Hartland Nature Society News

News

An Swift update from Frannie

On the evening of Wednesday, 23rd July the swifts were flying and screaming over the square in Hartland. We counted forty six, we think! It’s tricky , but certainly more than forty which is good news. Last year we estimated 40. It means our numbers are still climbing!

 They were overhead yesterday, (27th July) at the garden show but this morning the skies were silent, the swifts have gone.


I have just checked the swiftbox with the camera and two of the three chicks have fledged, just one chick left. I will keep looking, hopefully it will fledge within a few days.

From what I’ve read, the parent swifts will feed the chicks up and then leave them to lose a little weight until they are the correct weight for flight. They often have to find their own way to Africa, which seems incredible to me. 

I spotted a few swifts overhead this morning, (28th July) so hopefully there will be a few around that our fledgling will be able to head south with.

I always feel a bit sad when they leave, but it has been a good year for them, with dry weather and plenty of insects. We hope to put up a few more boxes in and around the square, ready for next year.

Plans and discussions at our evening meeting in June

In June, we had an evening meeting and social – again hosted by The Hart who kindly give us space for these events. We talked over some of the past events of the year and plans for the next half of the year. As a consequence of suggestions made at the meeting I have booked a few events for the second half of the year:

  • a Rockpool Ramble with Coastwise on Sunday 21st September 
  • a talk by Jamie Owen from NDCNL about insects and how to photograph them (date TBA)
  • a walk led by Dr Eirene Williams to look at fungi on Saturday 4th October.

I am also hoping to get a screening of the film Six Inches of Soil sometime later this year. Several members also talked about the value of good information about mobile phone apps for nature and I will endeavour to find an expert to come and help us with this. 

We will be hosting two special meetings in early 2026. I have yet to finalise dates and content, but these will be exciting for the society and will allow us to create a little more noise about the importance of biodiversity locally. Watch this space!

As always, more information about these and future events can be found on the Events Page of our website: https://hartlandnaturesociety.org.uk/events/

Balsam Pull along the river from Hartland vale

A group of 9 of us tackled a very large stand of balsam and succeeded in pulling up all we could see in an hour and a half. We reckon over 7,000 plants will no longer be able to spread their seed along the track and along the river. Very satisfying as it gives our native plants a chance to grow back again. June 21st 2025

The surprising power of your nature photos by Scott Lairie

For Report on The Hartland Charity Field Open Day on Saturday May 17th click here -> Community Land

Dawn Bird Walk 4th May 2025

At 4:30am (in the dark) as arranged by Frannie, several of us met at the top of Deer Park. We heard a Tawny Owl, with Blackbird and Robin being the first songbirds as dawn broke, then progressively more and more species joined the chorus. With the aid of the Merlin app, between us we recorded these

  • Tawny Owl
  • Robin
  • Blackbird
  • Chiffchaff
  • Song Thrush
  • Nuthatch
  • Siskin
  • Treecreeper
  • Goldcrest
  • Spotted Flycatcher
  • Mistle Thrush
  • Bullfinch
  • Carrion Crow
  • Chaffinch
  • Great Tit
  • Blackcap
  • Buzzard
  • Blue Tit
  • Pheasant
  • Wren 
  • Coal Tit
  • Canada Goose

It was great to get Goldcrest and Spotted Flycatcher in, the latter scarcely audible to old ears without the assistance of the app!

At the same time Clare explored her own patch near Milford and recorded these:

  • Robin
  • Great Tit
  • Blue Tit
  • Chaffinch
  • Chiffchaff
  • Goldcrest
  • Nuthatch
  • Wren
  • Dunnock
  • Willow Warbler
  • Siskin
  • Yellowhammer
  • Song thrush
  • Blackbird
  • Rook
  • Redwing
  • Jay
  • Golden Plover
  • Curlew
  • Carrion Crow
  • Blackcap
  • Wood pigeon
  • Skylark

Notable birds here are a late Redwing and the presence of Golden Plover and Curlew.

New PondNet Project


The Hartland Nature Society are keen to start a new ‘pondnet’ project. We want to encourage the establishment of a network of ponds in the Parish and to help everyone who wants to join in by providing advice and guidance.

For more information click

PondNet – Hartland Nature Society

19th February 2025

Male Bullfinch seen in East Ball Hill

Photo Courtesy of Richard Hannington

5th February 2025

Courtesy of Richard Hannington

30th January 2025

First bumblebee spotted this year – a lovely Buff-tail queen.

Photo Courtesy of Clare Gurton

The Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland

New Year Plant Hunt 2025

We walked from Speke’s Mill to Hartland on New Years Day and spotted 14 species of plant in flower!

Photo c/o David Warnes

For more details https://bsbi.org/new-year-plant-hunt

By taking part in these New Year Plant Hunts you’re helping the BSBI learn more about how our wild and naturalised plants are responding to a rapidly changing climate.