Swift

The scythe-like shape of the swift has been seen over the Pleasaunce and captured in this shot by Jason Green, our resident photographer. The birds swoop and circle high in the sky catching tiny insects in their beaks.

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The swift is a medium-sized aerial bird, which is a superb flier. It evens sleeps on the wing! It is plain sooty brown, but in flight against the sky it appears black. It has long, scythe-like wings and a short, forked tail. It is a summer visitor, breeding across the UK, but most numerously in the south and east. It winters in Africa.

Look up in the sky from April to August, often very high. They never perch on wires like swallows. You might see excited screaming parties of them careering madly at high speed around rooftops and houses, often low, especially towards dusk.


Last Updated: 23rd-Jun-2007 01:12 Print
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