June 25th 2015 - Swift Notes

Last night's (25th June) activity with the Swifts on Main Street, Burton In Kendal - Please click over the sketch

Thursday June 25th 2015 - Swift observations - Main Street, Burton In Kendal between 2100hrs and 2200hrs

This week there was only Reg and myself observing the Swifts.  As usual we started from the Burton Memorial Hall and worked through the different sites.

At the start of the evening we did manage to count at one stage up to 25 birds, some screaming follow my leader parties of up to 12 birds.  The skies were very busy tonight with birds at medium height, but occasionally coming down to lower levels.

We did not have any birds again at the Cottages near to the Post Office, however we did manage to confirm a new site this year in Cocking Yard.  In fact it was the same site which we recorded back in 2013. This now confirms both sites in Cocking Yard are being used.

Moving on to the Royal, we did not witness any activity to the rear or sides of the buildings, but did witness birds coming down to all three sites on the front left hand side lower elevation.  In fact we saw three visits to the nest site which is 4ft below the eaves on the LH side and we estimated that food was being brought to the nest site at approx a 30 minute interval.

Moving on to the Coach House and the Manor House.  Things seemed quiet with very little overhead aerial activity just occasionally you would see the screaming chasing birds going through.  However by chance we were lucky to see one bird leaving a new (for this year, but old established site) site on the front of the Manor House, and this now brings the Manor House nest sites to three separate locations (One front and 3 RH side Gable).

We were wondering if there was anyone out there who maybe interested in surveying the Swift population at nearby Borwick?  if so please get in touch we would love to hear from you. 

June 18th 2015 - Swift Notes

Rough sketch of Swifts nesting sites for 2015 as at June 18th 2015

Tuesday June 23rd 2015 - Milnthorpe Church Green - Swift Watching 1015hrs to 1030hrs

Observing Swifts heading to nest site somewhere on the South side of the Church.  Counted no less than 20 Swifts high above the square.  When I looked more close there was a Sparrowhawk soaring in circles right in the middle of the Swifts.

Thursday June 18th 2015 - Swift Watching off Main Street, Burton In Kendal 2100hrs to 2215hrs.

The weather was dry yet still had that cool edge.  At first we found it very difficult to locate any Swifts, the skies seemed empty and this was more or less the situation throughout the watch, however on going around to the individual nest sites we were then able to locate just the odd birds returning to their respective nest sites.

Tonight there were four of us, Myself, Reg, David and we were joined by Karen of Kendal who had also come along to observe our Swifts and who is also thinking about getting a group going over in Kendal.

Although we never saw any birds returning into Cocking Yard, we have been informed by Jane that the regular pair on "Hangings Farm" are back and she thinks they could well have young.

We moved on to the Royal and whilst there we saw our first swift of the evening returning to its nest site.  The small hole of the three holes on the rear annexe.  This was another new record for us this year although the site has been used for at least three years as we know of. Two further new sites were also recorded on the front of the Royal were we also saw a Swift enter one of the old established sites, but again a new record for this year. We were also advised by David that he had earlier in the week seen birds going into another of the old sites further along on the Royal building (lower elevation). So this makes the Royal offering at the moment to six individual sites.

Moving on to The Coach House, and we saw a bird entering on the corner of the gable end side which is again another brand new site which has never been recorded before.

From our position we could also see clearly the gable of the Manor House and another pair of birds were seen to enter a small hole and very close to a old established nest site which we registered as being used only last week.  Although this site is very close within inches of the one recorded last week, we do feel that perhaps that it is a new site.  Prior to second bird going into the nest site there was several visits where the bird would go close and hold the wall for split second before coming off and going aerial yet again and would return doing the similar thing again and again before actually seen to enter the nest site. This now brings the Manor House birds up to three separate sites.

Even closing to dusk the skies still seemed void of birds, just a couple where seen occasionally. Where had all the Swifts gone?

June 11th 2015 - Swift Report

Burton Swifts Recorded on 11th June 2015 (click over sketch to enlarge)

Tuesday June 16th 2015 - 1115hrs "Swifts over Clawthorpe"

I can now confirm that I had three swifts flying very low feeding up over Clawthorpe Hall.  This is the area where we have had reports of Swift activity in the past.

Friday and Saturday June 12th and 13th 2015 "Swifts" on Visible Migration

Interesting records have been coming through from my vismig group which have recorded a large movement of Swifts yesterday and today. Please note on each of the below records its obvious the birds are flying into the wind.  The Records shown are as follows:

Friday 12th June 2015 - Winter Hill, Bolton, Lancashire.  (over 400 Swifts heading to the SE - Monitoring done 4 hours pm with the Wind at ESE)

Saturday 13th June 2015 - Chapel Hill, Harewood, North Yorks (over 233 Swifts (one flock of 74) heading to the NE - Monitoring 5hrs half am and half pm with Wind at NNE force 1))

Saturday 13th June 2015 - Oxenhope Nr. Bradford, Yorks (63 swifts heading to the SWS following clearing rain- Monitoring 3 hours 1800-2100hrs. with Wind at WSW force 2

Thursday June 11th 2015 - Checking out the Swifts at the regular sites off Main Street, Burton In Kendal.
2100hrs to 2215hours.

Although it had been a superb day, it had certainly got much cooler during our survey with again that breezy chill factor, yet it was dry and there seemed to be plenty of Swifts showing up. On the first count whilst at the Memorial Hall we counted at least 12 birds but at the same time you could see more down in the distance above Manor House.

Tonight there were five of us checking the birds, myself and Reg along with David Craig and also it was a very warm welcome to two well known Swift lovers Tanya and Edmund Hoare, who had travelled from Sedbergh to be with us this evening.  It was lovely to be amongst such a "authoritive" party and we got chance to discuss many "Swift" topics, and it certainly enlightened me a lot especially in relation to the immature birds which we seemed to have a lot on show here this evening.

From the Memorial Hall, we gave a brief check to the cottages attached to the Post Office, but nothing whilst we where there, then moving on to the bottom of Cocking Yard, again no birds showing in the short time we allowed, progressing on to one of the main nesting sites "The Royal".  It was grand to show David, Tanya and Edmund the sites the Swifts had already established together with a brief history of what had been happening over the past couple of years.  We spent a few moments also on the front of the Royal and to everyone's amazement we watched a bird go into the left side of the front low level elevation. It was certainly a site we have never seen them use before and looked incredible just how small hole it went into which to us only looked about 2" diameter. A few moments more watching the front of the Royal, whilst I did a quick sketch for our records. Also whilst here we saw a further two or three birds approach the new site or close to it and for a brief second would appear to be heading directly to the site and at the last split second would veer off. We discussed that these could possible be immature birds.

Moving on we stood across the road from the Coach House, where we could observe both the Coach House and also the nearby Manor House. It was not long before we saw a bird enter the gable of the Manor House and using a new site for this year, although it was a site which was used in 2013, however it was not used in 2014 which we put this down to perhaps because of the erected scaffold on site last year.  So this was such a pleasing record for us.

Also whilst stood there a bird was also seen to use a new site on the gable side of the Coach House almost directly above the small round window (David mentioned the small window may be called a "Scaffit" and that they were used years ago to put the hay through into the barn).  We also got excited about the prospect of another possible nest site, but just for now we cannot confirm absolute because other birds species were present in the close vicinity also, so we have put this record on hold until we can survey and hopefully confirm at a later date

It was now getting much darker and so we headed back to the Memorial Hall. At just the point of the Post Office looking North West above the Memorial Hall we counted at least 16 Swifts flying and chasing one another.  It was interesting to discuss this with Tanya and Edmund who mentioned that they thought these birds would almost definately be immature birds gathering for the night and that probably most of the breeding birds would now have settled into their various nest sites.  This large number plus the probabilities of the nesting birds could well bring the total number of Swifts in Burton to over 30 birds (at least for now), lets hope we're right! having had a brilliant night!

June 5th 2015 - Swift Report

Wedneday 10th June 2015 - Near Miller Bridge, Kendal - above the River Kent.1100-1230hrs

At least 16 Swifts counted hawking above the River, there could well have been more, but that's the minimum I counted.  Also noted House Martins and Swallows.


Tuesday 9th June 2015 - Interesting Notes from South Wales and also from Spurn Yorkshire

Below are some interesting notes from a couple of fellow vismiggers! which have been offered today to our vismig group, and I have been given permission by them to put on our blog.  We are always wondering about these mid term birds passing in and out and its interesting to hear and read about just what has been happening.  It is probably has some of us had previously thought that these could be "opportunistic movements of bachelor birds":-

Bryan

Swift movements in June are pretty erratic on the South Wales coast but when they happen, predominant direction is NE (following and mostly over the land) although some move SW (mostly out over the sea). Numbers are not large (50-100/h perhaps) so nothing like as spectacular as at some other places.

More dependable movement are in late July when predominant movement is again NE.

Swifts do seem to cross the Bristol Channel from time to time at the height of the breeding season. Last w/e for example, I had one coming in off the sea heading in from England’s green and pleasant land and another miles off shore heading SW well over the sea.

Very occasionally, I have seen small parties apparently feeding well out over the sea… should probably not be too surprised perhaps as aerial plankton is fairly ubiquitous during the Summer.

Cheers

Adrian  (AdrianPlant@museumwales.ac.uk)

Dear All (vismig group)

As you are aware Spurn does very well for swifts with numbers escalating to a crescendo in the beginning of July.  The big movements here are on SW winds and can include a variety of other swifts.  On a big day these are caught by flip netting.  Nearly all are non- adult/non-breeding ( 2nd yr etc) birds- some scalloping is visible in good light.  These birds are presumably taking advantage of the winds not only to fly but also to  feast on insects brought up by updrafts.  I suspect these roaming around according to the weather- so few in NE/N winds at Spurn and those that are seen go N.  Presumably  larger numbers re then taking a N route elsewhere in the country  and then back S on a change of wind- i.e opportunistic movements of bachelor birds.  Finally mid July onwards, the true migration and exit commences.

Cheers

Andy (Andrew.hanby@ntlworld.com)

Monday 8th June 2015 - Swifts yet outside of our area

1000hrs - Just had a pair of Swifts high up whilst heading towards Heysham, about 3/4 mile past "The Battery Pub".  Also Swifts seen lately around the Carnforth centre areas.

Friday 5th June 2015 - Main Street, Burton In Kendal 2100hrs to 2200hrs  "New site on The Coach House"

Last night (5th June) was the first night this year of the Burton Swift study group activity, when four of us met up and gave a brief survey of the local Swift situation. Reg and I were present and it was great to welcome John and Paula who are new to the group. We saw about 12 birds flying semi high above the Burton Memorial Hall and Main Street.  At times up to six birds were seen chasing one another whilst at the same time screaming in their familiar vocabulary!

We made a brief stop at the rear of the old Royal Hotel, when almost straight away one bird almost brushed past us and eventually went into its old established breeding nest site.  Moments later another bird came in but this time using another of the old nest site holes.  So here we have already established there could well be two pairs at work. We noticed that Ivy had grown to such an extent that it is just bordering on the entrances to the nest sites. Obviously we will have to monitor the situation in regards to the ivy. We also had a couple of Swallows hawking high above the Royal. We were of the opinion that it was too cold to see much activity from the Pipistrelle's....

We moved on and started to observe the Manor House and we also managed to see a bird fly into the old established site near the corner of the gable end.  This was good to see because we where not sure how things would turn out this year on account of there being scaffold there last year.  So its looking good so far!

A lovely surprise to us all was when a bird was seen to go into a NEW site on The Coach House, and also another bird was seen also trying to access this same site.  We did see birds canvassing this site last year, possibly none breeders last year and preparing their mind in readiness for this year and a absolute delight to see this new activity!

Its still early days yet, but we have already decided that we will be meeting up again next Thursday 12th June at the Burton Memorial Hall at 2100hrs and anyone who wishes to join us would be very welcome.

Last night's activity 5th June 2015 (Please click over sketch to enlarge)

Our 2014 Swift Records

Below is a summary of our Swift records for 2014, showing the arrival and departure dates.

Monday May 5th 2014

2000hrs approx - At least 3 of the Burton Swifts have arrived back.

Tuesday 6th May 2014

2000hrs approx - We now have 8 Swifts back on territory at Burton In Kendal.

Wednesday 7th May 2014

0945hrs approx  At least 7 Swifts recorded flying at intermediate levels (75ft approx) with at least 5 flying with a probable bias to the Royal/Manor House (Burton In Kendal) airspace

1930hrs approx - 7 of our Swifts screaming whilst in "follow my leader pursuit" at the 75ft altitude showing a bias over the Royal/Manor House (Burton In Kendal) airspace.

20th May 2014

Reg kindly sent me photo's of a poor House Martin which he found dead just outside his house in Burton In Kendal.  You can see within the photos that the poor bird was infested with blood sucking nasties! in fact they are common parasites within the "hirundine" or Swift communities.

On this poor creature there had been six of these nasties which would quickly dash back to cover within the birds feathers on handling the dead bird.  I tried to check out what they where from my insect reference books, but nothing showing.

I was able to find out further information from the good old internet and their latin classification is "Crataerina pallida" or more commonly called the "hippobosid fly" or "louse Fly" or "Keds".

I at one time used to accompany a bird ringer who had licence to ring Swifts and more often than not when caught and handled you would see the birds with several of a unidentified "irridescence beetle" which would quickly scurry back under the birds feathers on handling. Without doubt these beetles were of African origin and I wonder now if these "louse flies" are also of African origin.

Getting back to the Crataerina, a very interesting report comes from a .pdf file I read from the East Hyde Historic Bird Reports dated 7th June 1934 and it reports about a Swift and quotes "Of interest a bird seen to drop dead out of the sky, which contained over 20 blood sucking flies of the order Crataerina pallida" 

I have already seen other photographs on the net showing exactly the same thing present on House Martins, but would love to know more information in regards to these creatures. It would be nice to have it confirmed that they are of African origin and travel to and fro with the birds during their long migrations, this is what I think must be the case, but any offers of further information on the subject would be most welcome.

For now check out the interesting photos:

Photos: Reg Hesketh  -  Dead House Martin infested with Crataerina pallida or "hippobosid fly" or "louse-fly" or "Keds"

Saturday 14th June

Its that time of the year again, when the Burton Swift Group (Jane, Reg and myself) start doing our weekly checks on our local Swift populations and their nesting sites in our village of Burton In Kendal in Cumbria.

We check the status of nesting sites from our previous years records, so we are busy making notes and comparing, and adding to monitor differences etc, and generally for us to try and study our local birds who give us so much pleasure in the short few weeks they are with us.

Last night we managed to witness at least six sites being used of which one was a totally new site for our records.  And even more pleasing was to see a bird nesting in a gable end wall which has currently got scaffold erected, and it was great to see that the birds were not being "put off" by the scaffold and where able to negotiate access without problem.

It is really rewarding watching the Swifts and their behaviour, and so we are intending to do another visit next week on Friday 20th June.  We are meeting up at 2130hrs at the Burton Memorial Hall and we would very much welcome anyone who may wish to come along and join us.  The more there monitoring these beautiful birds the better.

Monday 21st July 2014

On Friday evening last the village "Burton Swifts Group" had their weekly meet to monitor the local Swifts, checking out the various nest sites along the Main Street within the village and it was a special time having established a further three sites (of which two we were not aware of before although we did have a suspicion of one of them).  Its always very difficult to actually count the Swifts in the sky, but we did agree that possibly there could have been at least 23 birds up in the air at once and you would see parties of between 10 and 15 birds coming low in follow my leader fashion, whilst screaming as Swifts do.  Further monitoring is planned for next Friday evening when at 2100hrs we shall be meeting outside the Burton Memorial Hall and everyone is welcome to attend and enjoy these "marvels".

Monday 4th August 2014

Most of our village (Burton In Kendal) Swifts left us on or around Tuesday July 29th 2014. The last high count had been 41 birds seen flying overhead (locally) on the previous Friday July 25th 2014.  On Friday last (August 1st 2014), we still had 11 birds flying overhead with two birds seen to enter their nest site on the cottages adjoining the Post Office.

It has been a national trend this year that most of the Swifts throughout the Country are departing back to Africa at least one week to ten days earlier than they normally would do.

Friday 8th August 2014

The last 2 Swifts were seen flying over the village today and we never saw them again after this date.  We wish them a safe journey....

2014 Notebook notes:

Showing a sketch of the nest sites in Burton.  Which we visited on a regular basis during the birds stay with us. 

2013 SWIFT RECORDS (also 2011 and 2012 Notes etc)

Thursday 1st August 2013

(0845hrs-0945hrs) - Swifts In The Community Project (Burton In Kendal represented by: Reg Hesketh, Jayne Phillips and myself)

We did manage to count at least 30 birds flying high above the Memorial Hall and there could well have been more in other parts of Burton which we where not aware of.

We did yet again establish a further nesting site, alongside the one mentioned last week on the low cottage buildings which adjoin the Post Office in Main Street. Four parent birds where seen to enter the sites within seconds of one another to the nest sites which where only some five feet away from one another.

We don't expect there to be many birds around by this time next week. But who knows for sure, because this year the birds were actually late in arriving by some ten days, so it could well be that this time needs to be made up or because of the superb "swift feeding weather" we have had, would this mean that they have already made up the delayed time.  We will take each day by its merits and if possible try and count the quantity of birds along with the possible exit date if this information can be gathered. Reg is currently summarizing the nesting site observations ready to had over to Peter who is the Area Organiser of the "Swifts In the Community Project.  I obviously will report back on this blog as soon as I have further information on the current status.

Sunday 28th July 2013 - Entering the final days of this years Swifts........

2115hrs - 2215hrs "Swifts In the Community Project" (Burton: Reg Hesketh, Jane Phillips and myself)

We've never been disappointed with our surveying over the past few weeks and seem to always be surprised by the numbers of nesting sites, and last night we were again very fortunate to find yet a further two nesting sites on the Manor House. We were helped with this by the owner Mrs. Ellis who pointed out a site which we where all unaware of.   Reg had found another site earlier in the week which is on the small cottages which adjoin the Post Office on Main Street.  Pipistrelle Bats were also noted close to the Manor House.  It was difficult to count the flying Swifts and although we recorded 38 last week, this week we perhaps only managed to count at best 25 so obviously we were missing some of them.  Its more than probable that the remaining chicks will all be leaving their nest over the coming few days and so we do expect some large numbers by the time of our next survey on Thursday next.

The survey now credits a total of 17 sites eg: (7 on the Manor, 7 on the Royal, 2 in Cocking Yard and 1 in the Cottages adjoining the Post Office. Just to think if each site did average at least 3 successful birds we could have as many as 50 birds in our skies by the end of next week.... (Wow!)

Over the years both here and down in East Lancs, with regular monitoring of Swifts, it has always been that the majority have usually left our towns or villages on or around the 4th of August, but I noticed last year in Burton my records show a group of 15 in the skies and last seen on the 5th August with a further single bird noted as late as the 18th August (probably a single passing through bird).  So it will be of great interest to note if possible this year's exit and just as important to try and establish just how many birds represent our village. 

The above sketch relates to Monday 21st July 2013

(Click over sketch to enlarge)

2011 and 2012 - Swift Poems

For over a week now, Swifts have been leaving our shores in their thousands.
Which for most of us would be at least two weeks earlier than usual.
I always reckon May 4th in and August 4th out.
Is it any wonder they are going early with the weather we’ve had!!

The young seem strong now so why feed here where its raining,
They might has well move down further South and get the spoils,
Of warmer weather, and more plentiful feed.
Why stay in dismal with a larder half full.
When they can be in bright and have a larder full.

I’m picturing them Swifts flying high in the sky,
Twenty four hours a day, they on the wing,
Just flying, flying away, all night long.
With one eye open to watch their path
And one eye closed to get their nap.

But!!

Our Swifts are still here and still screeching away.
Well they were this morning at six-oclock,
High in the skies over our beloved Burton.
There must have been at least fifteen,
Could have been more, but that’s what I counted.
So for me I would call that a fair breeding year.
Without problems, as I saw it.

Its sunshining today, now what did I say!
Sunshine is a rare commodity this year.
But the birds are telling us they are enjoying their day,
So why shouldn’t I.

(Written at 0730hrs 27th July 2012.)

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It’s a few days now since the Swifts left,
Well most of them that is, odd ones still to go,
But go they will, just like the Swallows and Martins,
Who have also started to leave us.

It seems only yesterday, I counted the first,
Swallow, but that didn’t make a Summer!
A few on the wires today, far less than yesterday, but!
Still some about, maybe they’re triple brooders!

Bye bye for now Swallow, do your best,
We want you back, with all the rest,
I’m counting now 232 days, to go!
Before your back, and when I can shout!

Two Swallows do make a Summer!

(written on 16th August 2011)

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Here printed below is a poem about a Swift by Ted Hughes

Fifteenth of May. Cherry blossom. The swifts
Materialize at the tip of a long scream
Of needle. ‘Look! They’re back! Look!’ And they’re gone
On a steep
Controlled scream of skid
Round the house-end and away under the cherries. Gone.
Suddenly flickering in sky summit, three or four together,
Gnat-whisp frail, and hover-searching, and listening
For air-chills – are they too early? With a bowing
Power-thrust to left, then to right, then a flicker they
Tilt into a slide, a tremble for balance,
Then a lashing down disappearance
Behind elms.
They’ve made it again,
Which means the globe’s still working, the Creation’s
Still waking refreshed, our summer’s
Still all to come —
And here they are, here they are again
Erupting across yard stones
Shrapnel-scatter terror. Frog-gapers,
Speedway goggles, international mobsters —
A bolas of three or four wire screams
Jockeying across each other
On their switchback wheel of death.
They swat past, hard-fletched
Veer on the hard air, toss up over the roof,
And are gone again. Their mole-dark labouring,
Their lunatic limber scramming frenzy
And their whirling blades
Sparkle out into blue —
Not ours any more.
Rats ransacked their nests so now they shun us.
Round luckier houses now
They crowd their evening dirt-track meetings,
Racing their discords, screaming as if speed-burned,
Head-height, clipping the doorway
With their leaden velocity and their butterfly lightness,
Their too much power, their arrow-thwack into the eaves.
Every year a first-fling, nearly flying
Misfit flopped in our yard,
Groggily somersaulting to get airborne.
He bat-crawled on his tiny useless feet, tangling his flails
Like a broken toy, and shrieking thinly
Till I tossed him up — then suddenly he flowed away under
His bowed shoulders of enormous swimming power,
Slid away along levels wobbling
On the fine wire they have reduced life to,
And crashed among the raspberries.
Then followed fiery hospital hours
In a kitchen. The moustached goblin savage
Nested in a scarf. The bright blank
Blind, like an angel, to my meat-crumbs and flies.
Then eyelids resting. Wasted clingers curled.
The inevitable balsa death.
Finally burial
For the husk
Of my little Apollo —
The charred scream
Folded in its huge power.

SWIFT NEST RECORDS 2013 TO 2015

This is a update of the same sketch as below for 10th July 2015
Click over to enlarge

Click over sketch to enlarge

This is a sketch which shows all of the individual nest sites which are marked with legend and temporary notes,
last update to this was 18th June 2015