I have not seen any Swifts either. However there are more Tree Martin and Welcome Swallows evident at the moment.
Jean
From: Nicki Taws [
Sent: Tuesday, 21 February, 2017 07:05 AM
To: 'Philip Veerman'; 'Canberrabirds List'
Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] Any swifts?
I have also had a swift-less summer, despite looking skyward as I often as I could in likely weather.
Cheers
Nicki
From: Philip Veerman
Sent: Sunday, February 19, 2017 6:01 PM
To: 'Canberrabirds List'
Subject: [canberrabirds] Any swifts?
The swifts (W-tN and less often FtS) are usually a feature or highlight of summer birding here. And through most of my adult life I would see them several days during summer, typically amounting to 100 or more birds. We are now at mid February
and I have not encountered any, in spite of what would normally be thought of as likely weather. Indeed I think this is the 3rd year in row I have missed them. Admittedly most of January 2015 I was in Philippines and saw huge numbers amounting to
several species of swifts and swiftlets (very confusing).
Locally this year, I think there was one mention on this line and one observation mentioned at the COG meeting but that seems it so far. That seems of concern. I know Michael Tarburton is compiling observations nationally.........
Philip
