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Where have all the swifts gone?

dappledshadedappledshade Posts: 1,017
in The potting shed
Last year, by the end of May, there were loads circling high up above Tufnell Park and Muswell Hill.
They regularly settled onto the radio antenna of a tall school building,  at the back of our back gardens, and it was lovely hearing them screeching through the sky.
So far this year, we've heard them a tiny bit, but very sporadically and not at all in the past 3 weeks. They're also not on the antenna.
Has all the June rain and low temperatures sent them away? 
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Posts

  • BrexiteerBrexiteer Posts: 955
    Too cold and wet 
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    There are a lot over Crouch End but I haven't seen many over by me. Lots on the Heath too. Wet weather isn't going to help them. They were also late coming over from the continent. Wind direction and speed makes a big impact on them. I put up a load of swift boxes last year and have been scanning the skies every day.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    We counted seven over our house one evening last week. Not sure where they are nesting though. Fortunately there is an organic dairy farm nearby with an open barn and lots of hills/woodland around so we presume enough insects. 
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • dappledshadedappledshade Posts: 1,017
    @pansyface & @BirminghamMarc1972 I understand and agree, but they come every year normally...plus they wouldn't know before actually pitching up in drizzly, cool London, how miserable and wet June is, this year...that's what is puzzling me!
    @Fire that's great you've seen some up in crouch end! I heard them back at the end of May overhead, but they must have given somewhere else to feed...
    Miss them!
  • dappledshadedappledshade Posts: 1,017
    Lizzie27 said:
    We counted seven over our house one evening last week. Not sure where they are nesting though. Fortunately there is an organic dairy farm nearby with an open barn and lots of hills/woodland around so we presume enough insects. 
    I have swift envy!
  • dappledshadedappledshade Posts: 1,017
    Fire said:
    There are a lot over Crouch End but I haven't seen many over by me. Lots on the Heath too. Wet weather isn't going to help them. They were also late coming over from the continent. Wind direction and speed makes a big impact on them. I put up a load of swift boxes last year and have been scanning the skies every day.
    How come they were late coming over? Was that adverse weather conditions too?
  • TheveggardenerTheveggardener Posts: 1,057
    Not sure if they are swifts or swallows but be have a few flying around.
  • dappledshadedappledshade Posts: 1,017
    I just miss their lovely screaming sounds! Always makes me happy to hear them. Hopefully they'll return soon...
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    @dappledshade Mostly adverse weather, I think.
  • Hampshire_HogHampshire_Hog Posts: 1,089
    Our usual dozen or so have returned they fly out and around the trees in the park behind us in the mornings and evening not sure where they nest or roost but we have an old navy beach landing training and ranges area with derelict buildings not that far so I guess in them.

    "You don't stop gardening because you get old, you get old because you stop gardening." - The Hampshire Hog
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