Pacific Swift
Apus pacificus (Latham, 1801) (0, 12)
Photo © Rob Stonehouse - East Chevington, Northumberland, 13 June 2021
STATUS
Eastern Euraia. Polytypic.
OVERVIEW
As with the previous species, arrival time is late May to mid July, with one record for mid August of this swift from the far east.
BBRC RECORDS
1). 1981 At sea Sea area Humber, Leman Bank North Sea Shell BT gas platform, 53°06'N 02°12'E, about 45 km ENE of Happisburgh, Norfolk, first-year, caught exhausted, 19th June, photo, A. p. pacificus, released Beccles, Suffolk, same day; seen Shadingfield area, Suffolk, 20th June.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 76: 503; M. Parker, British Birds 83: 43-46, plate 11; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 85: 533; BOURC (1984), Ibis 126: 441; BOURC (1988), Ibis 130: 335; BOURC (1992), Ibis 134: 212; Piotrowski, 2003; P. Murphy et al., Suffolk Birds 2006: 41-42).
2). 1993 Norfolk Cley Marshes, 30th May, photo.
(S. J. M. Gantlett, Birding World 6 (5): 190-191, photos; Birding World 6 (12): 478, photo; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 87: 538, plates 144 & 145; S. J. M. Gantlett, Norfolk Bird & Mammal Report 1993: 133-134, photos).
3). 1995 Northamptonshire Daventry Reservoir, 16th July.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 89: 510).
4). 2005 Yorkshire Spurn Point, 1st July.
(Yorkshire Birding 14: 99-100; P. A. Fraser, M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 100: 60).
5). 2008 Yorkshire Beacon Lane Ponds, Kilnsea, 22nd June; presumed same, Spurn and Kilnsea, 26th June.
(N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 102: 568).
6). 2011 Yorkshire Spurn, 9th July.
(N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 105: 591).
7.0). 2013 Suffolk Bawdsey, 29th May, photo; presumed same, Trimley Marshes, 15th to 16th June, photo; also in Lincolnshire, Yorkshire.
(British Birds 106: plates 302; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 107: 612, plate 302).
7.1). 2013 Lincolnshire Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe NNR, 12th June, photo; same as Suffolk; also in Yorkshire.
(N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 107: 612).
7.2). 2013 Yorkshire Spurn, 12th June, photo; same as Suffolk; also in Lincolnshire.
(N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 107: 612).
8). 2017 North-east Scotland Longhaven, 2CY+, 2nd July, photo.
(P. D. Bloor, Scottish Birds 37: 368-370, plates 314 a-b, 315 a-b; C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 111: 588).
9). 2019 Yorkshire Hornsea Mere, 2CY+, 10th August, photo; presumed same, Easington, 2CY+, 10th August.
(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 113: 595).
10) 2021 Northumberland East Chevington then High Hauxley, 2CY+, 12th June, photo.
(British Birds 114: plate 312; C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 115: 562, plates 413 & 414).
11). 2021 Gower Fall Bay, 2CY+, 27th June, photo.
(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 115: 562).
12). 2022 Shetland Sumburgh Head, Mainland, 19th June, photo; presumed same, Noup of Noss, Isle of Noss, 21st June, photo.
(A. Howard, Scottish Birds 43: 82-83, plates 71 & 72; L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 116: 559).
P). 2023 Shetland Boddam then Brake, Hillwell and Loch of Huesbreck, Mainland, 4th July; same, Boddam Voe, 5th July; presumed same, Pool of Virkie, Mainland, 8th July.
(D. Fairhurst, W. T. S. Miles & H. R. Harrop, Scottish Birds 43: 357-360, plates 301-306).
P). 2023 Highland Stittenham, 6th July; presumed same as Shetland.
(birding information services).
P). 2024 Shetland Pool of Virkie, Mainland, 15th to 17th July, photo.
(birding iinformation services).
