See the main page for notes, photos, and diaries for other years.
You can view live video here from some of the nestboxes (not guaranteed always online, but I try
to keep it running).
Here is a page with some explanation of how I do the video.
The numbered nestboxes can be seen on this photo, and the entrances to the internal boxes on the gable end in this photo.
| Year | Nest | Adult1 | Adult2 | Egg1 | Egg2 | Egg3 | Hatch | Fledge1 | Fledge2 | Fledge3 | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1 | Jul-1 | |||||||||
| 2025 | #3 | ≤May-8 | ? | May-24/25 | May-27 | May-29 | Jun-16 | Jul-22/25 | Jul-25/27 | Jul-28 | |
| 2025 | #4 | May-11 | |||||||||
| 2025 | #5 | ≤May-12 | |||||||||
| 2025 | #b2 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ≤Jul-9 | ≤Aug-20 | |||
| 2025 | #g1 | ≤May-7 | ? | ≤May-19 | ≤May-21 | - | x | May-26/28 Both eggs thrown out. | |||
| 2025 | #g1a | ? | ? | Jun-3/6 | Jun-5/8 | - | x | Jun-4 pair at nest. Jun-8 both eggs thrown out. | |||
| 2025 | #g1b | ? | ? | Jun-18 | Jun-20/21 | - | Jul-7 | Aug-18 | *Aug-24 | *Third egg transferred from #g2b Jul-1 hatched ≤Jul-13. | |
| 2025 | #g2 | ≤May-11 | ? | ≤May-19 | ≤May-21 | - | x | May-26 both eggs out of nest and look dead. | |||
| 2025 | #g2a | ? | ? | Jun-3 | Jun-5 | - | x | Jun-4 new egg, two dead eggs from earlier out of nest. Jun-8 both recent eggs out of nest. | |||
| 2025 | #g2b | ? | ? | Jun-21 | Jun-24 | - | x | Egg transferred to #g1b Jul-1. Egg thrown out Jul-2. | |||
| 2025 | #g3 | ≤May-21 | ≤May-21 | ≤May-17 | ≤May-19 | ≤May-21 | Jun-3/4 | x | x | x | Young left prematurely. |
| 2025 | #g4 | ≤May-11 | ? | ≤May-17 | ≤May-19 | ≤May-21 | Jun-10 | Jul-19/20 | Jul-21/22 | - | May-26 1 egg out of nest and looks dead. |
| 2025 | #g5 | ? | ? | ≤May-21 | - | - | x | May-23 single egg gone. | |||
| 2025 | #g6 | ≤Apr-29 | ? | May-28 | May-30/31 | - | Jun-18 | Jul-29/30 | Jul-29/30 | - | |
| 2025 | #sb3 | ≤May-19 | ≤May-19 | ≤Jun-10 | - | - | x | Jun-12 single egg gone. | |||
| 2025 | #sb4 | ≤May-7 | ≤May-10 | ? | - | - | ~Jul-12 | ~Aug-23 | - | - | An egg was laid May-22/28, which can't be the one that hatched. |
| Year | Nest | Adult1 | Adult2 | Egg1 | Egg2 | Egg3 | Hatch | Fledge1 | Fledge2 | Fledge3 | Comments |
Predicted dates above based on the average for previous nests with camera: last egg to hatching 19 days; hatching to first fledging 42 days.
2025-Jul-30 Both swift chicks in nest #g6 have fledged, sometime yesterday or today. As usual, precisely as predicted - it surprises me how consistent they are, considering it's a 61 day process from egg to fledging.
So far this season, 7 swift chicks fledged from 3 nests, and 4 chicks to go from another 3 nests, making a hopeful total of 11. Compare 13 chicks fledging in 2024, 22 in 2023, and 32 in 2022.
I looked into nest #b2 through the entrance - one swift chick inside, and fairly large droppings falling outside.
2025-Jul-29 The last of three swift chicks in nest #3 has fledged - probably yesterday, as I didn't see it looking out yesterday evening. The chicks in #g1b and #g6 are still present, with the former due to fledge very soon. The single chick is still there in #sb4 (which I don't often inspect).
2025-Jul-27 The second of three swift chicks in nest #3 has fledged.
2025-Jul-25 The first of three swift chicks in nest #3 has fledged - at some point in the last 3 days, more likely recent, as my prediction is in 3 days time..
2025-Jul-22 The second and last swift chick in nest #g4 has fledged.
2025-Jul-20 One of the two swift chicks in nest #g4 has fledged.
2025-Jul-19 First inspection of #sb4 since 2-Jul, when there was a single egg - today there is an adult swift with a single chick, which I estimate to be around 7 days old. This chick must be from a later egg than the one seen on 28-May.
2025-Jul-18 The 9 swift chicks (total) in nests #3, #g1b, #g4, & #g6 are developing as expected. I haven't spotted the 3rd chick (from transferred egg) in #g1b for 2 days - it still could be hiding under the two larger ones, but I suspect it has died.
The swifts are still active in #b2, probably with young. At least one swift is regularly visiting #2, though there have been no visits to the two camera nests (#1 & #4) for some days. Plenty activity at #5 today too, with at least one swift there as night fell. I haven't inspected #sb4 for some time, but adult swifts still visit it.
2025-Jul-13 The 3rd egg in nest #g1b (which I transferred from nest #g2b) has hatched - could have been before today as I hadn't had a good view. So it's up to 6 days younger than the two existing chicks, which makes a lot of difference in size.
Around midday, there are two swifts in nestbox #2, which is good for the future, though rather late to make a start this year.
2025-Jul-10 Finally a view into nest #g1b - it's a very hot day, so the adult swift for once wasn't completely covering the nest. Two chicks present (and one egg, presumably the one I transferred from nest #g2b - this egg was around 3 days younger, though I haven't great hopes for it).
This morning, saw a swift in both camera nests (#1 and #4) at the same time, which at least confirms that it's not the same one occasionally going into both nests. Yesterday, I saw one enter #2 as well.
2025-Jul-9 A broken egg on the ground (slightly developed) appears to be the final one from abandoned nest #g2b - the egg was there yesterday, but is now gone, so swifts are still visiting here.
I was lucky to spot a piece of egg/membrane being ejected from nestbox #b2, so a good chance that there are recently hatched young here.
2025-Jul-7 At least one egg has hatched in nest #g1b (close to predicted day) - there was part of an egg-shell in the nestbox. As usual, there is an adult swift sitting tightly here, so I couldn't actually see the chick(s).
A swift is still occasionally visiting nestbox #1, but hasn't yet stayed overnight. Swifts are evidently still visiting nestbox #g2, as the (dead) egg present gets moved around - out of the nest today.
2025-Jul-3 The two remaining young in nest #g3 have disappeared - I can't really believe they fledged successfully as still around 12 days before I predicted they would fledge.
Two visits by a swift to #1 today.
2025-Jul-2 There was a swift in nestbox #g2 around mid-day - will there be a 4th attempt at a clutch of eggs here? The egg transferred from #g2b to #g1b yesterday is still there. In #sb4, a swift is still incubating a single egg, which can't realistically be the egg seen on 28-May.
2025-Jul-1 A swift entered nestbox #1 at 10:20 this morning, and stayed for about half an hour - that's the first activity here this year. It returned at 21:53 but only stayed for 10 minutes.
At dusk I saw a swift enter nestbox #2 - the first activity seen here this season - certainly no nesting going on inside.
After some thought, I finally transferred one of the two eggs in nest #g2b into #g1b (which had two eggs of similar age already). Although a swift was sometimes present in #g2b, I never yet saw it incubating the eggs. My instinct is still that this egg, and the remaining one, probably won't hatch - they have developed to some extent, as seen by shining a light through them, but have been unattended for some time.
One of the 3 chicks in nest #g3 has died. I found it outside on the ground yesterday - gave it some water, which seemed to revive it a bit, and returned it to the nest, but I didn't have much hope. This morning, it was outside again, and dead. It appeared to be smaller than the two remaining chicks.
2025-Jun-27 Definitely a clutch of 2 eggs in nest #g1b - finally got a view today. In nest #g2b, the two eggs were unattended around mid-day (2nd day running) - unexpected when you'd expect to see incubation and maybe a third egg. I might check after dark, and if this continues, transfer the developing egg to nest #g1b.
2025-Jun-25 I got a good look at the two eggs in nest #g2b with no adults present. Now I know what to look for, I can see developments in one of the eggs (presumably the first one) by shining a light through it. Seeing as the eggs weren't being incubated, maybe there is going to be a third.
There is no ongoing swift nesting in 'starling' boxes #sb1 and #sb3. In #sb4, a swift was incubating a single egg - if this was the egg seen on May-28, then it should have hatched by now.
2025-Jun-24 There's a second egg in nest #g2b.
2025-Jun-23 There is still a single egg in nest #g2b. Around mid-day, I saw an adult swift sitting at nest #g5 - the first activity I've seen here for some time.
2025-Jun-21 There is a new egg in nestbox #g2 (I'm calling this nesting attempt #g2b) - two old cracked eggs already out of nest removed to avoid confusing me. By now, an adult is usually sitting at nest #g1b - I assume probably on 2 eggs, but can't rule out 3 (or even 1). Definitely 2 chicks in nest #g6, as I could see them without an adult being in the way.
2025-Jun-18 Today I was able to confirm that 3 chicks are present in nest #3 (one sighted 2 days ago). At least one egg has hatched in #g6 (empty eggshell present). There is a new egg in nestbox #g1 (I'll call this nesting attempt #g1b). This is the 3rd attempt at a clutch of eggs, with eggs thrown out from two previous attempts (2 eggs each time). There are still 2 old dead eggs in nestbox #g2, both out of the nest.
2025-Jun-16 At least one of the 3 eggs in nest #3 has hatched. Another of the old dead eggs has been thrown out of nestbox #g2 (2 left now).
2025-Jun-15 One of the 4 eggs (already out of nest and dead) in nestbox #g2 has been thrown outside. So who knows whethere there is still a chance of more eggs, after the two previous clutches of 2 eggs were discarded.
2025-Jun-12 The single egg seen in nest #sb3 two days ago has now gone. There was an adult swift sitting in nestbox #g2 around mid-day.
2025-Jun-10 In nest #g4, there are shell fragments, so at least one egg must have hatched (adult swift sitting, so can't see). There is one egg in nest #sb3, with an adult sitting (almost no nest material).
2025-Jun-8 There is a failed egg out of the nest in #g1a, and another thrown outside - after earlier eggs were thrown out, the nest was last seen with no contents on 2-Jun, and from 4-Jun to 7-Jun there were one or two adults on the nest (couldn't see whether any eggs).
In nest #g2a, both recent eggs are out of the nest, joining two others from an earlier attempt.
2025-Jun-5 There is a 2nd egg in nest #g2a.
2025-Jun-4 I'm starting nest #g1a, as there are a pair of swifts present (can't see if eggs yet). There is a new egg in nestbox #g2 (two old ones out of nest) - calling this nest #g2a. The 3 eggs in nestbox #g3 have hatched - must have been yesterday or today. The two live eggs in nestbox #g4 haven't yet hatched.
2025-Jun-2 Finally able to see that there are two eggs in nestbox #g6.
2025-Jun-1 This morning, I saw a swift enter 'brick-sized' nestbox #sb2. No new developments elsewhere. I'm still uncertain of number of eggs in #g6, as a sitting swift has blocked the view since I saw one egg on 29-May. And I haven't inspected #sb4 so don't know number of eggs since one seen on 28-May.
2025-May-29 There is a third egg in nestbox #3.
2025-May-28 There is a first egg in nestbox #g6. In #g2, a swift was sitting - the two dead eggs still out of the nest cup - could there be a new egg (later: no)? The 2nd egg has been thrown out of #g1. There is at least one swift egg in 'starling' nestbox #sb4 (adult swift sitting).
2025-May-27 There is a swift looking out of 'starling' nestbox #sb1, which as of May-22 contained 4 recently hatched starlings. There is a second egg in nestbox #3.
2025-May-26 There is a first swift egg in nestbox #3 (I heard a pair calling from there this morning).
Results of inspection of gable-end nests:
#g1 One egg thrown outside, and the other (looks dead) not in nest cup.
#g2 Two eggs not in nest cup - both look dead.
#g3 Adult swift sitting - no reason to think previous 3 eggs not still there.
#g4 Two live eggs in nest cup, and 1 dead not in nest cup.
#g5 & #g6 No eggs.
I knew that one was supposed to be able to tell whether an egg was 'live' by shining a light through it, but I didn't know what you were supposed to see. Trying this today, the 2 eggs still in the nest in #g4 showed a network of blood vessels, while the one out of the nest showed nothing. So now I know. The observations today are compatible with eggs previously replaced in nests being dead, and the swifts having removed them again.
2025-May-23 In the gable-end nestboxes: still 2 eggs in #g1; 2 eggs replaced in nest in #g2; adult sitting in #g3; 1 of 3 eggs replaced in nest in #g4; single egg previously in #g5 has disappeared.
2025-May-21 After spending two nights there, the single swift didn't appear in cameras nestbox #4 last night.
Inspected all the nestboxes: earlier then I expected this season, but there are already swift eggs in most of the gable-end nestboxes, 2 eggs in #g1, 2 in #g2, 3 in #g3, 3 in #g4, 1 in #g5, and no eggs in #g6. No eggs anywhere else, but there is an active starling nest in nestbox #sb1, with 3 young chicks and an unhatched egg.
2025-May-19 A swift spent last night in camera nestbox #4 - the first visit there since a week ago.
This afternoon, two swifts entered 'starling' nestbox #sb3 - likely not for the first time this season.
2025-May-15 There have been no further visits by swifts to camera nestbox #4 since two days ago. After two nights absence, the solitary roosting Great Tit was back in nestbox #1 last night.
2025-May-13 After its overnight stay the previous night, the swift in camera nestbox #4 didn't stay last night, but continues (one assumes it's the same bird) to visit for an hour or two at a time. After coming into camera nestbox #1 to roost overnight for around 4 weeks, the solitary Great Tit didn't appear last night.
2025-May-12 This morning, a swift was looking out of nestbox #5.
2025-May-11 This morning, a swift was looking out of nestbox #g2, and one was seen entering #g4.
At 20:06, a swift entered camera nestbox #4 and stayed overnight.
2025-May-10 Now definitely a pair of swifts in 'starling' box #sb4.
2025-May-8 A swift entered nestbox #3 this morning.
2025-May-7 By now there are more swifts in the area - I saw a group of 7 near the house earlier today. This morning, I twice saw a swift enter 'starling' box #sb4, and a swift enter nestbox #g1. Nothing yet in the two nestboxes with camera, but the solitary Great Tit continues to roost in nestbox #1 overnight.
2025-Apr-30 I sighted the first swift of the season yesterday evening, and after circling it entered nestbox #g6. This is the earliest in the year I have seen a swift arrive, by a few days, but of course the nestboxes aren't closely monitored, apart from the two with cameras.
2025-Apr-24 The roosting Great Tit continues to spend the night in camera nestbox #1 - that's for over 10 nights now.
2025-Apr-14 Since getting the video cameras running again (just for me at the moment - not online), I've observed that a single Great Tit (Parus major) is roosting in nestbox #1 overnight. No sign of it thinking of nesting there so far.
2025-Apr-12 Getting ready for a new season. No swifts sighted yet.
The two video cameras are not yet online for the 2025 season (link to live video above).
This is nestbox #1 in which swifts raised young for the first time in 2012.
In 2013 (with a camera in the box for the first time) they raised 3 chicks; 2 in 2014; 3 in 2015; 2 in 2016; 1 in 2017; 2 in 2018; 3 in 2019; 1 in 2020; 2 in 2021; 3 in 2022; and 2 in 2023. Swifts didn't nest here in 2024.
The dates of arrival of the first swift in this box were: 2013 May 6th evening; 2014 May 5th evening; 2015 May 5th evening; 2016 May 4th afternoon; 2017 May 6th midday; 2018 May 7th afternoon; 2019 May 7th afternoon; 2020 May 9th morning; 2021 May 7th afternoon; 2022 May 8th evening; 2023 May 7th morning; 2024 May 7th evening (but no nesting); 2025 Jul 1st morning.
This is nestbox #4 in which swifts raised young for the first time in 2014 (with a camera in the box).
2 chicks were raised in 2014; 3 in 2015; 2 in 2016; 3 in 2017; 2 in 2018; 1 in 2019; 3 in 2020; 3 in 2021; 3 in 2022; none in 2023. Swifts didn't nest here in 2024.
The dates of arrival of the first swift in this box were: 2014 May 7th evening; 2015 May 4th evening; 2016 May 5th evening; 2017 May 5th evening; 2018 May 18th morning; 2019 May 15th afternoon; 2020 May 4th afternoon; 2021 May 9th evening; 2022 May 10th morning; 2023 May 7th afternoon; 2024 June 26th (but no nesting); 2025 May 11th (but no nesting).