Swifts and Amazons

Stix's whole life is an adventure. He has taken to coming for a walk when we take the dogs out. He follows at a safe distance on the wall tops, crossing the roads and taking time out to check out trees. However, this week he has positioned himself in the medieval barn archway where the swifts are about to fledge. The mum and dad 'dive-bombed' him consistently until tragedy happenned. Stix leapt a mighty olympic 10 foot into the air and grabbed one of the parents. He got lucky so the fleglings have only one parent left to feed them. This Spring they lost all their chicks because their mud nest fell off the underside of the beams. We found it hanging with one egg left in and propped it with a piece of 3 by 2 but they started again. My escapee hen chick is still living rough. She feeds with the big hens during the day but goes back to her old coop at night. I have tried in vain to trap her and put her back with her siblings but she is very wick, running off at the slightest noise! I have a series of concerts coming up with another celtic harper - all taking place in North Yorkshire - details to follow (when I have them myself!!) The 'Nudey Lady' sounds fantastic amped up and is returning 'home' to the Barearts soon - watch this space!