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Petition Make swift bricks compulsory in new housing to help red-listed birds
It's a well meaning petition but legislation will result in lots of completely unusable or inappropriate installations (part of what I do is work on social housing where an appropriate orientation or unobstructed approach is not a given for each unit). In consultation with a number of wildlife trusts we have also helped out fitting swift boxes in a lot of church towers. I'm coming to the conclusion that swifts are incredibly picky about where they nest
First swallow spotted yesterday in the White Peak near Magpie Mine
House Martins on Sunday
I’m coming to the conclusion that swifts are incredibly picky about where they nest
I don’t think they’re alone in that…
‘My’ hedgehogs are incredibly fussy about what they eat, I’m thinking about putting a Michelin food rating label on the new feeding station I’m in the process of making. 🤷🏼
The Swifts are back in further N Wales (they were not here last weekend).
Makes me happy!
We've had a few swallows and house martins around for a couple of weeks, and just heard the first swifts 30 mins ago while I was out with the dogs. E Shrops. I suspect they're on their way through to somewhere else, but at least they're coming. It remains to be seen if they'll nest in the church this year, as the numbers about the place have been dwindling noticeably these last few years, sadly.
I saw my first swallow of the summer on the Ross of Mull yesterday
Swifts are in Somerset
A large number (probably around 20) Swallows were feeding above the trees opposite my house yesterday evening, first I've seen this year here in Yorkshire.
I've never seen so many at once before, usually only see them in ones and twos.
Swifts over Salisbury this afternoon. Yaay!
Saw my first swallow in Malvern yesterday morning.
Nothing here yet. We usually have a few swifts nesting under eaves in our street. Perhaps the soffits have scuppered their plans?
First of the season in St. Andrews today
Heard my first ones in Nottingham today 😀
Swifts seen here in Calderdale yesterday evening.
I saw two last week, but separately. No swifts yet.
Spotted a swift over the back garden. Not seen them nesting in the usual place yet.
Up until now I’d only seen a couple of swallows and that was a couple of weeks ago, IIRC. Today after my walk out of Biddestone and back, I was sat outside the pub, and there were swifts, swallows and house martins all flying around overhead. At the end of a beautiful warm sunny afternoon when I heard skylarks, saw six or seven hares in one big field, and watched a raven, a buzzard and a red kite having let’s say a difference of opinion as to who had the rights to fly over that particular field.
It was a good day. 😎
The swifts are in the air above my house but I'm certain they aren't "my" nextdoor neighbours as they have not gone into the roof yet.
One flew into my shed this afternoon. Was quite scared so tried to shush it whilst opening the window. Then the other window which it flew out from. Not much of bird spotter myself so don't know what it was. Thought it looked really pretty with the almost iridescent dark blues on upper head and body. Can't really remember much else amongst all the flapping and trying to help it out. Maybe some reddy-brown underneath. Two prongs on the tail.
So swifts have been around in Hurstpierpoint in Sussex for a couple of weeks now. And a few starting to investigate our swift box.....
The Swifts are back in further N Wales (they were not here last weekend).
The Swifts are back to playing their usual game of chase using the upstairs balcony of our house (end house of a row) as a waypoint usually clearing it by about 10 feet ..... you can actually hear their wings beating!
Normally I see about 5 or 6 of them but the other evening I looked up and there where 40 or 50 quite a long way up - made me especially happy!
I was in Argyll three weeks ago, there were house martins at the hotel by Loch Eck
and on a bike ride last Sunday round North Leeds, saw some swallows near Eccup Reservoir. And possibly a yellowhammer.
No swifts yet though.
6 or 7 house Martin nests in the eaves of the house at the moment. More than last year.
Three pairs of swallows this year which is nice after none last year.