Still waiting for our Swifts to return to Sunderland (22 years running), has anyone got theirs back yet further south :)
Swifts don't always fly that quickly - the problem I find is more that they are unpredictable, and capable of fast acceleration. When they are heading into the wind they are slower. And if you have many Swifts flying overhead, often by watching the first ones' flight path you can predict a bit better what the next ones are going to do. A lens that focuses quickly and a camera that is good at tracking movement both help immensely.
These are not my best Swift pics by any means, but show some of the interesting behaviour I've caught by chance.
This one's throat is puffed out because it's carrying a food ball - basically a load of little flies squashed up toghether, to be delivered to the nest.
Swift with mouth open, ready to engulf its next victim.
This one is preening in flight. Tricky!
Many Swifts high-flying and feeding together.
Swift low-flying. They can skim the ground as easily as Swallows do, but don't seem to do it as often.
Swift flying upside-down. A doddle for this aerial genius :)
And finally, for Edge - G provided an 'incoming' shot, here's an 'outgoing' one :)
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Brilliant Bob. Best I've seen so far.
My gallery here
Checkout the forums' Community HOMEPAGE for lots of interesting posts from other members.
Thank you Galatas,aiki & brn.A1+ photographs.Seems that they can do anything the best aerobatic plane does.Ace rudder control.Turning on a sixpence by dipping one wing - impressive.Mid air fuselage maintenance too! Wouldnt surprise me if they used some covert feathers independently as `flaps`.I hope the parasites on board are wearing anti-g suits. :-)
They are really good brn.Your first one clearly shows wing folding ability (swing-wing technology!) that I hadnt noticed before.Quick google and voila - http://www.naturalhistorymag.com/biomechanics/02944/on-swift-wings Love all the photos as portraiture too btw. Am a romantic at heart..Honestly.
Fab pix - thanks v much everyone. Have only seen one today, so I've had to console myself with the pix and the Polish swift website.
I do wish it would warm up a bit - I've had to put my heating on! In May!
Global warming - grumble, grumble.........
Another group arrived -W.Yorks- yesterday,ahead of the rain front.
edgebander said: Another group arrived -W.Yorks- yesterday,ahead of the rain front.
Pete
Birding is for everyone no matter how good or bad we are at it,enjoy it while you can
Much better weather here today - and the local swifts are out and about, very high over my house.
Off out with my friend this evening to try and find nest sites............ don't think our chances are high! Seems to be easier(!) to find sites once the eggs have hatched.
Still, we'll see.
I think all mine have returned.I know its a join the dots puzzle with very small dots but I tried to get as many in as I could in one go....and its easier than close-ups. :-)
I know they`re all mine.Had been tracking them all morning.Am off out now to see how many are in and out of their lodgings.
Hi to you all.
I have just made my first swift nest box, and are now waiting for the swifts to arrive late may. What do you think of the box? Here you can read aboth the box. actionforswifts.blogspot.no/.../gable-end-nestbox-in-norway.html