Alpine swift

Small numbers occur in both passage periods in April/May (first 22/03/08) and Aug/Sept., and breed in the mountains just to the north of Autignac. Can be watched at close quarters in their breeding habitat at Minerve. One over the village, with common swifts, on the summer date of 23/07/06, was a surprise, with others on 04/07/08, 20/07/08 and 17/06/10. A major movement occurred on 01/04/07, involved many dozens of birds, along with various raptor species, on a day of easterly wind and rain. A similar heavy movement, with common swifts, occurred 7/08/2007, again on a day of unsettled weather, but this was eclipsed on 9/08/09 when large numbers turned up, again with common swifts, again on a day of low cloud. In reality, hundreds would have been involved in this movement, the alpines outnumbering the commons at times. Quite superb!