Sunday 25 January 2009

Lucky Shrike (for me that is)!









Having gone up late morning to feed the birds at High Moor in Wykeham Forest we made our way to the clearing in Wykeham Forest where the Great Grey Shrike has been seen for the last few weeks.

Having sat in the car and had a coffee for 20 minutes we made our way back past High Moor and went through the Forest turning up by the nursery so imagine our surprise when a Great Grey Shrikes fly's across the track ahead of us and lands on top of a tree trunk in the clearing.

Great views and I managed distant shots before it moved to a tree top further back. Still time to put the tripod up, put scope atop make a cup of tea and get great sights of the bird. Forget the tea only joking.

Shortly after riding around lanes on the perimeter of the forest we had great views of a Sparrow Hawk. Is it me or are they getting more prevalent.

Riding around the Carrs we saw 6 Barn Owls today, all different I believe due to the distances between them. The pictured owl is a typical type of context around here on top of a bank over a ditch.

Also seen today amongst other things was a group of 16 Tree Sparrows and a similar possibly slightly larger group of Yellow Hammers.

10 comments:

Steve Race said...

Hi Mike

Really pleased you got the Shrike, I had a feeling that this bird would show again in which it has been seen quite frequently the last week or so. Its great you found it in a different area and managed to get some good shots (and a cup of tea).

Regards

Steve Race

Linda Yarrow said...

Hi Mike,

Lucky find :-D The Shrike is a striking bird which makes it quite easy to see, I hope for its sake not too easy for the Sparrow Hawks.

Anonymous said...

That was a really good find Mike and worth the trip.

Mike Randall Bird Photography said...

Thanks for your comments.
It was great luck to find the Shrike in this area Steve.
Only the second GG Shrike we have seen, the first earlier this winter in Suffolk. Proves were still novices!
Whilst easily seen the clearings in Wykeham Forest are quite big to search.Around here we seem to se a Sparrow Hawk everytime we go in the countryside.
Mike

Chris said...

HI Mike,
A nice spotting there and nice pictures too. Pity that the light was not that good, but I guess that this bird did your day...

Mike Randall Bird Photography said...

Thanks Chris
Seeing the Shrike made the day (it was pretty grey) having left the other site thinking we had bombed out on the bird.
Mike

animtreebird said...

Very beautiful birds. Nice photos. :))) One of my wishes is to spot Barn Owls. Hope I will be lucky soon. :)))

Mike Randall Bird Photography said...

Thanks Animtree
Hope you get your wish soon.
Mike

Anonymous said...

Well spotted!

Mike Randall Bird Photography said...

Well, actually!
Pat saw the Shrike fly accross in front of us, undulating like a Woodpecker and shouted stop the car, took a look and pronounced 'it's the Shrike'.
Birding in twos has advantages.
Mike