A 2 Shrike day

On Sunday 14th June, another late start (having booked a trip to London see the Ramesses exhibition- basically a range of Ancient Egyptian artefacts heard by the Ramesses II coffin) I started out at Westleton parking on the Minsmere approach road. A few people had gathered to view for the male RBS that had been ranging widely. Unfortunately it didn't show for some 45 minutes before I picked it out in the far north- east corner, perched on a tiny tree right at the back, reddish brown back, grey crown and black mask showing it was a fine male Red- backed Shrike with a pinkish flush to the chest to. It spent some time here but flew to the ground and then perched on another perch nearby. A male Stonechat and several Linnets seen too. Next stop was Dunwich Heath parking just outside the Heath I walked down the road and left and saw a group of people looking north, I scanned and spotted the fine female Red-backed Shrike with drabber grey crown barring on the chest and a browner back she hunted from a top of a tree and then moved to the next bush before flying back. Also seen was a male Stonechat and a young juvenile Stonechat too. Next stop was somewhere in the Blyth valley, where i saw a singing male Yellowhammer singing from a top of a bush, later a male Linnet was also perched here too. Walking around the field margins, I spotted the fine Lizard Orchid, maybe slightly past its best but still impressive.