View allAll Photos Tagged Swift
JGF774K an AEC Swift 4MP2R fitted with MCW B33D was new to London Transport in November 1971 as their SMS774. Withdrawn in December 1978 in March 1979 it was exported to the Netherlands for use by Holland Design BV, The Hague. Returned to UK it was sold as a caravan/showroom and is seen here in the Peartree Bridge area of Milton Keynes on an unknown date during 1985.
A negaitive which is now beginning to show not only defects in its photographic emulsions, but deficiencies of the photographer in using an insufficiently fast shutter speed!
I post this now as looking at it closely I see that its fleet number 583 bowling south down Blackpool's promenade. Now for me that's quite significant as about thirteen years after I took this shot, I took OFR 983M into my Knotty Bus & Coach fleet. In 1980, I'd absolutely no idea either that I'd enter the twylight world of being an operator by 1988.
The bus was a 1974 built dual door Marshall bodied AEC Swift 505. When freed of its fully auto control over its semi-auto gearbox, it went on to be a very dependable performer for us.
FTT's Blackpool Swift 570 worked between North Pier and Poulton on a running evening. Here seen at Poulton. Blackpool Bus 100 3 July 2021
FTT's Blackpool Swift 570 worked between North Pier and Poulton on a running evening. Here seen at North Pier Blackpool Bus 100 3 July 2021
Apart from the brief excursion to the Tramway Museum a fortnight ago, it's been almost six months since I've been out lineside with the cameras. Ventured out to Callington yesterday with the vain hope of something interesting coming over from Victoria, but in the end that didn't happen until well after dark.
So all I was left with of any note was The Overland returning from Melbourne to Adelaide with a 'longer' than usual consist.
The normal 6-car consist had been strengthened to 10 cars to convey fans to Melbourne for a Taylor Swift concert. Flights were obviously fully booked and/or too expensive. There will be a repeat run Sunday/Monday to bring them back to Adelaide.
NR57 climbing away from Callington on 16 February 2024
Desperate times.
80D_1_12_1782
Huge flock (over 25,000) of Vaux's Swifts swarm into idle brickyard smokestacks during fall migration.
AEC Swifts had been the draw which brought travelling buddys 'Berresfordsmotors' and me to St. Albans, but not the more ubiquitous indigenous London variety, rather those diverted from a South Wales Transport order. That said, in breaks from photographing the SWT buses, we did find time to snap other things ... and I'm very glad now that we did. Here an SM class Park Royal bodied AEC Swift , BPH 128H (SM128) stands on the bus station frontage of the garage in between driver training duties wearing full NBC 'leaf green' bus livery.
Mixed series of six. Arlington Reservoir was not nice in the pouring rain. The hirundines were skimming the surface in their hundreds and I tried to get a few pics while feeling the water seeping in. I upped the speed which did not help that much but, apart from the rain, it was a lovely sight. First time I have seen swifts at low level.
Common swift (Apus apus)
Meaning behind the name:
Apus, has connections to the Scientific name "Hirundo" used for Swallows. The Greek word "Apus" literally means "without foot"
Did you know?
Swifts are aerial birds and will do everything on the wing: feed, sleep and mate. The only time they land is when they nest under the eaves of house roofs in small gaps. They use their feet to help cling on to the ledges to get inside the small gaps. Their feet are designed to do this and are totally useless to stand or perch with. This is why they were given the Scientific name "Apus" as they appeared they lacked any feet.
The English name "Swift" started of as one of many a local names that were given it. It was given more attention in 1668 in Charleton "Horse Marten or Swift" and thereafter. It's dark plumage gave rise to superstitions and had some names given it like: Devil bird, Devil dick and Devil swallow. The screeching call it has encouraged names like: Devil screech, Devil screamer, Devil shrieked and even Screech martin.
Other names included: Black swallow or martin or screech, Collier (these are just a few of many)
Taylor Swift and me. So me, my 2 friends and my mum saw her car plates that went past us, we knew it was her cars but didn't know she'd be inside, we still ran after them! We managed to beat the cars, see Andrea get out then Taylor. There was only 1 pap! We tried to go over to her but security said she'd come over to you, so we screamed 'TAYLOR' as she was walking up the stairs. She quickly ran over to us like 'hi guys' smiling then said 'you wanna take photos? lets do a group one quickly as I have a photoshoot!' My friends got a group one as I got one on my own, she was so nice. I'd been wanting to meet her for ages, after we had the photo I was literally shaking & could just about breathe.
Follow me on twitter @Sarahwinterman
Shipley Church, Shipley, West Sussex. I found their fast, rapid turning flight made them hard to photograph.
Common Swift (Apus apus)
Good number of swifts flying at RSPB Otmoor. They're wonderful to watch and at the limit of any skills I have (fun to try though)
Introducing my magazine SWIFT.I've always wanted to make my own magazine,but couldn't think of a name and I finally came up with one today.So here it is with my model Cyrus on it.So yeah that's it :).