Swifts

[TRINITY]

Been for a walk round a large lake in west yorks this evening and never seen as many swifts. Literary thousands,the sky was full. Was like a feeding frenzy over and around the lake. A few house Martin's amongst them but not one swallow. Looks like a good year for the swifts, dont know if others out there are seeing such large numbers

[Centrepin]

Where I shoot there are thousands of swallows, no swifts, no house martins.

[TRINITY]

The lake in question gets a mixture of all three as a rule, but the numbers of swifts have never been the amount I witnessed this evening and yet not a solitary swallow.

[Fuddster]

wasn't there news of the Egyptians using micro nets to catch them in their millions as they migrated?

certainly seems to be fewer round my way.

f. 

[johnphilip]

I heard the other day with the long dry spell they were struggling to find mud for the nests .

Last years nest builder , I think the house Martin is an amazing bird 

[yates]

There were hundreds of swifts feeding on and around Thrybergh reservoir yesterday evening. The most I have seen in years. 

[Pistol p]

Swifts over the pea fields yesterday, haven’t seen that in years.

[JDog]

There must have been 100 swifts over the house yesterday evening. These included the newly fledged ones.

Reports from the east coast indicate that migration has already started with large gatherings of newly arrived birds.

[JTaylor91]

1 hour ago, JDog said:

There must have been 100 swifts over the house yesterday evening. These included the newly fledged ones.

Reports from the east coast indicate that migration has already started with large gatherings of newly arrived birds.

I’m sat in the garden over here and there’s a good few flying around. It seems a couple of swifts have also taken up residence in the roof. 

[AVB]

Loads of swifts/swallows/house martins buzzing us at cricket practise this evening. How do you tell the difference when they are flying so fast? 

[NatureBoy]

11 hours ago, JDog said:

There must have been 100 swifts over the house yesterday evening. These included the newly fledged ones.

Reports from the east coast indicate that migration has already started with large gatherings of newly arrived birds.

Did they fledge from yours JDog? That's really early if they were young'ns? Did they arrive early? Usually 10wks from first egg to fledging. Average 3 eggs laid every other day. 20 days incubation. 6wks to fledging. Any link to that east coast birds report? Interesting. Main lot arrived two weeks late my way. Mate built a nest terrace of 10 into his gable after roof they were nesting in near by was redone. All occupied. Has nest cams and rings/record them. Amazing to watch. Can be very violent. He got footage of fight to the death. Surviving birds ejecting dead bird and broken eggs and starting again with success.

It's unlikely they were swifts you saw on the ground Yates. They struggle taking off if grounded.Have very short legs and spend most of there life on the wing. Probably swallows after mud.

In dry weather make a mud puddle to help them they will soon find/use it. Don't knock old nest house martins nests down it gives them a head start the next year. They can be attracted to nest on your property if you put up fake woodcrete nests. Pairs better than singles. Can get swift box's to.

AVB swifts are the largest, look black against sky and generally fly higher/faster, screaming. House martins black and white and look dumpy compared to the others.  Swallow look black/blue shimmer with pointed wings and pointed fork tail. Fast and agile often over water.         NB

[JDog]

The vernacular architecture in this village is mostly brick houses with pan tile roofs, ideal for Swifts which is why there are so many. Numbers in the sky have increased in the last few days as nestlings have fledged.

The Lincolnshire Bird Club reported about the migration on the coast, I believe at the reserves in the south of the county.

[Scully]

We haven’t had the same numbers as usual, but we seem to have had just as many in the house when we leave the doors and windows open. We have to get them out sharpish before they carp over everything. 

[NatureBoy]

12 hours ago, JDog said:

The vernacular architecture in this village is mostly brick houses with pan tile roofs, ideal for Swifts which is why there are so many. Numbers in the sky have increased in the last few days as nestlings have fledged.

The Lincolnshire Bird Club reported about the migration on the coast, I believe at the reserves in the south of the county.

Interesting! Very early JDog. They must of been back and started laying early/mid April. Did you see them then? Some only hatched last week in box's my way.     NB