2024 Swift Report - Waltham on the Wolds

What's been happening on the Swift Project during the 2024 season?

• Five more swift nest boxes were installed in March in the Paddocks, Mill Lane, High Street, plus one at the School (the latter has a sound system attached). This makes a total of nine nest boxes installed in Waltham. In 2023 we installed four other nest boxes, two of which were fitted with sound systems.
• The first swift sighting was on 25 April and the last reported sighting was on 30 July (unless anyone knows of a later one).
• Lots of screaming swifts have been seen in our skies, although opinions are divided on whether there were more or less than last year.
• We have seen, or had reported, seven other nest sites in existing buildings, on Mill Lane, Mere Road, Goadby Road and the High Street. We're sure there are more although they are quite difficult to spot.
• Four swift walks were held during the season. We'll try for more next year.
• The bird box camera has been successfully tested and live video broadcast on a sparrow's nest.
• Our friends from the Leicestershire and Rutland Swift Partnership kindly inspected all our nest boxes at the end of the season. They found that one of those in the High Street area had been occupied during the summer (see photo).
• We are now looking forward to when the swifts returning in late-April or early-May.