It was just too hot to revisit La Charca so it was time for relaxation. There I was, enjoying a quiet few minutes on the balcony of our room. It was very hot - 35C.

I was idly watching a few Swifts feeding rather distantly, and then realised that they were rather different to the Common Swift back home - appeared to be smaller and paler (grey/brown) with a different flight pattern.

A quick check on the Collins Bird Guide app on the phone - Plain Swift and mainly breeding in Madeira and the Canary Islands and a new species for me. Common Swifts are very rare on Gran Canaria apparently. By the time I had found that out, they had disappeared but a few arrived the next morning although distant so out came the camera.

Unforunately, they were still mostly distant and there was a strongish heat haze so the photos are not the best but, what the hell, a new species.

The family is planning to return to the same hotel for our holiday next year. Hopefully, the weather will not be so hot then so that bird photography will be easier than this year and I can improve on my photos of this species.