Welcome to our 2026 blog page with updates from our swift colony and other wildlife seen in our wildlife-friendly garden in Bristol. We have 25 swift boxes around our house – see this link. 23 boxes have cameras fitted which gives us a wonderful glimpse of their secret lives from inside these hidden spaces. Here is a link to the 2025 blog.

Wednesday 8th April

Lots of excitement on the swift networks yesterday as the first swifts were seen back in the UK. In total there were 5 single sightings seen in the UK – Godrevy Point and Housel Bay in Cornwall, Portland Bill in Dorset and Rainham Marshes and Walthamstow Wetlands in London. No doubt wafted here on the warm southerly wind. Although welcome it’s still a bit early for the real influx which I don’t expect we’ll see until the end of the month. Nice to see a few back though.

Sunday 5th April

Yesterday saw the first big influx of swifts into south-east France. Over 500 arrived in Falaise de Leucate. This coastal area is a biodiversity hotspot in southern France and part of the Narbonnaise Regional Natural Park. It is a premier birdwatching site on a migration corridor where over 280 bird species pass, including pink flamingos, herons, terns, and large numbers of swifts and swallows gather on their way back to their traditional breeding grounds.

Wednesday 1st April

April is swift month here at Swift House, with the first arrivals returning on average around the 26th. However we have had one return as early as the 20th in the past, so it’s difficult to predict exactly when the first one will arrive.

Whilst we wait for them to return here is a brief summary of what has happened so far in the garden this year.

The pond. The first newts appeared in the pond in late January. The first frog spawn arrived on 26th February, but only 8 clumps. I normally expect to see well over 30! More worrying was no toad spawn at all. Maybe last years hot dry summer has taken its toll on the adults.

Birds. The blue tits and dunnocks started nest building around the middle of March. Both now are on eggs. The great tits have only just begun nest building in the last couple of days. A pair of collared doves and wood pigeons have been prospecting for suitable nesting sites in my two large conifer trees. Robins, greenfinches and goldfinches have all paired up but no sign of them nesting yet. In all I’ve counted over 20 different species since the turn of the year.

Butterflies. In the last couple of weeks I’ve seen several species including the peacock, holly blue, brimstone and speckled wood. No doubt encouraged to venture out by the warmer weather.

Bees. The mild spring has meant several bumblebee species have been on the wing for several weeks now. The first red mason bees emerged yesterday, only a couple but I expect lots more will follow in the coming days.

Sadly though no sign of my hedgehogs. They went missing last summer. I had hoped they might return this Spring, but alas no sign of them at the moment.

Tuesday 24th March

The first vanguard of swifts have just started to arrive in Corsica. One of their traditional stop-over spots is the Dunes de Prunete, located on the Costa Verde in eastern Corsica. It is a protected natural area well known for its biodiversity, fine sandy beaches, and coastal wetlands. This coastal ecosystem, adjacent to the Plage de Prunete in Cervione, serves as a crucial habitat for various flora and fauna and acts as a significant site for migrating birds. Once refuelled they will continue on they way north reaching us by the end of April or early May.

22nd March

Sometimes you’ve just got to go with the flow. I normally put my boxes back up in the first week of April, but the weather was so good today I thought I’d put them up early. Each year I try to leave it as late as possible, mainly to lessen the risk of my resident blue tits and great tits from moving in. However as they’ve both started nesting early this year there was no need to worry on that front.

Sunday 1st February

A trailer called The ‘other’ Taylor Swift has just been released by our swift friend, Bristol based wildlife film Producer Justin Anderson. It is the heart-warming story of the wonderful swift rehabilitation work of another swift friend, Louise Bentley at Bolton & Bury Swifts. The film will feature the fortunes of three swift chicks – Babs, Winchester and Taylor. It will also include footage of swift activity from around our boxes. Barrie Britton a renowned wildlife cameraman captured some stunning swift action, so we’re excitedly looking forward to seeing it. Here is a link.

The film has been made entirely by volunteers and is not-for-profit. If you would like to contribute to a Crowdfunder to help Justin complete his film here is a link.