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.