Burton Swift Bird Study Group: August 2016

Wednesday 31 August 2016

2016 BURTON SWIFT RECORDS (Summary)

Presumed nest site activity recorded at:

1. Clawthorpe Hall Offices (Messrs. Ducketts) 3 pairs recorded on 3 separate elevations.
2. The front elevation of the small cottages attached to the Post Office - 2 pairs recorded
3. At least one pair recorded in Cocking Yard.
4. Royal Hotel rear annexe and return 4 pairs recorded
5. Royal Hotel cottage front elevation 6 pairs recorded
6. The Coaching House - 2 pairs recorded on the side elevation.
7. Manor House - 3 pairs on side elevation and 2 pairs on front elevation.
Please check the above sites on photographs printed below.

Total nest sites which we recorded

23 nest sites in total. Showing a increase of nest sites this year by at least 3 sites.
Young raised this year purely estimated on the low side at 2 per nest less 20% approx = 37 birds.
Breeding adults estimate at 2 per nest site = 46 birds - Chicks raised estimate 37 birds - estimated immature birds for part of the breeding season - a wild guess estimate at 10-20 birds. Making a estimated total birds involved with Burton eg: Parents, Chicks and immatures on Recci to around the 93 bird mark!

Fatalities recorded this year:

One recorded picked up off the floor to rear of Royal Annexe, very wet and unable to fly and showing blood to its wing underparts. David Craig kindly took it in and it did initially show signs of improvement. The next day it was transferred to the vetinery section of the Kendal College where it was cared for with food and daily examinations by Vet. Unfortunately after four days the bird died.

Arrivals and Departure dates

Date on which earliest birds arrived was a single bird witnessed at 1645hrs on 3rd May, then numbers swelled to 9 by the following day 4th May, increased to 14 by 5th May. Then there seemed to be a delay of further arrivals until 22nd May when at least 20 birds (total) were seen in the skies.

20 Swifts left us on 5th August, then another large departure on 15th August and the final sighting was on the 18th of a parent bird seen at 1900hrs going into a nest site on the front of the Royal Cottage. No birds have been recorded since that date.

Highest number of birds counted at any one time was

36 recorded on 1st of August, but we did have several watches which included birds of 30 on both 28th July and 4th August.

Observers over the 12 weeks included:

Paul and Mary Bullimore, David Craig, Derek from Kendal, Reg Hesketh, Ella and Ben, Branwen Kilburn, Hugh and Sue Miles, Jane Phillips, Angela Sumner, Mr and Mrs. Vickory, Bryan Yorke.

Below are photos showing the various nest sites (Please click over photo to enlarge)

CLAWTHORPE HALL (Messrs Ducketts) NEST SITES MARKED IN RED

Please click over photos to enlarge

COTTAGE ON POST OFFICE ROW AND ALSO COCKING YARD - MARKED RED

Please click over photos to enlarge

ROYAL HOTEL COTTAGE AND REAR ANNEXE - NEST SITES MARKED RED

Please click over photos to enlarge

THE COACHING HOUSE AND MANOR HOUSE - NEST SITES MARKED RED

Please click over photos to enlarge

Thanks to everyone who came along this year and enjoyed the Swifts and I look forward to next year when we hope the birds will be back flying above our village from the 4th May 2017

Friday 5 August 2016

Burton Swift Watch 4th August 2016 and week

Friday 19th August 2016 - Main Street 2000hrs

No Swifts observed this evening

Thursday 18th August 2016 - Main Street - Royal Hotel - 1900hrs

One seen coming down Main Street and entering the middle nest site of the Royal Cottage front low elevation.

Wednesday 17th August 2016 - Main Street Area 2000hrs

A single local Swift hunting above Neddy Hill and the Royal Hotel at approx 2000hrs

Tuesday 16th August 2016 - Main Street from Burton Memorial Hall 0730hrs & 2030hrs

0730hrs No Swifts observed this morning
2030hrs No Swifts observed this evening

Monday 15th August 2016- Main Street above Kings and Manor 2015hrs

3 Swifts seen above Main Street above Manor House approx

Sunday 14th August 2016 - Main Street, Burton In Kendal 2030hrs approx

A later report from Angela Sumner confirms she saw ten Swifts in the skies around the 2030hrs.

Sunday 14th August 2016 - Main Street, Burton In Kendal 1945hrs

I only had one single swift seen tonight high in the skies above Neddy Hill and Main St.

Sunday 14th August 2016 - Above Main Street, Burton In Kendal 0730hrs

Angela Sumner had nineteen birds over Burton this morning at 0730hrs

Saturday 13th August 2016 - Over Royal Hotel 1945hrs

Had 11 Swifts this evening flying overhead of the Royal areas.

Friday 12th August 2016 - Over Burton Memorial Hall 1930hrs

Had 13 Swifts this evening flying overhead of the Memorial Hall.

Thursday 11th August 2016 - Main Street Burton In Kendal.
Angela Sumner recorded 9 Swifts this evening overhead by the Royal Hotel.

Tuesday 9th August 2016 - Main Street, Burton In Kendal 2045hrs
8 Swifts overhead from Burton Memorial Hall down to Kings.

Monday 8th August 2016 - Burton Memorial Hall - Swift Observations 2015hrs

Just five Swifts counted over BMH and Main Street areas

Saturday 6th August 2016 - Burton Fell - Hutton Roof Crags 1000hrs to 1200hrs

Several Swifts hawking the skies on Burton Fell (presumed our local Swifts) along with at least one hundred mixed hirundines (Swallows and House Martins) It was fantastic with them coming low and almost dive bombing you as you stood there watching in amazement. I don't think I have ever seen such a spectacle just like this before with such a large quantity of birds all around you.

Friday 5th August 2016 - Burton Memorial Hall - Swift Observations 1945hrs

Just five Swifts counted towards back of Post Office and coming forward over Memorial Hall.

Thursday 4th August 2016 - Burton Memorial Hall - Swift Observations

We met at Burton Memorial Hall at 2000hrs and it turned out to be a fantastic night with lots of Swifts flying. We just stayed on the Car Park from where we got the best overhall observations.

We thought at first it was going to be a very quiet night and it took a while to build the numbers to around the 8 mark, then within a further twenty minutes or so the numbers had swelled up to a minimum of 30 birds which to us all seemed happy chasing one another whilst feeding on the wing and screaming in unison.

We all had that feeling it could well be their big finale night and what a superb performance.

Tonights observers included: David Craig, Bryan Yorke, Hugh and Sue and Pete Miles together with our special visitors young naturalist Ella and Ben who really enjoyed watching the Burton Swifts and it made a nice change for them having been used to seeing Swifts down in Bath were they live.

We have not yet called a meeting for next week and decided we will monitor the situation on a day by day basis, so please keep coming back to check out the daily reports.

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This is the blog belonging to the Burton Swift Bird Study Group who are based in the small village of Burton In Kendal, Cumbria. The group try to meet up at least once a week during the time the Swifts are with us, usually we meet on Thursday or Friday evening at about one hour prior to dusk to observe and make notes on our beautiful Swifts, recording their nest sites, monitoring their numbers and making general notes on their behaviour etc. We also where possible try to help builders and planners with suggestions and ideas in relation to Swift boxes or Swift nest sites prior to building renovations or alterations or new builds.

We are a small group of about eight people and we would welcome anyone who has a interest in Swifts and their behaviour to come along and join us. There are no fees, there are no chiefs, we are just a very keen small informal group who love to watch and study our local Swifts. We usually meet at the Burton Memorial Hall and the times will be posted on this blogsite but If you want further information please don't hesitate to contact one of the following group members.)

Reg Hesketh - email: rhofb@outlook.com

Jane Phillips - email: Janephillips@john-lewis.com

Swifts have been vanishing from our Citys, towns and villages by incredible numbers and this is why we feel the urgent need to observe and report our findings.

We are also affiliated to "Swifts In The Community" which is based closeby in Milnthorpe, which is a organisation reaching out to both North Lancashire and South Cumbria. They gather information on Swifts and forward that information on to the National database who are collating Swift numbers in preparation for ongoing surveys. Also "Swifts In The Community" produce leaflets which are freely given to Planners, Builders and any interested individuals who need advice on Swift nestboxes etc. They also promote local meetings and general swift awareness at local functions.

Besides our group in Burton In Kendal, there are other local active groups in Arnside, Silverdale, Carnforth, Yealand, Warton, Grange, Kendal and Sedbergh, who all gather information for the "Swifts In The Community" database.

Beside these areas already mentioned, SITC are also looking for Swift information from other areas and would welcome any enquiries from interested parties. Click over the link to reach their website which has all the contact details etc.

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Burton In Kendal Swift Arrival/Depart Summary Dates

2021 - Our first 3 Swifts were seen at 1930hrs on Friday 7th May 2021 and flying over the Royal Hotel. Increased to 7 birds on 8th May.

2020 - Our first single Swift was seen flying high over Orchard Close at 1600hrs on Saturday 2nd May 2020, 3 birds appeared the following day Sun 3rd May 2020. 7 birds on 5th May. 9 birds on 6th May. Our last recorded dispersal was on 7th August when 4 Swifts were seen over Burton.

2019 - Our first Swift was seen flying high over the Memorial Hall at 2030hrs on Thursday 2nd May 2019. Up to 4 birds on 4th May 2019. Increased to 6 birds on 7th May 2019. Up to 12 birds on 12th May 2019. Up to 20 plus the following day 13th May 2019. DEPARTURE: We still had 40 Swifts around the village on Monday 29th July, this dropped to 35 by Wed the 31st, 30 by Fri the 2nd Aug, and still 20 by Sat and Sun the 3rd and 4th Aug, dropped to 10 by Mon 5th, and to 3 by Tues the 6th and the last count still showed 3 on Wednesday August 14th 2019

2018 - First four Swifts arrived and were recorded at 1930hrs on May 3rd. Increased to 8 birds by May 10th and a further 7 birds arrived on May 11th bringing the total so far to 15 birds (counted). The bulk of our birds (at least 30/40) left in the early daylight hours of Sat 28th July 2018, then we were down to 20 by the 31st, then down to 14 on the 1st, 11 by the 4th, and 5 birds by the 5th and down to our last pair on 6th August. The last pair and their family left us on Mon 20th August 2018.

2017 - First arrivals 1700hrs on May 5th (6 birds). Increased to 10 birds by 1900hrs on May 6th. Increased to 15 at 1200hrs on 7th May. 17 on 11th May. Our first main departure was on Sunday 6th August 2017 when a good proportion of the birds left us. This was followed by yet a further large exit (20 plus) on Friday 11th August and a further eight birds on Sunday 13th August and since that date a single bird was recorded still on territory on 17th August 2017.

2016 - First arrival 1645hrs on May 3rd (single bird), then numbers to 9 on May 4th, increased to 14 by May 5th. A delay of further arrivals until May 22nd when at least 20 birds (total) were seen in the skies. 20 plus birds left us on 5th August, followed by another large departure on 15th and the final bird was seen entering a nest site on the Royal Cottage at 1900hrs on the 18th. It is presumed that this bird and the rest of the family left at sometime during the following day the 19th August 2016.

2015 - First arrivals May 4th - First departures (bulk left us on July 29th/30th), A further 10-12 birds left on Sat 8th August and the final nesting birds departure was recorded on 16th August 2015.

2014 - First arrivals May 5th and last seen August 8th (bulk gone by August 1st)

2013 - First arrivals May 5th and last birds seen August 8th (bulk gone by August 1st).

2012 - First Swift seen heading over Clawthorpe on May 1st - but village birds arrival not noted. Departure not recorded but was after July 27th when there were still 15 birds above Burton. I did see a gathering of no less than 50 birds over Morecambe Golf Club on 1st August 2012.

2011 - Five arrivals on May 8th - Departure somewhere around the 9th August 2011.

2010 - Swift arrival and departure not recorded