Herring gulls and swifts

For the last couple of days the herring gulls in the main nest site I have been following are preparing for flight. There has been a lot of wing flapping and wing stretching activity. One even jumped up and and down a few times.

The swifts are still performing ariel displays.

Shadow on the road as a swift screams overhead.

I will miss them when they leave for their winter home in Africa, usually in August.

Now that the young have fledged there has been a lot of coming and going from the nest site.

In the past this has been quite discreet, a single bird breaking away from the rest and making a low silent entry to the nest. Today there is a lot of screaming and almost a atmosphere of excitement.