Rare swift’s no-show disappoints the crwods

BIRD-WATCHERS WHO turned out yesterday in their droves to catch a glimpse of a bird making history after being spotted in Britain for the first time ever were disappointed.

Enthusiasts travelled from all over the country to Hornsea Mere, where a white-rumped swift, had been seen for several hours on Sunday afternoon.

However the bird, normally a sub-Saharan resident, but which has tiny migratory populations in Morocco and Spain, did not make an appearance and serious doubts were expressed over a possible sighting, further down the coast at Spurn Point.

Senior conservation officer Tim Melling, from the RSPB, said the bird had probably been driven to the UK on the back of extreme weather conditions, high winds and rain, which left it disorientated.

Mr Melling said: “There are big crowds of people with unhappy faces as it hasn’t been seen today.

“It is a bit like a common swift with a white rump and has a white edge to the flight feathers at the back of the wing.

“Somebody claims to have seen it at Spurn which is possible because it is likely to want to reorientate itself and go back south, but there are serious doubts about the sighting.

“The one on Sunday was absolutely genuine and would be a first for Britain – which is why people were getting so excited and big crowds took the day off to stand in the rain at Hornsea.”

Hornsea Mere is Yorkshire’s largest freshwater lake and is known for attracting large populations of overwintering birds.

Internationally important numbers of gadwall overwinter at the two-mile long Mere, which also attracts gadwalls, goldeneyes, and tufted ducks in winter.