Europe is about to expertise an unprecedented arrival of American Cliff Swallows following a significant displacement in north-east North America in the course of the second half of August.
In Newfoundland, what has been described as an “distinctive” inflow of the species occurred from 20 August. Thought to be the largest-ever such arrival within the Canadian area, many a whole lot of birds are believed to have arrived, with quite a few teams of between 5 and 20 birds famous in addition to a few bigger, three-figure flocks additionally seen. It is presumed {that a} spell of robust south-westerly winds from the Mid-Atlantic United States into Canada precipitated the displacement.
American Cliff Swallows have been showing in Newfoundland in distinctive numbers, with the displacement now reaching Europe (Alexander Viduetsky).
The first European report got here from Terceira, Azores, on twenty second, when two birds have been seen on the well-known Cabo da Praia quarry.
Evidence that additional data have been prone to observe got here when a ship crusing within the Davis Strait south of Greenland on twenty fifth encountered a small flock over the ocean. At least eight birds have been additionally seen in Greenland itself.
Subsequently, no fewer than 18 American Cliff Swallows have been discovered in Iceland, with most showing within the south-west of the nation between twenty ninth and thirty first. These have included a unprecedented flock of seven at Keflavík on thirty first and three shut by at Njarðvík the identical day. Meanwhile, 4 birds have been discovered resting on a ship which sailed out of Reykjavík on twenty eighth (this vessel was certain for Belfast, the place it is because of arrive on 5 September).
For context, Iceland has solely 5 earlier data of American Cliff Swallow, essentially the most recent regarding two birds in late August 2019.
Given the size of the displacement, British and Irish data appear very possible this autumn. The most recent of the 14 earlier British sightings involved a chook on Skye, Highland, on 27 August 2019 (learn a finder’s account of that chook right here). Extraordinarily, Ireland has had solely a single accepted report from November 1995 – the subsequent few weeks could nicely see others added to that.
