A SPECIFIC SWIFT !!

Trimley Marshes in Suffolk was definately the place to be yesterday the 15th June, except for me. A Pacific Swift was found mid-morning, a mega and mythical bird for many British Listers. Was this the same bird that had been seen at Spurn last week and later the same day further south in Lincolnshire?

Due to family commitments, I wasn't able to do any twitching yesterday and to make matters worse, a young male Golden Oriole turned up in my county and was singing all day in Padley Gorge, Derbyshire, expletives galore, but hey ho, one has to do what one has to do. I pondered late afternoon, as the Pacific Swift was remarkeably and tantalizingly still feeding over Trimley Marshes, could I get there before dark. Leave it till the morning, if the bird was still their at dusk, chances are it would roost in the air and come back to feed in the morning. Wishful thinking, this was a Pacific Swift, unbelieveably difficult to twitch and only one in the last 20 years that has hung around for a day. I didn't see that one either and so was begining to panic.

Richard and I headed off to Suffolk early this morning (16th June), fingers crossed and living in hope. About 15 minutes down the M1 and around 6am the pager buzzed – NO SIGN OF THE PACIFIC SWIFT – more expletives – let's cut our losses and head off to Padley in the hope the Oriole was still there. Around an hour later and we were walking into Padley Woods, Mobile rings – its Barrie – The SWIFT is till there!!!  What !!  We turned round and legged it back to the car, picking up Barrie on route and unbelievably at 12:30 we were watching the PACIFIC SWIFT..

What a stunning bird, slightly larger than common swift, longer narrower wings and longer in the tail & body. Obvious white rump showed in all lights, particularly well against a darker background. Very fast and agile jizz, often flying at incredible speed lower over the surrounding fields and wetland areas of the reserve. Once tuned into the bird, it became more easier to pick up, even at distance.

A bird I've long wanted to see in Britain and one I thought I never would. What a thrill to have seen it…  A celebratory Pint was sunk rather quickly when I got home.. Now on the fringe of the big 500 for Britain…..

I managed the following record shots. Incredibly difficult to get anything decent.

Above three – Pacific Swift – Trimley Marshes, Suffolk – 16th June 2013 – Tony Davison©

This stunning Yacht set sail, heading along the River Orwell just before the Pacific Swift reappeared.