It was yesterday evening, the day after midsummer night, the sun not quite down and I was paddling my kayak along the local river on the Broads. There was purple loosestrife on the banks, a Cetti’s warbler called and the stinkboats had all gone to bed for the night.
A few swifts were whizzing about in the air ahead of me, hawking for insects at about 20 feet, making that classic shape: as if the bow had flown off with the arrow, as Edward Thomas said. One of them flew over my head, did a rapid 180 out of sight and came back over my shoulder, dipping sharply and, without dropping its speed for a second, it skimmed the water and took a refreshing drink a few feet in front of me.
The control and skill were startling and the light behind me revealed the technique in precise detail, spotlighting the bird as it pulled off this virtuoso manoeuvre. The scant few ripples it left were lit up in gold but the swift was already well above the banks and climbing fast. As I paddled on, one swift after another took its turn, swooping, sipping, rising, never for an instant slowing. Swifts have been timed at 69 mph in straight and level flight, these were flying at maybe half that, still bloody quick, and the smallest error would have been both obvious and comic. But they didn’t make any. It was easy for them.
A swift drink is one of life’s small pleasures. Have you got time for one? Well, just a swifty… A great deal of birdwatching is about flight envy, and I have seldom seen a swift without wanting to be one. But for the first time I watched a swift and experienced drink envy.
- Apologies to anyone who has looked in vain for new material on this spot. I had a technical problem in Lockdown, when no one could come and fix it and I’ve only just managed to sort things out. Poor show. Must do better.
Nice to have you back!
So good to read your poetic observations Simon. I’ve missed you.
So good to have back. Your comments on the nature around us always brighten my day.
What a lovely surprise to have you back. You remind me just to look and take notice.
Glad to hear from you
Lovely to have you back Simon
Fabulous to sudden,y have an email from you again. Sorry about the technical problem – we have missed you.
What a joy to see you pop up in my inbox. I had been wondering where you were.
Super surprise to receive your email. You’ve been missed. You once said that we must stop and wildlife will come to us. I often think that when out in the wild. The other day I was eating lunch in the garden watching some swifts doing their stuff above nearby.
Great to have you back Simon, had all sorts of Lockdown concerns for you and your kith kin allayed by seeing some books coming out. That’s a great placing to witness swifts. Wish I could swim well enough to kayak. PS if you hear a Blackbird at the same time ae you getting chayaking while kayaking?
Missed you but delighted you’re back!
I was wondering what had happened. So good to have you back. I’ve missed your “wordsmithery” (good word ? )
Thanks Simon. For a moment I was there
Always a pleasure to read your evocative pieces and be reminded of the joys of the natural world.