Delightful Swifts 

Returning to England in the middle of the Swift breeding season makes my return easier, soothing my feelings of loss. The Common Swift in Europe was always one of the most amazing bird phenomena. It's the most aerial of birds, sleeping on the wing, only landing to lay its eggs to produce the next generation.
Apus apus is a creature of the air as it even copulates on the wing. Arriving in Europe in early May from its African wintering grounds, it is able to utilize the long days and explosion of air plankton - airborne insects and spiders - to raise its young and get maximum growth rate. Before the parent birds head South at the end of July, after a three month breeding period, the young birds remain only to make the same migration later.

The most impressive sight for bird enthusiasts is to witness these birds approaching the Alps in their thousands - flying up and over with the total mass of birds forming a fog-like cloud. A good place to witness this is Sargans, SG, Switzerland. 

Common Swifts fill Summer skies of Wiltshire England

After enjoying a beautiful Summer in Wiltshire, Autumn arrives, and days get shorter and the first frosts turn the ground white. Thoughts drift to following the Swifts to southern climes. Spain comes into focus and Seville in Andalucia becomes our chosen destination for a winter escape. 

Andalucía Spain 

And like the Swifts, we migrate South landing in Seville to warmer and longer days. Many northern European and English breeding bird species have already arrived. 

Feral Parrots such as the South Asian and sub-Saharan African species below, the Nanday Parakeet from South America and the Rose-ringed Parakeet have all become resident.
Joining these other winter migrants and escapees, we to settle into a small old neighbourhood within this ancient city.

Two Parakeet the Nanday Left Rose-ringed below, both have feral populations in Spain. In green parks and preserves in and around the city there are many other northern European birds. Black Redstart and many other small eaters from northern Europe are to be found in the hedgerows. Boot Eagle soar over the Guadalquirvir river.

Hoopoe

Another Spanish bird, although exotic in appearance, is a natural breeding specie, with 20% of the population staying through the winter months and the majority migrating to Africa South of the Sahara.

Hoopoe below & above

Black Redstart left and Chiffchaff lower left over winter in the region joining residents such as the Crested Lark below right

After years of working with the Hoopoe personally in Switzerland and finally losing them from my monitoring patch - it is pure delight to see them here in Andalucia apparently flourishing.

Next post: the Lesser Kestrel breeding support project at the Spanish National Park Cote Donana the largest and the most significant wildlife refuge in Europe.

Lesser Kestrels appear to be suffering the same fate as other raptors, half a century ago in many other regions globally. This issue being eggshell thinning caused by organochlorine usage in agriculture. In addition to the lack of suitable pasture land for hunting, resulting in a population decline.
The Spanish ecological and conservation authorities are aware, implementing a nest-box support program.