Pallid Swift, Crosby Marina
Whimbrel, Seaforth
Little Ringed Plover, Seaforth 
Little Gull (first summer), Seaforth
Sandwich Terns, Seaforth
Common Tern, Seaforth
Wheatear, Seaforth
Black-tailed Godwits, Seaforth
Orange Tip, Loggerheads CP 
Speckled Wood, Houghton Green Flashxxx
Yesterday - 5am - Jonathan, Ste and myself set off for the Great Orme in the pouring rain. As Frank Sinatra once sang about an Ant - we had high hopes! Unfortunately it was cold, wet and windy and two and a half hours of scouring the rock yielded the best part of bugger all! Aside from a sprinkling of Wheatears and Mipits, the best birds were 4 Choughs, at least 4 Ravens, a couple of Gannets, a Fulmar and a male Stonechat. Oh and a singing Sedge Warbler - mustn't forget him! On the way over we had briefly stopped at Rhos Point and spotted 7 Gannets and 4 Fulmars.
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Over to plan B - except we didn't have one. After some discussion we decided to head over to Loggerheads CP hoping that there would be some more activity and also shelter from the wind in the trees. It was also very quiet - a few Chiffers and Blackcaps singing, a Nuthatch, a falcon calling which Jonathan ID'd as a Peregrine and a Marsh Tit which Ste spotted. A male Bullfinch was nearby and Siskins were heard calling. 2 Grey Wagtails were flitting around in the brook nr the car park and a Goldcrest put in an appearance nr the car park. From a migrants point of view it was a disappointing day, however I did really enjoy the company, the exercise and the walking. I clearly don't do enough of the latter.
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At HGF yesterday evening the Black-necked Grebes were back up to five birds. Two Common Sandpipers were also there. A male Sparrowhawk flew through the garden later on.
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This morning I had a quick mooch around the back lanes. Two pairs of Grey Partridges were showing on Waterworks Lane - one opposite the farm and one in the field on the bend. Two Yellowhammers also picked up - one in the field opposite the pylon on Waterworks and one in its usual spot on Highfield Lane. At the latter a male Peregrine was perched on top of the pylon for a few minutes before flying off to the south west. A Buzzard was perched in a nearby hedgrow and singing Whitethroats were on both lanes. Two Stock Doves were in the same field as the Yellowhammer.
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At HGF this morning there was only a pair of Black-necked Grebes present with the male Yellow Wagtail patrolling the bank in the SW corner. The Whitethroat is still singing in the bushes by the road and a Willow Warbler was singing behind the east hedge. The drake Wigeon is still around and all by itself - it tried following Mallards around for a while but I think they just ignored it. Three Oystercatchers were flying around making lots of noise. A Corn Bunting was also perched on the wires nr Myddleton Hall. Hirundines numbered:
50+ Swallow
6+ Sand Martin
5+ House Martin
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Mid morning and I finally caved in and headed off to Crosby for the Pallid Swift. When I finally caught up with the bird it flew right over my head, no more than 20 feet high! Pity the lighting conditions were shite - it was ironic that I couldn't pick up any detail on the bird when it was right above me, however I could see the ID features when it was distant over the water. Pallid Swifts normally occur around the Mediterranean Sea coasts. ID features are:
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Basically a brown bird with a greyish forehead and dark eye patch
Tail is short and forked
Long swept back wings
Large white throat patch
Long swept back wings
Large white throat patch
Underparts appear scaley
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Sepration from Common Swift is discussed here:
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At Seaforth two Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Whimbrels, 19 Black-tailed Godwits and 48 Dunlin comprised the wader presence. 27 Sandwich Terns and at least 49 Common Terns were also there, along with 4 first summer Little Gulls. We did have a mooch for the Black Redstart that was reported but to no avail. 13 Wheatears and at least 30 White Wagtails were flitting around on the long bank.
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This evening and another trip to HGF in the rain. In the field by Midhops Farm were 2 Grey Partridges and a Wheatear. 2 Redshanks flew high off the pool, calling, and headed east. A Buzzard flew over and a Swift put in an appearance while both Yellow Wagtails appeared in the SW corner. A domestic ensued which resulted in the female flitting over to their favourite feeding spot - the "lawn" in the south field. The male disappeared - presumably down the pub!!! On the way home I noticed that the Corn Bunting was perched in the top of a low growing bush at the back of the field below Myddleton Farm. This bush is completely isolated - I regularly spotted a male Corn Bunting singing from the top of this bush last year. Maybe the same bird?
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