From Saturday 29 June to Sunday 7 July 2024, you can join walks, talks and events with local Swift experts and enthusiasts to enjoy watching these extraordinary birds and find out more about them.
Swifts usually arrive in the UK from early May, enlivening our skies with their swooping, diving and exuberant cries. Sadly, these aerial masters are on the UK Red list due to their declining numbers here. The reasons behind this loss are complex, but there are two steps we can take to help: providing suitable nesting sites and ensuring that there are plenty of insects for them to feed on.
Swift Awareness Week events are run by independent local groups which make up the Swifts Local Network, RSPB local groups, and RSPB nature reserves. The details below are correct at the time of publication, but where possible please confirm with the organisers before attending.
Further events will be added to this list before Swift Awareness Week, so you may wish to return to this page to check for updates.
Find a Swift Awareness Week event near you:
Saturday 29 June: Bradshaw, Bolton
Bolton and Bury Swifts will host a Swift Watching Evening in a private garden in Bradshaw, Bolton. Please email for full details and to reserve a place: boltonandburySwifts@outlook.com
Saturday 29 June: Salisbury
Evening Swift Walk and Talk 8–9.30pm. Meet outside Sarum College on Cathedral Close. No booking required. Suggested donation £5.
Saturday 29 June: Hathern, Leics.
As part of Hathern Open Gardens, Tony & Anne Croft will have their garden open for Swift watching between 12 noon and 5pm. Hathern Open Gardens | the National UK Open Gardens Directory . Details: Anne & Tony Croft the.crofties.32@gmail.com
Monday 1 July: Gledhow, Leeds
A Swift-watching evening run by Leeds Swifts starting at 7.30pm. Booking essential. Contact: leeds.Swifts@gmail.com
Tuesday 2 July: Wilton, Wiltshire
Evening Swift Walk and Talk 8–9.30pm. Meet outside The Greyhound Inn in the Market Place. No booking required. Suggested donation £5.
Tuesday 2 July: Bedford
A free talk about Swifts and Swift art by Bedfordshire Swifts and the RSPB at The Higgins (Museum & Gallery), Castle Lane, Bedford, MK40 3XD at 7.30pm. Followed by a walk outside to watch some Swifts. No booking required. https://www.thehigginsbedford.org.uk/Home.aspx
Tuesday 2 July: Old Malden, Kingston, Surrey.
An evening walk with Elliot Newton, Kingston Council. Further details: wimbledonswifts@outlook.com .
Tuesday 2 July: Kinoulton, Notts NG12 3EN
A free, open event to celebrate and watch the Swifts that nest in St. Luke’s Church run by The Vale of Belvoir Swift Group. 7 - 9.30pm. Further details: valeofbelvoirswifts@btinternet.com
Wednesday 3 July: Derby
An evening walk in the suburbs surveying Swifts, starting at 8pm and run by Derbyshire Swift Conservation. For further details and to book, email: Swifts@derbyshirewt.co.uk
Wednesday 3 July: Gledhow, Leeds.
A Swift-watching evening run by Leeds Swifts starting at 7.30pm. Booking essential. Contact: leeds.Swifts@gmail.com
Wednesday 3 July: Highbury, London.
A Swift walk 7.30 - 9pm. organised by Islington Swifts Group. Full details: islingtonswifts@gmail.com
Wednesday 3 July: Didsbury, Manchester.
8 - 9.30pm An evening Swift walk along the River Mersey. Free but donations welcome. Book online at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dusk-walk-with-south-manchester-swifts-tickets-865380274697?aff=oddtdtcreator . Further details: smswifts11@gmail.com
Wednesday 3 July: 3 July Oakwood Park, N14.
8 pm. Talk, walk and watch the Swifts in the local area by Barnet and Enfield Swifts Group. Meet at the Willow Walk entrance to the park. Contact for info helenshore@hotmail.co.uk
Wednesday 3 July: Kingston, South West London.
A talk and walk looking for Swifts. Meet 7.15pm at the bridge over the Hogsmill River at the playground in Knollmead Park, 4 Knollmead, Surbiton KT5 9QN. Book via wimbledonswifts@outlook.com or Eventbrite
Thursday 4 July: Downton, Wiltshire
An evening Swift Walk and Talk. 7.30–9pm. Meet outside Downton Church. Suggested donation £5. Website www.salisburyandwiltonSwifts.org. Contact dankron@hotmail.co.uk
Thursday 4 July: Uffculme, Devon
7.30–9.30 pm. Coldharbour Mill, Uffculme, Devon. EX15 3EE. Meet at the mill car park to watch the mill’s large colony. No booking required. Bring a chair! Mill cafe open all evening. Email for more details: uffculmeSwifts@gmail.com
Thursday 4 July: Rowsley, Derbyshire
An evening Swift walk with some survey techniques training as well. Booking required. For more details email: Swifts@derbyshirewt.co.uk
Thursday 4 July: Wilbarston, Market Harborough
A Swift (and House Martin) Talk and Walk. Meet at The Fox Inn, Wilbarston, LE16 8QG at 7.30pm. For more details contact: Annie.dowling4@gmail.com or 07702 626 014
Thursday 4 July: Keswick Moot Hall.
7.30pm. A free Swift walk to view a large colony nearby. No booking required. Further details from Dave Piercy: daveandkathypiercy@btinternet.com or 07484 230 362
Friday 5 July: Lowgill, Cumbria
Sedbergh Community Swifts will host a morning of ‘Panoramic Swift watching’ at our Swift colony at Lowgill, Cumbria, LA8 0BN. Camera viewing from within nest sites as well. Booking essential. Contact: ta.hoare@binternet.com (Additional dates/times may be possible according to demand.)
Friday 5 July: Duffield, Derbyshire
Duffield Save our Swifts have an evening walk looking at Swifts. 7.30pm. To book, email sosduffield@gmail.com
Friday 5 July: Shipston, Warwickshire
Shipston Action for Swifts are hosting an evening Swift walk 7.30–9.30pm. Booking essential: Swifts@2jays.co.uk or 01608 661288. Free, but donations welcome.
Friday 5 July: Gledhow, Leeds
A Swift-watching evening starting at 7.30pm run by Leeds Swifts. Booking essential: leeds.Swifts@gmail.com
Friday 5 July: Maida Vale. 7.30 - 9pm.
A free walk to watch Swifts run by Brent & Westminster Swifts Group. Full details: brentandwestminsterswifts@gmail.com
Saturday 6 July: Downham Market
Downham Market Town Square, Bridge Street PE38 9DW. 9am –4pm. See the new Swift tower installation and learn about Swifts. Downham Wildlife Group. Details: downhamwildlife@gmail.com / 07395 100418
Saturday 6 July: Bradwell Derbyshire
A stall outside the Post Office at Netherside, Bradwell, S33 9AA between 9.30 –11.30am run by Bradwell Swifts Group. More details: bradwellswiftreports@gmail.com
Saturday 6 July: Fulbourn, Cambridgeshire
10am –12.30pm. A drop-in coffee morning for Swift Watch Live. St Vigor’s Church, Manor Walk, Fulbourn, CB21 5BN. Free. Further details: fulbournSwifts@gmail.com
Saturday 6 July: Hutton in the Forest, Penrith
Penrith Swift Group will have a Swift stall at the Skelton Show, Old Park, Hutton in the Forest, Penrith. Details: Skelton Show - A great family day out in a picturesque location
Saturday 6 July: Southsea, Hants
An exhibition by Hampshire Swifts at Cumberland House Natural History Museum, PO4 9RF. Open all week but trustees of the group will be there 10 - 4pm on 6th to answer questions about Swifts.
Further details: info@hampshireswifts.co.uk / 07713 254 901. Website: https://www.hampshireswifts.co.uk/about
Saturday 6 July: Melbourne, Derbyshire
An evening Swift walk around the town starting at the Market Place at 7.30pm. Details: richard.winspear@rspb.org.uk
Sunday 7 July: Shipston
Action for Swifts: 3-30–4.30pm. Free activities for children. Learn to tell Swifts from Swallows and martins, followed by a walk to watch House Martins. Booking essential: Swifts@2jays.co.uk or 01608 661288
Wednesday 3 July: Huntly, Aberdeenshire.
A Swift Walk and Talk by Huntly Swifts between 8–9.30 pm. Meet outside Orbs Bookshop. Booking essential: huntlySwiftgroup@gmail.com or 07411 808 573. Free, but a £5 donation is welcome.
Friday 28 June and Saturday 29 June: Lake Vyrnwy, Powys
Swift Awareness Walk. Swifts are special little birds, spending most of their lives in the air, only landing to nest and able to reach an impressive 70mph! The Swift is now classified as a Red-listed species, which means it is rapidly in decline and at risk of extinction in the UK, but there are things we can do to help! Come along to our Swift Walk at Lake Vyrnwy to learn about how we can all take action to save Swifts, how to identify Swifts in flight, help survey to get an idea of population size and where they nest, and immerse yourself in the sound of summer, the Swift call! RSPB Lake Vyrnwy, B493, Powys SY10 0LZ 6.30pm–8pm. Free. Email to book: vibrantvyrnwy@rspb.org.uk
Friday 5 July: Holyhead, N. Wales.
A Swift Walk 8 -10pm meeting at Ucheldre Art Centre, Holyhead LL65 1TE. £3. Booking essential. Further details: https://www.northwaleswildlifetrust.org.uk/events/2024-07-05-holyhead-swift-walk
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