Swifts

Most of todays birding was done at various times from the garden.  The day started grey with rain but by the afternoon it was warm and sunny.
Sparrowhawk featured numerous times today, twice, I saw a bird high drifting slowly before plummeting groundward.  The same, or another bird passed through the garden late afternoon.  The occasional Buzzard was seen gliding/soaring overhead.
In the garden, Starlings dominated with 100+ often in the hedge, but departing swiftly to watch threatening Sparrowhawks.  Why do Starlings expend energy to shadow Sparrowhawks, when they could just remain in the safety of our thick hedge.

Swift 19th July

Juvenile Swift 19th July.  Note the light scaling on the underparts which ages this bird as a juvenile.

Swifts were numerous overhead with screaming parties and family groups seen throughout the day. Today I saw juvenile Swifts on the wing.  Look at the photo of the well lit bird, the light scaling on the underparts ages this as a juvenile bird.  These enigmatic birds will soon be leaving our shores for South Africa, in fact, I have already seen evidence of passage Swift this month.