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Seychelles is situated outside the normal distribution range of the Common
Swift. The main islands lie approximately 1,500 km and the Aldabra Group about
650 kilometres east of the African continent, which is the wintering area of the
species. Reports of vagrant species in Seychelles are assessed by Seychelles
Records Committee (SBRC), which has accepted ten records for Apus apus. Six of
these have been accepted with the caveat that other possible all-dark Apus
species were not ruled out by the details known to SBRC. Two records involve
specimens of two different races. In detail, accepted records are as follows:
One race pekinensis shot on Picard, Aldabra 1 December 1892. One juvenile
nominate race caught at Picard Aldabra 8 September 1967. One at Grand Terre,
Aldabra 15 March 1968. Two on Bird Island 30 September and singles 30 October, 6
November, 7 November, 14 November 1972 (possibly the same individual), accepted
with caveat. One on Assumption 29 October and 1 November 1978, accepted with
caveat. One on Fregate 29 September 1991, accepted with caveat. One on Fregate 2
February 1994, accepted with caveat. One at St Francois, 8 May 1995. One at
Assumption, 9 December 1998, accepted with caveat. One on Bird Island September
2000, which died and the skin preserved at Tring (though it has not yet been
examined by SBRC to see if race is assignable).
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