Lev Parikian writes:

It was an unlikely sight in the hailstorm the other evening. Out of the gloom, a single bird, darting across my sightline and away again.

 

A swift, just in from Africa and probably delivering an unfavourable report to its companions about the state of the British weather. But for those of us who spend the first week of May scanning the skies, it was a moment of relief. They're back. Breathe out and settle in for summer.

 

They are the most remarkable birds. Fast – as the name suggests – and ridiculously nimble, they make our regular garden birds look pedestrian, scything through the air on sickle-shaped wings in constant pursuit of insects (they can catch up to 10,000 a day), and filling the skies with excitable squeals. Look out for them on warm days between now and early August, wriggling around high in the sky or swooping acrobatically lower down. If you're lucky you might be treated to a screaming party – groups of them whizzing around at roof height in tight formation. A thrilling sight.

 

Like many of our birds they're in decline. They love to nest in little crevices in the eaves of houses. Close them up, as many people do nowadays, and you're denying them a home. To offset this, you could install a swift box, available from the RSPB shop here , or even make your own. 

 

They're only here for three months or so, long enough to breed and get the youngsters up and about. Then, one day in late July or early August, they're gone, back to Africa, leaving the skies that bit emptier for the next nine months until they grace us with their presence once more.

 

Lev Parikian lives locally and is a conductor, writer and and our resident watcher of birds.
Please visit his website to find out more about his work including the books he has written on nature and his fantastic Birdsong Project. levparikian.com/

And follow Lev on Twitter to increase your 'smiles per minute' too: twitter.com/LevParikian

 Lev featured in our Wild Norwood festival last year, reading from his recent book: Into The Tangled Bank, watch the video here