A SECOND appeal is being made for records of swift nest sites or screaming parties in the Yorkshire Dales National Park – now that the peak time for the bird has arrived.

The National Park Authority said the response to an invitation made last month for swift sightings had been good – but that more records would be very welcome.

Since May, records have made across the Dales and submitted to either the National Park Authority or its project partner, the Sedbergh Swift Community Group.

A video of swifts has been captured in the town of Hawes, as well as an audio recording of their distinctive ‘screaming’ calls.

Both have been published on the Swift Conservation Project webpage where the recording forms can be found.

Wildlife Conservation Officer at the Authority, Ian Court, said: “We are really pleased with the response so far to our appeal for records on swifts; it is great that people are looking out for these fantastic birds.

“The records of screaming parties have been really useful.

“We hope that these can be followed up by a growing number of local swift enthusiasts who might go that step further and submit records of nesting sites.

“This sort of information would help us and partner organisations conserve swifts.”