I have started scanning the skies every time I go out, to see if the swifts have arrived yet. Last year, I saw a large group in the sky on 5th May, wheeling and shrieking and eventually splitting up to fly off in all directions. So... any day now!
A couple of pairs nest in the roof of a house down our street. They are council houses and I noticed yesterday that some have been given new roofs. I hope neither of the nesting sites have been destroyed. I shall cross my fingers until I see those familiar crescent shapes screeching over my head and hurtling acrobatically between the houses. I find that sound they make really exciting. It gives me goose bumps.
I noted last year that they seem to arrive here any time between May 5th and 15th, giving a ten day window. I suppose that it it's grey, wet and windy, they will stay in balmier climes for a bit longer. Roll on the sunshine!
1 comment:
Hi Lorna,
I'm guessing these birds are called "Swifts" because they fly very swiftly? Haha. I just googled them to see what they look like. I found a link to an article that says a third of British Swifts have been lost since 1995... but here it is, so you can read it:
http://www.bto.org/science/migration/tracking-studies/swifts
Take care,
Neil
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