Been an 'unconventional' season so far. Two adults arrived end of first week of May. Straight in the box. Very low key for weeks after that, with only occasional sightings, and unlike previous two years, several days of 'screaming' from inside the box. Then last week, regular sightings of an adult flying out of the box. From seeing once every few days to five times in one day....despite having other things to do with my time. Yesterday, a 'pack' of often 4 swifts started approaching the house, checking out martin nests as well as the occupied swift nest. Today it's cranked up further. Had to shut the bedroom window as swifts were getting close to coming in. Came eyeball to eyeball with one of them!
I am assuming at least one is an immature bird. Fledged a youngster in each of the last two years, so one or both could be back this year to see about future nesting options.
Photo below is of one of the 'invaders'. One did get in and a fight broke out inside the box. I could here the battle and after a minute or so, half a swift hanged out the box before it then broke free. They tried again and the photos are from that attempt. An adult was inside throughout. Hopefully it's the 'owner' and any swiftlet that might have been in there is undamaged.
Note the quite pale top of the head of the invader.
Fingers crossed that the original box still has active young which will fledge shortly and hoping to hear positive news for those soon. Thanks for the updates Rob.
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Regards, Hazel
Quick update. Hard to tell with the terrible weather if there are two parents feeding or just one, but there is still some feeding in the original nest. The 'sparrow nestbox' is back with the sparrow.....though he has since gone off it again and I've not seen much of him since the weekend. I'm therefore assuming the swifts using that box did so in prep for next year and were both youngsters rather than adults who'd lost their nest site elsewhere.
That's still somewhat positive news Robbo ..weather is ridiculous
(Pardon the Scottish Accent)
Another quick update as I had a chance with the camera this morning. Original nest still feeding but the 'sparrow nestbox' was again visited. Took a few confused attempts to find it, which upset the martins. This morning, the young from the downpipe nest were back exploring. Sorry for the out of focus swift. Think I need to mess with shutter speed at some point!
The swift did go in the box, and was still inside when I came in.
Good to see activity continues in martin and swift boxes but lets hope for some fine warm weather soon; it's constant drizzle here in Cheshire although I see sunshine/shadows on your pics !
...... btw, you'll have to try harder to get your photos suitable for the bad pics thread as they are fine looking at them zoomed in !
Been nice weather today, and clearly decent enough for the swifts (and martins) to find food. As you say, hopefully it'll stay settled now so the remaining nests can have some prolonged, reliable feeding.
stealthybutnotthatstealthy said:Another quick update as I had a chance with the camera this morning. Original nest still feeding but the 'sparrow nestbox' was again visited. Took a few confused attempts to find it, which upset the martins. This morning, the young from the downpipe nest were back exploring. Sorry for the out of focus swift. Think I need to mess with shutter speed at some point!
Those photos are pretty damned good, particularly as housemartins, and swifts, move very quick and are quite small.
Without knowing what camera is in use, it may also be the AF settings need tweaking. I tend to use 1/2000 for BIF, that includes housemartins, swallows and swifts, and so long as the AF locks on to the bird, the photos are reasonable.
Above all, the important thing is, they've young and looking good.
Mike
Flickr: Peak Rambler
Thanks Mike. Still feeding this morning. Hopefully I'll have a less camera shy swiflet this year.
Great to see, thank you.
Thanks. Still at least 5 adults flying close to the house. At least one swiftlet being fed by two parents. Yet to see a face peering out the box though. Will try again before the sun moves around.....