ALPINE SWIFT – Apus melba

As with all reports of rare and scarce birds they are subject to ratification by the respective rarities committees

Alpine Swifts breed in mountains from southern Europe to the Himalaya's. Like Common Swifts they are strongly migratory and winter much further south in southern Africa. They wander widely on migration and are regularly seen in much of Europe and Asia. The scientific name 'apus' comes from the Greek 'apous', meaning 'without feet' and as with all swifts they never settle voluntarily on the ground.

There have been three Alpine Swifts reported from S. Gloucestershire, they are;

1993: (1)

On April 11th one was watched for just ten minutes over Aust Cliffs at Aust. This occurrence constitutes the first record of this species for S. Gloucestershire.

1999: (1)

On June 5th one was seen over Northwick Warth.

2006: (1)

On August 1st one probably this species was reported over Mangotsfield heading south with a group of around twenty Common Swift at 10:45.