Alpine Swift

This is really posted for posterity and to record the fact we actually saw the bird. All through the day I  had been watching the tweets about the Alpine Swift in Crawley,  how it had been seen late the previous evening and the fact that it had roosted on the Virgin Atlantic building on Manor Royal. So when the phone rang, late in the afternoon, and Martin enquired whether I wished to go, then it took just a few seconds to be ready.

When we arrived there was the usual assembly of birders, mostly glum looking and none really searching the skies. " Last seen just after mid-day" was the greeting. We joined the happy throng, more optimistic than most as we had our binoculars out and on occasion searched the sky. It looked as though it was another of those twitches where we "Should have been here yesterday". Gradually they dissipated, melting away in ones and two until, finally, we were the last. What there had been of the sun was dipping behind the office blocks and a chill wind was blowing down Faraday Road. To the north dark grey rain clouds were gathering. One little voice on my left shoulder said "Keep going - you never know" on the right it was saying " Give up- dipped again". Martin moved the car and we sat in somewhat warmer surroundings keeping a watch to the west.  A Blackbird flew through our vision - the pulse quickened momentarily, then a very obvious Swift in the distance. Out of the car! Yes there it was flying over the Virgin Atlantic block, round the block over the car parks - got it!!

The "in flight" records provided by the camera are pretty poor, but finally it went to roost in the darkened eaves of the north east corner of the building. Setting the ISO to the "stupid position" I managed to get one shot nearly in focus. Who cares - a life tick for both of us.

 

Is this how "twitching" develops - driving long distances, constant monitoring of Twitter, compulsive searching Rare Bird Alert? Joining lots of other people huddled against the weather in the hope of seeing something unusual? What a contrast to our Scottish birding adventure.