Another day in Box 6

Here's a video of the two youngsters in Box 6 today. One of them is very interested in the outside world...

 

and a view from outside...a face at the door. I don't think it'll be long before he makes his escape!

Feeding time scramble

 

Box 1 chicks have put on a growth spurt and have their eyes open now. Here they are at the feeding time scramble! 

 Meanwhile, Box 6 youngsters are saving their energy and just dossing on the nest. We have worked out that Box 1 are exactly two weeks younger than Box 6.

 

 

Box 6 nearly ready to go...

Box 1 chicks are still fairly small and still don’t have their eyes open yet, but any day now. Here they are, feeling the heat a bit I think: 

 Box 6 chicks are almost fully grown and are starting to do their wing exercises and pressups. You can see here the pale edges to their flight feathers as one of them pushes down on its open wings. 

We've had no more visits from any other swifts so I think that's it for now until next year as far as getting any new residents, but we do get random swifts accompanying our own ones on flights around the house. Hopefully they'll remember us next year!
 

Box 5 returns after an absence...

Box 5  returned again on the 21^st July along with a partner and they took up residence briefly on each of the four following mornings but then after the 25^th they again disappeared and have not been seen since. Here's a short video of them:

On the 23^rd July a new pair entered Box 2 and stayed a short while, but then they also disappeared and have not returned. The new pair in Box 2: 

 Meanwhile, both sets of youngsters in Boxes 1 and 6 continue to thrive, with Box 6 chicks looking very grown up now! Below are Box 1 with a glimpse of the chicks under the parent bird:

And below are the very grown up looking Box 6 youngsters: 

 

 

 

Babies climb out of the nest

 After the excitement of a newcomer turning up in Box 5 it didn't overnight as we'd hoped but returned briefly the next day (18th July) and seemed to make itself comfortable for a couple of hours, but then disappeared again and has not been seen since.

Meanwhile, the two youngsters in Box 6 ventured out of the nest briefly until pushed back in by the parent

 and the two youngsters in Box 1 are still being brooded by the parents so are not visible at the moment.

 

Two new babies!

 

Yes! I've finally been able to make a video of Box 1 which shows that there are two young in the nest now! Hooray, at last! 

 

  

Also this morning a newcomer entered Box 5 and remained there between 08.30 and 10.00  Will it return?

They've all disappeared...

No, not our pairs, they are still with us in Boxes 1 and 6. But the day after the new pair were in Box 2, they left and didn't return. Along with all the prospectors as well, they've all inexplicably disappeared and the only swifts we are seeing right now are our own two pairs. We're still not sure if Box 1 eggs have hatched but there is what looks like half an egg shell on the floor of the box, so maybe they have, but I've not been able to get a video of a changeover as yet.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Box 6 the two youngsters are doing well, they're filling the nest now!