Swift Half Update - 28th July 2010 - ROOF EMPTY.

• It is with a heavy heart, tinged with a little pride and relief that I blog today to tell anyone interested that our family of Swifts have now ALL left their nest for the summer. The last to leave was the female, who had been roosting in the roof on her own for the past two nights - but not last night - the nest space was empty for the first time in over 3 months. A timeline to their season can be seen below:

1. 23rd April - I see my first Berkshire Swifts of the year.
2. 24th April - Male Swift roosts in our roof for first time this year. (Day 1 of occupation).
3. 27th April - Female Swift takes up residency - nest buidling immediately begins.
4. 5th May - Both adults start to roost together in nest space.
5. 17th May - First egg (A) laid (Day 24 of occupation).
6. 19th May - Second egg (B) laid (Day 26 of occupation)
7. 21st May - Third and final egg (C) laid (Day 28 of occupation).
8. 23rd May - Second egg (B) rejected and ignored, eggs A and C incubated still.
9. 6th June - Egg (A) hatches (20 days after being laid).
10. 10th June - Egg (C) hatches (20 days after being laid).
11. 18th July - Chick from egg (A) fledges (42 days or 6wks exactly after hatching). Chick not seen again (leaves nest, leaves for good). One chick left in nest with parents.
12. 22nd July - Chick from egg (C) fledges (42 days or 6 wks exactly after hatching). Chick not seen again (leaves nest leaves for good). Only adults left in nest.
13. 22nd/23rd/24th July - both adults continue to roost together in nest at night.
14. 25th July - Adult male leaves nest, 92 days after arriving. Adult female left in nest alone.
15. 25th/26th July -Adult female continues to roost alone in the nest at night.
16. 27th July - Adult female leaves nest, 92 days after arriving. No swifts in nest at night. All swifts gone.
17. Swifts still flying over house, I can't tell whether these are are family or not.
18. I expect ALL Swifts to be gone from berkshire by 1st week of August (we are on holiday then, so won't see them leave).

• A few points to note - All three eggs laid two days apart.
• Both incubated eggs hatched exactly 20 days after laying.
• Both chicks fledged exactly 42 days (6 weeks) after hatching.
• Both adults spent exactly 92 days/nights in nest (female arrived a few days later than male).

• There you are grapple fans, I wish our swifts well, and if Anna and I are still around next year, I'll welcome them back with a fair amount of joy, at the end of next April.... Until then, you'll excuse me if I get quite sad, I'm sure...