We had a great turnout for our AGM this evening! After a review of the year, Kate Bradbury talked about gardening for wildlife with lots of suggestions for enhancing our Swift-friendly Town. Thank you to #Lewes Mayor Adrian Ross for coming and sharing his support for #Swifts.

🦇 Bat Day at #Lewes Climate Hub! 🦇 October 31st, 11-3 🦇 Free talk and activities for all ages! Picture of a Pipistrelle by L. Campbell

Thank you again to everyone who gave a donation to East Sussex WRAS during our Nature Recovery season at #Lewes Climate Hub in May. We raised £350! They have now reached the funding needed to replace their vital X-ray equipment - more help for rescued #Swifts and other wildlife!

Following the good news that the Rights of our Trees motion was approved by Lewes Town Council last night, here is a celebratory decorated version of the Tree Charter for Lewes. It was designed by the talented Lynda Durrant, fullcircle-design.co.uk

Still celebrating the Rights of our #Trees Charter for #Lewes!

Did you know that #Lewes #Swift Supporters also install artificial House #Martin cups? We are able to fund nest cups and their installation if you live near to existing House Martin nests, or in a house where they used to nest. Contact: lewesswifts@gmail.com

Betula maximowicziana - one of many unusual #trees to see on our guided walks around Malling Deanery Arboretum, #Lewes on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th September. Book a place via Eventbrite: Lewes Heritage Open Days 2026 – Friends of Lewes share.google/YifUktFdo9wz...

A surprise today - at 11.00 a.m. we saw two #Swifts flying just above the trees at Malling Deanery Arboretum, #Lewes, and heading upriver!

“Scientists should stop trying to be neutral and instead embrace their values,”says a group of top climate scientists, including @katharinehayhoe.com. The neutrality myth is harming the reputation of science right when we need it most.” #ClimateCrisis Science isn’t neutral. It’s science.

Prominent climate scientist argues it's time to ditch the 'myth of neutrality' | CBC Radio

Climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe talks to Bob McDonald about the polarization of science and why she thinks scientists should stop pretending to be neutral when it's our planet at risk.

cbc.ca

15th August - Our #Swifts are still in the nest box in #Lewes. Parents are still returning to feed them. First seen 13th May so expected they would have left by now. Sometimes they stick their tails or wings out and at other times they are looking out sideways or upside down!

Greater Bird's Foot Trefoil and Small Scabious in the High Street planter provided by #Lewes #Swift Supporters. Interested in wildlife gardening? Kate Bradbury is the speaker at our AGM in October. Membership of LSS is free - just contact lewesswifts@gmail.com to register.

We thought that the #Swifts at our house in #Lewes had fledged while we were away because we didn't see or hear them yesterday - but we were wrong! Two faces, and a wing, peeping out of the entrance at 9.55 this morning!

Possibly the last #Swifts we will see in our survey area at the top end of #Lewes? On 10th August we saw two Swifts in our nest box then had to go away for a couple of days. This evening we didn't see any Swifts at all! Safe journey to Africa - and back here again next year!

Some photographs of the chicks at the entrance to our #Swift nest box in #Lewes this morning.

Similar results to yesterday - 3 #Swifts flying over De Montfort Road, #Lewes, and one entered the same nest box - the only one of 8 nests in that road that still seems to be occupied. Entries and exits to the nest box at our house and two chicks peering out of the entrance.

Two #Swifts were flying above De Montfort Road, #Lewes, tonight and we saw one enter the same box as last night again. Piers saw two flying over the reservoir in Western Road. We heard scratching from the box at our house just as we set out on our survey and one Swift peeked out.

One #Swift at the entrance to our nest box at 11.00 a.m. today. This evening, two Swifts quietly flying from Baxter's Field, #Lewes, and one entered one of the boxes in De Montfort Road at 8.25 p.m. They first occupied that box on 14th June so could still have a while to go!

Two #Swifts seen at the entrance to our nest box at 10.00 a.m. and one Swift seen entering at 3.00 p.m. - but tonight no Swifts at all seen in our survey area in #Lewes between 7.20-9.10 p.m! Photo from last year because we weren't quick enough this morning.

For the first evening since 30th April we didn't see any #Swifts entering a nest in #Lewes! During the day, they returned into the box at our house four times. The second time, one wing was hanging out of the box as if a parent Swift was feeding a chick.

Today we saw some of the few remaining #Swifts entering nest boxes in Valence Road and De Montfort Road, and under the eaves to two nests in Western Road. One Swift entered a nest box in Sun Street that we installed in December 2023. Now 96 nests in #Lewes, 21 in boxes.

One little #Swift face peering out of the box at our house in #Lewes this morning. We have heard but not seen them over the past two days so it is good to have another glimpse.

Another quieter evening in #Lewes . We only saw two nest entries - both to nest 1 in Western Road. It made it all the more special when four #Swifts screamed past us. A few groups of four to six Swifts streaming South over St. Anne's Church - and one Egret!

We are still seeing a FEW #Swifts around #Lewes and entries to just six of the known nests over the past two days. The general feeling is that most of the Swifts have begun their migration to Africa and that only a few of the breeding Swifts remain.

Up to ten #Swifts screaming up and down De Montfort Road, #Lewes, today from 2.30-2.40 p.m. At least twenty were screaming above Leicester Road Stores at 5.00 p.m.

From 9.45 to 10.00 a.m. this morning - up to eight #Swifts screaming past our house in #Lewes and above Leicester Road and I actually managed to video one of the Swifts entering our box!

After two rather quiet nights, we saw a lot more #Swifts at the top end of #Lewes this evening. We saw one entry to the box at our house, one exit from a box in De Montfort Road, and two entries to nests under the eaves in upper Western Road. The video shows one of these!

Another quieter night yesterday but we still saw #Swifts entering the nest box at our house and into three of the nests under the eaves in upper Western Road, #Lewes. Sharing this photograph of a Swift by Mart_the_gooner on Instagram - just because I love it!

A quieter night, we only saw one or two #Swifts until 8.35 when ten gathered over St. Anne's Church. Pleased to see an entry at Westfield House. Video shows slow motion action of Swift entries in upper Western Road, #Lewes, at 9.10 p.m.

2.40 p.m. today - eight #Swifts screaming past our house in #Lewes again! A great season here and enjoying what might be the last few days of sightings.

9.00 a.m. Nine #Swifts screaming and circling low between Valence Road and Leicester Road, #Lewes, and two to five screaming past the occupied nest box at our house. One chick peering out at them.