Butcher Bird

I went to Prestwick Carr yesterday for the Great Grey Shrike, it was showing really well when I first arrived then it flew off to patrol one the fields. I stayed local the day before and went for Dipper on my local stream. There was a pair in their usual spot and I caught the male displaying to the female. Both of them were collecting nesting material so hopefully breeding is about to happen.

Great Grey Shrike

Dipper

A rubbish shot of the male displaying

Collecting nesting material

 

Great Grey Shrike

It was off to Stanhope this morning for the Great Grey Shrike. It was windy in the quarry, which kept the Shrike down. Although it showed well twigs nearly always hid it. It was very approachable so this is the closest I have ever been to a Great Grey Shrike.

 

Grey & Black

Some record shots (the light was rubbish) of a Great Grey Shrike at West Hartford Northumberland and some shots of a lifer for me, a Black-necked Grebe taken at the QE11 Lake near Woodhorn.

Great Grey Shrike

Black-necked Grebe