Come first of May I scan the skies,

For telltale glimpse of sickle wings, those joyful screaming cries,

Glad to welcome them once more. To England green and dear, for summer never can begin for me until they’re here.

Yes the swifts have arrived from Africa to spend the next three short months with us to nest. The earliest date I’ve recorded their return was April 29 some years ago and the latest May 9. This year my first sighting occurred at 8pm on May 3 over the house. The cold days of late April probably delayed their homecoming but a warm southerly breeze in early May suited them and their prey admirably.

Upon arrival their first priority is to visit water bodies such as the Wetland Centre to replenish energy levels. Swifts spend almost their entire lives on the wing. When the young fly the nest they remain totally aloft for two or three years before finally nesting, so how many million miles do they travel? Impossible to answer.

Over time their feet have become stunted through lack of use so if they accidentally alight on the ground their long curved wings prevent them from taking off again. Swifts feed, roost and mate on the wing.

They hunt spiderlings and flies and during inclement weather they may fly hundreds of miles to gather a crop food for their nestlings which may have to wait days to be fed.

The oldest known swift lived to be 18 years of age, a fact extracted from data when ringed in the nest.