CityCyclingEdinburgh was launched on the 27th of October 2009 as "an experiment".
IT’S TRUE!
CCE is 16years old!
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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?
(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.)
It's not too late to see them in Edinburgh as I spotted a group in East Craigs this evening.
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.)
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 Swift Conservation Society's mp3 of swift "this looks like a nice neighbourhood" noises to try to draw the attention of any passing Apus apus to Fairmilehead's latest bijoux residential development.
@ejstubbs *Like*
That's great work! Thanks for having it done.
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.
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).
* 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.)
No swifts yet but I did spot a pair of bats performing aerial acrobatics on Monday night.
@PS tell me about it. Been cycling through hordes of big flies up at Bavelaw for two weeks. Now
Fckn sheep out. On the path too. Like they own the place.
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]
Swallows yep but no swifts yet
Just this moment (18.50, 2nd May) spotted two swifts high (required binoculars) over the New Town! Earliest I can remember seeing them. :-)
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The hypocrisy is staggering’: will swift bricks fall prey to government fears of Reform
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This is a devolved issue. The Scottish Government, in response to a recent petition to the Scottish Parliament, has ruled out the mandatory installation of Swift bricks in new homes.
Report from the dark side of the fence that Swifts are over Craigmillar Castle tonight
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Four were over central Burntisland all day yesterday and seven today.
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Experienced bird watcher (not me!)
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.)
More swifts in Norn Ireland this evening, screaming and hawking for insects over Ballycastle after we got back from Rathlin Island.
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.
Help save bird populations by making it a legal rule that all new houses built in the UK must include Swift bricks https://act.38degrees.org.uk/act/swifts-petition-SMC
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...
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.
* We were having friends round for dinner so pushing the boat out a bit, rather than our usual gruel and regular beatings.
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.
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.
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.
Miss Hoolie from Balamory super nice. Walking her dug. All dugs in Elie have paisley pattern hankies roon their thrapples.
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.
St Monans dodged the rain we found on a walk upon the shut coastal path that is not shut except maybe at high tide.
Beach cricket rained off. Life is tough.
Lots of wee saunas in horse boxes in East Neuk and North Berwick
Holiday from Real Life.
Loving seeing the swifts in the skies over Edinburgh at present
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