A Swift trip to the Wirral

Out with Andy today and we had decided to twitch the Little Swift that had been found at New Brighton last Friday however we were having doubts whether we’d see it or not after the lack of reports from late yesterday and early this morning, fortunately as we arrived we were informed it had been seen along the front but had disappeared behind some trees, we joined the small group of birders present and spent the next hour or so scrutinizing every Swift and House Martin that came over but to no avail, the bird had done a bunk, fortunately another birder came along and informed us that he’d had it some15 mins earlier flying round a church tower up in the town, we decided to check it out which proved a good move as within 10 mins of getting there we were getting really good views, it had obviously changed its routine and moved up into the town and although it was feeding higher than the last couple of days and ranging over a wider area it came back to the church on a regular basis affording everybody excellent views when it did. We called in at Burton Mere Wetlands on the way back, it was a nice little reserve but there was not a lot going on today, no sign of the Spoonbill from yesterday just a couple of Buzzards, the breeding Avocets and half a dozen Little Egrets of note. We also called off at the Quarry near Tadcaster and although the Peregrines were not as showy as last year two juveniles had a brief fly around over the other side confirming another successful year.

across the Mersey

at Burton Mere Wetlands we had Blue Tailed Damselflies of the forms violacea

and rufescens

as well as some impressive Water Lilies

and Marsh Orchids

Jackdaw at the Quarry