(Observations made with the aid of an infra -red camera in box 1)
A large arrival of swifts occurred on May 2nd. During the evening one bird attempted to roost in box 1, but a blustery wind made it nervous and it eventually gave up. Several swifts passed the house screaming on 2nd, the first bird roosted in box 1 on 3rd May. It was joined by another on 5th May. They began nest building on the 7th. On the 16th they produced an egg, which was promptly carried to the entrance in the beak of one of the pair and ejected. Two more eggs were laid, but with the weather remaining cool and blustery, both were ejected. Fortunately after a break and a change to warmer weather they had another attempt and began incubating a second clutch on 8th June.
Meanwhile a pair in box 2 completed a clutch of two eggs on 21st May that hatched on 11th June. By early June warm weather saw spectacular screaming flypasts by up to eight birds. Prospecting non -breeding swifts were seen more frequently. One was persistent in perching on the occupied house martin boxes. On 24th June an adult swift came in to roost very late at 10.02pm! This bird was seen to break away from a party of non- breeders screaming high into the twilight.
On the 26th June the eggs hatched in box 1. Meanwhile furious wing flapping was often heard coming from box 2 and by 17th July the young could be seen at the entrance of the box. On 19th July a record breaking July temperature (34°C here in Westwood) saw some interesting behaviour. Young in box 1 sat far apart and panted throughout the day. Adults were seen flying with their feet dangling, presumably helping to regulate their body temperature.
Young in box 2 left the box between 22nd- 27th July when we were away. We returned on 28th July and most swifts had gone. There were no more screaming flypasts, just the pair in box 1, quietly feeding their two young. The young birds were seen exercising frantically at times, one doing so whilst clinging vertically to the side of the nest box. They spent most of the day looking out of the entrance hole, their pale faces clearly visible from outside. They showed particular interest in the flight of the martins coming to the eaves nearby.
Suddenly on 5th August it was clear that one adult had gone, whilst the other stopped feeding the young who spent the day gazing out of the nest box. An adult came to roost at 9.05pm but the youngsters rushed to the entrance hole again. One looked very restless before making its first confident flight, in the twilight, at 9.11pm. The other was clearly keen to go and left at 9.16pm. Over half of first flights I have seen have been at dusk. Amazing to think that these young swifts choose to go at this time of the day. Perhaps there is safety in taking a first flight by night? I was left puzzled again by swifts. The next morning I woke early to see the remaining adult depart at 6am, leaving the sky over Westwood empty of swifts
