Day of the Swift

Lade - Lockdown Day 42 - mild, overcast, ne 2 - Light airs and overnight cloud made for suitable weather conditions for moths, attracting 18 macros of six species into the light trap, including our first Broad-barred White of the year, plus the pyralid despicata.

                                Pyrausta despicata

Broad-barred White     

  Our morning walk around the local patch was notable for Swifts, hundreds of `em swarming over the lakes and tearing low across the desert and away north, some `screaming` as they went. Its always difficult to assess the numbers involved, but I reckon during the two hours we were on site a conservative estimate of 500 probably passed through. The Swift is one of those birds that is eminently watchable, and certainly in my top ten of favourite British birds.
  Also, decent numbers of hirundines on the move this morning, mainly Swallows and some perched on overhead power lines. Two flocks of four and six Whimbrels passed up the coast and a lone Sandwich Tern flew over calling.