Hertfordshire Swift conservation, including Sawbridgeworth Swifts, Herts Bird Club, counting rookeries for a long time
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This action breaks the law, and these nests would have been very obvious to both the building owners and the scaffolders If anyone has a contact for those responsible for this building, we would ask that the scaffolding is removed straight away before the police are involved #hertsbirds 2/2
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
One entered a nest in Sawbridgeworth this morning
Fantastic work!
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
It is probably a mixture of non-breeding 1 to 3 year olds and breeders, and in my (non forest) observations only takes place at breeding sites
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
I rum the Sawbridgeworth Swift group. 26 nests recorded in the town so far this year
100 nests found in Lewes this year, hardly a small population!
Habebto disagree. It has everything to do with the lack of nest sites. Massive losses due to industrial scale reroofing of council and social housing. If insect decline was the problem, the Swifts in the tower of the Oxford NHM ought to be reducing each year, but they aren't
Great to see breeding success this morning with a Chiffchaff feeding fledged young at Farmhouse Channel. Please submit records of confirmed breeding for all species to Herts Bird Club at.... www.hnhs.org/herts-bird-c... ..and use Breeding Status dropdown #hertsbirds
In 2024, I found my first Swift nests on 7th May. This year, I have already recorded 35 nests!
I think that is directly opposite a Swift nest?
5 Swift nests found in Bishop's Stortford this morning without seeing a single Swift! The call and response method is a great way to prove nests first thing in the morning, and the early arrivals mean I have been able to start a week earlier than last year #hertsbirds
#hertsbirds #ukbirds#ukbirding
A new Facebook group for Swift enthusiasts in Hertfordshire: www.facebook.com/share/g/19rz... #hertsbirds
My general impression is that the relatively calm weather has been good for them this year, but foraging is harder to tell
From the Herts WhatsApp group #hertsbirds #ukbirds #ukbirding @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social
Short clip of the male Garganey present with a female at Stanborough GPs this morning. If you listen carefully you can just hear its rattling display call. Lovely to see & see. @hertsbirds.bsky.social #hertsbirds
At least 8 more than in some developments that I have visited...
I have 8 species of wader on the "from the caravan window" list this week
We now have records of over 3000 nests for the 2025 Hertfordshire Rookery survey, but plenty more to be checked, especially in the west of the county Google Sheet in the post above #hertsbirds
@andy6day.bsky.social collects the prey and keeps the records
Vista Tower across the road is a regular roost spot and superb for finding prey items underneath: in 2024, remains of 42 waders were found, of 12 different species
Just seen reports on a FB Swift group of an arrival of Swifts at a colony in Northern Ireland. Insanely early, his previous earliest birds arrived 16th April.
Very pleased to put up another 30 Swift boxes in Sawbridgeworth and Bishop's Stortford on Friday, including 2 at the Bullfields Centre kindly donated by Bunzl Cleaning and Hygiene Supplies. We have another box installation this Friday, 4th April! #hertsbirds #swifts
A short clip of the stunning male Blue-headed Yellow Wagtail at Stanborough GPs this morning. Also 1 White Wagtail, 2 Swallows, 7 Sand Martins, 2 Little Ringed Plovers & 7 Pintail. @hertsbirds.bsky.social #hertsbirds
I like it - but the bottom two cavities of each will point upwards, so it will actually be for bats...
The first in an occasional series: "How Not to Install Swift Bricks" starts with a development near Great Dunmow in Essex. I shall be contacting the developer to point out the error
Records can be submitted via the HBC website or the Google Sheet here, where you can see the counts so far: docs.google.com/spreadsheets... #hertsbirds
2025 Hertfordshire Rookery Survey: please submit nest counts from active rookeries in the county, full details here: www.hnhs.org/herts-bird-c... #hertsbirds
Tyttenhanger GPs - Coursers Road GPs [TL193037]: 7 Little Ringed Plover, on landfill area & displaying over pits 2 Green Sandpiper 4+ Sand Martin 4 Lapwing 2+ Meadow Pipit, pair displaying #hertsbirds
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PhD opportunity with me (RSPB) at Sheffield Hallam combining ecology (building-nesting birds esp. Swift) + building design & planning (Net Zero goals & retrofit). We need a strong student interested in both! Is that you? url.uk.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/cNyjCR636C... Please repost.
Nice one Murray, I will be starting the survey work next weekend
Great work by Gavin Vicary from the North East Herts Swift Group on his latest church tower Swift box project, this time at St Lawrence's, Abbots Langley, where 28 nest chambers have been fitted in the belfry. The 9th church in Hertfordshire that Gavin has installed in, more to follow! #hertsbirds
A snipe I took last year at lemsford springs in Herts. A lovely little reserve known mainly for its green sandpipers. I was fortunate enough to have this photo win first prize in the Herts bird club photo competition yesterday.
#hertsbirds
Fantastic, we would very much appreciate a record to the Herts Bird Club website please
Amwell NR - Nice evening at Amwell, brief visit from a Kittiwake and a 1st Winter Med in the roost. Smew came out to join the Goldeneye about 5.15pm and the Red Necked Grebe is still present but elusive as ever. #hertsbirds
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Tue 4 Mar Amwell GP - Sheepcote Farm Lake [TL373127]: 1 RED-NECKED GREBE Great Hardmead Lake [TL378128]: 1 Smew, redhead 1 Red-crested Pochard, male #hertsbirds
Smart male Shelduck at Stanborough GPs 15.26. #hertsbirds
Don't miss 'Wild About Hertfordshire' – our exhibition in St Albans Museum marking the 150th anniversary of Hertfordshire Natural History Society. Running from 21 March - 6 July. #StAlbans #Herts #Hertfordshire #wildlife @stalbansmuseums.bsky.social
Pynesfield South Lake nr Maple Cross: FERRUGINOUS DUCK, extremely poor viewing opposite bank against sunlight #hertsbirds
13.20. 2 Oystercatchers at Tyttenhanger #hertsbirds
Grey Partridge and Green Sandpiper today takes 2025 Harpenden walk list up to 68. Both are birds I see here most years but neither are that easy. Also 8 hares in one field. #hertsbirds #ukbirding
Holwell nr Hitchin [TL168325], 1 Short-eared Owl, 16:40 by Crematorium #hertsbirds
10.20. RN Grebe still at Amwell on Sheepcote lake but very restrictive viewing - plus 3 RC Pochard #hertsbirds
07.16. Oystercatcher at Stanborough GPs this morning. #hertsbirds
0807. Amwell NR - RN Grebe still present on Sheepcote and showing well at the moment from the gate. #hertsbirds
08.48. Ad YLG at Stanborough GPs #hertsbirds
09.42. Amwell NR - First Oystercatcher of the year on small island from viewpoint. #hertsbirds
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Amwell NR - 1st Winter Med and Great Black Back in the roost again tonight. Also Smew, Stonechat and Woodcock. #hertsbirds
11.25 Oystercatcher on Willow’s Farm lake Tyttenhanger. Much later than usual. #hertsbirds
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Sun 16 Feb Tring Reservoirs - Wilstone Res: 1 Great White Egret 7 Goldeneye 2 Shelduck 4 Common Snipe #hertsbirds
Great, but... always out a Swift brick in rather than a Sparrow Terrace. House Sparrows much prefer Swift bricks but the reverse doesn't apply
This survey is the best evidence of the universal nature of Swift bricks: 49% of 1289 occupied across Duchy of Cornwall developments, with House Sparrows, Starlings and particularly House Martins all benefitting nansledan.com/project-news...
Check this out!!! These birds are not starlings. They are jackdaws!!! Just filmed, mouth open, delighted. They’re now in their cedar roost on the seafront, chattering away and I’m standing underneath them in awe. HOW COOL ARE THEY!!?! Grins!! #Welsh #Jackdaws
Amwell NR - A Bittern showed well for about an hour tonight. In between the 1st and 2nd cut opposite the viewpoint. #hertsbirds
Great to see @stalbansgreens.bsky.social councillors checking that Swift bricks and other biodiversity enhancements are installed as required by planning conditions, as featured in @stalbanstimes.bsky.social @kierachapman.bsky.social of interest? #hertsbirds #swifts
(Plus a bonus Jackdaw?)
Swifts in Hemel Hempstead on Google Street View! Finding any birds at all on GSV is difficult, but Swift is a really amazing discovery The images are old, but we will survey the site for nests this summer www.google.com/maps/@51.738... Found by Dean Cornish #hertsbirds #swifts
Good start to 2025 with 59 species in the first month Highlights included: Caspian Gul (1w) 23rd Teal 24-25th Redpoll 17th Blackcap 12th Green Woodpecker 10th For full lists by year and more go to docs.google.com/spreadsheets... #hertsbirds
LATEST NEWS…What to look for in ... February February can dump passage waders anywhere with suitable habitat. Though not as evident as in the upcoming Spring months, birds are nevertheless on the move again Read more: hnhs.org/herts-bird-clu… #hertsbirds
It is even more pronounced with Swift bricks, which are loved by HS, who rarely use integrated Sparrow Terraces. One of the big messages Swift conservation groups are trying to spread is that Swift bricks are universal nest bricks for HS, Starling, and even House Martins
Yes I think they have been in touch thank you
By way of example, I am told that in Hertford, there are around 100 pairs of House Sparrows in Swift boxes!
A very good guide. Worth adding a couple of things: Swift boxes should be at a minimum of 4 metres and not South or SW facing, and that House Sparrows love Swift boxes and seem to much prefer them to their own. If you are putting up boxes under eaves, make it a Swift box every time
The new Herts Birds feed from @hertsbirds.bsky.social is now up and running. Just add the hashtag #hertsbirds to your post and it should appear on the feed. Please like, pin & repost. 🙏
At least 2, probably 3 Short-eared Owls at Holwell crematorium this pm. On view from 2.45 at least. #hertsbirds
08.25. Hawfinch at Bramfield again today. Sat perched in bare tree next to church. #hertsbirds
The map reflects coverage rather than the actual number of species present, and with around half of the 1821 squares having no records shows how large parts of the county are underwatched Personally I think the map looks superb #hertsbirds
This map of 1km square species totals has been created by Dean Cornish, using around 10k records submitted to the Herts Bird Club in 2024. Fully interactive version here: dcbirds.github.io/Total-Specie... Featured on the HBC website: www.hnhs.org/herts-bird-c... #hertsbirds
Four of the 130 nest boxes donated by BUNZL have gone to this location in Hollesley where a Swift colony has been created. Nest boxes were first installed in 2021 & Swifts bred last year. This colony now has room to expand. #SuffolkBirding @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social @suffolkwildlife.bsky.social
M Pintail now on Coursers GPs, Tyttenhanger. 16.28. #hertsbirds
Lovely to see this delightful Yellow-browed Warbler at Verulamium Park yesterday. @hertsbirds.bsky.social #hertsbirds
Wed 22 Jan. Cheshunt GPs - Ashley Pit [TL370042]: 11 Goosander, 8m 3f #hertsbirds
St Albans: Black Redstart just showed briefly in window at the Cathedral # hertsbirds 13.31pm
Jan 22. Pynesfield North Lake nr Maple Cross: 1 FERRUGINOUS DUCK, first winter male #hertsbirds
A photo of the 1st winter Med Gull seen at Verulamium Park today. Hertsbirds
Tue 21 Jan Baldock to Wallington Road [TL274344]: 59 Corn Bunting, In bushes by the Bygrave footpath sign. 1 Stonechat, opposite Bygrave footpath sign #hertsbirds
Merlin currently at Dead mans hill nr Sandon #hertsbirds
New Bluesky account for Herts Bird News:
13.10. 1st winter Med Gull with Black-heads on boating lake at Verulamium #hertsbirds
Qualified ecologists who ought to know better
Sawbridgeworth Swifts is having another box installation day soon. If you are in the town or in Bishop's Stortford and would like one, please get in touch #hertsbirds #swifts
More ecology report concerns: proposal for open-fronted nest bricks on a development "to provide nesting opportunities for Song Thrush". How to get the message across that Song Thrush does not nest in boxes or on buildings, and that BS42021 Swift bricks are universal for building nesting birds?
This Black Redstart appears to be wintering inside the Cathedral at St Albans. #birds #ukbirding #hertsbirds
Is this in Hertfordshire or just outside the county boundary?
First check for compliance in 2025, and here is yet another East Herts development where the integrated bird and bat boxes are missing - in this case, 4 Swift bricks and 2 bat bricks.
Just for fun, here are some House Martins I found on Google Street View in Walkern, Hertfordshire maps.app.goo.gl/opFRrc6GMMkW... @ukhousemartins.bsky.social #hertsbirds
Unfortunately, we will be losing four species soon: GW Teal, Hooded Crow and 2 Redpolls, although Lesser Grey Shrike is pending and will be a welcome addition when accepted
The Hertfordshire Bird List, containing details of all 314 species recorded in the county, has been published online for the first time on the Herts Bird Club website: www.hnhs.org/herts-bird-c... #hertsbirds
It certainly would. Hoping a few more Swift surveyors will try it in 2025. Writing about it properly is on my very long to-do list