Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba
Rare. Southern Europe. Recorded from Mar-Aug with a single record from Oct.
Alpine Swift at Barton Pits in May 2009 (left, courtesy of John Clarkson, centre/ right Graham Catley).
First recorded in the county on April 23rd, 1964 at Sturton Park near Horncastle, there have been a further 18 confirmed records with the earliest on March 20th, the latest on October 24th. Gibraltar Point has been the best site to find one of these huge swifts where there have been nine records. Not all of these birds have arrived in the best of health. The bird at Healing, August 6th, 1971 was found in a weak condition and later died; the bird seen at Gibraltar Point on April 24th, 1987 was also later found dead at Seacroft on May 2nd. These birds may be tracked as they travel across the country and such was the case with one first seen at 07.00h April 27th, 2003 at Gibraltar Point. It flew south with two Common Swifts, Apus apus, and was later seen at two localities in Norfolk and then at Minsmere, Suffolk in the evening where it stayed for a few days.
The species was ex-BBRC in 2006, unsurprisingly given that in the peak years for this species more than 20 were being recorded and between 1950-2005 there were 484 UK records.
| Site | First date | Last date | Count | Notes |
| Stourton Park, Baumber | 22/04/1964 | 1 | ||
| Tetney | 24/10/1969 | 1 | The latest county record | |
| Healing | 06/08/1971 | 08/08/1971 | 1 | Found in a weakened state, died 08/08, specimen in Birmingham City Museum |
| Gibraltar Point NNR | 11/06/1974 | 1 | ||
| Donna Nook | 20/07/1975 | 1 | ||
| Messingham SQ | 16/06/1979 | 1 | Flew west | |
| Gibraltar Point NNR | 31/08/1985 | 1 | Flew south | |
| Gibraltar Point NNR | 24/04/1987 | 1 | ||
| Seacroft | 02/05/1987 | 1 | Found dead, presumed to be the Gibraltar Point bird of 24/04. | |
| Stamford | 20/03/1990 | 21/03/1990 | 1 | The earliest for the county, and the only March record |
| Goxhill Marsh | 11/06/1993 | 1 | ||
| Skegness | 19/05/1996 | 1 | ||
| Gibraltar Point NNR | 27/04/1996 | 1 | Also seen in Norfolk and Suffolk | |
| Gibraltar Point NNR | 23/10/2006 | 1 | Flew south and at one point chased by a Sparrowhawk. | |
| Gibraltar Point NNR | 12/04/2009 | 1 | ||
| Barton Pits | 01/05/2009 | 1 | ||
| Gibraltar Point NNR | 06/07/2011 | 1 | Flew south with Common Swifts | |
| Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe NNR | 11/05/2012 | 1 | Flew south at 07.00h. | |
| Huttoft Bank | 11/05/2012 | 1 | Flew south at 07.23h, same as Saltfleetby bird | |
| Gibraltar Point NNR | 03/08/2013 | 1 | Flew south | |
| Gibraltar Point NNR | 28/05/2017 | 1 | Flew south just before midday, earlier went south at Spurn Point at 09.45h. | |
| Crowland | 22/03/2018 | 1 | ||
| Gibraltar Point NNR | 24/04/2018 | 1 | Flew south along the beach | |
| Anderby Marsh | 13/05/2022 | 1 | Over the marsh for c.10 minutes before drifting off south | |
| Gibraltar Point NNR | 13/05/2022 | 1 | Seen at 10.27h. over East Dunes before continuing south and away; presumed same as Anderby Marsh bird. | |
| Seacroft Marsh | 19/03/2023 | 1 | ||
| Grainthorpe | 19/03/2023 | 1 | ||
| Chapel Six Marshes | 20/03/2023 | 25/03/2023 | 2 | |
| Skellingthorpe | 26/03/2023 | 1 | ||
| Weelsby Rd, Grimsby | 30/03/2023 | 1 | ) | |
| Cress Marsh | 02/04/2023 | 1 | ) These three records are assumed to relate to the same bird. | |
| Chapman's Pool, Cleethorpes | 12/04/2023 | 14/04/2023 | 1 | ) |
| Frampton Marsh | 19/04/2023 | 1 | ||
| Saltfleetby St. Peter | 27/07/2023 | 1 | Note: the final total for 2023 is considered to be eight birds, but it may have been less given their mobility. |
Finder’s report: Alpine Swift at Bishopthorpe Farm, Tetney, October 27th, 1969, second county record.
by L. R. Dawson and R. Clifford.
Note: this account is from the finder’s correspondence with the county recorder at the time (Keith Atkin) and the original Rarities Committee submission. The Rarities Committee report for 1969 noted that the total of nine Alpine Swifts that year was above the annual average since 1958, and that this county record is the latest during these twelve years. There was an exceptionally early Kent record (March 15th-18th, when it was found dead) but there had been two previous British March records (including one in Devon on 11th March 1930) and one Irish.
Circumstances
I would like to report the occurrence of an Alpine Swift at 12.00 midday, October 24th. The single bird was observed flying south about half a mile from the coast. At the time there was a strong NW wind, and it was cloudy but quite bright. We were absolutely certain of the identification as the bird, although flying fast, came right over our heads and we easily picked out the white breast and larger form. Both of us had seen the species only three weeks before in southern Spain. Robin (RC) has only just completed a year as ornithologist at the Coto Dona and is very familiar with the species.
Description
The bird was heading southwards and at its nearest was seen down to 15 yd. and viewed through binoculars (Leitz trinovid 10x40 and 7x50). It was viewed for about one minute. Very large swift – longer wings than Common Swift – very noticeable. Even if we had not seen the white belly, we would have been pretty sure of the identity. Luckily the bird turned in flight to give us a very good view of the white belly.
Reference
Smith, F. R. and the Rarities Committee (1970). Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 1969 (with 1960 and 1968 additions). British Birds 63 (7): 267-293.
(Account prepared November 2017; updated as per new Birds of Lincolnshire (2021), September 2022)