 21.50 to 05.10
May 17th
Gable box 8 - 09.43 a
swift arrives and leaves at 09.45
Back door 3 - 09.57 a
swift arrives and leaves at 09.59
Gable box 11 - 10.04
orange 25
arrives. s/he hasnt been seen for 18 days
Gable box 8 - 19.10 a
swift arrives
Back door 3 - 21.14
swift arrives
May 18th
Gable box 1 -
2nd egg
Gable box 7 -
2nd egg
May 19th max of 23C
Gable box 10 - 08.34 a
swift, orange 25 ,
arrives and leaves at 10.17
Back door 3 - 21.55
orange 25 arrives
for the night
May 20th 26.6C in a nest box
Gable box 1 -
3rd egg
Back door 3 - 04.56
orange 25 leaves
Gable box 10 - 06.41
orange 25
arrives and leaves at 08.09
Gable box 9 - 10.21.46 a
swift, no rings , arrives and leaves at 10.22.56
Gable box 10 - 10.27 a
swift arrives and leaves at 10.59
Gable box 10 - 11.35 a
swift arrives and leaves at 12.01
Gable box 10 - 12.47 a
swift arrives and leaves at 13.28
Gable box 10 - 13.47 a
swift arrives and leaves at 14.06
Gable box 10 - 16.26 a
swift arrives and leaves at 16.36
Gable box 10 - 18.20 a
swift arrives and leaves at 18.34
Gable box 10 -
20.30 two swifts arrive
VIDEO
Gable box 9 - 22.03
the mate arrives 18 days after going
missing
Gable box 10 - 21.59 both
leave but only orange 25
returns
An orange ringed swift intrudes and removes 2 eggs
Gable box 7
- 19.54 the incubating swift
leaves
Gable box 7 -
20.09 a nervous orange _ _
arrives
and dumps two eggs and leaves at 20.16
Gable box 7 -
20.28 the resident returns
VIDEO
May 21st
under eave 4 - 08.07
orange 25 arrives
and leaves at 08.17
May 22nd
Gable box 4 -
1st egg 10 days
together
Gable box 5 - 15.57
a unringed swift arrives and leaves at 16.02
May 24th
Gable box 4 -
2nd egg
Swift Conference 28th May - June
1st
Orange
25 has not been seen for 7 days
June 1st
Gable box 9 -
22.03 an egg is laid without a shell
VIDEO
June 6th
Gable box 1 - 1st chick seen
How do swifts react when the ligts come on for the first time?
VIDEO
Gable box 1
June 8th - 3 chicks out
June 12th
Gable box 8 - 09.03 has
orange 24 returned after 29 days
awol? with a mate
Gable box 8 - 10.28 both leave
Gable box 8 - 10.59 a swift arrives and leaves at
11.16
Gable box 8 - 11.52 a swift arrives and leaves at
12.09
Gable box 8 - 12.57 a swift arrives and leaves at
13.00
June 1st to 12th Gable box 8 isnt used at night
June 13th
Gable box 8 - a swift stays over night
Gable box 8 - 11.42 2 swifts arrive. Still inside
at 14.40
June 15th 2023 30C 2024 15C
Gable box 4 - chicks revealed
today
Gable box 8 - 08.08 2 swifts arrive and leave at
10.48
Gable box 5 - 09.40 a swift, no rings ,
arrives and leaves at 09.51
Gable box 3 - 10.01 a swift, no rings ,
arrives and leaves at 10.07
Gable box 8 - 13.47 2 swifts arrive and leave at
14.17
Gable box 8 - 15.53 2 swifts arrive and leave at
16.01
Gable box 3 - 22.27 a swift, no rings ,
arrives and leaves at 22.37
Gable box 3 - 22.39 a swift arrives
Gable boxes 3 and 5 have had no swifts in at night since
June 1st
June 16th
Gable box 8 - 07.00 the pair are back inside until
08.45
Gable box 3 - 4 visits up to 14.00
June 17th
Gable box 8 - 07.20 the pair are back. Both leave
at 10.07
Gable box 3 - 09.16 a pair arrive including
orange 02
ringed 10th July 2020 as a banger at 22.20
Gable box 3 - 10.45 both leave
Gable box 8 - 12.34 the pair are back. Both leave
at 13.15
Gable box 3 - the pair werent seen again today
June 18th
Gable box 8 - 08.28 the pair are back. Both leave
at 10.37
June 19th 06.00 woken by screaming swifts
Gable box 8 - 06.12 the pair arrive and leave at
09.30
Gable box 3 - 06.20 the pair are back. They leave
at 09.47
Gable box 5 - 09.56 a swift arrives and leaves at
10.02
Gable box 5 - 10.42 a swift returns and leaves at
10.47
Gable box 5 - 12.49 a swift with a crataerina
arrives and leaves at and leaves at 12.54
Gable box 8 - 14.01 the pair return and leave at
14.20
Gable box 5 - 14.15 a swift arrives and leaves at
14.19
Gable box 5 - 22.30 a swift arrives
Gable box 5 - last
was seen on the 15th
best display of swifts this year
June 20th
Gable box 8 - 06.30 the pair arrive. Both leave at
09.57
Gable box 3 - 06.31
orange 02 arrives and leaves at 06.54
Gable box 3 - 08.07
orange 02 arrives and leaves at 08.23
Gable box 8 - 15.37 the pair arrive. Both leave at
16.03
Gable box 8 - 22.12 the pair arrive and stay over
night. First time
VIDEO
Gable box 5 - 10.30 a pair arrive
one is orange 02
both leave at 11.16
Gable box 5 - 22.15 a swift, no ring , arrives
and stays all night
Gable box 3 - 22.15
orange 02 arrives and leaves at 22.28
June 21st
Gable box 5 - 05.52 a swift, no ring ,
arrives and leaves at 07.35
Gable box 8 - 07.56 the pair leave
Gable box 5 - 08.18 a swift arrives and leaves at
09.27
Gable box 8 - 10.53 the pair arrive and leave at
11.53
Gable box 5 - 22.31 a swift arrives and stays the
night
Gable box 8 - 22.22 the pair arrive and stay
overnight
June 22nd
Gable box 5 - 05.52 a swift, no ring, arrives and
leaves at 06.59
Gable box 5 - 07.02
orange 02 arrives
Gable box 5 - 07.08 the mate arrives .
Both leave at 07.54
Gable box 8 - 08.42 the pair leave
Gable box 8 - 09.49 the pair return and leave at
11.49
Gable box 3 - 09.52
orange 02
a rrives and leaves at
10.22
Gable box 5 - 10.54 a
swift arrives and leaves at 10.54
Gable box 8 - 21.25 the
pair return and leave at 21.54
Gable box 5 - 22.28 a
swift no ring arrives and stays the night
June 23rd
Gable box 5 - 06.30 a
swift, no ring , arrives and leaves at 08.24
Gable box 8 - 08.13 the
pair return and leave at 09.24
Gable box 8 - 10.42 the
pair return and leave at 11.26
Gable box 5 - 22.44 a
swift, no ring , arrives and stays the night
Gable box 8 - 22.42 the
pair return and stay over night
max temperature in a nest box 28.1C
June 24th
Gable box 5 - 07.03 a
swift arrives and leaves at 07.33
Gable box 5 - 08.24 a
swift arrives and leaves at 08.37
Gable box 8 - 08.25 the
pair leave
Gable box 5 - 10.16 a
swift, no ring , arrives and leaves at 10.30
Gable box 8 - 10.17 the
pair return and leave at 11.01
Gable box 5 - 22.31 a
swift arrives and stays the night
Gable box 8 - 22.24 the
pair return and stay the night
max temperature in a nest box 30.1C
Gable box 3 - pair last seen together at 10.43 on the 19th
June 25th
Gable box 8 -
07.08 the pair leave
Gable box 5 - 10.48 a swift arrives and leaves at
11.26
Gable box 5 - 14.31 a swift arrives and leaves at
14.45
Gable box 8 - 22.36 the pair return and stay over
night
late evening swifts at the Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast
VIDEO
June 26th
Gable box 8 -
05.20 the pair leave
Gable box 9 - 07.39 a swifts, ringed ,
arrives and leaves at 07.50
Gable box 3 - 08.22
orange 02
has returned and leaves at 08.52
Gable box 8 - 08.46 the pair return and leave at
09.12
Gable box 5 - 10.29 a swift, no rings,
arrives and leaves at 10.51
Gable box 8 - only 1 over night
June 27th
Gable box 8 - only 1 over night
June 28th
Gable box 5 - 12.41
orange 25 , should be in gable box 8,
intrudes and leaves at 12.44
Gable box 8 - nothing during the day
June 29th
Gable box 3 - 06.43
orange 02 arrives and leaves at 07.29
Gable box 5 - contunues to be used by the mate of
orange 02 Maybe they have split
Gable box 8 - just one over night. Nothing during
the day
June 30th
Gable box 8 - nothing all day
July 3rd
Gable box 5 - 14.33 a swift arrives
Gable box 5 -
orange 02 arrives causing a short fight. The
pair have lived seperate lives for the last 15 days
Gable box 5 - 15.27 both leave
Gable box 8 - no activity July 1st to 5th
Gable box 9 - last used by a pair June 15th over
night
Gable box 9 - last used by a single June 18th over
night
This year
June was over all colder than May and drier that June 2015
my poorests results year since I sarted making a diary in
2009
July 14th
Gable box 3 - 07.24 a swift, no rings , arrives and
leaves at 07.53
Gable box 9 - 10.20 a swift, metal ringed, arrives
and leaves at 10.27
Gable box 8 - 10.25
orange 24 last seen of June 30th/14 days ago
reappeared and leaves at 10.33
bangers this evening
VIDEO
July 15th
Gable box 3 - 07.18
orange 02
last seen 12 days ago arrives and leaves at
09.04
Gable box 2 - 07.24 a swift, no rings ,
arrives and leaves at 07.56
Gable box 8 - 08.53
orange 24 arrives with a mate. Both
leave at 09.06. The mate is ringed with metal and darvick
VIDEO
Gable box 8 - 09.45 the pair arrive and leave at
10.01
Gable box 1 - 10.59 1st chick fledges aged 40 days
VIDEO
July 17th
Gable box 8 - 06.59 a swift arrives and leaves at
07.09
Gable box 3 - 07.11 a swift, no rings ,
arrives and leaves at 07.57
Gable box 8 - 07.14 a swift arrives
Gable box 8 - 07.17 a 2nd arrives. Both leave at
07.29
Gable box 3 - 08.07 a swift, no rings ,
arrives and leaves at 08.31
Gable box 2 - 09.17 a swift, no rings ,
arrives and leves at 09.32
Gable box 2 - 20.17 a pannicked swift, no rings ,
arrives and leaves at 21.39
Gable box 2 - 22.00 a swift arrives and
leaves at midnight
Gable box 8 - 22.00 a swift arrives. Last
used overnight 17 days ago
July 18th
Gable box 1 - 08.26 2nd fledges
aged 42 days
July 20th
Gable box 3 - 7.53 a swift, no rings ,
arrives and leaves at 08.15
Gable box 3 - 08.32 a swift, no rings ,
arrives
Gable box 3 - 08.44 a 2nd swift ,
no rings , arrives.
Both stay until 11.02
Gable box 2 - 12.31 a swift arrives and leaves at
12.36
Gable box 5 - is used multiple times by a single
swift
Gable box 3 - 21.53 a swift arrives and
leaves at 00.36
July 21st
Gable box 3 - 07.21 a swift, no rings ,
arrives and leaves at 07.53
Gable box 5 - is used multiple times by a single
swift
July 22nd
Gable box 3 - 07.01 a swift arrives and leaves at
07.59
Gable box 3 - 08.38 a swift arrives and leaves at
08.44
Gable box 3 - 09.31 a swift arrives
Gable box 3 - 09.32 the mate arrives . Both leave at
10.34
Gable box 3 - 11.06 the pair arrive. Both leave at
11.33
Gable box 3 - 11.37 the pair arrive. Both leave at
12.01
Gable box 3 - 12.12 a swift arrives and leaves at
12.17
Gable box 3 - 12.22 the pair arrive .
Both leave at 12.54
Gable box 3 - in and out 7 times this
morning
Gable box 8 - 12.23 a swift arrives
Gable box 8 - 12.28 the mate arrives
Gable box 8 - 12.51 both leave
Gable box 3 - 12.58.37 a swift arrives and leaves
at 12.59.20
Gable box 3 - 13.31 a swift arrives and leaves at
13.41
Gable box 8 - 13.44 a swift arrives
Gable box 8 - 13.51 the mate arrives .
Both leave at 14.12
Gable box 5 - is used multiple times by a single
swift
Gable box 3 - 21.49 a swift arrives and
stays over night
Gable box 1 - 22.07 a swift arrives and leaves at
22.15
July 22nd
Gable box 3 - 06.40 a swift arrives and leaves at
07.07
Gable box 4 - 07.08 1st fledges
Gable box 8 - 07.17 a swift arrives
Gable box 8 - 07.36 the mate arrives. Both leave at
08.59
Gable box 7 - 09.23 Paul's 1st foster
fledges
Gable box 3 - 09.48 a swift arrives and leaves at
09.59
Gable box 5 - is used multiple times by a single
swift
Gable box 3 - 21.57 a swift
arrives and stays overnight
Gable box 4 - 22.27
2nd fledges
July 23rd
Gable box 7 - 05.16
Paul's 2nd foster
fledges
Gable box 8 - 07.45 a swift arrives
Gable box 8 - 07.53 the mate arrives. Both leave at
08.50
Gable box 3 - 08.20 a swift arrives
Gable box 3 - 08.32 the mate arrives. Both are gone
by 10.16
Gable box 8 - 10.43 the pair return. Both leave at
11.29
July 25th
Gable box 3 - 08.35 a swift arrives
Gable box 3 - 08.37 the mate arrives. Both leave by
11.23
Gable box 8 - 10.21 a swift arrives
Gable box 8 - 10.35 the mate arrives. Both leave at
11.06
Gable box 3 - 22.13 a swift arrives and leaves at
22.32
July 26th 20C
Gable box 3 - 07.41 the pair arrive. The leave at
10.06 and 10.10
Gable box 3 - 22.03 a swift arrives and stays all
night
July 27th 20C
Gable box 3 - 07.02 the pair arrive. The leave at
08.31
July 28th 25C at 6pm
Gable box 8 - 07.13 the pair arrive and leave at
08.40
Gable box 3 - 07.41 the pair arrive
Gable box 3 - 08.14 the pair arrive and leave at
08.40
Gable box 8 - 08.40 the pair leave
Gable box 3 - 08.54 the pair arrive. Both leave at
10.05
Gable box 1 - 09.27 a swift, no rings, arrives and
leaves at 10.23. Young fledged 10 days ago
Gable box 8 - 22.01 the pair arrive. First time
together over night
July 29th 24C at 3pm
Gable box 3 - 06.47 the pair arrive and leave at
08.49
Gable box 8 - 07.07 the pair leave
Gable box 8 - 08.07 the pair return
Gable box 1 - 08.52 a swift arrives and leaves at
09.03
Gable box 8 - 10.48 the pair leave
Gable box 3 - 21.44 the pair arrive
Gable box 8 - 21.49 the pair arrive
July 30th
Gable box 3 - 07.13 the pair leave
Gable box 1 - 07.09 a swift arrives and leaves at
07.20
Gable box 8 - 07.38 the pair leave
Gable box 1 - 09.21 a swift arrives and leaves at
09.48
Gable box 3 - last night together
July 31st 24C at 2pm 25.7C in a nest box
Gable box 1 - 05.32 a swift arrives and leaves at
05.54
Gable box 3 - 08.49 a swift arrives and leaves at
08.53
Gable box 1 - 08.54 a swift arrives and leaves at
09.04
Gable box 1 - 09.10 a swift arrives and leaves at
09.45
Gable box 1 - 09.53 a pair
arrive. No rings on both!
VIDEO
Gable box 1 -
21.14 a swift arrives
Gable box 1 -
21.32 the mate arrives. Both stay over night
Gable box 3 - the pair return and stay over night
Gable box 5 - a lone swift over night
Gable box 8 - the pair stay over night
August 1st
Gable box 1 - is used serval times today
Gable box 1 - the pair return and stay over night
Gable box 5 - a lone swift over night
Gable box 8 - a lone swift over night
August 2nd
Gable box 1 - last night together
August 3rd
Gable box 1 - none in tonight
August 4th
Gable box 1 - 1 in tonight
August 5th
Gable box 1 -
1 in tonight
August 6th
Gable box 1 -
1 in tonight
August 8th
Gable box 1 - 10.13
orange 32 just arrived after 20 days
absence. Both leave at 11.36
Number of days staying post fledging
Gable box 1 fledged July 18th - 0
Gable box 4 fledged July 22nd - 9 and 16
Gable box 7 fledged July 23rd - 7 and 16