Swift Half SWIFTS update - 8th May 2011

• I've not blogged about our pair of swifts for some time now but I'm just blogging now to say all is fine in our roof - the pair are still together, but bringing in less feathers than before the "fight" of seven days ago (see last update).
• Many more swifts have arrived in the country last week, after a spanish plume weather system (hot southerly wind from Spain and Portugal - the result of a battle between high pressure to the east of the UK and low to the west), meant that there was no blocking wind to their arrival from the continent.
• We now have 4-6 swifts regularly feeding above Swift Half - only two of which are our pair of course.
• We have had heavy rain for the past two nights (first time in about three months) but we are still sunny and dry during the day and look to be that way for this week at least.
• If this good weather continues, we could have our first egg as early as Thursday or Friday this week, but probably a few days after that. Last year the first egg was laid on 19th May, although we do seem to be on course for a laying up to a week earlier than that this year...
• I have uploaded video fourteen on my "images website", a clip that was recorded a week ago - showing both adults bringing feathers back to the nest site...

• I will upload maybe one or two more videos (only) before we get our first egg (hopefully!)