Great Grey Shrike at Waddington fell...

The last day of my week's break, saw myself and my dad up at Waddington fell near Clitheroe for the Great Grey Shrike. The bird had been showing for the past few days just north of the Moorcock inn on neighbouring bushes and telephone wires. On arrival, we were greeted by a layby of birders looking up towards the top of the hill to our left. Sure enough, there was the Great Grey shrike sat on top of a hawthorn bush some 200 yards up the hill. However, the telephone wires where the bird had originally been reported for the last few days, was now occupied by a team of a clay-pigeon shooters. Now come on, what excitement is there in that? Seemingly the bird wasn't hanging round in that area as you can guess..

Watched the bird for half an hour or so as it made its way down the dry-stone wall and eventually came close-enough to get a record shot of the bird. A couple of flight views were nice showing the black and white patterns on the wings.. Something I had never seen before suddenly happened, the bird started to hover like a Kestrel and dropped down onto a conifer.. Stunning bird an a good yeartick.

Moved on to Stocks reservoir where we had distant views of Red grouse on the moors and a ringtail Hen harrier searched the nearby heather moorland. Nothing much else seen that day but 3 yearticks was pretty decent..

{Look at the top of the wall and that's where the bird was at first}

Back to uni tomorrow at 6am for a couple of weeks hard work and then off for easter.. Bring on the spring..

Next post is unbelievable, a miracle must have occured that day!!