Re: [SLN] Digest for swiftslocalnetwork@googlegroups.com - 3 updates in 3 topics
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Clair Amos
Mar 27, 2026, 5:57:17 AM (9 days ago) Mar 27
to swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com
From: swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com <swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: 27 March 2026 06:58
To: Digest recipients <swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [SLN] Digest for swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com - 3 updates in 3 topics
Sent: 27 March 2026 06:58
To: Digest recipients <swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [SLN] Digest for swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com - 3 updates in 3 topics
| Hannah Bourne-Taylor <hannahbou...@gmail.com>: Mar 26 04:20PM
Hi everyone, If you know of swift colonies or even houses with swifts in and around Birmingham or the West Midlands, could you let me know? I am working on a swift project and I need to find a swift place in that area. Very best, Hannah -- To buy <https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/nature-needs-you-the-fight-to-save-our-swifts-hannah-bourne-taylor/7727231> |
| Nick Bentham-Green <nickbent...@hotmail.com>: Mar 26 12:15PM
Graham, There is a significant swift roost site (circa 40 + nests) on the eastern side of Plymouth Sound. It is now called Bovisand Wall, and is a huge piece of stonework about 100m long and about 30m tall. In its former life it was the 'stop-butts' for a Royal Marines rifle range. It used to be an MOD site, but I'm not sure if it is now. I have attempted to id where all the nests are, with a few others ( inc Stephen Fitt), but with approx 80 swifts hurtling around it proved challenging! Nick SE Cornwall Sent from Outlook for Android<https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg> ________________________________ From: swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com <swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Graham Knight <gpk...@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, March 26, 2026 6:46:55 AM To: swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com <swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com>; Graham Knight <gpk...@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [SLN] Largest Swift colonies on a single building? Thank you for the various replies to this request. It is interesting that we don't have many examples of large "natural" nest sites, as opposed to where boxes are provided, although the latter might be easier to monitor. Perhaps the days of 100 or more nests on a building are a thing of the past? Alistair - the Segovia viaduct must be a wonderful site to visit in summer - I won't use it as a comparison for Bishop's Stortford however! Best wishes Graham Knight Sawbridgeworth Swifts Facebook - Sawbridgeworth Swifts<https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552550656671> On Wed, 25 Mar 2026 at 10:11, Alistair <alis...@alofanglia.plus.com<mailto:alistair@alofanglia.plus.com>> wrote: Do foreign countries count too? I think about 2000 pairs in the roman aqueduct in Segovia, 80km NW of Madrid https://www.turismodesegovia.com/en/acueducto/historia-del-acueducto [cid:ii_19d28e084b18ad5fb8f1] [cid:ii_19d28e084b2617954832] [cid:ii_19d28e084b2533487593] [cid:ii_19d28e084b266553f434] On 25 Mar 2026, at 09:48, 'Tanya Hoare' via swiftslocalnetwork <swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com<mailto:swiftslocalnetwork@googlegroups.com>> wrote: hi graham I don't know if this 'counts' as a large colony in a single building, but we have 35 pairs breeding in our own cottage in Cumbria. Over a third are in natural nests in the eaves, the rest are in Cambridge system bricks or S bricks and 4 pairs in boxes. regards Tanya & Edmund ta.h...@btinternet.com<mailto:ta.hoare@btinternet.com> (1) Sedbergh Community Swifts | Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/Sedbergh-Community-Swifts-105860945339945> From: swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com<mailto:swiftslocalnetwork@googlegroups.com> <swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com<mailto:swiftslocalnetwork@googlegroups.com>> On Behalf Of Dick Newell Sent: 22 March 2026 14:04 To: swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com<mailto:swiftslocalnetwork@googlegroups.com> Cc: Graham Knight <gpk...@gmail.com<mailto:gpk593@gmail.com>> Subject: Re: [SLN] Largest Swift colonies on a single building? Hi Graham, The last time we checked, St Mary's Ely had 58 pairs in 96 nest boxes. I think St John's Bury St Edmunds has a similar number in 60 nest boxes. My own church, All Saints' Landbeach has 22 pairs in 60 nest boxes At one point, St Mary's St Neot's had 48 pairs in 60 nest boxes - down to 4 pairs last year thanks to a Kestrel. I don't know of any large single building colones near here. Dick On Sun, 22 Mar 2026 at 13:52, Graham Knight <gpk...@gmail.com<mailto:gpk593@gmail.com>> wrote: Dear all I am looking for examples of the largest Swift colonies on a single building. I am aware of the Oxford NHM tower (53 breeding attempts in 2025) but am interested in other similar or larger colonies In East Hertfordshire, we have been surveying the wonderful Swift colony at Redwood Court in Bishop's Stortford, where the Swifts nest in the many slots in the brickwork under the eaves - photos attached. This is an old Victorian Hospital building which was converted to flats in the 1990's. The Swifts have probably nested here for many years, but it was only "discovered" as a significant colony in 2023. Since then, Gavin Vicary (NE Herts Swift Group) and I have carried out a great deal of survey work to establish the size of the colony. In 2025 we observed Swifts using 47 of the slots, and in the last 3 summers, we have seen them using a total of 70 different slots. It is not the easiest building to survey, but we think it has 60-70 nesting pairs. Unfortunately the management company wants to carry out redecorating works this summer. We are trying our best to engage with them and try to defer any scaffolding until the Swifts have gone. Any details of other large single-building colonies would help us to put the importance of the site into context Best wishes Graham Knight Sawbridgeworth Swifts Facebook - Sawbridgeworth Swifts<https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552550656671> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "swiftslocalnetwork" group. 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To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/swiftslocalnetwork/CALBhX1O-tGggdpzR8OPJHh88Rm%3DGu8Xo5h%3Dw7XxrPwOM9yAL5Q%40mail.gmail.com<https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/swiftslocalnetwork/CALBhX1O-tGggdpzR8OPJHh88Rm%3DGu8Xo5h%3Dw7XxrPwOM9yAL5Q%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "swiftslocalnetwork" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to swiftslocalnetw...@googlegroups.com<mailto:swiftslocalnetwork+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com>. To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/swiftslocalnetwork/13db701dcbc3c%247bfc3c60%2473f4b520%24%40btinternet.com<https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/swiftslocalnetwork/13db701dcbc3c%247bfc3c60%2473f4b520%24%40btinternet.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "swiftslocalnetwork" group. 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| Cherry Hubbard <cirenceste...@gmail.com>: Mar 26 08:46AM
Thank you Alistair from Devon Wildlife Trust really comprehensive and useful webinar on funding opportunities- inspiring! Cherry Cirencester Swift Group Sent from my iPad On 26 Mar 2026, at 06:58, swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com wrote: swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com Google Groups logo Google Groups Topic digest View all topics Largest Swift colonies on a single building? - 4 Updates Use of integral Swift Bricks by swifts and other birds - 1 Update Swift Boxes on English Heritage Buildings - 1 Update Funding opportunities not just Devon though - 1 Update Largest Swift colonies on a single building? Tanya Hoare <ta.h...@btinternet.com>: Mar 25 09:48AM hi graham I don't know if this 'counts' as a large colony in a single building, but we have 35 pairs breeding in our own cottage in Cumbria. Over a third are in natural nests in the eaves, the rest are in Cambridge system bricks or S bricks and 4 pairs in boxes. regards Tanya & Edmund ta.h...@btinternet.com <https://www.facebook.com/Sedbergh-Community-Swifts-105860945339945> (1) Sedbergh Community Swifts | Facebook From: swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com <swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Dick Newell Sent: 22 March 2026 14:04 To: swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com Cc: Graham Knight <gpk...@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [SLN] Largest Swift colonies on a single building? Hi Graham, The last time we checked, St Mary's Ely had 58 pairs in 96 nest boxes. I think St John's Bury St Edmunds has a similar number in 60 nest boxes. My own church, All Saints' Landbeach has 22 pairs in 60 nest boxes At one point, St Mary's St Neot's had 48 pairs in 60 nest boxes - down to 4 pairs last year thanks to a Kestrel. I don't know of any large single building colones near here. Dick On Sun, 22 Mar 2026 at 13:52, Graham Knight <gpk...@gmail.com <mailto:gpk593@gmail.com> > wrote: Dear all I am looking for examples of the largest Swift colonies on a single building. I am aware of the Oxford NHM tower (53 breeding attempts in 2025) but am interested in other similar or larger colonies In East Hertfordshire, we have been surveying the wonderful Swift colony at Redwood Court in Bishop's Stortford, where the Swifts nest in the many slots in the brickwork under the eaves - photos attached. This is an old Victorian Hospital building which was converted to flats in the 1990's. The Swifts have probably nested here for many years, but it was only "discovered" as a significant colony in 2023. Since then, Gavin Vicary (NE Herts Swift Group) and I have carried out a great deal of survey work to establish the size of the colony. In 2025 we observed Swifts using 47 of the slots, and in the last 3 summers, we have seen them using a total of 70 different slots. It is not the easiest building to survey, but we think it has 60-70 nesting pairs. Unfortunately the management company wants to carry out redecorating works this summer. We are trying our best to engage with them and try to defer any scaffolding until the Swifts have gone. Any details of other large single-building colonies would help us to put the importance of the site into context Best wishes Graham Knight Sawbridgeworth Swifts Facebook - Sawbridgeworth Swifts <https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552550656671> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "swiftslocalnetwork" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to swiftslocalnetw...@googlegroups.com <mailto:swiftslocalnetwork+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com> . To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/swiftslocalnetwork/CACQUxBLs0AukdTT8wKCdza qotqc0A_89g3qVcWRa8U-bE_D8YA%40mail.gmail.com <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/swiftslocalnetwork/CACQUxBLs0AukdTT8wKCdz aqotqc0A_89g3qVcWRa8U-bE_D8YA%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=f ooter> . -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "swiftslocalnetwork" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to swiftslocalnetw...@googlegroups.com <mailto:swiftslocalnetwork+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com> . To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/swiftslocalnetwork/CALBhX1O-tGggdpzR8OPJHh 88Rm%3DGu8Xo5h%3Dw7XxrPwOM9yAL5Q%40mail.gmail.com <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/swiftslocalnetwork/CALBhX1O-tGggdpzR8OPJH h88Rm%3DGu8Xo5h%3Dw7XxrPwOM9yAL5Q%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_sour ce=footer> . Tony Croft <the.cro...@gmail.com>: Mar 25 09:56AM Sadly we've had 7 empty boxes for 2 years now....our last fledglings left 3 years ago and no returns....☹️ End of last season we had 2 pairs visit at the end of the season (attracted by the caller we have installed we think ) so fingers crossed for this year. We've had swifts with an expanded colony for over 40yrs.. We do miss them. Best Regards Tony & Anne On Wed, 25 Mar 2026, 09:48 'Tanya Hoare' via swiftslocalnetwork, < Alistair <alis...@alofanglia.plus.com>: Mar 25 10:11AM Do foreign countries count too? I think about 2000 pairs in the roman aqueduct in Segovia, 80km NW of Madrid https://www.turismodesegovia.com/en/acueducto/historia-del-acueducto Graham Knight <gpk...@gmail.com>: Mar 26 06:46AM Thank you for the various replies to this request. It is interesting that we don't have many examples of large "natural" nest sites, as opposed to where boxes are provided, although the latter might be easier to monitor. Perhaps the days of 100 or more nests on a building are a thing of the past? Alistair - the Segovia viaduct must be a wonderful site to visit in summer - I won't use it as a comparison for Bishop's Stortford however! Best wishes Graham Knight Sawbridgeworth Swifts Facebook - Sawbridgeworth Swifts <https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552550656671> Back to top Use of integral Swift Bricks by swifts and other birds Graham Knight <gpk...@gmail.com>: Mar 26 06:41AM Please can I encourage responses to this email about evidence of occupied Swift bricks? Unfortunately since Ros sent this email 6 days ago, not one member of the SLN has filled in the form. A small number of responses were received back in November when the original request was made, but there must be many more examples of Swift bricks being used in various parts of the country. Evidence of Swift brick occupation is really important, and in the long term the intention is for the results to be made available for future use, but it won't be particularly helpful if SLN members just keep data to themselves rather than sharing it. Please - we can do better than this! Best wishes Graham Knight Sawbridgeworth Swifts Facebook - Sawbridgeworth Swifts <https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552550656671> On Fri, 20 Mar 2026 at 10:55, Ros Taylor - Kendal Swifts < Back to top Swift Boxes on English Heritage Buildings Mashamshire Swifts <masham...@gmail.com>: Mar 25 10:21PM Does anyone have experience of working with English Heritage to get swift boxes onto one of the buildings they protect? We have identified a potential location on a 15th century grade-1 listed tower using a north facing window opening that could accommodate 3 or 4 boxes. We have the owner's permission and support but he leases the tower to English Heritage who would have to give us permission to fit the boxes. The window is the one high up on the tower you can see the sky through. We started looking at the church tower but access to that is a major issue. Thanks for any advice John Darby Mashamshire Swift Conservation Community Project Back to top Funding opportunities not just Devon though Alistair <alis...@alofanglia.plus.com>: Mar 25 10:27AM Hi there Don't know if this link is of nay use to people its not just Devon…. https://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/funding-opportunities Alistair Kingsteignton Swifts Back to top You have received this digest because you're subscribed to updates for this group. You can change your settings on the group membership page. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it send an email to swiftslocalnetw...@googlegroups.com. |
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Jay iPhone
Mar 30, 2026, 1:36:18 PM (5 days ago) Mar 30
to swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com
Hello Hannah. I don’t know exactly what ‘West Midlands’ is. But there are several colony areas around here in South Warwickshire. Stratford on Avon has at least 2, Amanda Randall has a good village colony in Harbury, I organise support for the Shipston and villages of the Stour Valley swift colonies …
Let me know if I can help you with anything.
Jacey. SAS
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