View allAll Photos Tagged swift
This photo closes the excitement of my adventure to this Swift ruins...
Please see the Slideshow・ スライド・ショー for LARGER images!
"The empty buildings were gutted by fires in 1971 and in 1973. The latter blaze, fueled by 70 years' worth of animal fat, burned for three weeks. Afterward, owners hired a company to demolish what was left, but after breaking three wrecking balls on the massive brick structures, Hearne Wrecking and Lumber admitted defeat.."
After the plant closed in 1971, the place was heaven for graffiti taggers, a plot of urban wilderness routinely explored by teenagers and photographers... however in the next few years, it may change that.
~ source article "Swift Changes" - Ft Worth Weekly
~ History of Stockyards and Swift meat-packing complex
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
Pallid Swifts (*Apus pallidus*) are a distinctive presence in Gibraltar's skies, notably during the spring and summer months. These migratory birds breed in the region, often nesting under the eaves of buildings and cliffs, including the Gibraltar National Museum. A significant study conducted by the Gibraltar National Museum, Gibraltar Botanic Gardens, and the Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society (GONHS) utilized GPS tracking to monitor the annual movements of Pallid Swifts. The findings revealed that these birds exhibit remarkable site fidelity, returning to the same nesting sites each year. Their migration patterns are equally impressive; departing Gibraltar in August, they journey to sub-Saharan Africa, spending time in regions such as the Sahel and tropical rainforests, before returning in March or April. During this period, they remain airborne, rarely coming to land . In Gibraltar, conservation efforts include the installation of live-feed cameras at nesting sites, allowing the public to observe the breeding process and fostering greater awareness and protection of these remarkable birds .
Swifts collect insects in the back of the throat in a special food pouch and bound together with saliva into a ball called a bolus, which is periodically eaten or taken to the nest. These food balls can contain thousands of insects. Another challenging hour with the Swifts.
A newish "practical" sculpture in the Logan Meadow Nature Reserve. Designed by Andrew Merritt the practical sculpture is designed to house swifts who summer in the UK. It is also designed to allow Night Shift bats to roost. The design is based on an African sunset and the colours are quite garish.
Handlheld HDR, which I've spent too long tryng to get right, and I'm still not happy with it :-(
Swift Transport Training Belfast Scania Solar Reg GEZ 7828 is seen Parked in Falcon Road
this bus was new to ulsterbus as Fleet Number 828
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
SUI 8194 is a Volvo B10M-62/Plaxton Excalibur new in February 1998 as City of Oxford R9 OXF (no. 9). It later worked for the Birmingham Coach Company in National Express livery as R257 DWL and also with Daish's of Bournemouth as SUI 8194. Swift Coaches of BArrhead acquired it during 2018 from Davies Coaches of Llanelli.
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.
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.
Taylor swift the female country hottie! She has been popular for many years. She is known as putting the pop into country music. She mostly rights love songs that most of the time are true!
Huge flock (over 25,000) of Vaux's Swifts swarm into idle brickyard smokestacks during fall migration.
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)
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.
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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.
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