Brown Shrike at Upper Hollesley Common

On Wed 22nd October, news of a possible Brown Shrike filtered out on the news services, the initial picture was inconclusive and people were hedging their bets but as soon as David W. said Brown Shrike still on the Common, I elected to go. I left work at 2.30pm and quicly collected optical equipment and camera gear. Drving down I was grateful to receive directions from the Ferguson as it has been some years since I last visited this spot. The A12 defacto speed limit seems to virtually 30 mph all the way to Melton with all the Sizewell work and solar farms springing up & utterly destroying the once pretty landscape. Passing Sutton Hoo and then forking left I drove down to Upper Hollesly Common parking the far side on the left and there were several people staring at several large bushes near the road including Jane & Paul F. Unfortunately the bird had flown and buried itself in a very large bush quite close to the road about a minute before I had arrived and I had a very nervous edgy wait, especially when several kind people including Jane offered me a chance to look through their scopes and I still couldn't see it! Finally, when Jane relocated the bird, just above a dark hole oin the bush and a verticle branch, I could finally see the a fantastic immature 1st winter Brown Shrike, albeit only the first part of the breast could be seen and then later its back and then finally its head with the thick black mask and generally brown colouration on the crown and back, with thick dark buff barring on the sides of the upper breast. It then flew right and perched fully out by the side of a smaller bush to the right before flying again to another just right of that again showing fully out on the right hand side of the bush. It then flew back left to the big large bush. Finally I saw it fly well right and into the bottom quater of a large Pine on the left hand side the Pine nearest the road, I assume it was going to roost? Finally by the original Shrike bushes a fine male Yellowhammer was calling his contact note from the very top of a bush. Apologies for the appalling record shot pics, it took time for me to actiually see the bird and it was some distance away and in poor light when I finally managed pics, easily the worst I have seen!

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Return to Shetland Birding

Not sure why this last post disappeared from the blog, so I am posting again... On Friday October 3rd, we drove down to the picturesque big cliffs of Sumburgh Head on the southern most tip of Shetland, a nostalgic one for me as I had visited here once before with my mother, some 40 years ago. We saw around 300+ Fulmars and 60+ Gannets, 3 Shag seen and a Goldcrest briefly perched on a stone wall as walked to the head, there was a big seawatching hide and then we walked up to the lighthouse at the top passing a model Orca/ Killer Whale and then the steep climb to the top where breathtaking views and steep cliifs where we could view Fulmars shearing on air currents. At Grutness Beach nearby a Goldcrest was seen in a bush as we walked down and 2 Wheatear seen one on the road one on a wall nearby. On the beach we saw 12 House Sparrow and the immature Scarlet Rosefinch seen perching on top tall vegetation. We drove close and pulled up and slowly made our way round still seeing the Rosefinch,as this time Hugh H. drew up and went on the beach slowly getting closer to the Rosefinch but that flushed the Sparrows and the Rosefinch too. 2 Sanderling also seen on the beach too. 2 Grey Seal poking their heads vertically up out of the water. 2 Dunlin seen too. Turnstone, Oystercatcher and Great- black-backed Gull seen too. At East Shore nearby we scanned from the car by the beach/ sea edge and saw 10 Bar-tailed Godwits in a flock, a Curlew and the sea a female Red- breasted Merganser and 4 Eider. ON Saturday 4th October, at Bardister Bay, as we were driving away from the baty, we saw a Red Kite flying to the left first spotted by Tony, I saw a female Kestrel fly right from the right hand side of the car. We then visited Eshaness Lighthouse, where we walked out on the the rocky area in front of the lighthouse, 5 Twite flew in and although unobtrusive, I managed to photograph, 2 of their number. On this extremely windy day, up to 300+ Fulmar flew past out to sea plus Gannets. Whilst we were photographing a Rock Pipit by a small pool in front of the sign, a lone Pink- footed Gopose dropped down and landed exhaused from out of the sky. It sat down for a while, until it got its second wind and drank from the pool, before it eventually flew off again. Whilst driving back flocks of 54 and 100+ Pink- footed Geese flew over . I spotted a female Red Grouse on the left side of the road, plus a Raven and Hooded Crow seen too. Back at Bardister bay in the evening, a Cormorant and the 6 female Red- breasted Mergansers were on the island. A Hooded Crow flew over, Wigeon seen too plus plus Curlew and then finally at 3.50pm a Red Kite flew past left and inland over the valley. On Sunday 5th October, after a second visit to the Siberian Thrush, we again lined up by the bushes on the edge of Loch Asta but when it was apparent that again people were seeing it from the other side, we again went into the field and I was near the fence and stood by Hugh H. and he said concentrate on the bush ahead and even after he left, people were indicating it was there, I suddenly saw it, the excellent 1st winter male Siberian Thrush (my 4th ever, 2 in China Big Wood near happy island and 18 Sept 1994 at Burnham Overy Dunes) and got my camera on it. It was right at the top of the bush feeding on elderberries only partially obscured & then it looked right at me almost in full view. A birder's dream bird! Before it flew down. I looked at my pictures and was elated I had the shots. . A male Siskin, Song Thrush and Goldcrest and 5 Starlings seen plus 5 Greylags on the Loch. We then drove down to Scallowway Harbour, we parked by the harbourside and saw 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese on the water, 2 Red- throated Divers over the far side plus 5 Black Guillemots, 3 Kittiwakes flying around with a Black- headed Gull. Meanwhile looking over the harbour over to the left a fantastic Storm Petrel which flew low over the water and the distinctive white bar underwing noted. On Monday 6th October, a Redwing was seen in the bushes of the back garden plus a Starling and a Wren. Back at Scatsca Plantation, we only heard YBW, this time but 5 hooded Crows flew over, 30 Rock Doves fed in the field beyond the Sedge Lake, a Redpoll head calling flew over and seen. Redwing, Blackbird, Pied Wagtail, Robin heard, Goldcrest and Meadow Pipit. At Toft Harbour up to 9 Shag seen plus 8 Black Guillemots, Whilst looking out to sea a Storm Petrel flew by. 30 Kittiwake stood on the Pier (most adults with 4 immatures), Turnstone and on the near beach a brief Purple Sandpiper, Wren and Meadow Pipit that flew and perched on a fence wire. Gannet, Herring Gull and BH Gull seen too. On the Journey to levenwick, 3 Mute Swan, Raven, Hooded Crows, 18 Oystercatchers stood in a field. At Levenwick we stood looking down and overlooking a garden, in the field left of the garden, a triangular weedy patch, up popped up the excellent Western Sub-alpine Warbler, perched on a tall weedy stem, it then showed periodically amongst the weeds before being perched on the fence line around 3X, Goldcrest seen in the garden too. Back at Asta Loch, the 1st winter Siberian Thrush was seen in the garden opposite the Loch and there were about 15 people in front of me on a raised bank and from the 'second row' I only got fleeting view of the Sibe Thrush tossing over the leaf litter by the edge of some bushes before it eventually flew left and out of sight. . A male Blackbird seen too. On Tuesday 7th October, in the garden a Chiff- Chaff seen plus a Twite flew up and perched on the wires right in front of our accommodation. By a pool near Bardister, we saw 3 fine Whooper Swans but we could not stop to photograph them, in such a scenic location, which was a great pity. AtRonas Hill, another very scenic area with very deep valley sides, we saw 66 Eider, 53 females and 13 males on the water, 2 Guillemot seen also, with 3 Tysties, 3 Shag, 4 Twite seen in the vegetation then perching on the wires. Near a homestead, some bushes with a spring incluyded both male and female Blackcap. Back at Eshaness, we saw Hooded Crow, Rock Pipit, Gannet, Fulmar and Meadow Pipit and as we drove away, I spotted a fine male Red Grouse on the left side stood sentinel appearingreasonably close from the car and we managed to obtain a few pics of this bird. Back at Scatsca Plantation, 5 Bramblings flew nout from a tall tree, YBW heard, female Blackcap see. Also 30 Rock Doves were still in the field beyond the Sedge W pool. Back at Toft harbour, I was setting up the gear when a Swallow suddenly flew low and right over the beach, a good start. 2 Curlew and 5 female Red- breasted Merganser initially seen distantly in the harbour. That quintet then very memorably flew in formation and flew right towards us where they were actively feeding right in front of us all diving in unison and incredible sight! 8 Turnstone, Rock Pipit, 2 Tysties one showed reasonably well. Finally Trondavowe where we tried for a RB Fly, as I followed the others they thought they had it the bird flew out of the tree edge and flew into a bush and then over the road, when it flew back it was clear it was a Garden Warbler. I heard a Yellow- browed Warbler and Jake's Magic tape drew it into the vegetation near me where I managed a few pics when it flitted low in the bushes. A male Blackcap also seen , Goldcrests and Robin too. On Wednesday 8th October, we drove back to Loch of Spiggie, 64 Whooper Swans (18 of their number were immatures) were initially seen in front of the hide, we saw 3 Slavonian Grebes plus 2 Rock Pipit really close to the hide, Whilst outside we saw a female Marsh Harrier. we drove around the seaward side of the Lock and half way along there was a pull in, where we saw a Little Grebe by some reeds and another Marsh Harrier seen. Critically though we saw around 40 Teal but they flew into a mid inlet, they were initially covered by vegetation but then the Harrier went fairly close by and 20 birds swam out onto the Loch including the fine female Blue- winged Teal, at last we saw her. We then drove up to a farmstead and overlooking a stone wall we looked at the back of a building and a fine Ortolan Bunting (a bird becoming increasingly difficult to encounter so this sighting was especially welcome- the photo doesn't really do it justice as the colouration was more vivd through the telescope) was perched here but it was steadily raining and suddenly the rain came down in torrents and we had to retreat back to the car.

Another Yellow- browed at Gunton Woods

On Sunday 19th October, following a tweet from Andrew I had a look at Gunton Meadow and Gunton woods, as I walked along the meadow, I heard the YBW constantly calling and round the Sallows area but despite it calling regularly I could not see it. A group of teenagers were plunked slam back in the mniddle of the path with an aggressive dog and I could not check this area easily, so I gave up but met Phil D. back at the car, so I walked back and showed him where the bird was by the Sallows area, fortunately the teenagers left and the bird started calling and I spotted the fine Yellow- browed Warbler in the very top of a mid sized tree and we had reasonable views of it here and in another tree nearby.

Yellow-browed again

On Saturday 18th October, I drove to Corton ORT, as I got out I could hear a Yellow- browed Warbler constantly calling from the Corton ORT and walking down the main track I saw it flitting around in a tree and bushes on the western edges of the track, as soon as I got onto it it flew still calling towards the bridge and not seen or heard again. I am not sure which one as I didn't see it clearly enough to see if it was dull bird or the bright first winter. Later on Andrew E drew up, as he did so a Brambling rasped but not seen. We walked down the track and by the former copse area where Andrew spotted a fine Garden Warbler sat right up at the top of a sycamore tree and we were craning our necks to see it. We later heard Brambling again. I then drove to Corton Church car park as I walked along the western edge of the old SW compound, 3 Sky Larks flew south directly overhead, meanwhile chacking Thrushes in the north- west corner of the compound included a Blackbird and then a Redwing briefly perched up. Walking back to the Church car park, I heard Redwing again and a quick chat with Andrew again.

Another Yellow- browed Warbler

On Thursday 16th October after leaving work at 5pm, I heard a Yellow- browed Warbler calling along Longfulans Lane Hopton but alas no where to stop and take a look. Back at Corton ORT I saw the 'dull' Yellow-browed Warbler by the bushes near the bridge again and Song Thrush, Goldcrest, Wren and Chiff-Chaff seen here to plus a whole group of 20 Long- tailed Tits. 2 Song Thrush heard and seen at Corton OSW.

Yellow- browed Warbler along Corton ORT

On Wednesday 15th October, directly after work I picked up some new glasses and by 3pm I was at Stirrups Lane Bridge and as I parked, Alison & Chris A. pulled up behind me. We split Chris & I looking along the west part of the track and Alison the east part. 5 minutes later Alison shouted she had a Yellow- browed and the large tree near the bridge, we saw a dull probable adult Yellow-browed Warbler flitting about. Typically hyper- active with cream supercilia double wing bars and pale edgings to the tertials. Later when the sun came out it posed for about a minute. No camera with me sadly. We also saw 2 Chiff- Chaffs and a Redwing seen in Rosehip bush plus a male Blackbird. Alison saw 2 Crossbills fly north I only heard them.

Yellow-browed along North Denes slope belatedly found by me!

On Sunday 12th October, After hearing of Crossbills in Belle Vue Park, I drove there and saw Rob H no sign of the Crossbills but driving back along North Parade by some Pines I heard a Yellow- browed Warbler on the slope, at the time I spun round and saw a Pied Wag fly off and put it down to that but I should have trusted my initial ID as one was found there less than hour later. Later on I looked around Corton Wood and heard Crossbills fly over but I didn't see them.