South west double up with Citrine Wagtail & Alpine Swift

Field where female was in residence

Female Citrine Wagtail

Male Citrine Wagtail

Male Citrine Wagtail

Stormy skies in Gloucestershire

Best Alpine Swift image I could get

Its been a long time coming but finally a bird that was within a twitchable distance was discoved last Wednesday at Pilning Wetland in Gloucestershire. I didn't fancy my chances on Wednesday so I left it until the following afternoon, leaving work at 3pm and heading down the M5. It was just a five minute walk from New Passage to the wetland where there were around twenty birders present. 

Apparently this female Citrine Wagtail had been difficult to see at times but thankfully I had some fantastic scope views inside a minute. The bird was preening and then almost falling asleep for five minutes before it sprung into a feeding frenzy working across the unturned turf. Also inside the field was a Blue-headed Wagtail, 6 Yellow and a number of Pied Wagtails.

Suddenly a call came from our right that a birder had found another Citrine Wagtail, this time it was a male Citrine showing really well on the scape bank nearest the path. Absolutley stunning and very enjoyable. 

Just before I thought about leaving an Alpine Swift was reported at Ham Wall. A very difficult bird to see when based in the midlands. After a bit of encourgagement from Cliff Smith on the phone I was Somerset bound. I just needed to hope the Swift hung on in the same location for an hour.

Thankfully, it did stick and the Alpine Swift was flying around the railway bridge showing extremely well. The long winged Swift showed a very distinictive white throat & belly which was easy to pick out from the Common Swifts. These stunning Swifts breed in Africa and are a rare but annual visitor to the UK.