Returning swifts

For me, summer begins when the swifts return to nest under the eaves of our neighbours house. Unfortunately we live in a bungalow and it too low to attract swifts.

The swifts spend the winter south of the Savannah in Africa. The return to the UK last week in April or early May. In previous years I have usually seen the first arrivals by 4th May but this year they were a little late.

Swifts traditionally nested in rocky crags, sea-cliffs, caves, hollow trees and even nest holes made by other birds. Now most swifts nest in buildings, which has allowed them to colonise many new areas.

We usually have three pair nest in our neighbours property. Once the chicks have hatched the adults collect large amounts of insect food in the air, preferably at heights over 50 m, collected in a special food pouch.

Their ariel acrobatics area joy to watch and they often sweep low over our garden - low enough to touch (but of course I don't) 

Mason bees and Moorhen chicks

I spotted these mason bees collecting wet mud from the bank of a stream on the Lewes Railway Land Nature Reserve. Red mason bees make their nest in natural holes, or in man-made tubes such as a bee hotel. Within the tube the bees make cells from the mud, depositing an egg and pollen/nectar. This will be next years generation.

Click this link to see my other blog entries on red mason bees feeding and nesting in my garden

http://urbanwildlifejottings.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=red+mason+bees

On the same day I also observed a moorhen family on the Leighside Pond (woodland pond) at the Lewes Railway Land Nature Reserve. The average size number of chicks seen at the reserve is four, but this family only had two chicks.

The tiny chicks fluffy chicks are quite independent, often swimming off on their own. The parents are busy collecting food and feeding the chicks which call to the parents when they want to be fed. This is different to ducks where the female leads the chicks to food which they then feed themselves.

Moorhens often have two broods each year and sometimes the grown up chicks from the first brood actually help look after the second brood, which is very unusual for a bird.

Urban herring gulls nesting

I have been watching again with great interest, they really are fascinating birds and a great opportunity to witness bird behaviour.

While they can cause a nuisance - it is human activity that the gulls have adapted to. Firstly UK herring gulls numbers have decreased in the wild due to human activity and providing (even if unintentionally) our waste and uneaten food for gulls to scavenge on. In the marine environment the gulls part scavenging nature is an important role.

Robin and Long tailed Tit

On a recent visit to Woods mill, Sussex Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve, I witnessed this unusual behaviour from a long- tailed tit.


At first I thought it was reacting to its reflection but continued observation suggested it might have been catching tiny flying insects. Just before the long-tailed tit flew down to the windows, it had been foraging in a near by tree.

Further on around the reserve I encountered this pair of robin. The male robin was collecting food items to feed his mate - known as courtship feeding. The robin showed great interest in my lunch and so I offered some bread crumbs on my hand.


The robin became braver after several visits to my hands and on occasions stayed for a few seconds before flying off. Bread not the best food for birds but the few crumbs won't have been a problem.

Tricky filming and feeding the robin but pleased with the results.


While it is easy to think that this robin is being very friendly - this probably involves a behaviour that goes back to when they were true woodland birds. Robins once foraged around wild boar that unearthed tasty worms and invertebrates while they rooted around for food. In a similar way, some robins have become used to humans a being non dangerous and a source of food.

Sparrow nesting

During the winter month the house sparrows have been regular visitors to me bird feeder. The last few days this has changed and the sparrows have now shifted into courtship mode.

While the occasional sparrow still pays a visit to the bird feeder, most of their attention has switched to collecting nesting materials. Instead of the front garden where the feeder is situated the sparrows now make more visits to the back garden.

Visits from both males and females, often as a pair. Materials collected mainly appear to be plant material and one female sparrow found a feather.

If you live in or near Brighton you might be interested in the Brighton and Hove's House Sparrows Project 

Once a very common sight in our towns and cities, the number of house sparrows has declined by 75% over the last 25 years. The project aims to ensure a sustainable population of house sparrows across Brighton Hove and raising awareness about their needs in order for them to thrive.






Visit the website to find out more about sparrows in Brighton and Hove, help with a survey, take part in a photographic competition or more

garden wildife update

Lots of activity in our garden now as flowers have responded to spring warmth. Winter visiting birds have been replaced by the more urgent need for nesting, great tis, blue tits, robin and house sparrows.




Bee activity has increased. The hairy footed bees, male and female are busy visiting the comfrey and flowering current. Several queen buff tailed and red tailed bumble bees in the garden - one buff tailed queen appears to be nesting in a hole by the shed.




Red mason bees visible today and the larger comma and tortoiseshell butterflies have been joined by speckled wood and a blue butterfly - that did not settle.

Tadpole development

Then tadpoles continue to develop. Due to the large number of frogs and spawn laid this year, they have developed at different rates. Some are quite large with roundish bodies where other tadpoles are only half the sized with relatively long, thin bodies.


Video clip taken with action cam.