The swifts are leaving. I have been lucky enough to have had them nesting under our eaves again this year. However, I am concerned, as yesterday they still appeared to be going into and coming out of the nesting site. The last I saw of them in 2011 was on the 29th July, are they leaving it a little late to still be feeding young. They usually appear between 6 and 8 pm. I saw a solitary one this morning at 7 am, but the weather today has been wet (AGAIN!)
Plenty of House Martins still feeding in the area behind my house even though it is raining slightly.
My gallery here
I never cease to be amazed at how much I didn't know I didn't know.
House Martins also feeding still next door, but swifts are the last to arrive of the 3 (swallow, swift and martins) but always the first to leave. So short a stay.
Not many swifts about at all now.
Its ok-wench.My group hung around wating for 3 late broods (for here).and then all left together but in the past have left late breeders behind if conditions are set fair.The poor summer we`ve had has meant some in the uk have failed to breed at all I believe :-(
My (hardy yorkshire swifts) kicked out the eggs they knew they couldnt support early on-started again-successfully, albeit with less chicks as far as I could guesstimate!
They all know the way home btw.
P.s They`re not long gone and miss em already.
Last night there were 2 swifts outside, and 1 went into the nest site, again. This morning, 1 little white face is visible under/behind the facia board where 1 of the nests is.
We had 1 left behind about 5 years ago. This was only known, when the following spring a corpse was on the ground under the nest site. Presumably kicked out by the new nesters.
My swifts are not giving up without a fight. I thought we were going to have 1 left behind - again- but I've seen 1 going into the site twice this afternoon. Lets hope there's enough food about to get it's strength up to go back to Africa, and return another year.
Rather a shame for swifts this year, as you say, but they are long lived birds and have plenty of chances yet to raise young.
I also miss them when they go - the sky seems empty!
Just spent the weekend in Portugal where I saw a good number of them, no doubt on passage to Africa. Also house martins and swallows.
:-)
Seriously thinking about trying harder!
I think the martins are leaving earlier this year. We have several nesting all around us, (but not on ours - sooner have the swifts anyway) and they seem to be on the move. Not going up to the nests next door at all. I can't say I blame them after this awful summer!!!!
The number of swifts I felt had increased, not sure if we had 3 or 4 nests under the eaves, and they certainly seemed interested on front part of the extension too.
Over at Rutland Water in June, there seemed to be 100's one Sunday. It was truely amazing.
Fingers crossed if fledges. Won't find out I suppose until next spring when they turf out any bodies.