Two shrikes and you're out

Two grey shrikes within 20 miles of each other made a tempting day out. First call was Wall Farm NR where the Steppe Grey Shrike showed well as it worked the hedgerows on two sides of a field. While sometimes distant it frequently came reasonably close (although I struggled to get any decent photos even with the 2x converter stuffed on the end of the 400mm).

The rise in DSLRs seem to have changed the meaning of 'showing distantly' which, when I was twitching in the 80s, used to mean the bird was a barely identifiable (sometimes unidentifiable) dot only visible through heat haze and possibly asleep. Say like a Long toed Stint. Now it seems to mean it's not a frame filler with a walkabout lens. OK, it was quite a bit further away than the first Steppe Grey I saw in the UK, though.

This bird had been present for a few days but the ID had taken a couple of days to be pinned down.

The following three shots show the overall pale appearance, light creamy-buff wash to the throat and underparts, pale bill, large white primary square, weak mask with paler lores, long primary projection extending to the black of the central tail feathers beyond the UTCs.

White wing patch restricted to the primaries, and extending close to the primary tips on the inners

Collins describes the tail as 'rather short' (ie compared to other members of excubitor - Collins takes a different taxonomic line to the BOU) but this really wasn't obvious in the field.

After watching the bird for a few hours I headed off to Cannock Chase where I tracked down the Great Grey Shrike after exploring for around 30 minutes. Equally stunning bird (and perhaps slightly more satisfying since it meant finding the bird in a few square miles of suitable habitat).

Actual Twitching 1

OK, but is it really twitching? It's a Bufflehead. Surely it's more like a trip to the zoo? Or a pet shop? Or the petting sections of the WWT reserves.

Anyway turned up at Herbury Gore bright and late (around 9, after getting the kids ready/ fed) and walked round to where a huge crowd of two people were watching a plastic duck bob up and down in the company of a Goldeneye in a spurious attempt to boost its wild credentials. A few photos below - of the usual appalling quality - for instance in the photos you can't see the sticker on its arse saying 'genuine 100% plastic, made in Slimbrige' that was clearly visible in the field. Smart bird, tho. Hoodie, Buffie, I wonder what nearctic quacker the local boys are going to release next? [that gag was copyright of Reservoir Cats]. Also around c25-30 RB Mergansers looking pretty damn smart.

Wandered back home via Burley to pick up the GG Shrike. Scanned all the telegraph wires and picked it up about 5 minutes after arriving. It spent most of its time sitting on the wires, swooping down to pick up lizards. Caught about 4-5 in the hour or so I was there.

Last stop was at a v well known Gozzie site in the New Forest. I didn't start out too hopeful as it was quite late by the time I got there and most of the forest was in shadow. Picked up a couple of Buzzard soaring over the trees so clearly still a chance. After about half an hour or so eventually picked up a male in level flight off to the left, Woodpigeons exploding out of the trees as it flew past.