Seen any swifts lately?

Jonners · #1 (**permalink**) 05-08-2010, 07:49 PM

I don't know about you, but I always find it easier to know when I saw my first swift/swallow etc of the year, as opposed to my last. Having said that, I haven't seen any yet in August. Anyone else missing them, or are they still around? It'd be great to find where in the country they still are.

seamusagleann · #2 (**permalink**) 05-08-2010, 08:13 PM

yep ,last night and this morning in Shawlands in glasgow!!

ChrisJB · #3 (**permalink**) 05-08-2010, 08:43 PM

Mine are still here. I regularly monitor arrivals/leaving dates, etc and record them. With swifts, on the 1st August each year I pin up a piece of paper on the fridge and each day I see one I write it down, until I no longer see any and then I put the leaving date in my diary. Not very scientific but it works for me. Likewise on the first of Sept' with the local swallows and martins.
As a little aside, I still have a blackbird singing in the neighbourhood, my latest ever.

Regards, Chris

Tringa · #4 (**permalink**) 05-08-2010, 08:49 PM

They are still here in east London.

Dave

Kayleigh · #5 (**permalink**) 05-08-2010, 08:55 PM

Yes still flying round the barn/stable block where I walk the dog.

Dogghound · #6 (**permalink**) 05-08-2010, 08:56 PM

Yep still here. However about a month ago there were movements of about 150+ birds south along the coast.

Sledge · #7 (**permalink**) 05-08-2010, 08:58 PM

We moved from the high Cotteswolds to the Severn Vale in early spring. Gone from loads of swifts over the garden there to (apparently) none at all here.

Africa · #8 (**permalink**) 05-08-2010, 09:04 PM

I guess this has been a very good year for swifts. The warmer and drier the weather since their arrival, the faster their chicks with grow and fledge, and then they don't hang around and migrate, so it wouldn't surprise me that they leave early this year. Mi last -so far - on the 3rd of August, a few around still.

Phil Johnston · #9 (**permalink**) 05-08-2010, 10:04 PM

Hi seen plenty , in fact more than i have ever seen here in Edinburgh. They are amazing birds! Tricky to capture on camera though:O))

leon_heller · #10 (**permalink**) 05-08-2010, 10:30 PM

I've seen lots of them flying around my house here in St. Leonards-on-Sea, from my top floor window. I've never noticed them before, but I've been looking out of the window a lot because of the Herring Gull family on my balcony. They seem to be here twice a day, in the morning and in the late afternoon.