Of Buzzards and Swallows

It was a dozen or so years ago that buzzards started to appear regularly over Audlem and in the surrounding countryside. Now they are seen daily and have been joined recently by another large raptor, the Red Kite.

There are now regular sightings of buzzards in village trees and, as in this photo by Peter Oxley, perching on houses in Audlem.

This shot, taken on Friday, was in Matthews Way on the western side of the village.

While on an ornithological theme, one story that's only just come to our attention was the sighting of this summer's first swallow in the village.

We have received a report of one of the summer visitors being seen on 1st April by a local resident who, each year engages in a spot of friendly rivalry with another resident to see the first swallow in Audlem.

Mind you, if we had reported this sighting on 1st April, would we have been believed?

Next up, a cuckoo?

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