I'm having a fab birds Bank holiday, what with my first Crane sighting here at Moorlinch yesterday and today I'm greeted by the first Swifts of the year. They return every year to nest in my neighbours roof, very jealous.
Myself and Russel Harris both recorded swifts on April 18th ....... I saw one over Bathpool, and Russel Harris recorded a dozen over Ham Wall on the same day.
First Swifts of the year in Butleigh High Street yesterday (5 May). They were 'screaming' which I normally associate with warm summer evenings rather than upon arrival.
I had a small 'screaming' party around my house at the weekend, Geoff, and I think it's associated with a return to breeding sites either by last year's offspring or previous local breeders. (We usually have at least two pairs, with others in adjacent buildings.)