With midwinter passed, its nice to reflect on the previous 2021 summer season for the swifts of Kingsteignton and look forward to their return in May 2022, writes Alistair Whybrow.

Kingsteignton swifts are now flying over Africa probably down as far as Mozambique but will be starting to head north on their way back to Europe.

Research by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), has revealed more on their migration with the Congo such as at Yangambi known as a favourite feeding places, and from the fitting of tiny data tags to some swifts an important last feeding area before they head to the UK and Europe has been found over Liberia in West Africa.

For 2021 it was decided to halve the size of the boxes in the Kingsteignton church tower to see if this would make them more attractive and it would mean that the number of boxes can be doubled in the given area.

The tower captain, Ian Avery carried out the box alterations with viewing panes also installed on the backs that are covered by black out curtains kindly made by a member of the church congregation.

The recorder fitted to the nest box cameras was also activated for the first time so the key moments such as egg laying, hatching and fledging of chicks would be recorded to the nearest second.

This data has been supplied to the BTO Nest Recording and Ringing team to help with their research and understanding of swifts.

The changes were a success with 6 chicks successfully fledged (compared to two in 2020).

For the first time all seven boxes were used with two new pairs laying eggs but not hatching and two other boxes having single swifts who didn’t find partners.

This is great success as it may mean all seven boxes will have pairs of swift in 2022 and gives evidence for consideration of creating another seven boxes in the unused side of the original boxes to create a total of 14 boxes in the church tower.

Thankfully there were no problems with swarms of bees this year.

In late July the pictures from the cameras were able to be viewed at the bottom of the church tower which proved popular with visitors and it is hoped to repeat this in 2022.

More swift boxes have appeared around Kingsteignton. Two of several planned integral boxes to be installed at the Tilia Development at the start of Vicarge Hill are visible at the development entrance. Teign Housing also installed external boxes on their two new houses on Coronation Road.

Ever optimistic local swift enthusiast Alistair Whybrow has also installed a new six chambered swift box from Peak Boxes which means that the number of available nesting sites on his house will increase to 10.

Currently only one pair use his boxes but with four chicks raised by the pair over the last two years there is plenty of housing available for the chicks when they are ready to breed at three years old.