Burton Swift Bird Study Group: August 2019

Friday 23 August 2019

Burton Swifts - 2019 Summary

Nest site activity recorded at:

1. On the front elevation of small cottages adjoining the post office - 1 pair recorded

2. Cocking Yard - Riggs House (front and back) Hangings Farm and another - 4 pairs recorded

3. Royal Hotel - Cottage - Front Elevation - 5 pairs confirmed

4. Royal Hotel - Rear Cottage Annexe - 3 pairs confirmed

5. Royal Hotel - Rear Cottage Annexe return - 1 pair confirmed

6. The Coaching House - Gable End (North facing) 3 pairs confirmed

7. The Manor House - Front of House- 1 pairs confirmed

8. The Manor House - Front attached low elevation - 1 pair confirmed

9. The Manor House - Gable End (North facing) 2 pair confirmed

10. Lowther House/Clawthorpe Hall - Rear of Lowther - 3 nest confirmed

Total nest sites recorded

24 nest sites in total confirmed (which is a decrease of 1 compared to 2018)

Arrival and departure

The first Swift arrived back and was recorded 2030hrs above the Memorial Hall on Thursday 2nd May 2019, then 4 were recorded on the 4th May, 6 on the 7th May, 12 on the 12th May and up to 20 the following day the 13th May.

We still had 40 Swifts around the village on Monday 29th July, this dropped to 35 on Wednesday the 31st July, 30 by Friday 2nd August and still 20 by Sat and Sun 3rd and 4th August, dropped to 10 by Monday 5th, to 3 by Tuesday 6th and the last count still showed 3 on Wed August 14th 2019.

Highest number of birds counted in the skies at any one time

As usual the better counts came more to the end of the Swift season of which the highest numbers recorded were: 40 on Mon 29th July 2019

Observers over the 12 weeks included: Mary Bullimore, Annabel Campbell, Reg Hesketh, Branwen Kilburn, Hugh and Sue Miles, Angela Sumner, Bryan Yorke

Below are photos showing the various nest sites with their histories marked in red (definite) and some with yellow (unsure)

2019 site at the Cottages attached to the Post Office (1 site)

2019 sites within Cocking Yard (4 sites)

2019 nest sites on the rear of the Royal Hotel

2019 nest sites on the front of the Royal Hotel Cottage

2019 nest sites on gable of Coaching House

2019 nest sites on Gable and front and annexe of Manor House

2019 nest sites on Lowther House, Clawthorpe Hall

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 2020

Friday 2 August 2019

Burton Swifts - Thursday 1st August 2019 week.....

Monday 26th 2019

It is very possible we did miss some late birds this year. I had 3 separate reports of birds still present in the areas between the Manor House and the Royal. None of these reports were definately confirmed as Swifts but in all cases the reports were thought to be. The latest of these was on

Wednesday 14th August 2019

(2015hrs) 3 Swifts over Memorial Hall

Tuesday 13th August 2019

(2030hrs) 2 Swifts over Memorial Hall

Monday 12th August 2019

(1630hrs) 2 Swifts over Neddy Hill and Cocking Yard

Sunday 11th August 2019

(2015hrs) 2 Swifts over the South of the Village (Reg)

Thursday 8th August 2019

(0945hrs) 2 Swifts over Neddy Hill/Cocking Yard (Reg)

Wednesday 7th August 2019

(2100hrs) 2 Swifts over Memorial Hall and Neddy Hill (Reg)

Tuesday 6th August 2019

(2015hrs) 3 Swifts seen with 2 over the Kings/Coach House/Manor House areas and just a solitary bird over the Memorial Hall.

Monday 5th August 2019

(2100hrs) at least 10 Swifts again with Martins closeby down Neddy Hill
(0900hrs) 2 Swifts seen above the Royal area

Sunday 4th August 2019

(2030hrs) At least 10 Swifts in with 15 House Martins above Memorial Hall
(0800hrs) At least 20 Swifts still with us at all low points between Kings and Memorial Hall

Saturday 3rd August 2019

(2100hrs) At least 20 Swifts flying above Memorial Hall and Neddy Hill
(0900hrs) 17 minimum Swifts flying in the skies above the Royal to the Kings with occasional Memorial Hall/Neddy Hill

Friday 2nd August 2019

(2100hrs) Still 30 Swifts over Memorial Hall and down towards Neddy Hill.
(0900hrs) I had 30 Swifts over Memorial Hall.
also Jane reported 20-30 in screaming party between Cocking Yard and Memorial Hall.

Thursday 1st August 2019

We met up at 2000hrs at the Memorial Hall to observe the Swifts as a group for the last time this year.

It seemed pretty clear that quite a lot of birds had departed earlier in the day and we only managed to count the largest number in the skies at one time as 15 birds with the best screaming party of 7 birds. Most of the birds were being seen between the Memorial Hall and towards the bottom of Neddy Hill, although you could also see birds above Main Street towards the Kings area.

We also managed to see on two separate occasions the birds nesting on the cottages on the Post Office block enter its nest site by the eaves.

Notes are still being gathered on a daily basis for the next 10-14 days just to try and ascertain on what date the last birds leave us, so please keep checking the site for up to date information over the coming fortnight. Also I will send one further email with a summary, in about two weeks time which hopefully will show how the Swifts have faired this year.

Tonights observers included: Reg Hesketh, Sue and Hugh Miles, Angela Sumner and Bryan Yorke.

Here below are notes from the past week showing the numbers of Swifts we have had:

Thursday 1st August 2019

(2000hrs) 15 Swifts above Memorial Hall/Neddy Hill areas
(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

***Of note (and revised): It was reported on 31st July 2019 that 10,000 Swifts past south through Gibraltar Point, Lincolnshire***

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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