[Other Sport] Anyone seen any swifts?

[Boroseagull]

Sad to report that both the Pallid & Common Swifts have left our town 3 weeks earlier than usual, and after a poor breeding season. Here, just outside of Malaga, it is simply down to the lack of insects as we are now into our 5th year of drought, the last 3 being critical. The local rivers and streams are dry and it will take monumental amounts of rain to correct the damage done. You know when things are desperate when you sit on the terrace at night without a citronella coil burning and the Bee-eaters passing noisily overhead at least 6 weeks too early. Still some Alpine Swifts around in the mountains and the half a dozen breeding sites for the highly endangered White-rumped Swifts have produced young this year. The Little Swift colony at the fish market in Chiclana has been successful as usual. We are so lucky to have 5 species of one of my favourite birds.

Perhaps other contributors to this thread saw the report on Swifts and nesting boxes/bricks on Meridian tonight?

 

[Pevenseagull]

Time for a bounce

 

[m20gull]

They've been here in PE24 for about a week.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

I saw one in Edinburgh last summer. Impressive display, and a spectacular range of songs, tbf.

 

[BrightonCottager]

Time for a bounce

Exactly what I thought yesterday afternoon when I heard my first of the season. It was the icing on the cake, having already visited the Mackerel Fayre, the Historic Commercial Vehicle rally and been for a bracing dip in the briny.
I will be logging them on Swift Mapper and I urge others to do likewise.

 

[Albion my Albion]

Time for a bounce

 

[Bry Nylon]

I have plenty here, flitting in and out of my cart shed, which is lovely apart from the fact that they also shit all over my car.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

I have plenty here, flitting in and out of my cart shed, which is lovely apart from the fact that they also shit all over my car.

Interesting swift shit story. They never crap in their nest and even remove the shit the chicks produce. Fastidious birds.

 

[Winker]

I've just tried to take a photo of one but I wasn't quick enough.

 

[The Oldman]

Quite a few coming in over Cuckmere Haven on Sunday.

 

[Eric the meek]

Quite a few coming in over Cuckmere Haven on Sunday.

I was on a walk on Seaford Head one year, and they were swooping up the cliff face getting the insects on the rising air.

I got to the barn above Cuckmere Haven only to be told they weren't swifts, but housemartins. I still don't really know which they were, but it was magical anyway.

 

[golddene]

Over at my bro in laws farm in the Wicklow mountains at the mo no swifts but plenty of swallows/martins not sure which but they are nesting in his barn, in and out all day also cuckoos singing their noise morning and evening lovely and peaceful here.

 

[maresfield seagull]

I've just tried to take a photo of one but I wasn't swift enough.

Is this what you meant

 

[The Oldman]

I was on a walk on Seaford Head one year, and they were swooping up the cliff face getting the insects on the rising air.

I got to the barn above Cuckmere Haven only to be told they weren't swifts, but housemartins. I still don't really know which they were, but it was magical anyway.

Definitely swifts but also housemartins but did not see a swallow.

 

[maresfield seagull]

Swallows @TN29 and swifts @TN22 at the weekend

 

[Jahooli]

Heard, then saw a "squadron" of three swifts as I was walking along Warren Road about four days ago, not heard any since.
Lots of swallows in the fields near Bevendean.

 

[Zeberdi]

Been screaming over the garden for several weeks - group of about 12. Weather should be fine now for breeding.

 

[SouthSaxon]

For some mystifying reason, Labour has blocked an amendment to its housing bill that would require new builds to incorporate a swift brick. There’s a petition linked from this article if anyone is interested in signing it.

Labour blocks proposal for ‘swift bricks’ in all new homes

MPs had previously backed Conservative amendment to ask developers to provide hollow bricks for endangered birds

www.theguardian.com

Sign the petition: Save Our Swifts

Swifts have lost more than half their population in 20 years. A simple £35 brick in new builds could help save them. Labour used to support this – now they’re planning to backtrack. Sign the petition now to show them the public still backs this nature-friendly fix:

act.38degrees.org.uk

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

Done.

I met Hannah Bourne Taylor a couple of weeks ago. She's the person behind the swift box initiative. Worth having a read and getting behind.

The Feather Speech campaign for swifts - HANNAH BOURNE-TAYLOR

This animated film, A Swift Story, tells the story of swifts’ remarkable lives, their plight, and one special brick that can help … Continue reading The Feather Speech campaign for swifts

hannahbournetaylor.com

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

Beaminster's swifts were back in very early May and have successfully tested in the old pub again. This despite the jackdaws doing their best to get in under the eaves.

But fewer birds (seven or eight rather than the 12+ last year) and only two occupied nests (v. two last year) in our area.

Hopefully just a normal variation and not a trend.