Saturday 22 August 2015

2015 - BURTON SWIFT RECORDS (Summary)



This sketch summarizes the situation for the 2015 Swift Watches


First Swift Arrival date

4th May 2015 when four birds arrived and built in numbers over the coming week.

Total Number of Swift Nest Sites recorded

20 in total this year (18 off Main Street and probably 2 at Clawthorpe). Over three years recording we have recorded no less than 25 different nest sites having been used within Burton.

Number of new sites recorded in 2015

4

Largest amount of birds recorded at watches

28 on the 16th July 2015

Breeding Estimates: 

From the amount of nest sites (20) and presuming all nest sites had 2 chicks and then allowing for problems we think Burton will have produced a minimum of at least 30 young birds this year. (approx estimation)

Fatalities (known)

1  young bird died later, after hitting either wires or walls near to David Craig's house


Swift Vacation lead up dates

The bulk of birds departed on the 29th or 30th July 2015, then a further 12 birds (approx) left on Saturday 8th August 2015 and the final sighting was of a single bird at 1115hrs flying over Neddy Hill on the 16th August 2015.

Last nest vacated

It is thought the last nest sites to vacate were the one on the Gable Cottage on the Post Office Row, and also one of the nest within Cocking Yard.

Observers during 2015 included:

Reg Hesketh, Jane Phillips, David Craig, Bryan Yorke, Paula and David McConnell, Tanya and Edmund Hoare (Sedbergh Swifts), Karen Lloyd (Kendal Swifts), Mary and Paul Bullimore.

Below is a sketch of Recorded Nest Sites

The 2015 new sites are marked in yellow





(Click over sketch to enlarge)

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING US OUT AND PLEASE RETURN AGAIN NEXT YEAR...... EXPECT SWIFT ACTIVITY FROM  4th MAY 2016.......


Friday 7 August 2015

7th August - Swift Notes and followed up to 20th August 2015

Here is a summary of Burton Swift Activity for 2015 (still birds present in village as at 7th Aug 2015)
Click over sketch to enlarge

Thursday 20th August 2015 - Swift observations along Main St, Burton In Kendal

Odd times in the morning reported No Swifts present.

Tuesday 18th & Wednesday 19th August 2015 - Swift observations along Main St, Burton In Kendal

0900hrs approx on both days - No Swifts to report - still plenty of Swallows and Martins

Monday 17th August 2015 - Swift observations along Main St, Burton In Kendal.

0830hrs - No Swifts showing and no other hirundines either - feeding up elsewhere

Sunday 16th August 2015 - Swift observations along Main St, Burton In Kendal.

1115hrs One hawking above Neddy Hill area

Saturday 15th August 2015 - Swift observations along Main St, Burton In Kendal

2000hrs No Swifts showing
0815hrs No Swifts showing

Friday 14th August 2015 - Swift observations along Main St, Burton In Kendal

2005hrs One Swift seen above the post office heading West
1700hrs No Swifts showing

Thursday 13th August 2015 - Swift Observations

1100hrs One Swift heading East over the Clawthorpe side of Hutton Roof. Dont know whether local or transient bird.

Wednesday 12th August 2015 - Swift observations along Main St, Burton In Kendal

2100hrs - Two Swifts hawking the skies above Neddy Hill to rear of Post Office block.

Tuesday 11th August 2015 - Swift observations along Main St.  Burton In Kendal

2100hrs - No Swifts reported
1400hrs - 1 Swift over Neddy Hill

Monday 10th August 2015 - Swift observations along Main St, Burton In Kendal

2050hrs - 2 Swifts very high back of Gable Cottage at side of Post Office.
0845hrs - No Swift observed and only a few hirundines

Sunday 9th August - Swift observations along Main St, Burton In Kendal.

1900hrs - Still no Swifts showing in fact only 3 or 4 hirundines showing below Neddy Hill.
0900hrs - Quick parade along Main Street produced only one House Martin, no Swallows and no Swifts. Earlier rain and now dull cloudy and overcast, so all the Swifts and hirundines have probably found a good feeding area away from Burton.  Will check again later.

Friday 7th August - Swift Observations along Main St. Burton In Kendal

1045hrs One left nest site on gable building on Post Office Row
1000hrs At least 11 Swifts seen at mid height to the North of Cocking Yard. Also birds are still in a nest in Cocking Yard and also in a nest on the gable building on Post Office Row.

Thursday 6th August 2015 - Swift watching along Main St, Burton In Kendal 2000hrs to 2100hrs.

We kept our eyes pinned to the skies and eventually manage to confirm six Swifts in the skies over Neddy Hill.

Tonight checking out the Swifts was Reg Hesketh and myself Bryan Yorke.

The few birds we had tonight seemed to show a bias to the skies above the Manor House and probably the same birds to the Neddy Hill and Royal area.  Whether this had any significance to breeding site locations or not we were not sure.

Its looking very much like this could well be our last organised watch, although postings will still be put on here whilst the Swifts are still with us. Please keep checking our Blog over the coming days.