Arrivals

The arrival of warm weather brings many birds to Fen Drayton Lakes to spend the summer here. A particular favourite of mine, the swifts, are now here!

You can enjoy watching them at the moment swooping and twisting over the lakes eating insects. You might also see excited screaming parties of them careering madly at high speed around rooftops and houses, often low, especially towards dusk. Their acrobatics are spectacular, a real thrill to watch.

Swifts & Drain by Carry Akroyd

Not only that, you can enjoy the beauty of swifts at the local Over Gallery. Yesterday evening was the opening of the gallery’s new exhibition, Arrivals, which celebrates the return of swifts after their long journey from Africa.

If the local swifts cooperate you’ll be able to admire their dashing flight overhead in the village as well as enjoying this exhibition of prints and paintings by four of Britain’s leading wildlife artists, featuring swifts and other birds and wildlife of the fens.

Four or five pairs of swifts have been nesting at the Over Gallery for the last couple of years. Helen, the gallery's owner, is keen to share her experiences with anyone else who would like to encourage them to nest. Information will be available about how to attract them and a selection of different types of swift boxes on display throughout the exhibition as well as a nest camera.

Swifts are in trouble: their numbers have declined dramatically in the past 10 years and we're not sure why. One of the possible reasons is that their nest sites are being destroyed, so it’s brilliant that Helen and the gallery have chosen to celebrate the beauty of this iconic bird and help the rest of us give swifts a home too.

Swift peeping out by Jonathan Pomroy

Inspired? Head along to gallery to find out more, or have a look here for a specially designed nestbox to welcome swifts to your own patch.

The Arrivals exhibition will run until 29th June.

Over Gallery is open Thursdays 2.30-8.30 pm and Saturdays 11 am-5 pm. 
You are most welcome to make an appointment to view at other times.