We got very lucky this morning after following yesterday's two probable Pallid Swifts (found by the Hunters) presumably one of the same birds did a fly by (picked up by Marc Read) allowing us to get some better photos which appear to confirm the identification. The bird could have done with being closer and in better light but I think we've got enough but will have to wait to see if the BBRC agree.
Presumed juvenile/first-winter Pallid Swift. The extensive and broad pale throat that extends below and beyond the eye and the pale forehead with an eye mask appearance all look good for Pallid. Structurally the bird also looks good for Pallid (see below).
Structurally the bird appeared to have a relatively shallow tail fork and broad arm and a relatively stocky caudal projection (above and below). The wing-tips also appear relatively blunt tipped.
In comparison Pallid Swift from today (above) and Common Swift (below)- Common Swift has a more rakish appearance, with a thinner hand and pinched in caudal projection and longer tail. Sadly there is only a hint of scaling on some images and there is not enough detail in any of the photos that I got to see any finer details such as the contrast in the coverts and primaries or much in the way of overall colouration. However the pictures the Hunters got yesterday show milky brown coloured birds so hopefully by putting together all the details available- the large diffuse pale throat extending beyond the eye, the contrasting eye mask, the relatively broad bluntish tipped wings, the stocky caudal projection and the relatively shallow forked tail and the overall milky brown colouration captured in yesterday's images - seems on balance to favour Pallid Swift. In context of the time of year and the intense warm southerly airflow over the last few days that fits in with an established vagrancy pattern for this species- seems like a strong case for Pallid Swift.
Yesterday's birds showing the milky brown colouration (Liz Hunter)
Pallid Swift from Bulgaria above and Common Swift from Beddington below highlight some of the stuctural as discussed above. These are both Spring birds but the structural features carry across.
