getting out with my camera
A lesser grey shrike had been at Winterton dunes in Norfolk for about a week, on Monday I had the time to go and have a look at it. It is amazing just how long it takes to drive there from Swaffham. After navigating the last few miles I found the car park and set out into the dunes. I wasn’t sure quite where the bird had been being seen but headed in the right general direction. The dunes were surprisingly quiet with just a few linnet and meadow pipits flitting around.
After a mile or so I came over a ridge and saw a group of birders so assumed I was in the right spot. Sure enough there was the shrike a little way off at the top of a shrub. I was told that if no-one moved any closer it was likely to come in to the nearest bush. 15 minutes later it did exactly that. It showed well, feeding regularly and returning to the top of the same shrub for the next half an hour.
When it moved away to a further shrub most of those present moved away but I decided to stay and hope for even better views. While the shrike was some way off I was distracted by a meadow pipit that refused to show properly. Then the shrike returned, this time showing even better as it continued to feed. Almost every hunting flight was successful with a range of insects being caught.
Having been on site for a number of hours I decided to go and have a look for the adult male red-backed shrike. Despite much searching I couldn’t find him. With the car park due to close soon I headed back that way, being distracted by a number of wheatear which appeared to be fresh in. At least half a dozen were seen but they moved on quickly.
Back at the car it was time to decide where to spend the last couple of hours of daylight. The call of the shrike was too tempting so I re-parked and walked back out for another go at it. Very pleased that I did as it ended up showing even better in the evening, at times I had it to myself. A massive female peregrine flying through and finally getting brief views of the red-back shrike rounded off a good day out. One of my first days out with the camera this year.
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