My Swifts have gone (1 Viewer)

[jpoyner]

Still feeding young in the nest here in the Highlands, local birds often here till end of August.

 

[Ries]

Hmm, now I see this thread again I think I haven't heard nor seem them at least last few days, maybe week...

 

[Xenospiza]

In grey, blustery weather, a single Swift from my German home office.

 

[Richard Prior]

Same here, a solitary Swift past here yesterday, initially feeding high up with at least 100 House Martins.

 

[dandsblair]

Still 2 over the garden this afternoon

 

[Patudo]

A few swifts working over Hyde Park this weekend, and others seen at Regent's Park.

On Sunday morning, at 8.40 and again at 8.57, two groups of a dozen and then ten came by, high up and steadily heading south-southwest. I wouldn't know for sure, but they gave me the impression that they were on their long southward journey.

 

[seagull2020]

Swifts are Completely gone from Birmingham. Those birds are highly aerial and spend most of their life in the air, and juveniles even won't touch dry ground again post-fledging for 2 years! It makes sense to hang around shortly (just 2 months) in breeding ranges.

 

[pianoman]

I saw more than 100 4 days ago at Blackditch coastal reserve (Wicklow). I see another 20 reported at that location today. But they are gone from my local area. So perhaps they gather at coastal locations before going south. Not as obviously as swallows, they slip off more discreetly. But with so many observers online you can see the patterns more easily.

 

[earthdragon64]

Still at least 6 over Aviemore this morning and I've been hearing them now and again all day.

 

[Andy Adcock]

I saw more than 100 4 days ago at Blackditch coastal reserve (Wicklow). I see another 20 reported at that location today. But they are gone from my local area. So perhaps they gather at coastal locations before going south. Not as obviously as swallows, they slip off more discreetly. But with so many observers online you can see the patterns more easily.

I think it's clear that this what happens, inland birds disappear first, head to the coast and trickle South, many of the later observations, even way up North, are mainly coastal.

 

[foresttwitcher]

A single then a group of 5 circling low over my dog walking patch yesterday evening (plus other singles at each of two separate locations in the Home Counties earlier in the day) then two this morning over the patch - all seemed to be feeding but didn't hang around long.

 

[aeshna5]

One this afternoon in the country park down the road.

 

[Monahawk]

1 lingering swift over Monaghan town late this morning among a flock of swallows.

Si

 

[delia todd]

I've not heard any for three days now.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

There seems to have been exodus from Aberdeen during the week. There were still 28 over my street on Monday evening but this evening there were just 3.

 

[Monahawk]

Just when I thought they have gone, then 10 swifts appear over the St. Peters Lake area of Monaghan town this morning. made my day.

Si

 

[Muppit17]

I think it's clear that this what happens, inland birds disappear first, head to the coast and trickle South, many of the later observations, even way up North, are mainly coastal.

I personally think that this is not thinking 'like a swift'. When the young have fledged from a colony there is no reason to be held to the nesting area, except of course the local knowledge of where the best feeding is likely to be found.

With an av. cruising speed of 25 mph, it means that Swifts will fly 600 miles a day. They are perfectly adept of going where the food is, and surfing the weather systems.

I live 40 miles from the coast and they are still seen here this week normally when the cloud pushes their food down, and they follow. Otherwise they can be very high and usually I don't see them unless they mix with hirundines They are also generally silent. I suspect few a local nesting birds, but just don't know.

I think with mobility it is likely that they don't just migrate, but will drift southwards, but reverse journeys are probably frequent if the food is there.

 

[pianoman]

I personally think that this is not thinking 'like a swift'. When the young have fledged from a colony there is no reason to be held to the nesting area, except of course the local knowledge of where the best feeding is likely to be found.

With an av. cruising speed of 25 mph, it means that Swifts will fly 600 miles a day. They are perfectly adept of going where the food is, and surfing the weather systems.

I live 40 miles from the coast and they are still seen here this week normally when the cloud pushes their food down, and they follow. Otherwise they can be very high and usually I don't see them unless they mix with hirundines They are also generally silent. I suspect few a local nesting birds, but just don't know.

I think with mobility it is likely that they don't just migrate, but will drift southwards, but reverse journeys are probably frequent if the food is there.

Yes indeed, that is a possibility. Something else I was wondering is, what proportion of these later birds are just fledged and is there any way of telling adults from "juveniles", if that's a term one can even use for swifts

 

[Euan Buchan]

Not seen or heard any Swifts for a few weeks now but still a lot of Swallows around.

 

[YuShan]

Two Swifts this morning above Pennington Marsh ( and tons of Swallows).