http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Tag: pro-swift propaganda - Recent Posts en Sun, 24 May 2026 08:12:52 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19573&page=8#post-380382 Fri, 25 Jul 2025 12:09:47 +0000 Kim 380382@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Loving seeing the swifts in the skies over Edinburgh at present </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19573&page=8#post-380364 Wed, 23 Jul 2025 19:02:30 +0000 gembo 380364@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>A mixture of swallows and swifts in Elie at the weekend. We were there on a coupon. No beatings I could see though the Bond Villain House at the far end - who could say.</p> <p>I have written to the R and A as Elie Golf and Country Club were permitting six people to play together. That is unspeakable. Only three balls so they may appeal.</p> <p>Climate change deny-er and all round walloper Neil Oliver spotted twice, scowling at my Stetson whilst he was burnt to a frazzle of Smokey bacon and Gammon Crisps.</p> <p>Miss Hoolie from Balamory super nice. Walking her dug. All dugs in Elie have paisley pattern hankies roon their thrapples.</p> <p>Hunners of Bikes as the kids bomb around. Once tide comes in to jump aff harbour wall. Paddle boards abound. And three rowing boats it is hilarious to watch being launched due to the total ineptitude of the oars people. Hey the bay is only three foot deep max.</p> <p>St Monans dodged the rain we found on a walk upon the shut coastal path that is not shut except maybe at high tide.</p> <p>Beach cricket rained off. Life is tough.</p> <p>Lots of wee saunas in horse boxes in East Neuk and North Berwick</p> <p>Holiday from Real Life. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19573&page=8#post-380363 Wed, 23 Jul 2025 11:28:00 +0000 ejstubbs 380363@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Spotted two or three swifts flying over the Portobello Swim Centre yesterday. Mrs Stubbs saw a group of 20-30 swifts flying and screaming over Morningside Waitrose* on Saturday morning.</p> <p><em>* We were having friends round for dinner so pushing the boat out a bit, rather than our usual gruel and regular beatings.</em> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19573&page=8#post-380029 Tue, 17 Jun 2025 20:31:17 +0000 chdot 380029@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jun/17/swifts-decline-uk-birds-swift-bricks" rel="nofollow">https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jun/17/swifts-decline-uk-birds-swift-bricks</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19573&page=8#post-379856 Wed, 04 Jun 2025 12:54:47 +0000 ejstubbs 379856@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I spotted one swift flying over my back garden a few minutes ago. I quickly set the swift calls playing (they're normally set to play at dawn and dusk) to see if it might encourage interest in my swift boxes. You never know... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19573&page=8#post-379852 Mon, 02 Jun 2025 14:04:12 +0000 jdanielp 379852@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Help save bird populations by making it a legal rule that all new houses built in the UK must include Swift bricks <a href="https://act.38degrees.org.uk/act/swifts-petition-SMC">https://act.38degrees.org.uk/act/swifts-petition-SMC</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19573&page=8#post-379829 Fri, 30 May 2025 22:03:08 +0000 Frenchy 379829@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>A dozen or so swifts over Dunsapie Loch this afternoon. I've had a couple of "fairly sure" spots this year, but today was the first time I've been certain. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19573&page=8#post-379703 Mon, 19 May 2025 22:32:22 +0000 ejstubbs 379703@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>More swifts in Norn Ireland this evening, screaming and hawking for insects over Ballycastle after we got back from Rathlin Island. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19573&page=8#post-379679 Sat, 17 May 2025 12:19:36 +0000 ejstubbs 379679@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Three or four swifts in amongst the swallows and martins hawking for insects over the River Braid in Ballymena yesterday afternoon. (Here for a family wedding). (Me and the missus, that is, not the swifts.) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19573&page=8#post-379619 Sun, 11 May 2025 22:06:33 +0000 chdot 379619@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“<br /> Four were over central Burntisland all day yesterday and seven today.</p> <p>“</p> <p>Experienced bird watcher (not me!) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19573&page=8#post-379598 Thu, 08 May 2025 21:34:01 +0000 gembo 379598@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Report from the dark side of the fence that Swifts are over Craigmillar Castle tonight </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19573&page=8#post-379554 Mon, 05 May 2025 22:33:41 +0000 Morningsider 379554@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>This is a devolved issue. The Scottish Government, in response to <a href="https://www.parliament.scot/get-involved/petitions/view-petitions/pe2134-introduce-legislation-to-make-it-a-requirement-for-swift-bricks">a recent petition</a> to the Scottish Parliament, has ruled out the mandatory installation of Swift bricks in new homes. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19573&page=8#post-379549 Mon, 05 May 2025 18:52:12 +0000 chdot 379549@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>The hypocrisy is staggering’: will swift bricks fall prey to government fears of Reform</p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/may/05/the-hypocrisy-is-staggering-will-swift-bricks-fall-prey-to-government-fears-of-reform" rel="nofollow">https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/may/05/the-hypocrisy-is-staggering-will-swift-bricks-fall-prey-to-government-fears-of-reform</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19573&page=8#post-379507 Fri, 02 May 2025 18:56:15 +0000 PS 379507@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Just this moment (18.50, 2nd May) spotted two swifts high (required binoculars) over the New Town! Earliest I can remember seeing them. :-) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19573&page=8#post-379462 Wed, 30 Apr 2025 18:55:45 +0000 gembo 379462@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@PS tell me about it. Been cycling through hordes of big flies up at Bavelaw for two weeks. Now</p> <p>Fckn sheep out. On the path too. Like they own the place. </p> <p>The lambs seem less skittish now though which is good as one ran ahead and then dived under my wheel two week back. Had to roast it in the fire pit [joking]</p> <p>Swallows yep but no swifts yet </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19573&page=8#post-379461 Wed, 30 Apr 2025 14:42:39 +0000 acsimpson 379461@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>No swifts yet but I did spot a pair of bats performing aerial acrobatics on Monday night. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19573&page=8#post-379458 Wed, 30 Apr 2025 13:13:19 +0000 ejstubbs 379458@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The audio system is now installed, broadcasting "visit our show home" swift calls for a couple of hours from sunrise each morning and another couple of hours before sunset each evening*. This is per advice from the purveyor of the conservation society's swift calls mp3. We have adjusted the volume so as not to be an annoyance to the neighbours (actually I think we could tweak it up a notch or two; the volume knob is nowhere close to eleven ATM).</p> <p><em>* Who knew that smart plugs know the times of sunrise and sunset? I certainly didn't, until I found them on the settings menu for the one I'm using for the swift sound system. Ain't technology wonderful? (When it works.)</em> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19573&page=8#post-379456 Wed, 30 Apr 2025 12:29:04 +0000 PS 379456@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@ejstubbs *Like*<br /> That's great work! Thanks for having it done.</p> <p>I had my first evening of training my binoculars on the skies scanning for any early arrivals. No joy, but they'll be on their way, and there were plenty of flying insects out last night to sustain them. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19573&page=8#post-379403 Mon, 28 Apr 2025 08:43:05 +0000 ejstubbs 379403@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>We have a had a couple of swift next boxes put up under the eaves on the east side of the house. (I would have done it myself but I'm afraid that my days of wrangling power tools 18ft up a ladder are in the past.)</p> <p>I think the recent spells of chilly weather had disrupted my appreciation of just how far into the year we now are. I did notice a number of hirundines whizzing about during my impromptu outing to the Borders yesterday afternoon, however, so I think it's time to get a sound system set up to play the <a href="https://www.swift-conservation.org/Shopping!.htm">Swift Conservation Society's mp3</a> of swift "this looks like a nice neighbourhood" noises to try to draw the attention of any passing <em>Apus apus</em> to Fairmilehead's latest bijoux residential development. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19573&page=8#post-375646 Thu, 27 Jun 2024 00:25:02 +0000 acsimpson 375646@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>It's not too late to see them in Edinburgh as I spotted a group in East Craigs this evening. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19573&page=8#post-375637 Wed, 26 Jun 2024 12:09:47 +0000 ejstubbs 375637@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Disappointed not to see/hear any swifts at Porty yesterday, it's usually a good place to see them at this time of year. Is it too late already?</p> <p>(Did see a group of house martins hawking for insects over the Figgate Burn outflow over the beach, but only four in number - we've seen many more on past visits. Think I might take a run out to Green Cleugh soon, to see how the sand martins are doing there.) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19573&page=7#post-375366 Mon, 10 Jun 2024 11:23:19 +0000 SF 375366@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Saw / heard a screeching party in the sky over Rodney Street last week. The actual ones, not the sparkly gig-goers... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19573&page=7#post-375361 Sun, 09 Jun 2024 11:54:51 +0000 Stickman 375361@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I think “solid” is an understatement. </p> <p>Saw some Swifties taking selfies in front of the Hart’s poster the other day. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19573&page=7#post-375356 Sat, 08 Jun 2024 20:50:43 +0000 gembo 375356@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Mr Hart is a solid Swiftie. This is 100 per cent factually accurate. I am not joking. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19573&page=7#post-375355 Sat, 08 Jun 2024 19:36:53 +0000 chdot 375355@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“Harts Cyclery even have a poster up. Bikes appeared on stage apparently as fashion accessory.”</p> <p>2 facts related?? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19573&page=7#post-375354 Sat, 08 Jun 2024 19:12:59 +0000 LaidBack 375354@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>:-) was thinking this thread should be live!</p> <p>Hundreds of Swifties gave up on the tram and migrated on foot from Haymarket to Murrayfield. Quite an achievement in high heels. Went through Haymarket last night and once away from station they stayed off the new cycleway. All good natured. An egalitarian event for all those with money to buy tickets ranging from hundreds to thousands of pounds. Many did actually migrate further via airport too.<br /> Very confusing event with everyone surfing on it. Harts Cyclery even have a poster up. Bikes appeared on stage apparently as fashion accessory. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19573&page=7#post-375349 Sat, 08 Jun 2024 14:40:17 +0000 jdanielp 375349@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I could hear a Swift when I was out for a walk yesterday evening. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19573&page=7#post-375012 Fri, 17 May 2024 12:58:10 +0000 jdanielp 375012@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I heard and then spotted swifts in the sky above the canal near Boroughmuir High School earlier this week. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19573&page=7#post-374940 Sun, 12 May 2024 20:16:23 +0000 Frenchy 374940@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Counted ten in the sky over Gilmerton this evening. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19573&page=7#post-374939 Sun, 12 May 2024 19:20:48 +0000 Kim 374939@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Good to know the swifts are back, I have yet to see or heard them, although there are always some in the Newington area in summer. I look forward to seeing them scything through the sky and hearing their screams :-) </p>