Swift Half SWIFTS update - 30th May

• Well.... its taken some time (and apologies for the lack of updates over the last few days, but until I had something to report, I thought I'd not report) but at last, this morning at almost exactly 0730hrs, we have the first egg laid (of the second batch to be laid in the roof)  -and I've captured the moment on video once more (clip number twenty-six on my website).
• This "first egg is laid exactly three weeks after the original "first egg" was laid - so we are effectively now three weeks behind schedule.
• To summarise what has happened so far - in video links...
• April 23rd -  our first swift back ( a male ) roosts in the roof.
• April 29th - a female arrives and roosts with the male.
• May 3rd  - a third swift enters the roof and is ejected quickly.
• May 8th- I video our pair mating in the nest space.
• May 9th - first egg laid.
• May 11th - second egg laid ( moment captured on film)
• May 13th - third egg laid.
• May 18th - interloper breaks in. Seven hour stuggle between females. Original female bails out.
• May 19th - All three original eggs either kicked out of nest deliberately or accidentally.
• May 24th  - After an experiment by me - swifts reject replaced eggs in nest - one of these swifts is not from the original pair - proven.
• May 30th - First egg of second batch laid (original male, new female).
• Now if we get no further battles, and a little better weather, this pair should lay either two or three eggs, today, Wednesday 1st June and Friday 3rd June (maybe) at around 0800hrs each day.
• These eggs (if there are three) should hatch twenty days later (approx) on 19th June, 21st June and maybe the 23rd June.
• If all three eggs hatch and all are raised to fledge successfully, then each should fledge on around the 31st July, the 2nd and the 4th August - IF all goes to plan like I say - and there are no more applecarts upset.
• Anyway - good news indeed  - this nest space has been a real soap opera already, but it looks now like we WILL finally get to see a family raise some young....