23rd May 2019

This new Swift came a banging on my nest boxes this morning, here in north Antrim, around 7.45am.

I hope it comes back again ... with a partner. 

* * * 

19th May 2019

Delighted to have 3 Swifts screaming over my garden this morning ... first time this year.

I suspect it was my pair putting manners on a newcomer. 

They eventually saw it off but hopefully, like Arnie - it'll be back!

* * * 

18th May 2019

After so many dry, sunny days here, mid-morning I watched one of my Swifts simply leave the nest box, fly around above the house 3 or 4 times in the thick Mizzle & then just pop straight back into the box. It occurred to me that this was simply it's way of getting a drink, as it would surely be able to easily quench its thirst afterwards by just preening.

* * * 

May 15th 2019

I spotted my pair of Swifts over my house around 9.30pm tonight, so dashed inside to get my camera, but of course by the time I got back out they'd already flown into the nest box.

However, I hung around & as luck would have it, himself had accidentally flown into the wrong box. So here he is, in low light, looking out & then squeezing his way out, before shooting straight back into the correct nest box.

* * *

* * * 

My Swift's partner arrived!

* * *

At last I saw my Swift's partner this afternoon, for the first time this year. So it looks like all systems are Go!

* * * 

Hey, look who's back! 😎

Hey, look who's back! 

One of my pair of Swifts arrived back last night.

True to form, the head appeared at the entrance to #5 nest box around 9am this morning. 

Interesting to note that it's 8 days earlier than last year! 

They left with their last youngster from last year's nest on the 30th July.

It's quite amazing to think that for the past 9 + months, they have been on the wing ... constantly. 

No danger then of it having sore feet! 

* * * * *

Swift Nest Box Cleaning - April 19th 2019

Swift Nest Box Cleaning - April 19th 2019

Boxes emptied & washed out with mild disinfectant.

This is the box & nest, which produced my first 3 young Swifts, last year.

This is that successful nest. 

It was the only box which didn't have a concave, but it did have a messy Sparrow Nest.

Close up of that nest, showing the many feathers. 

It must have been very cosy & comfortable for the chicks.

Boxes all cleaned now & ready for my Swifts to return.