Alpine Swift - Barnston, Wirral & Little Gulls, Crosby Marina, M/side - 15th April 2006.

What more can a man ask for? - Beer garden weather, a classic pint of Kronenbourg, my fiancee by my side..................... Oh! and an Alpine swift 'hawking' overhead!!

The opportunity to see one of these superb Swifts in the NW was impossible to resist. Good views were had of the bird that had been present over the vicinity of the Fox & Hounds Pub at Barnston, Wirral, for the past few days, despite it feeding at considerable height for much of the time of my visit. A bonus bird was heard in the form of a reeling Grasshopper Warbler just over the banking at the far end of the car park as we were leaving.

On the way home, Pam & I called in at Crosby Marina to where up to 330 Little Gulls had been estimated to be feeding earlier in the day. c200 birds were estimated during our short time there. Absolutely delightful.

Laughing Gull - Marton Mere, Blackpool, Lancs - 12th April 2006.

Upon hearing that the Laughing Gull was coming to bread, I made a hurried pre-work dash to Marton Mere. Unfortunately the bird was not co-operative during my time there, but at least I managed to improve on my images of the 9th. What a stunning gull!

Laughing Gull - Marton Mere, Blackpool, Lancs - 9th April 2006.

Only the 2nd county record, this fine ad Laughing Gull showed well but quite distantly late afternoon/early evening. These camcorder videograbs were the best i could manage in the blustery conditions as I viewed from the northern side of the Mere.