It would appear that the bad weather conditions in the Mediterranean area are the main cause of Swifts being held up at present – 18th May. Wet and windy conditions are being reported through the Swifts Local Network and causing members from all over the British Isles to be concerned that many of their local Swifts have still not arrived back to their nesting colonies in the UK to breed. This of course will have a knock on effect with regard to the lateness of their breeding attempts in time to head back to Africa during August.
Edward Mayer reported that during his holiday in Capri last week Swifts and other European species were still coming north from Africa when conditions were good, but migration has been badly affected by torrential rain and adverse winds.
