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The Birds Of South Gloucestershire          Alpine Swift - apus melba

 

Alpine Swift breeds in mountains from southern Europe to the Himalayas. Like Common Swift 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 Swift reported from S. Gloucestershire;

 

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. (Denise Whittle)

 

1999: (1)

On June 5th one was seen over Northwick Warth. (Dick Reader)

 

1993: (1)

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

 

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