Archie's British Birding Blogz

Sunday 3 May 2009 - PALLID SWIFT - A new addition to my British List - 03/05/2009

Sunday 3rd May 2009

PALLID SWIFT - A new addition to my British List

My day did not start well. Roy Smith called me whilst I was in bed to say that he'd just had an Avocet fly over Mill Pool towards Teal Pool at Alvecote. It was a patch tick for both of us so I told him I'd be down straight away. The trouble was that instead of viewing Teal Pool from the road, he rushed over there (with his dog) and flushed the bird. It had flew high north east and I was not a happy chap. As I left the house a pair of Common Terns circled overhead, a nice 'garden bird'. I gave the Pools a quick going over but the only waders to be found were 2 Oystercatcher and several Northern Lapwing. I intended on spending the rest of the day preparing the garden for a session of vegetable planting, pretending the clods of earth were Roy Smith's neck!

During early afternoon I glanced at my pager to see that the long-staying PALLID SWIFT had turned up again on M*rseyside. I started to get twitchy. How would I break the news to my two favourite girls that I was abandoning them again to see a bird? A deal was evenually negotiated whereby under no circumstances whatsoever I would not 'lift my bins' during the whole of the Bank Holiday Monday. "What if that Avocet turns up at Alvecote tomorrow?" said Sammy. "Well that's different!" I replied.

Unfortunately Pezza Perrins could not get his birding pass stamped by his 'better half' but 'birding batchelor' Jules Allen had no such problems. We left mine and blasted north just after 3.10pm. The national speed limit was exceeded and the motorway traffic was a dream. We did get lost briefly along the Crosby Road but we arrived on site at Crosby Marine Park shortly after 4.50pm. Dan Pointon was spotted looking skyward and soon afterwards so was the PALLID SWIFT just over our heads along with around 15 Common Swifts. In perfect light conditions the bird was enjoyed for the next hour or so providing the growing crowd with excellent views. THREE new British Birds in FOUR days, it don't get much better than this!

PALLID SWIFT - Crosby Marine Park, Seaforth, Merseyside - May 2009

Photo kindly provided by 'Super Steve' Seal

It was also great to see some familar faces there. Phil Locker and Phil Jones turned up just after we did followed shortly afterwards by Rich Vernon and Mike Stokes. Mal Curtin and his family then arrived and last but not least Alan Northern and his missus showed up after a day out at Alton Towers. I arrived back in Warwickshire at around 8.15pm.... luckily without my throat slashed, my wallet still in my pocket and my car stereo still intact. Birding M*rseyside ain't too bad after all, I'll have to do it more often..... Mmmmm maybe not.

Monday 4 May 2009 - Pallid Swift

Posted by Phil

You big tart Archer! Must have missed you by a few minutes! Had to go, even though it was my 3rd, to make sure the teeny ticker go the right bird.

Arch Responds: If you mean Dan Pointon I had to administer first aid to his bleeding knees at one stage. The big lumox fell over whilst giving chase to a local that had just pinched his wheel trims.

Edited by ArchieArcher69 on Wednesday 13 May 2009 at 3:05 PM

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Tuesday 5 May 2009 - Archie dares to visit M*rseyside!

Posted by The Moore-hen

I can't believe you risked visiting L*iverpool after all you have said about this great, friendly, crime free City. I didn't even see one heroin addict hanging around the playground in the whole hour I was there!!

I did venture up for the swift myself yesterday and finally dispatched this 'tart' onto my BOU list...all I need now is Black-headed Bunting and all my tarts are gone....I have missed more than one!! Good to see old Bernie Smith and the 'blurred birder' Mr Yapp on site as well as the ever friendly Steve Young.

PS: When Roy flushed the Avocet did he notice the huge orange bill....I wonder?! :o)

Arch Responds: Glad you connected bro', you should've ditched the missus and came with us the previous day.

PS: Only 5 decent sc*users have ever existed as far as I'm concerned. 1) John Lennon 2) Wayne Rooney 3) George Harrison 4) Abi Clancy and 5) Steve Young.... a thoroughly cracking gentleman and a fine photographer.... I also owe him for smuggling me on board his boat for the Anglesey SOOTY TERN twitch.

Edited by ArchieArcher69 on Wednesday 13 May 2009 at 6:00 AM

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About Me

WARNING: PARENTAL GUIDANCE IS ADVISED. CERTIFICATE 18. Thanks for dropping by... I go by the name of Adam 'Archie' Archer, a birder from the West Midlands of England & Chief Executive of ASBO (Association of Satirical Birders & Ornithologists). This is simply a blog relaying my tales from around the wonderful Isles of Great Britain (& sometimes beyond). I have been fortunate to witness many great birding spectacles from Unst at the highest tip of Shetland in the far north to pelagic trips off the coast of the Isles of Scilly in the extreme south west. I also also include sightings from around my home in north Warwickshire and my local patch, Alvecote Pools a SSSI that straddles the Warwickshire & Staffordshire borders. Birding is a great hobby so please relax, smile & enjoy it.... & for goodness sake don't take it all so seriously! PLEASE NOTE THAT VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THE COMMENTS ARE NOT NECESSARILY SHARED.