Burton Swift Watch - Thursday 29th June 2017 week

Burton Swift Watch - Thursday 29th June 2017 week 2000hrs to 2130 hrs

We met at the Memorial Hall at 2000hrs and watched the skies but throughout the evening the best count was only 3 birds in total which is without doubt the worst count we have ever had during all our watches over the past five years.  We were all of the opinion that the majority of the birds had travelled away for feeding because we had seen Swifts in recent days feeding up over at Dockacres and Leighton Moss and it looks like the water areas are the hotspots for insects.  But we do hope things improve soon.
Also we did manage to see two birds either leaving or arriving at their nest sites.  On both occasions they were new sites for the year although we did have the sites on record and were long established regular sites. We had one on the LH side of the Royal Hotel Cottage and the other nestsite was on the Gable end of the Manor House close to the high wood purlin which you can see close to the top. Also a bird was recording leaving its nest site to the rear of the Royal.  So a quiet night but still birds about and could easily be missed going in and out of the sites.
Tonight's observers included: Mary Bullimore, Reg Hesketh, Hugh and Sue Miles and Bryan Yorke.

The next Swift watch will be next Thursday 6th July 2017 - Meeting at the Memorial Hall at 2000hrs - Everyone Welcome  

Burton Swift Watch - 22nd June 2017 week

Burton Swift Watch - Thursday 22nd June 2017 - Main Street - Burton In Kendal 2000hrs to 2130hrs

We commenced our weekly Swift watch from the Memorial Hall were we did manage to witness the odd singular birds in the sky.  It paid off watching from the Memorial Hall as we saw a definite sighting of a bird entering one of the original established nest sites on the Post Office row cottages, and although we cannot confirm for sure we do also think that we had yet another bird entering one of the other old nest sites on this same row. We had almost given up on birds nesting here this year, so it just shows you patience and persistence with our watches does pay off!

We also did a watch from across the road opposite the Royal "Cottage" building low elevation and whilst on our approach we did see three birds leaving the front of the Cottage building, but other than one of the birds we were not sure with pinpoint accuracy just were the birds had come out from. The one we did clearly see came out from a old established site to the front right hand corner of the building. 

Our best full count of the night was made from around here and the highest count of birds in the sky at the same time was ten birds.  At one time three birds were seen chasing together.

We spent some time at the Manor House and again we were fortunate to witness two birds almost at the same time enter two separate nest sites to the front of the building.  One of the sites was a old established site which we have recorded birds since 2013, but the other site was a completely new site never before recorded on the Manor House at eaves level and just left of the central drainpipe. 

By far a more productive night than the past couple of weeks.

Tonight's observers included: David Craig, Reg Hesketh, Hugh and Sue Miles and Bryan Yorke. 

The next Swift watch will be next Thursday 29th June 2017 - Meeting at the Memorial Hall at 2000hrs - Everyone Welcome  

Burton Swift Watch 15th June 2017

Burton Swift Watch 15th June 2017

It was decided we meet at the Memorial Hall and that we try our watches starting from 2000hrs.  In hope that starting one hour later (which was the regular time we used to start in past years) we thought we might just get better results and see more nest activity.

However tonight was a on/off light shower situation and it seemed to have sent the birds very high, in fact at times they were so high you could just see the faintest of black specks in the sky.

We did check out the regular sites down Main Street but never saw any nest activity at all.

The best count we had was from the Memorial Hall when 12 birds were counted.

Tonights observers were:  David Craig, Reg Hesketh, Hugh and Sue Miles, Bryan Yorke.

The next Swift watch will be next Thursday 22nd June 2017 - Meeting at the Memorial Hall at 2000hrs - Everyone Welcome

Burton Swift Watch 8th June 2017 week

Thursday 8th June 2017 - Main Street - Burton In Kendal 1900hrs to 1945hrs

Weather fine although very windy. We only saw a maximum of four birds seen in the sky at one time. We were very lucky to see two separate nesting birds go into two established sites on the front of the lower Royal Cottage.  Also it was great to hear from Sue that she had seen a Swift using one of the rear annexe sites at the Royal which we did not have booked in so far this year, and additionally Reg had seen a Swift using the side return to the Annexe again another established site which we had not recorded so far this year. We also spent time checking out the Manor House, but we had nothing at all tonight from the Manor.  So to sum things up so far this year.

The Post Office Row block - not being used as yet to our knowledge
Cocking Yard - both established nest sites being used
Royal - Front Cottage - two sites being used.
Royal - Annexe Return - the established site being used
Royal - Rear annexe - all three established sites being used.
Coaching House - not being used as yet to our knowledge
Manor House - possibly one site being used on the front but still needs confirmation.
Clawthorpe Hall - Sites being used but status not recorded yet for this year.

Tonight's observers were: Reg Hesketh, Sue Miles and Bryan Yorke.

The next Swift watch will be next Thursday 15th June 2017 - Meeting at the Memorial Hall at 2000hrs (Please note we have changed the meeting time to one hour later than usual) - Everyone Welcome

Burton Swift Watch 1st June 2017 week

Exceptionally quiet yet again with only 11 birds counted in the skies at one time.

It does not look like the Post Office Buildings are being used this year (as yet!), although we do think both original sites in Cocking Yard are being used.  Last night we saw two birds going into nest holes on the rear annexe of the Royal at the same time so we are taking it that both these sites are being used.  Although we wondered if perhaps both nest site holes actually lead into one site because of their close proximity. We never saw any birds entering the front of the Royal although we do suspect at least one pair if not two to be using it. Again watching the Coaching House and The Manor there did not seem to be any definite nesting activity although there was plenty of aerial activity with chasing one another and screaming in small parties up to six birds.  Also on the gable of the Manor House the Starling was again playing Sentinel post and making sure the Swifts did not try and take over his/her nest.  Young Starlings could be heard in the nest as soon as food was being brought in.

Activity does seem to be very slow this year compared to past years and we perhaps need to change our observation times like in past years to nearer the point of darkness (eg 2000hrs).  For now its probably best left to meet at 1900hrs though maybe we could discuss it when more watchers are present.

Tonights watchers included: David Craig, Angela Sumner and Bryan Yorke

The next Swift watch will be next Thursday 8th June 2017 - Meeting at the Memorial Hall at 1900hrs - Everyone Welcome