By the middle of June I gave up scanning the skies for swifts (pictured) because there were very few around.

I only saw one, or perhaps two, pairs nesting locally too. Only on one occasion did I see any sizeable flock and that was in Richmond Park in late July when probably some young birds had joined their parents.

Nature Notes: An afternoon in the park

Most swifts will have flown south by now. The situation is very worrying indeed and many people have contacted me to express similar concerns. Even blackbirds are few and far between and I have not heard a songthrush all year.

However, at this time of year most birds are naturally quiet because they are undergoing their summer moult, so with powers of flight somewhat restricted, they tend to skulk away in shrubbery to avoid being taken by predators.

Nature Notes: The spread of the tiger moth

Parakeets, crows, jackdaws, wood and feral pigeons are still common and just as vociferous, being larger and seemingly less affected by the seasonal moult.

Swallows and house martin numbers seem to be stable and they will remain here until mid September and October prior to flying south.