Swift Exit

Every year in the late Spring, the swifts return to Swanvale Halt, and almost every year one or more finds its way into the church. We don't know quite how, but presumably they get in under the eaves while looking for nesting sites, and find themselves trapped in this echoey space. Usually they spend a while swooping around the aisles, until either they get tired enough to drop to the floor where they can be caught and returned to the outdoors, or, presumably - not though we like to think of it - join what are probably the remains of many others up in the roof beams. More than one has got into the organ pipes, and once I managed to catch one after it had got down the chimney into the old vestry fireplace. 

We've had a swift this week. It's been surprisingly bold, dive-bombing us as we've sat saying Morning Prayer. It makes me wonder how swifts perceive the world, and whether we humans exist to them. Do they register us as other beings or merely as features in a landscape they negotiate at breakneck speed, obstacles to avoid?

Rick the Verger and Rob who helps him from time to time were there yesterday when, on one of its usually fruitless reconnaissance missions, the swift managed to find its way into the church entrance area. They shut the doors behind it and watched as it zoomed out through the main door and into liberty! It's probably the best news I've had all week.