Indoor Meeting - Wednesday 9th November 2005

Swifts

‘From the quest to photograph the enigmatic Khasi Hills Swift to the strange case of the Bishop & the Sand Martins, via 'white-rumped' Spanish colonists, an exploration of all things Swifty’.

This indoor meeting, on Wednesday 9th November, was held at Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory to provide a better opportunity for members in east Kent to attend. It was a little disappointing that a greater number didn’t take advantage of the carefully planned arrangements, particularly as it proved to be a most eventful evening.

Phil Chantler, of ‘Swifts’ fame, made effective use of power point projection in making a watertight case for the non-acceptance of an early claim of a flock of 100 Alpine Swifts in July 1915 at Kingsdown. It was like an intriguing ‘Who done it?' that obviously required a considerable amount of research, involving the Meteorological Office and an Archbishop, no less – you should have been there to witness the presentation, it was fascinating.

Phil’s enthusiasm for this intriguing family of birds knows no bounds and he provided more examples of the challenges faced when not only trying to identify them, but also seeing them in extremely remote places, like the Khasi Hills Swift in NE India. Thank you Phil for another most enjoyable and illuminating talk.

Don Taylor