Swifts
Swifts
At this time of year the telephone wires just behind the trees to the north of the Castle are full of tiny brown birds balancing on them, before they jump off and dive around in the air in a cloud of winged friends.
Drawn to the water, which is not far away, they swoop down, skimming lightly, the widening concentric circles illustrating that fact they have in fact swiftly sipped. These birds are of course swifts.
They are aerial acrobats, tiny black shapes silhouetted against the bluest of autumn skies. They are in fact a plain brown colour but instantly defined by a short forked tail and sharply outlined wings. They visit us each April or May to breed. They live for up to nine years, pair for life and fly back to the same “home” here in England where they may well have to carry out a little renovation on their nest when they arrive.
These nests are squeezed into gaps in buildings, whether houses or churches (as in the photo here for example), which means that modern air tight breathless brick buildings are not helpful. As a result they have been added to the endangered species – the highest conservation priority. Sadly, the swift population in the UK has fallen by 42 percent since 1994.
Two to three eggs are usually laid and they will hatch in three to four weeks. The chicks will then spend up to eight weeks in the nest before fledging, so it rather makes me thing that they are all practising their flying in August and September.
They can land on nest boxes, branches, or houses, but they can’t really land on the ground. That's because their wings are too long and their legs are too short to take off from a flat surface. Sometimes you find them here on the ground hopping around completely stuck so carefully pick the bird up, go upstairs to open a window some heights above the ground and throw it out so it can fly..
These tiny birds could balance on your hand, yet they are now preparing to fly 3,400 miles south to East Africa. It is an epic journey as they set off over the Iberian peninsular, pausing for a few days in Spain before flying across the vast wilderness of sand which is the Sahara desert with very little food or water.
The Sahara is no place for migrating birds to spend any more time than they have to, so they keep flying at up to 70 miles an hour. Pausing in the greener land towards the Gambia, they can then regain their energy as they continue along the west coast of Africa towards Liberia whereupon they turn east towards the Congo, eating and sleeping on the wing.
Swifts fly to and for on the same migration route- it is a well known migration route and one also followed by swallows and cuckoos for example. However, other birds such as sand martins migrate in a loop flying over the western Mediterranean, passing to the west of the Alps, but return in a loop via the eastern Mediterranean, passing to the east of the Alps.
It is amazing to imagine that these birds may be flying around herds of grazing animals, such as elephants, buffalo and wildebeest, snapping up flying insects disturbed by the herbivores’ feet before returning to England to hop around grazing herds of cows to do the same. The butter coloured yellow wagtail feed on the flies disturbed by hooves in zebras and elephants. Translate that to the UK and it is the hooves of horses and cattle. Cattle are so important to the cycle of life for those with whom we share this beautiful world.
Before the swifts leave they circle the castle towers at speed, presumably finding clusters of insects around it but then suddenly one evening they are not there – they have gone and I will miss them until they return the next year.
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60 Comments
You write so beautifully Lady Carnarvon and I look forward to these golden nuggets popping into my Inbox. Sadly I cannot FB follow as my account was hacked by someone overseas last week. 16 years of life on there, gone and fir what? I digress, I have to be honest I am not a lover of birds nearby. I think it stems from budgies landing on my head as a little girl ... ugh. I enjoy watching them though and have a great admiration for their strength and bravery. These tiny wings flying so far is incredible. When the Canada Geese migrate late at night over my home, I literally jump out of bed, fling open the window, throw my head out and marvel at the squawks and chatter as they change formation constantly until they form that perfect black "V" in the moonlight. I can literally clap for joy and insist on telling them how wonderfully clever they are! Crazy old lady I may be; but a happy one when I return under my duvet .
Lovely story… thank you!
Beautiful nature!
Lovely the pictures of swifts and did you and lord Carnarvon have a lovely weekend and l lovely to visit Highcelere castle and big fan of Downton Abbey
Fascinating and distressing. Thank you.
Lady Carnarvon,
Another amazing story from your bank of interesting topics! Thank you for it. As a child, I called the flocks of birds sitting on telephone wires ‘bird choirs’! It’s so wonderful that God created these intelligent creatures. And am glad for the nesting places the swifts have in lovely old buildings.
Hope you have a sunny week with clear blue September skies.
Martha G
Dear Lady Carnarvon,
Thank you for sharing these photos, Nature is so amazing. I am astounded sometimes in my backyard skies by murmerations of starlings this time of year. I just watch in complete awe.
Lovely the pictures of swifts and did you and lord Carnarvon have a nice weekend and l lovely to visit Highcelere castle and l am fan of Downton Abbey
Beautiful words and imagery! Thank you, Lady Carnarvon!
Dear Lady Carnarvon,
Thank you for such an inspiring and, as always, informative and beautifully written post. We are bird lovers and observers and are never surprised, but continually fascinated, by these amazing creatures. Your photos are stunning and take us back to the incredible day we spent visiting Highclere pre-pandemic in 2019 - hope to return… maybe 2024!
So lovely to read of your Swifts this morning! I just finished refilling the feeders since I am watching the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds ‘tank up’ here in the Southeast US for their trek over the Gulf of Mexico to Central America. They usually are gone after the Equinox, so I really know that Summer is fading fast when this feeding frenzy starts. Fork-tailed Swifts are only a rare visitor to North America; thank you so much for sharing their amazing journey with us!
It only occurred to me two days ago when I heard the first of the honking geese going over that the swifts had gone.
I love the description of them sitting on your telephone wires as that is something else that no longer happens. My house was built in the 1990’s so no telegraph poles or phone wires here.
Just 2 days ago in Yorkshire I noticed a gathering of swallows.They seem to pick a different location,well different wires,every year to take their leave but it's always done in a day or two & always in a mile or so radius of their area or so it seems.But the thing I noticed the most was how small the numbers were compared to how it used to be.In the 70's they left from near my stables & there were so many they stretched a good half mile along the road in both directions.There were thousands flying around all day in huge groups,then about a hour before dusk they just took off,gone in a few minutes.It was amazing.Sadly some people don't like them nesting around their properties & I think they also face horrors passing over other countries.
What a lovely, informative story. When we moved into our house in Buxton, Peak District, the previous owner told us that Swifts would return to our house in the Summer.
They did and we have enjoyed them for the eight years that we have been here!
Wow that is unreal! When we travel even locally, we lug kilograms and kilograms of luggage with us. To say these little guys travel light is an understatement - minimalists of the air. Thanks for sharing such a fascinating account of these jet setters - as an Aussie I wasn't aware of these birds.
Beautiful photos again and especially the ones with the tiny young bird and the beautiful blue skies.
So true how modern architecture is lacking of so many outside benefits (to people given no balconies or possible opening windows) and nature for possible nesting and weather safety areas.
Impressive the history and travel details you know of those lovely birds but so sad for them they have to fly away so far (as do many here in North America) for season survivals and nourishment.
Thank you again Lady Carnarvon for another lovely and informative Monday Morning Blog.
Hope your week is off to a good start and good luck with your week ahead.
Lady Carnarvon........Thank you for sharing that information on the Swift's. I am going to have to buy your books. Your style of writing is such an enjoyable read. After my brother dies a year ago, I often wonder if he is flying on the wing of a bird.
Thank you Pat
Thank you Martha, I wish you a sunny week too.
Thank you Karen, we had a good weekend looking after our stand at the Newbury Show. I hope you had a good weekend too.
How beautifully you write, I can “see” this migration and their stay at the castle all in my head. Thank you!
I've always wondered what they looked like - so beautiful. - :)
We have a little caravan in the beautiful Herefordshire countryside,when we vist we love to watch the swifts and shallows.
We see so many birds.
Homes for Hedgehogs have also been made and we see them every day.
Reading your posts is like reading a lovely book! I always feel like I’m in a calming place. Thank you.
You write so beautifully. I can fully imagine the activity of these birds, ones I didn’t know about. Thank you so much for sharing with us all.
DEAREST LADY FIONNA,
COUNTESS OF CARNARVON,
RIO CLARO-SP BRAZIL, 36° CELCIUS. SUNSHINE EVER AND FOREVER.
LOVELY WEEK FOR YOU AND YOUR STAFF. ROMANTIC BLOG. NATURE IS STUNNIG IN ENGLAND .
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, FOR SHARING.
VILLA ALEMÃ
RIO CLARO-SP
BRAZIL
Thank you for such a lovely reminder of how we are all connected. ✌️ B
Oh my! Thank you once again for a beautifully written story about "your" swifts Lady Carnarvon. It has made my morning here in WA state. I was born in Tanzania, East Africa on the shores of Lake Victoria many years ago - when it was Tanganyika. Your story brings back nostalgic memories of watching these beautiful little birds with my daddy. He was a doctor and pilot with the Flying Doctor Service, and an avid bird watcher. He taught me so much about birds. Have a wonderful week.
Isn't nature miraculous? I've loved reading this because of your style of writing, and also because I have learnt so much. Thank you!
Thank you for the lovely story of the Swift's journey.
I don't believe I have ever seen one in Canada.
A wonderful learning experience.
Have a wonderful week.
Kathleen from Canada.
Very informative and lovely writing. It's always a treat to see and read your posts.
Thank you
How nice! It is said that we have swifts here in Canadian eastern part but I have never seen them around. Perhaps they are not interested in our bird feeder, as well. But we have really, really nice cardinals around! Love their songs in the early mornings.
Lady Carnarvon, so beautifully written. I have a passion for birds and this story fulfills my love of our feathered friends. Cheryl.
Lovely the pictures of swifts and fan of Downton Abbey calendars and lovely history and state house
You are very kind!
I just find their travels epic - we have nothing in comparison!
What a world that must have been!
It is a miracle - it is funny we look for miracles yet they are all around!
Thank you
It was a great photo taken a local photographer (Adam Hillier) for me
Very clever!!!
I hope we are all in awe..
Birds insects ... they are all needed
Swallow and swifts do not harm houses.. they are our friends - they eat the bugs!
How wonderful
We travel with too much in every way
Thank you!
Lovely the pictures of swifts and thank you for send me your email and very kind of you
Must be wonderful ti sit and watch all the birds... so peaceful.
Your description of the swifts migration pattern and the vicarious lives they lead makes me feel sad. The lives animals lead are so dependent on how we lead ours, and I don't think we are doing a very good job of it. But the beauty of the swifts in flight is uplifting! I've never seen one this close, they are so cute. Thank you for featuring the swifts. I learned such interesting facts about them.
What amazing Blog this week Lady Carnarvon, how these little bird fly all the way back home to spend summer and then fly all the way back to us at Highclere to spend summer with us and rase their young and tech them to do the same, nature is just wonderful how these little birds know the way without a map. I have photo of a mum or dad feeding the next high flyers in the nest it’s close up photograph on the side of estate office wall. This years young one not only have to learn to fly but learn the flight route too. Now as all my work colleagues at the castle know I’m away on a journey myself to other side of the world in Canada and just like then young birds who had to lean to fly for first time, so did I, this trip I’m on is my first flight in a airliner out of the uk Ever in my life, but I bet you them young birds were not as scared as I was on their first flight, but unlike those little birds I will be back at the castle next week doing what I love working at Highclere Castle..
What interesting information. I really enjoy your writings, thank you.
Lynn
Look forward to seeing you Paul
This was a first for me.. coming late to the party of comments but it gave me a chance to read all of them and enjoy them so much! I look forward every Monday reading your posts, Lady Carnarvon.
We moved a few weeks ago to a more rural setting, and I’ve been getting used to the new set of wildlife around me. We had a blue heron right on our rooftop standing and surveying the area as if it owned the place. I’m picturing your swifts in my minds eye. Just lovely.
And we have our fair share of Canada geese. Love watching them grow from chicks to adult..
Have a great rest of the week.. looking forward to Monday again!
Charming story. I do love these quirky little tales, always beautifully illustrated. Judging by what's being chucked down now, the swifts chose their departure date cannily.
Fascinating to read about swifts. Their journey reminds me of the one our hummingbirds take. We are lucky enough to have them stop at our feeders on their way in the spring and the fall.
Yes it has been biblical rain
It sounds a lovely new departure for you I hope
Dear Lady Carnarvon:
Thank you for this Monday's blog and for the wonderful accompanying pictures.
As always, I appreciate you sharing your first-hand knowledge about the journey of the Swift bird.
As you know, the Swallows of Capistrano have been reduced in number and share a similar journey as the Swifts.
Until next time, I wish you a Happy Autumn, which is approaching on 09/23/23.
Perpetua Crawford
Jeremy Swift was in Downton Abbey. Hope he returns, along with the rest of the flock