Alpine Swift at Amwell, 23rd March 2023

News broke of an Alpine Swift at Amwell, found by Phil Ball as I was on the way to Grafham Water for a RSPB SE Herts Group outing. Despite the news that the bird had disappeared shortly after 1pm I decided to give it a go. After an hour or so with the sky getting dark, and rain falling I was just leaving. Bumping into Ron Cousins, I gave it another 10 minutes when Ron spotted the bird over Easneye Woods. A superb bird, much larger than our usual Swifts, difficult to keep up with as it hunted over the wood. I managed a couple of record shots as it came slightly nearer, being harassed by a Gull. 

There has been a recent influx of around 70 birds in the UK, but this is only the 7th record in Hertfordshire and the first since 2009! I also managed to see my first Sand Martins and a single Swallow. The following day I also caught up with this adult Mediterranean Gull which was reported the same day as the Swift.