Swifts of Flight and Swooping Swallows
Swallows and Swifts
As the warmer weather settles over the UK it’s the end of long journeys for swallows and swifts as they return from warmer climes to their homes for the summer months.
But can you tell the difference?
Swallows
These are often seen in areas where there are lots of small insects and love open land with access to water. We’re ideally located at Weir Holiday Park, with the River Derwent and our private fishing lake, for you to spot them swooping in the sky.
Swallows can be identified by their red throats; they are small birds with dark, glossy-blue backs and pale underbody. They are a pleasure to watch, being agile during flight and often seen dancing around each other.
Swifts
Another fantastic flier! Swifts lack the colour that Swallows have – they are a sooty brown colour – though often look black. Swifts have long wings and a short forked tail.
Swifts often fly very high in the sky, but they never perch as they have tiny feet and legs and can barely walk. Swifts are more excitable, buzzing and screaming over rooftops and are often seen as dusk approaches.
Swifts eat flying insects and airborne spiders – the environment at Weir Holiday Park and Allerton Holiday Park is perfect for Swift. They often hunt for food over water.
Swifts are listed as an amber species on the list of Birds of Conservation Concern, with their breeding number dropping by 47% between 1995 and 2014. The RSPB are running a Swift Count and you can record your sightings and submit them to the RSPB via their online form: https://emisapps57.erm.com/Rspb/Home/Index
If you snap any pictures of Swallow or Swifts whilst at the holiday park, do remember to share them on our Facebook page!