An Evening with the Swifts

A very interrupted night's sleep, as usual, left me incredibly tired for most of the day, but the desire brought about by a late afternoon appearance of the sun to get out for a walk at the end of the day.

You need it after a twelve hour day spent inside.

I've spent some time trying to photograph the swifts around their nest sites; they are having a great spring and there's at least forty engaged in sky shredding flight above the three that I know. However, knowing where the nests are is no guarantee of being able to photograph one of these fast flying characters.

My bright idea, having watched them over a few evenings, was to stand opposite the nest with my camera, and wait for one of the swifts to make one of the super low level runs that indicate it's going to duck down and head up under the eaves, offering a chance to maybe get the bird with a burst of shots as it slows to make its entrance.

Fat chance of that!

When I went to try and get some photographs last night, the swifts tormented me by staying mainly at high altitude, at no point going into their nest holes and making only occasional rooftop level screech-runs at far too high a speed for me to follow.

It didn't take me long to give up.

Tonight, I decided to just visit the park, enjoy the sun, and then just watch the swifts.

Worked for me.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 29.05.16

This first set of shots is from around the park.

These next pictures are where the swifts are nesting. Note the eaves they can get in to.