  The unique capability of the Swift satellite to perform a prompt and
autonomous slew to a newly detected Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB) has yielded the
discovery of interesting new properties of GRB X-ray afterglows, such as the
steep early lightcurve decay and the frequent presence of flares detected up to
a few hours after the GRB trigger. We present observations of GRB 050607, the
fourth case of a GRB discovered by Swift with flares superimposed on the
overall fading X-ray afterglow. The flares of GRB 050607 were not symmetric as
in previously reported cases, showing a very steep rise and a shallower decay,
similar to the Fast Rise, Exponential Decay that are frequently observed in the
gamma-ray prompt emission. The brighter flare had a flux increase by a factor
of approximately 25,peaking for 30 seconds at a count rate of approximately 30
counts s-1, and it presented hints of addition short time scale activity during
the decay phase. There is evidence of spectral evolution during the flares. In
particular, at the onset of the flares the observed emission was harder, with a
gradual softening as each flare decayed. The very short time scale and the
spectral variability during the flaring activity are indicators of possible
extended periods of energy emission by the GRB central engine. The flares were
followed by a phase of shallow decay, during which the forward shock was being
refreshed by a long-lived central engine or by shells of lower Lorentz factors,
and by a steepening after approximately 12 ks to a decay slope considered
typical of X-ray afterglows.
