Swift Diary 2015

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ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½left ï¿½ gable boxes, middle ï¿½ under eave boxes, right ï¿½ under eave back

n/b = non breeder from 2014

2015 Observations

(bracketed dates are from previous seasons)

the dates when the first birds of each pair has returned to their nest boxes on my house

2009 â€“ May 6th, 8th, 9th, 9th, 9th, 13th
2010 â€“ May 3rd, 3rd, 3rd, 4th, 9th, 9th, 16th
2011 â€“ May 3rd, 5th, 5th, 6th, 8th
2012 â€“ May 10th, 10th, 10th, 12th
2013 â€“ May 7th, 7th, 7th, 12th, 17th, 17th,ï¿½31st
2014 â€“ May 2nd, 3rd, 3rd, 6th,ï¿½6th, 7th
average date = May 7th

single swift seen in Crumlin

14 swifts seen at Oxford Island nature reserve (19/4/14) (16/4/13)

40 swifts seen at Oxford Island nature reserve

first swift back at the gable. What box it entered wasnï¿½t seen. Cameras are not ready

3rd May sun rise 05.42 sun set 21.02

gable box 6 ï¿½ 17.50 first swift home. Stayed until 18.10 (20/4/14), (15/6/14) used by Tipex and mate

gable box 6 ï¿½ 18.15 a swift returns and stays until 18.25

gable box 6 ï¿½ 20.05 a swift returns and stays until 20.25

gable box 6 ï¿½ 21.00 a swift returns for the night

Gable box 6 ï¿½ 09.45 a swift returns and stays in the box until 10.35

Gable box 5 ï¿½ 11.40 a swift arrives and leaves at 11.50

Gable box 6 ï¿½ 11.50 a swift arrives and stays until 12.00

Gable box 6 ï¿½ 12.50 a swift arrives and leaves at 12.51

Gable box 8 ï¿½ 13.05 a nervous swift arrives and leaves at 13.10

Gable box 6 ï¿½ 14.40 a swift arrives and stays until 14.55

Gable box 6 ï¿½ 19.20 a swifts arrives and leaves at 19.45

Gable box 6 ï¿½ 20.25 a swift arrives and leaves at 20.45

Gable box 6 ï¿½ 20.50 a swift arrives and leaves at 20.58

Gable box 6 ï¿½ 20.58 a swift arrives and leaves at 21.05

gable box 6 ï¿½ 21.26 a swift returns for the night

a second swift made multiple attempts to come in this evening but was chased by a starling

Gable box 6 ï¿½ 09.08 a swift arrives and leaves at 11.15

12.20 screaming party of 5

Gable box 6 ï¿½ 15.50 a swift arrives and leaves at 16.10

Gable box 6 ï¿½ 18.46 a swift arrives and leaves at 19.25 and comes back in again and leaves at 19.50

Gable box 6 ï¿½ 20.20 a swift arrives and leaves at 20.37

Gable box 8 ï¿½ 20.20 first swift home (3/5/14), (12/5/13), (10/5/12), (5/5/11), (16/5/10), (8/6/09) Stayed until 20.46ï¿½ï¿½

Gable box 8 ï¿½ 21.16 a swift arrives and stays over night

Gable box 5 ï¿½ 21.20 first swift home (2/5/14), (7/5/13), (10/5/12), (5/5/11), (16/5/10)

Gable box 8 ï¿½ 21.20 a swift arrives and stays over night

Gable box 6 ï¿½ 0905 a swift arrives and leaves at 09.20

Gable box 5 ï¿½ 1005 a nervous swift enters the box and stays for two minutes

Gable box 6 ï¿½ 10.17 to 10.20 a swift arrives and leaves three times

Gable box 6 ï¿½ 11.45 to 12.00 a swift arrives and leaves three times

Gable box 6 ï¿½ multiple entries throughout the day

Gable box 8 ï¿½ the swift didnï¿½t come home tonight

Gable box 5 ï¿½ pre 07.00 second swift home (17/5/14) (unknown in ï¿½13), (15/5/12), (7/5/11), (21/5/10), (unknown ï¿½09)

Gable box 6 ï¿½ multiple entries throughout the day

Gable box 6 ï¿½ 20.58 second swift home (20/4/14) used by a single bird, (15/6/14 to 16/7/14) ï¿½ Tipex and mate. Non breeders from 2014

Gable box 8 ï¿½ the swift hasnï¿½t been seen all day and didnï¿½t come home tonight

Gable box 5 ï¿½ only one swift over night

Gable box 6 ï¿½ multiple entries throughout the day

u-box9 ï¿½ 19.50 ï¿½ first swift home (6/5/14), (31/5/13), (29/6/12)

gable box 11 ï¿½ 21.14 a swift arrives and stays the night. This box has never been used before

gable box 6 ï¿½ no swifts over night

gable box 8 ï¿½ the swift hasnï¿½t been seen all day and didnï¿½t come home tonight

u-box 9 ï¿½ swift left at 06.31

Gable box 11 ï¿½ the swift left just after 6am

Gable box 11 ï¿½ 09.12 a swift arrives and leaves at 09.50

Gable box 11 ï¿½ 11.05 a swift arrives and leaves at 11.20

Gable box 11 ï¿½ 13.05 a swift arrives and leaves at 13.25

Gable box 11 ï¿½ 14.05 a swift arrives and leaves

Gable box 6 ï¿½ multiple entries throughout the day

u-box 9 ï¿½ swift returned at 21.14

u-box 9 ï¿½ 21.31 swift 2 returned (8/5/14), (31/5/13), (29/6/12)

gable box 8 ï¿½ the swift hasnï¿½t been seen all day and didnï¿½t come home tonight

Gable box 11 ï¿½ 13.20 a swift arrives

gable box 11 ï¿½ 13.28 a second swift arrives no fight so they must know each other. They leave at 14.15 and 14.25

gable box 8 ï¿½ the swift hasnï¿½t been seen all day and didnï¿½t come home tonight

gable box 11 ï¿½ nest building has started

gable box 8 ï¿½ the swift hasnï¿½t been seen all day and didnï¿½t come home tonight

Gable box 3 ï¿½ 21.55 a nervous swift enters and stays over night

Activity this evening

gable box 8 ï¿½ the swift hasnï¿½t been seen all day and didnï¿½t come home tonight: ï¿½
May 13th
gable box 2 ï¿½ 13.14 ï¿½a nervous swift enters and leaves at 13.18. This box has never been used before now
gable box 7 ï¿½ 13.17 the first swift arrives and leaves at 14.30 (7/5/14), (7/5/13), (12/5/12), (3/5/11), (3/5/10), (6/5/09)
Gable box 2 ï¿½ 13.28 a swift arrives and leaves at 13.30
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May 14th
u-box 1 back ï¿½ 05.44 the first swift arrives (19/5/14) (5/6/13) (11/6/13)
Gable box 2 ï¿½ 14.36 a nervous swift enters and leaves at 14.43
Gable box 1 ï¿½ 14.54 the first swift arrives and leaves at 15.20
Gable box 1 ï¿½ 21.40 a swift arrives and leaves in the dark at 22.20

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May 15th sun rise 05.19 sunset 21.24
Gable box 4 ï¿½ 08.44 a swift arrives and leaves at 09.14. First used on June 17th by a single bird. Used from June 27th ï¿½14 until July 26th as a pair
Gable box 5 ï¿½ 13.28 and intruder arrives. The fight continues until after 5pm
The are separated and marked. Tipex Shoulders lives in gable box 5. Tipex Head lives in?
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Gable box 3 ï¿½ 21.37 Tipex Head arrives and stays overnight
Gable box 1 ï¿½ 21.39 a nervous swift arrives followed by another. Second swift has arrived
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May 16th
Gable box 3 ï¿½ 05.10 Tipex Head left
Gable box 1 ï¿½ both left at 09.25. Almost 12 hours in the nest
Gable box 3 ï¿½ 21.45 a swift arrives and stays the night
Gable box 6 ï¿½ 21.45 Tipex arrives and stays over night
Gable box 6 ï¿½ 00.10 Tipex has been looking out of the nest box for 2 hours in to the darkness
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May 17th
not much to report
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May 18th
Gable box 11 ï¿½ 14.15 the pair arrive and do not leave again. It will be 15 hours until dawn
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May 19th
Gable box 11 ï¿½ first egg. 9 days together
Gable box 11 ï¿½ 09.00 the pair leave their box after 19 hours
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May 20th
u-box 9 ï¿½ first egg. 11 days together: ï¿½
May 21st
u-box 11 ï¿½ second egg.
Gable box 2 ï¿½ 11.10 a nervous swift arrives and it isnï¿½t Tipex 2015
U-box 2 back ï¿½ 22.05 a nervous swift arrives but doesnï¿½t settle. At midnight it is searching inside the nest box. It leaves at 01.45
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May 22nd
u-box 9 ï¿½ second egg
U-box 2 back ï¿½ 12.45 a nervous swift arrives and leaves at 13.30
U-box 1 back ï¿½ 21.55 a swift arrives
U-box 1 back ï¿½ 21.55 15 seconds later a second arrives (19/5/14)
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screaming parties at the under eave boxes at the back of the house
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May 23rd
Gable box 11 ï¿½ third egg
U-box 1 back ï¿½ late lie in for the reunited pair until 10.14
U-box 2 back ï¿½ 11.18 a swift arrives and leaves at 11.42
U-box 1 back ï¿½ 21.17 an intruder arrives
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May 24th
u-box 9 ï¿½ third egg
Gable box 7 ï¿½ 21.50 Tipex arrives after 8 days absence and leaves at 21.58
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May 25th
Gable box 5 ï¿½ first egg. 18 days together
Gable box 7 ï¿½ 06.05 Tipex returns and leaves at 07.25
Gable box 5 ï¿½ 07.40 fight after an intruder arrives. Tipex Tail Tips is marked
Gable box 5 ï¿½ Tipex Tail Tips is the mate of the swift in 5
Gable box 5 ï¿½ 11.20 one of the pair dumps their egg

Gable box 6 ï¿½ 15.40 Tipex Head arrives and leaves at 15.45
Gable box 7 ï¿½ 20.45 Tipex Head arrives
Gable box 2 ï¿½ 21.55 a swift arrives but leaves at 22.23 in the dark
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May 26th
Gable box 7 ï¿½ 06.25 Tipex Head leaves
Gable box 7 ï¿½ 07.25 Tipex Head arrives and leaves at 07.46
Gable box 4 ï¿½ 07.50 a swift arrives and leaves at 08.09
Gable box 6 ï¿½ 08.33 Tipex Head arrives and leaves at 08.50
Gable box 6 ï¿½ 09.50 Tipex Head arrives with a mate and stay until 12.05
Gable box 2 ï¿½ 10.35 a swift arrives and stays until 10.55
Gable box 4 ï¿½ 10.53 a swift arrives and leaves at 11.00
Gable box 7 ï¿½ 12.45 Tipex Head arrives and leaves at 14.12
Gable box 7 ï¿½ 14.35 ?Tipex Head arrives and leaves at 14.42
Gable box 2 ï¿½ 14.55 a swift arrives and stays until 14.59
Gable box 7 ï¿½ 15.35 Tipex Head arrives and leaves at 15.41ï¿½
Gable box 3 ï¿½ 15.45 a swift arrives and leaves at 15.54
Gable box 2 ï¿½ 16.10 a swift arrives and leaves at 16.36
Gable box 7 ï¿½ 16.28 Tipex Head arrives and leaves at 16.55
Gable box 2 ï¿½ 17.25 a swift arrives and leaves at 17.35
Gable box 2 ï¿½ 17.40 Tipex Head arrives and leaves at 17.43
Gable box 7 ï¿½ 17.40 Tipex Head arrives
Gable box 6 ï¿½ 17.50 a swift arrives with a feather and leaves at 18.00
Gable box 7 ï¿½ 18.00 a second swift arrives. It is known to Tipex Head i.e. no fight. Both leave at 19.21
Gable box 2 ï¿½ 19.20 a swift arrives and leaves at 19.24
Gable box 2 ï¿½ 21.17 a swift arrives and leaves at 21.29
Gable box 1 ï¿½ 21.50 a swift enters while there is already a pair inside causing a fight. They are separated. Fighters marked Tipex Rump and Tipex Wing Tips

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May 27th
swifts mating on the nest ï¿½ Tipex Tail Tips is a male

ï¿½	bird 1	bird 2	egg 1	egg 2	egg 3	1st out	2nd out	3rd out	1st fledged	2nd fledged	3rd fledged
1	14/5	15/5	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½
2	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½
3	12/5	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½
4	15/5 n/b	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½
5	5/5	7/5	25/5	27/5	29/5	14/6	ï¿½	ï¿½	27/7	ï¿½	ï¿½
6	3/5 n/b	8/5 n/b	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½
7	13/5	ï¿½	12/6	14/6	ï¿½	due 3/7	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½
8	5/5	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½
9	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½
10	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½
11	8/5	10/5	19/5	21/5	23/5	9/6	9/6	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½	ï¿½

Hidden gems