Great Grey Shrike on Loughbrough Uni drop off

 Love a winter Shrike

 Full zoom on

Posing nicely as I headed back to the car

  

On Sunday I took Gussy back to University at Loughborough after his christmas break. The roads were very quiet and we quickly unpacked. With time in hand I dropped down the M1 a couple of junctions to the edge of Northamptonshire on the way back to try and see the reported Grey Grey Shrike. The location was on some rough ground that backed onto an industrial estate.

I made the wise decision to put on my wellingtons as all the land was very wet. As I headed up the field I flushed Common & Jack Snipe. There were a couple of birders in the distance looking through a scope so I headed in that direction. They were watching the bird at a reasonable distance until it disappeared. Whilst the other birders headed home I headed for the top of field and kept scanning.

After 15 minutes I picked up the Shrike again which then allowed me to  get some ouststandnding views in my scope and a few hand held distance photos. There is always something magical about watching a Shrike on a cool winter morning.

Forest of Dean birding and bores

Mandarin

Cannop Pool

A real raptor day

 New Fancy View

Overgrown viewpoint

 Great Grey Shrike

Great Grey Shrike

 You looking at me

Nice with Chorizo

With the big freeze approaching fast you could certainly feel the easterly wind on Friday as I headed down to the Forest of Dean with fellow patch birder Chris Lane. I planned a circle of the forest giving us the best chance to see as many of local species as possible. 

First stop was Cannops Pools were the highlight was 36 Mandarin Ducks. I've had to work hard for these on occasions but this time we had no such worries as they were swimming around, resting on banks & also flying between the pools.

We didn't score with Crossbills at Parkend Church but did get stunning view of Goshawk emerging from the forest in front of us then circling giving us super views as two Greater Spotted Woodpeckers were drumming hard. Siskin were noted in most places during the morning. Two Hawfinches flew east behind the church and we saw another couple on the green when passing through.

It was then up to New Fancy View where there were a handful of birders looking for their year ticks. It was quiet for twenty minutes until I picked up two birds on the horizon of which one started to display to the pleasure of the audience of birders. Chris picked up a Peregrine & there were also Sparrowhawk & Common Buzzards.

I did warn Chris on the walk to Crabtree Hill I'd never seen this particular Great Grey Shrike on five previous visits and a number of photographers past us returning to the carpark with glum faces and telling us "no sign mate ".

There was no need to worry as the Butchers Bird perched up beautifully and stood out as we reached the brow of the hill. We watched him move around his terriotry and catching prey. The distant images I took do no justice to this stunning bird.

Back at the car park four Wild Boar were munching their way through any remaining grass looking to a late lunch. It was fabulous to see the boars at such close quarters but also a bit alarming that they appeared so tame. A morning of quality birding..............

Hopwood Strike in extended stay

I thought it was only right I dropped into Hopwood after work on Wednesday to catch up with the long staying Great Grey Shrike. It took me five minutes or so to find the bird but he was perched up in the bushes just behind the Oak in the centre of the field. 

It will be interesting how long he hangs around given the decent weather and he has been in residence since December. Great birds locally at the moment. 

Wet and Windy start to 2014

It's amazing how bad the weather can be when you are off from work and you want to get out. My original plan was to head to Slimbridge but the shocking weather paid to that idea. I opted to stay local and try see 3 target species - Little Owl, Great Grey Shrike and Brambling.

The Little Owl was not showing at all when I arrived and who would would blame him given the weather, however I changed my angle of viewing and through the scope I could see him sheltering from the rain and the wind. The top photograph was kindly provided by Pete Walkden which shows how beautiful this Owl is in better weather. The second photo was my record shot through my scope in appalling light.

I then headed down the road to the Great Grey Shrike plantation however despite my efforts I couldn't locate him. Rosehill on the Lickey Hill's was the next destination where I located a flock of 30 Brambling on the Beech trees on Twatling Road. No sign of Crossbills but it was no hammering down with rain.

On the way home I stopped at Lower Bittell where there was 2 Scaup which was a real bonus given the conditions. Goosander also present in afternoon.

I did make the return journey in the afternoon on the hope of seeing the Shrike before it roosted. Finally at 3.40pm I located him flying to end of large Oak tree in the centre of the field.

A total of 39 species over the two sessions not bad considering the weather had put pay to a number of the normal very common species.

Bogey Bird lands at Bittell

The Great Grey Shrike has definatley been my bogey bird of 2013, I've managed to dip a Shrike twice during the year and miss another one when one was reported at a place I'd just returned from much to my annoyance. You can only imagine my frustration when one was reported close to Lower Bittell on Friday when I was on a training day with no chance of making it before dark. Lower Bittell is under 10 minutes in car from home.

As soon as it was light on Saturday I made the short journey to Hopwood hoping to locate the bird.  Within five minutes I saw the Shrike perched on a hawthorn bush in the centre of the field and then fly further away out of view. The Shrike was clearly not enjoying the attention from a local dog walker who was in the plantation. 

I did try and drive to the other side of the plantation without success as I couldn't find the bridge I needed, so I returned to lay-by where I'd originally parked. After a period of about 20 minutes Dave Jackson located the bird flying right. The bird then gave superb views across the plantation where I managed to take a record shot through my scope. Thankfully Vern Wright was on hand to take a great shot that shows much clearly the bird and the habitat.

The Shrike became number 226 on my year list, very pleasing to get this late addition in December. Fingers crossed the bird hangs around for the winter as It would be superb to have such a great bird so close to home.