Swallows died?

[Kittiwake]

I have a big swallow nest from last year and a pair have already raised one brood of young in it this year. A few weeks ago, I saw that there were 4 more eggs in there. I hadn't looked since then, but today I went to photograph the chicks and the nest appears empty and has been relined with many more feathers than usual. I took a photo and under the feathers I think I can just make out a beak. Why would they cover chicks in feathers (dead or alive)? Any idea what's happened here? There are lots of swallows in and out of there every day, sitting on the ledge next to the nest.

Does this look like a tiny beak to you?




Also, I now have a very small new nest in the porch right by the front door. They have built it precariously on a small BT phone connector casing. We have to use the back door at night now for fear of frightening them off! I took a pic of the nest and there are at least 3 chicks in there (a bit out of focus). I did notice a lot of lining feathers on the ground under that nest on Monday, although all seems well. It is only about 15 feet from the other nest, although not in line of sight.



Any ideas on what's been happening in the first nest? I was going to put a webcam up before the swallows returned, but decided against it after reading a post on here saying that sometimes you're better off not seeing when things go wrong.

[Dogghound]

They only take about 20 days to fledge from hatching so its most likely that they have fledged, one of the chicks died and another pair/or the same parents have relined the nest ready to have another brood.