Swift (1 Viewer)

Grey on grey: pearl on slate, smoke and charcoal; torn on the wind, blowing, ragged over the ridge. A water colour sun slipping under frothy waves, dowsing itself in foam: extinguished.
And above the defiance of the just-leaved trees shifting in the tide of wind, a single Swift slices straight and true, lately in from Africa, picking plankton from the ebbing day. Behind and beneath by the kelp of the beeches the Martins twist and jink, white rumps like fish eyes in the shadow.
The Swift the shark, the barracuda, circling darkly beneath the rolling breakers, lifting on the rising rush; the Martins the shoal of smaller fry bunching and rolling with the current, above the reef of the trees.
On the horizon a cold sun sets and the dark greys darken; the Swift swims on towards the night.

It's great to know the Swifts are now back too, isn't it. My sister caught a brief glimpse of one this morning but it was away behind the trees before I could even look up!!

Another lovely description of your day H2.

I've seen Hobby this week, but Little Owl still eludes me

That is one of your best ever, H. pearl on slate, smoke and charcoal ... On the horizon a cold sun sets and the dark greys darken; the Swifts swims on towards the night. - just wonderful.

I'm with Kits on this one - great use of metaphor and beautiful mental imagery

Absolutely one of your best.

Thank you all - I just wrote it off the cuff while watching out of the window. Glad to know it struck a chord.

Edit: I just edited the mistake!