Burton Swift Bird Study Group: Burton Swifts - Thursday 25th July 2019 week

Friday, 26 July 2019

Burton Swifts - Thursday 25th July 2019 week

Thursday 1st August 2019

(0930hrs) 14 Swifts above Memorial Hall/Neddy Hill areas

Wednesday 31st July 2019

(2030hrs) 35 Swifts above Memorial Hall/Neddy Hill areas
(0800hrs) 18 Swifts above Memorial Hall/Neddy Hill areas

Tuesday 30th July 2019

(2100hrs) Only 6 Swifts seen over Memorial Hall and Neddy Hill areas, none seen down near Coach House/Manor House. Also small screaming party heard whilst walking down by Neddy Hill. Looks possible that lots of Swifts departed earlier today....

Monday 29th July 2019

(2100hrs) Still 40 Swifts around the village, with approx 30 over the Royal/Memorial Hall whilst approx 10 down near the Manor/Coach House.

Friday 26th July 2019

Friday morning still lots of Swifts about with 40 at the North End of Main Street and 10 at the South End of Main Street

Thursday 25th July 2019

It has been a Swift week without doubt! but is this gathering all a advance warning to say our little friends are about to leave us! I am sure it is. They usually start to depart somewhere around the 28th July and over the next week or so.

The story begins the day before which was Wednesday, when Sandra on her way back from her walk phoned me to say that there were large numbers of Swifts all along Main Street and lots of chasing parties. This was about 2100hrs. So off I went to meet her and we watched numerous Swifts at every point along the Main Street from the Memorial Hall as far as the Manor House. To be honest I have never seen so many Swifts at one time and they were too numerous to count properly although I did manage to confirm at least 40 but this was without doubt a very low estimate to what there must have been and I would have guessed somewhere between 50 to 60 birds were making the most of it. I even recorded one screaming party of at least 20 trailing birds, what a brilliant watch.

So back to last night, we met up as usual at the Memorial Hall and did our full watch from there. We seemed to count a maximum of 10 birds for the first half hour, and then it all changed! when more and more birds started coming into the group and before long we were counting up to 40 birds with at one time a screaming party of 32 birds. Also whilst watching from the Memorial Hall we did see on two separate occasions birds entering their nest site on the Cottage across the road attached to the Post Office, also we saw low flyers diving sharply as though perhaps they were going into nest sites within Cocking Yard. Again another magical Swift evening.

During the week I received a lovely email from SOS Martinets (France) showing a small film they have made which will be going on at their local cinemas before the main film to bring awareness of the plight of our Swifts - please click over the following links (use translator usually shown in top corner):

https://sosmartinets.com/2019/07/24/un-clip-pour-preceder-manou-a-lecole-des-goelands/

https://sosmartinets.com/2019/07/20/un-martinet-en-dessin-anime/

Tonight's observers included: Mary Bullimore, Reg Hesketh, Angela Sumner and Bryan Yorke.

Nest sites occupied so far this year = (25)

Post Office Buildings (1)
Cocking Yard (5) maxed
Royal Cottage rear (4) maxed
Royal Cottage front (5) out of 7
Coach House gable and rear (3)
Manor House gable, front and annexe (4) out of 6
Clawthorpe Hall Offices and Lowther House (3)

Historic final end of season counts were as follows:
2018 = 25 sites
2017 = 22 sites
2016 = 23 sites
2015 = 20 sites

The next Swift watch will be probably be the very last watch of the year next Thursday 1st August 2019 - Meeting at the Memorial Hall at 2000hrs - Everyone Welcome

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.

*******************************************************

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