Swifts on Castlemartin peninsula

Noted mention of a white-throated swift at St Govans Head. I have been watching and recording swifts on the Castlemartin peninsula over much of the last 25 years and there does seem to be quite a lot of variation in throat markings in the population. Some individuals do seem to have markedly white throats. At least one seems to be resident each summer on Stackpole Head, I have also seen one at St Govan's Head and there are possibly at least two others (perhaps more). They seem to occur each year in more or less the same places. They are quite striking, but so far my conclusion has been that they are particularly well marked adults (older birds?).

The swift has now been given an amber-listing status (due to declines in its population, including loss of traditional nesting crevices in buildings that have had roof renovations etc). Suffice to say that I think our cliff-nesting population on the Castlemartin peninsula currently appears to be reasonably stable. I have no idea how many pairs there are but on some evenings up to 50 or more can be found screaming along the cliffs between Stackpole Head and Elegug Stacks.

Tonight was just such a night with many entertaining numerous holidaying visitors to the Stacks - with their low-swooping, eye-level screaming flights along the cliff edge, a real delight to see.

On the Stacks this year there are around 15,000 guillemots All the counts along the peninsula coast have still to be properly sorted and added up, but I think numbers of guillemots are about 12% up on last year.

Good numbers of chicks now calling - their cries seem to get louder and louder as night falls - many old enough now to jump and fledging has started. Watched two tumble down to the water this evening from the top of the main Stack - enticed by their waiting fathers!