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Graham Knight @grahamknight10.bsky.social · 5d

We look forward to getting a copy! All good here in our Minecraft obsessed house, hope you are too

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Graham Knight @grahamknight10.bsky.social · 10d

Congratulations!

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Graham Knight @grahamknight10.bsky.social · 11d

Could you remind @hertsmerebc.bsky.social and @stalbanscouncil.bsky.social about this please? We comment on planning applications throughout Hertfordshire but these two councils still do not condition Swift bricks on new developments

Graham Knight @grahamknight10.bsky.social · 12d

Kevin, absolutely agree. Very interesting paper which I hadn't read before. Lots to digest in there.

I do have to try and find hope for Swifts when I can. Without it I don't think I could continue Swift conservation work

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Reposted by Graham Knight

Graham Knight @grahamknight10.bsky.social · 19d

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.

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Graham Knight @grahamknight10.bsky.social · 13d

Here is another example of what a great Swift season it was. The newsletter also highlights the fantastic work done by Leeds Swifts: www.leedsswifts.com/post/leeds-s...

Leeds Swifts newsletter

September 2025Greetings Swift lovers!Wow, what a summer we’ve had! And a record-breaking one too - on two accounts.Firstly, our Gledhow colony celebrated its best ever year thanks to as near a perfect...

www.leedsswifts.com

Graham Knight @grahamknight10.bsky.social · 19d

A good example is the famous colony in the tower at the Oxford Natural History Museum, where 93 young fledged, the highest number since 2008

oumnh.ox.ac.uk/swifts-diary...

Swifts Diary 2025

They’re back! This morning the first 2 swifts were seen exiting their nest boxes in the tower with another party of 11 spotted flying high overhead.

oumnh.ox.ac.uk

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Graham Knight @grahamknight10.bsky.social · 19d

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.

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Graham Knight @grahamknight10.bsky.social · 19d

A great photo but do you mean September?

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Reposted by Graham Knight

Alan Ford @waterygrove.bsky.social · 29d

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

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Graham Knight @grahamknight10.bsky.social · 29d

I don't think Swifts need a ramp for an angled entry hole like that. The presence of House Sparrows can help to attract Swifts. They will evict them if they really want the box

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Graham Knight @grahamknight10.bsky.social · Aug 29

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

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Graham Knight @grahamknight10.bsky.social · Aug 29

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
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Graham Knight @grahamknight10.bsky.social · Aug 23

One entered a nest in Sawbridgeworth this morning

Graham Knight @grahamknight10.bsky.social · Aug 12

Fantastic work!

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Graham Knight @grahamknight10.bsky.social · Aug 10

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

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Graham Knight @grahamknight10.bsky.social · Jul 27

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

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Reposted by Graham Knight

Mart_the_Gooner @mart-the-gooner.bsky.social · Jul 25

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

Close up of a Common Swift in flight with it's wings spread showing a full crop of insects known as a bolus

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Graham Knight @grahamknight10.bsky.social · Jul 17

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

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Graham Knight @grahamknight10.bsky.social · Jul 12

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....

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Graham Knight @grahamknight10.bsky.social · Jul 12

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

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Graham Knight @grahamknight10.bsky.social · Jun 30

I rum the Sawbridgeworth Swift group. 26 nests recorded in the town so far this year

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Graham Knight @grahamknight10.bsky.social · Jun 30

100 nests found in Lewes this year, hardly a small population!

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Graham Knight @grahamknight10.bsky.social · Jun 30

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

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Reposted by Graham Knight

Fairlands Valley Lakes Birding @fairlandsbirds.bsky.social · Jun 15

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

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