Herts Swift Nest Survey update As of 1st June, we have records of 321 Swift nests so far in the county. Now is the peak time to record them - all nest records welcome, and please don't assume we already know about particular nests

A Robin feeding a Dipper chick in Perthshire - seems very unusual?

Off for a break, and so Swift surveys will have to wait until June, but I am pleased to have reached my May target of 150 nests

"Chimney" Swifts: unusual Swift nest locations found in Potters Bar: on the front of chimneys in a gap above brickwork. Confused as to the purpose of these chimney shapes But, a risky place to nest as Jackdaws also on many of the chimneys and the ledge above the nest is a perfect predator perch

Survey work early this morning was in Stevenage, where it was cold and I didn't see a single Swift in the sky in 2 hours... Sounds bad? It wasn't as I got responses from 17 different nests when I played calls. 16 of these nests are repeats from last year, the other being a newly found one

The original article had an incorrect headline which has been changed, but unfortunately this post doesn't reflect that. Swifts are not down 47% at the museum, 2025 was their best year since 2008: oumnh.ox.ac.uk/swifts-diary...

Blocked Swift nest number 9 for Herts in 2026 is in Bishop's Stortford. Scaffolding, new fascias and soffits and the nest is gone. Not illegal as the work was done before the Swifts arrived

After disaster in Sandon, I moved on to survey Royston and found 10 Swift nests. 5 of them were in Swift boxes, including 3 at the mill opposite the railway station, whilst 4 natural nests were at the excellent Princes Mews colony

Blocked Swift nest number 7 this year for Herts is in Sandon. It is the only known nest site in the village, although there could be others not yet found Swifts have probably nested under the eaves of this old cottage for many years

This article shows how the Winchester Swift population has increased by 31% between 2018 and 2024. This is thanks to the provision of large numbers of Swift boxes, despite the number of natural nests declining during the same period: www.hampshireswifts.co.uk/post/winches...

The Oxford Natural History Museum Tower Swifts diary is back for 2026, including a camera on a nest with some very early eggs: oumnh.ox.ac.uk/swifts-diary...

I *might* be posting about Swifts quite a lot this summer...

Also pleased to see Swift boxes in Borehamwood. Shame not Swift bricks integrated into the wall. House Sparrows ignoring the Sparrow Terraces and using the Swift boxes instead, which is why they should always be required on new developments

Delighted to find a new colony of Swifts in Borehamwood this morning thanks to a tip off. 3 nests plus 5 more in the other known colony in the town, all found by call and response. All nesting in brick air vents and very vulnerable to be blocked. I am now up to 46 nests found so far this year

Herts Swift Nest surveys for 2026: six days in, and here is the fourth nest site from last year that has been blocked. Not illegal as Swifts have not yet returned here. Property owner aware and not interested in maintaining the nest hole. This, not insects, is the reason Swifts are in decline.

The latest paper from Ed Drewitt’s PhD is out - on urban-breeding peregrine falcons feeding their chicks at night. royalsocietypublishing.org/rsos/article...

Black Redstarts nesting in a Swift brick in Winchester!! We advocate for these as universal nest bricks and they really are. No other types of integrated bird box are required @hannahbournetaylor.bsky.social @ukrbbp.bsky.social @sosswifts.bsky.social

The Swifts are back at Redwood Court, Bishop's Stortford. With an estimated 60 nesting pairs, we believe that this is one of the largest single-building colonies in the UK! We hope that Trinity Estates will keep their promise to protect the Swifts and delay any scaffolding until the birds have left

Records from Tring, Elstree, Baldock, Northchurch, Garston, Ware, St Albans, WGC, Ware and Bishop’s Stortford, but not yet here in Sawbridgeworth

A good early morning walk on Croxley Common Moor (Hertfordshire). Gropper seen very well & a surprise Nightingale singing by the river. Plenty of Sedge Warblers, Blackcaps, Whitethroats, a few Chiffchaffs, Cetti’s Warblers & single Willow Warbler #hertsbirds #ukbirds #ukbirding #birds

A week in Tirol, Austria, has produced a nice list of birds from the in-laws garden: singing Black Redstart and Serin, Crested Tit, Ring Ouzel and flocks of up to 165 Alpine Chough Photos are from front and back of the house

First record dates for Hertfordshire Swifts since 2015... not long now!

The Trektellen app shows some #Swifts passing through the Medoc region, just above Bordeaux, and rather a lot above Corsica. The first Swift was seen in #Lewes on 14th April last year - not long to wait before we are scanning the skies.

Reposting this again as I think it is an extraordinary photo of a Swift

Lovely male Wheatear and c.120 Golden Plover at Hunsdon Airstrip this morning, the Wheatear didn't want his Pic taken...you can just make out some of the summer plumage Golden Plover here...

Very early Sedge Warbler singing in the reedbed at Saltcoats Park, South Woodham Ferrers #Essexbirding

I listened to a fascinating talk by Graham Knight last Saturday at the Herts Bird Conference about Swifts (amazing birds!) and how to help their numbers recover. Now available to watch on the @hnhsoc.bsky.social YouTube site. @hertsbirds.bsky.social www.youtube.com/@hnhs8111

Swift bricks: universal nest bricks that conform with BS42021:2022, providing for a variety of cavity nesting birds. Might be a bit optimistic to get this species using them.... #swifts

Very happy to be talking Hertfordshire Swifts at the Herts Bird Club conference

Out once again, checking if Swift bricks are installed as required by planning conditions in Hertfordshire. Disappointing as usual, this time in Cheshunt: Site 1: 1 out of 20 bricks installed Site 2: none out of 15 bricks installed. Have emailed both developers to try and resolve #hertsbirds

This is becoming a pervasive issue, for example involving the sidelining of actual experts and the heaping of pressure on regulatory bodies to move forward with dubious (re)introductions. A quick ecology 101 for ‘conservation gurus’. Thread 🌍🦗🦋🪶🦬🧪1/

Pretty big debate over this Redstart I found yesterday (either Common [European FOY as of Ebird] or Moussier's [one of a handful of Malta records]) White eyering, Orangish-red tail, orangish belly and whitish vent under tail @birdlifemalta.bsky.social

2025 Hertfordshire Swift Nest Survey It is finally time to share the results of our nest survey from last year: The survey recorded a total of 1080 Swift nests in the county, with 95 of these (8.8%) being in Swift boxes or bricks. 1/7

My favourite Google Street View image so far. Two Swift bricks in Hastings with a (probable) House Sparrow having a good look inside Swift bricks are brilliant universal nest bricks and the best biodiversity enhancements for new developments

2025 has been a fun year for me: 2 Swift walks led, 81 Swift boxes put up*, and best of all 466 Swift nests found, all in Hertfordshire. Looking forward to more of the same in 2026. *Actually, stood holding the ladder #hertsbirds

Swift bricks are fantastic biodiversity enhancements: as universal nest bricks, they provide cavities for a number of species of birds, and in Herts we campaign extensively for them. Here are my thoughts on why the announcement that they will be required on all new homes is not as good as it seems:

Opinions, please - Pallid or Common Swift? Whichever it is, the chances of it recently fledging as suggested in the post seem remote

It’s out in time for Christmas. Again! #hertsbirds #ukbirding

Great to be at the Swifts Local Network conference in Lancaster today, hearing so many interesting talks and meeting fellow Swift conservationists. Events like this really provide inspiration for more Swift conservation work in the future - a big thank you to the organisers

Legacy of a Labour Baroness who voted against Swift Bricks @hannahbournetaylor.bsky.social

Much talk about Swift bricks right now. Here is a reminder of the evidence that they are universal nest bricks used by a variety of red-listed species of birds

Swift conservationists seem to be pretty much unanimous: 2025 was an excellent year for nest numbers, brood productivity, and activity levels around colonies. The main reason seems to be long spells of warm weather without much rain.

Swift conservationists seem to be pretty much unanimous: 2025 was an excellent year for nest numbers, brood productivity, and activity levels around colonies. The main reason seems to be long spells of warm weather without much rain.

Bar-tailed Godwit with it’s own parking space at Tesco Car Park Stevenage today

I am very upset to report that a colony of House Martins have had their nests blocked by scaffolding in Standon,Hertfordshire today. The building containing the Post Office has 8 to 10 nests under the eaves, some of which contain chicks that will die if the birds cannot reach them. #hertsbirds 1/2

I am very pleased to have recorded 34 Swift nests in Sawbridgeworth this year (26 in 2024). Probably better knowledge of nest sites and more time spent surveying rather than a genuine increase, but it still seems to have been a really good breeding season (as elsewhere in the UK) #hertsbirds

Common Swift with a very full crop #CommonSwift #Bolus #Birdsinflight #Birdphotography @rspb.bsky.social @rspbengland.bsky.social

Hertfordshire Swift Nest Survey 2025 Swift groups have been working hard with surveys in 2025, and I am pleased to say that we have just passed our target of recording 1000 Swift nests in the county A final count and some more details of the survey will follow later on in the year. #hertsbirds

The Hertfordshire 100 Club! Hitchin has become the second town in Herts to record 100 Swift nests in 2025, joining Hertford in the "100 Club" The photo is of Mattocke Road, which has 11 Swift nests and also 13 House Martin nests Another Herts town will hopefully joining the club very soon....

Three grounded Swifts were found in Herts yesterday and taken to specialist rehabbers. Heat is causing chicks to leave the nest too early All grounded Swifts need the help of a specialist rehabber Post on the Swift and Swallow SOS Facebook group with a photo and your postcode and someone will help