Mega!! Pacific Swift at Trimley Marshes. Suffolk

While we were watching the black Kite in Faversham, Kent yesterday, breaking news came through on the pager that a Mega bird in the form of a Pacific Swift had turned up at Trimley Marshes in Suffolk.

From Faversham to Trimley it's about a 2-hour drive, and with conflicting messages throughout the day reporting the bird "present and showing well" to "no news of Pacific Swift since 2.45pm". Additional news was also coming through that Cordy's Lane had been shut off, and police were issuing parking tickets. Police speed traps were also being set up along the A14, and a 3-mile walk was required after parking the car. It became less tempting to leave Faversham.

Even so, we still gave it serious consideration on the drive back towards Essex. News of thunderstorms and hail at Trimley finally put pay to any lingering thoughts we may of had.

This morning, Brian, having obviously not slept too well, texts at 5.15am to say he's going to take a chance and go for the swift. At 5.40am, we are in the car and heading North up the A12, towards Trimley.

Arriving at the car park around 7am. Brian somehow managed to squeeze his car into a gap between another car and a tree, and we set off through the gate, heading along the footpath towards the reserve centre and hides.

Reports yesterday of the walk being 3 miles were an overestimate, and were much closer to 2 miles.

On the walk down, we met a few birders returning to the car park. None had seen the bird, and although we didn't really believe the bird would have stuck for a second day, we still found it surprising that they would be leaving this early.

Arriving at the centre and opening the hide door, we were greeted with the words we didn't think we would hear. "It's just started to show", but it's very distant. Fantastic! Now all I had to do was find the bird among the hundreds of swifts out in front of me. The other problem is that it's only showing briefly when it pops up from the reeds.

Soon after setting up the scope, birders started to arrive from everywhere. Soon the hide was packed, and I still hadn't seen the bird.

Some birders left the hide and started scanning from the grass bank, and after hearing encouraging calls of the bird being seen, we decided to head outside and give it a go.

The area where the swift was being seen while we were there.

Shortly after setting up the scope and with the help and directions from other birders, I'm on the bird. Staying on the bird, though, is another matter altogether. 

Before leaving, the Common Swifts start to move closer towards the pools, and the Pacific Swift moves closer with them, giving some nice views.

A superb morning, spent in the company of a great group of birders who had come from all parts of the country.

We even get the added bonus of a lift back to the car park from one of the reserve volunteers, gratefully adding some shrapnel to his collection box as we leave.