Four! Birdies overhead

Photo: Picture: ANTHONY MILLER

BEAK WATCH: the young swallows.

SWALLOWS had a birds-eye view of the official opening to Blackley Golf Club’s new £1.6 million clubhouse.

They set up home in the new building almost before members moved in two months ago.

Club officials were worried that swallows, house martins and wagtails, who all nested in the old clubhouse, may move away when it was demolished.

But they were delighted when swallows began building a nest under the eves directly above the first-floor balcony.

And the swallows, which recently had their second hatch of the summer and the first in their new home, had a great vantage point for the opening.

Trustee and former captain Alan Garside, a keen twitcher, has taken an interest in the birdlife at the course for many years.

And he explained that demolition of part of the old clubhouse was delayed by a couple of months ago until the fledglings had flown the nest.

Mr Garside said: “We moved into the new clubhouse on June 1 and the swallows arrived days after us.

“From what we can gather the house martins and wagtails have also moved in with us as well while we also have a tawny owl in the trees just outside the clubhouse.”

Mr Garside’s only concern is the lateness of the second hatch of the summer saying he is worried the fledglings, who remain in the nest, will not be strong enough to make the long migration to Africa which begins next month.