Time was, you'd have to check every late swift in case it turned out to be a pallid, but the Yankees have really upped the stakes this time...
A massive arrival of Chimney Swifts in the Western Paleartic means one of these American gems could turn up just about anywhere _ singletons were almost to be expected on the Scillies, but this mega has been recorded in just about every corner of the UK over the years, from the walls of the halls of residence in St Andrews, Fife, to the lush vagrant-trap that is St Agnes.
To put things in perspective a flock of no less than 27 was on the Azores a few days ago, and multiple records have cropped up at numerous locations in western Europe.
Don't be taken in by field guides _ Chimney Swift IS kinda obvious, but anyone who has been lucky enough to watch 'em in the States will know that they don't always look like tubby little spiny tails....they could be overlooked, so if you do come across a late swift, give it the mother of all grillings....
All of a sudden the "eyes to the skies" cliche sounds a bit more pertinent!
I pinched this update on the number of Chimney Swifts in Western Europe from the Western Pal Birding Forum, where I think Dominic Mitchell compiled it _ it shows the scale of the invasion....
Below are listed recent WP reports (all obviously pending acceptance by national records committees etc) gathered from various online sources (see previous messages for credits):
AZORES:
* Corvo: flock of 27 on 28 Oct, with at least 12 remaining next day
* Faial: flock of 12 on 29 Oct
* Flores: flock of 14 on 30 Oct
* Sao Miguel: 2 on 28 Oct
* Terceira: 3 together on 28 Oct plus 2 further individuals, then a flock of 14 on 30 Oct
CANARY ISLANDS:
Tenerife: 2 near Puerto de la Cruz on 29-30 Oct
IRELAND:
Co Cork:
* Baltimore - two reported on 30 Oct
* Cape Clear Island - a probable on 29 Oct, then 1 on 30 Oct
* Clonakilty - 1 on 30 Oct
* Courtmacsherry/Braod Strand - 3 together on 31 Oct
* Sherkin Island - 3 on 29 October
BRITAIN:
Scilly:
* Tresco - 1 on 30 Oct
* St Mary's - 1 on 30-31 Oct
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies.....
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