Possible Chimney Swift at Guadalupe

May 10, 2010 I was birding at the Guadalupe Sewage Pasture when I saw a swift flying different from a Vaux's Swift. (It was doing a lot of gliding) It looked a little darker also. It was alone among a large flock of Tree, Cliff & Barn Swallows. It had a pattern on the wing like a Storm Petrel. My first thought was a young Common Swift of the subspecies A. a. pekinensis. They have a smaller tail, (the young ones) and some plumages of pekinensis have a pattern of pale and dark contrast in the upperwing very similar to Pallid Swifts. (Rare Bird Report 2005, British Birds) Also discussed in Common, Asian Common and Pallid Swift: colour nomenclature, moult and identification. Ahmed & Adriennes Dutch Birding 2010. But given the odds I think this is a Chimney Swift. Most Vaux's Swifts are gone by mid-May and there is a record of two Chimney Swifts near Santa Maria May 24, 1987.

My picture:

http://picasaweb.google.com/lawofficeofmarkbrown/MarkSBirds#5490379498308740722 .