29 Oct 2023
"The Screaming Sky -- in pursuit of swifts" by Charles Foster - NOT amateur radio
8 Sept 2023
Late, late, show? - NOT amateur radio
12 Aug 2023
Last swift? - NOT amateur radio
On August 9th I was about to report the swifts had flown south. Then I saw 10! Today I saw a solitary swift overhead. I think this is probably the last I shall see in the UK until next spring. To me, screaming swifts are an important part of the cycle of life.
17 Jul 2023
Most swifts still here - NOT amateur radio
Most swifts (birds) are still here. They usual start migrating south in late July or early August. Suddenly one realises the screaming of feeding parties high above has stopped.
See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/swift/ .
11 Jul 2023
Swifts still here - NOT amateur radio
See https://www.rsgb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/swift/ .
9 Jul 2023
Screaming swifts - NOT amateur radio
As I write this, it is July 8th. It is not uncommon to hear feeding parties of swifts. Look up and there they are. Tonight there was a party on the wing of about 20 birds.
Suddenly they will all be gone. They fly south to central Africa, where insects are more plentiful. It beats me why they migrate as I would have thought there would be a plentiful supply of flying insects there all year around. The journey is a hazardous one crossing deserts and much of Europe.
Numbers seem to be holding up here. There is a concern about losing nest sites on old buildings and barns. I can't say numbers appear lower here. Indeed I have also seen more swallows than last year.
Once they have gone it takes a few weeks to realise they are not here. In this part of the UK most are back by mid May. When they are here they are one of the most common birds seen. They feed and sleep on the wing. It gladdens my heart when they return. They have been making his journey for thousands or even millions of years completely oblivious of wars that trouble humans.
See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/swift/ .
25 Apr 2023
Screaming swifts - NOT amateur radio
To my mind, the screaming of swifts feeding on the wing is a sign of English late spring and summer. In this part of the UK they usually arrive in mid-May, although in some parts they are seen earlier. Often they are heard before they are seen. Usually they are heard screaming, one looks up and there are the swifts! The sight of these in the sky warms my heart. By mid-August most have flown south.
3 Aug 2022
Swifts in the UK - NOT amateur radio
See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/swift/.
14 May 2022
Swifts - NOT amateur radio
See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/swift/ .
5 Aug 2021
Swifts on the move? - NOT amateur radio
Screaming swifts in the air are a sound of late spring and early summer in the UK. Sometime in August you just realise they are not there. It will be next April or May until they (hopefully) will be back again.
See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/swift/ .
20 May 2021
Swifts screaming - NOT amateur radio
When gardening a few days ago I heard swifts overhead screaming. This a very English sound of spring and summer. They feed on the wing and are often heard before being seen.
27 Jul 2020
Swifts (birds) - NOT amateur radio
The only time they land is to breed. Numbers have fallen as their nest sites are disappearing. The RSPB is trying to encourage us to erect swift nestboxes to reverse this. I hope it succeeds.
See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/swift/
8 May 2020
Swifts (birds) - NOT amateur radio
15 Aug 2019
Then they were gone - NOT amateur radio
See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/swift/
3 Aug 2019
Swifts - NOT amateur radio
To me, their antics on the wing and their screams are part of an English summer. Safe travels and I hope to see you next summer.
See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/swift/
8 May 2019
Swifts - NOT amateur radio
29 Aug 2018
Swifts gone? - NOT amateur radio
See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/swift/
16 Aug 2018
Disappearing swifts (birds) - NOT amateur radio
Then you realise they are not here. I am sure we'll see more still, but they are moving south. By early September most will have gone. They winter south of the Sahara in Africa.
Funny how I treasure the day when the first swift of the year is seen. To me, it is a sign that life goes on. This year we seem to have had fewer swallows and house martins. Luckily here swift numbers have held up. Several people have erected swift nest boxes.
See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/swift/
26 Aug 2017
Late, late swifts - NOT amateur radio
It would not (now) entirely surprise me to see swifts in early September. A few weeks ago I'd have said impossible.
13 Aug 2017
Swifts (birds) - NOT amateur radio
Swallows and house martins usually stay until well in to September, but there are few locally.
See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-and-wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/s/swift/