First Swift of the year 2022 (UK) (1 Viewer)

[foresttwitcher]

I can't find a thread on the arrival of swifts this year so thought I would start one.

Yesterday (Saturday 7th May) early afternoon I was watching a small group of 'flycatching' Starlings over a scrubby field on the edge of Amersham (Buckinghamshire) when I had 1 swift fly over that became 2 on the return circuit of my dog walk, then had presumably the same 2 hawking over a road cutting and then 7 circling over the estate where I live. None seen this morning.

This seems early...

 

[Andy Adcock]

None at my place in Nottingham yet.

 

[Richard D]

Mine (Kent) arrived yesterday evening, with reports of a couple over the town late morning.

 

[KenM]

Three (local NE.London) birds arrived yesterday, and were present on and off between 9.17am-14.10pm..as of yet no sightings so far this am.😮
They arrived on the 9th last year!

Cheers

Stop Press…..3 back high and over at 11.27am.👍

 

[dantheman]

I think most of the threads on here have been 'last' Swift of the year perhaps ...

Saw 2 distantly out of the attic window back on the 26th April - the second earliest in the county this year. They would have been migrants though - not on territory.

(The county being Cornwall - I forget it doesn't say your location under your avatar on here any more)

 

[Andy Adcock]

I think most of the threads on here have been 'last' Swift of the year perhaps ...

Saw 2 distantly out of the attic window back on the 26th April - the second earliest in the county this year. They would have been migrants though - not on territory.

(The county being Cornwall - I forget it doesn't say your location under your avatar on here any more)

Indeed, why is that admin?

 

[foresttwitcher]

As a follow up, my local flock numbers 8-10 at the moment and just now I was watching them feeding above a field when a pair flew low and fast overhead mating on the move mid-air in a whir of wings for a few seconds - I'm not sure whether to feel privileged or voyeuristic!

 

[Andy Adcock]

Still haven't seen one in Notts.

 

[Prestdj]

had my first today one over seacroft then another over crossgates leeds west yorkshire

 

[Himalaya]

Had my first on 1st May at about 250 metres above sea level in East Lancashire and then another probably a bit higher on 8th May. On the 9th I had 4 above the town I live in which is about 200 metres above sea level and on the 10th I had 8.

Possibly double figures in the Rochdale/Milnrow area on the 9th too.

 

[tonyfenn]

Big numbers report on the Norfolk coast today but I still haven't seen one yet

 

[Jonno52]

London SW16 a single bird (distant, but identifiable with Canon 10x32 IS bins) just now, 11.00am. Given that I saw this bird within ten seconds of starting to look for them, more sightings are likely during the course of the day. Yesterday and the day before were windy and raining, but today it's sunny and the winds much reduced, so Swifts were always on the cards.

 

[WACCOE]

Saw two on Tuesday in Wakefield hardly seen any Swallows round here though seem to get fewer and fewer every year.

 

[delia todd]

I heard some on Tuesday evening. Oh joy!!! A lovely noise.

 

[Ratal]

Three over Aviemore this morning. Wonderful to see.

 

[RobinD]

First two back over my house yesterday

 

[aeshna5]

Had 17 over my road a couple of days ago in outer west London & seeing small numbers everywhere I go now.

 

[JTweedie]

There's a spot down the road from me where I often see them through the summer, but still no sign of them. Saw my first on 2 May last year, although typically I don't see my first until a bit later.

Heading to Lochwinnoch tomorrow where there have been large flocks of swifts and hirundines spotted a day or two ago, so hopefully I'll see some there. Still haven't seen a house martin either - in fact my sightings of them are becoming rarer. Anyone else noticed this?

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Saw my first in Aberdeen yesterday, although I've been away for a few days so they may have arrived a bit earlier.

 

[tonyfenn]

Had four over yesterday in Cambridgeshire