Tachymarptis melba

Alpine Swift - Found in Africa, Southern Europe and Asia. My first sighting of this magnificent bird as it soared across Salgados wetlands in Portugal. It was one of three which were quite a distance away and very fast! This is a large swift with a wingspan of 54-60 cm. Like the common swift they migrate to Southern Africa. I photographed this one during May. They differ from the common swift by size. They are about twice the size and also recognisable in flight  by the white underparts. They feed and drink on the wing but roost in cliffs or vertical walls. An amazing study found that Alpine Swifts could stay aloft for for more than 200 days!