Swift as Sh*t! - tales from the SPATcave.

Sunday afternoon (3rd May) and there I was washing the SPATwagon when an image of a pie shone out in the afternoon sky. The SPATphone rang, it was Yoda, with news of a SPAT emergency. The Pallid swift had been sighted once more at Crosby, the twitch was on (well after I'd cleared it with my wife obviously). 

We sped up to Crosby and was lucky to find a parking space in the rammed car park at the marine park. Immediately we got out the car and The Doc (Mr Brewster of Focalpoint) was there to put us on another lifer (my 3rd that weekend!) and then Malc Curtin arrived to put it in perspective and duely called it a tarts tick lol. Pallid Swift, just like a normal swift but in milk chocolate instead of plain (what do you expect it has just been easter!) For most of the time we followed it well when it went over the distant flats, the light was good here and this allowed us to distinguish the paler bird in the throng. Jizz wise it seemed to soar more than the other swifts and would often hang still catching updraughts. However, once it came directly over our heads and allowed me with my 200mm lens to get a half decent shot (ok my lens ain't big yet but give me my due) the result of which is below.

  Pallid Swift - Oh yes look at my chinny chin chin.

So now we could relax and just as we did we started to enjoy ourselves. We noticed our good friend Archy Archer in full swing, a true professional look at his style in the picture below.

    Archy Archer - On the left - check his technique!

Then suddenly the Dude-atronometer sounded and got to level 9 (OMG!!!!) and panic ensued to get the camera out in time. But luckily I did get a picture of a good reason to buy a bino-arm (see previous post), this guy certainly needed one.

           Captain, I've lost my U-boat!

Then out of the corner of our eyes a car sped into the car park and out shot this young fellow below, all in a panic, was it still here, LOL! Alan of course it was, you never dip ;)

Mr Northern - we can rebuild him - bionic birder.

So another fine twitch, we all got back in the SPATwagon and rounded the bend only to smell something funny. I knew this smell and afterall we had been in dogwalker central on this twitch. Yes I had turned into my alter ego Shitty Shoe Man! It was rank but then with my superbrain and the help of some locals I came up with a plan.......

                                    Can you give them a good clean please mate LOL

Much laughter was heard in the background and these guys wouldn't even take payment, bless them. Don't knock it till you try it ;)