Swifts at Spurn

[Mike Priaulx]

Hi all,

The annual mega migration event at Spurn in East Yorkshire is now due. Swifts can pass through southbound in huge numbers, up to 21,000 per day:

https://spurnbirdobservatory.co.uk/news/swifts-at-spurn-17-06-2021

Peak dates are between 20th June and 10th July.

Trapping confirms these are mainly first summer (i.e. one year old) birds.

It's not fully known what is taking place, these young birds could potentially be departing for the year as they are sometimes recorded arriving on the continent in similar numbers.

Numbers passing through are increasing this week but these could be delayed one year old birds who didn't fancy arriving in the wet and windy weather.

NB Pacific Swift is mentioned in the article, and coincidentally one of these rare vagrants was reported from Bardsey Island in Wales this weekend.

All the best,

Mike

Islington and Hackney Swifts Groups