Great day to be at the Lodge if you like swifts, the whole of the reserve seemed to be resonating with their calls, and not just from the speakers on the buildings trying to entice them in to nest! The St Marks flies seem to have had a big hatch today among other insects which has brought in flocks of swifts and house martins, probably swallows and sand martins as well and they have been putting on quite a show as they zoom around the tree tops.
Not a bad supporting cast with at least 4 buzzards over the reserve, a brief fly by from a hobby and the odd wheatear still showing. There is lots of nest building and fledged young are about as well so listen out for the high pitched calls and keep an eye out for busy parent birds with beakfuls of food!
Warden Intern at Otmoor.