Wednesday, 21 October 2026

Isabelline success

On Wednesday 21st October, I was able to leave at 2.30pm so I drove stright to Kessingland Hollies, parked up and was fortunate to see Richard W., we met some other birders walking back giving us encouraging news that the bird was still showing and the sun had come out. We walked over to the weedy field and looked in the area by the 3 pillboxes, initially no sign but we were joined by 5 birders and immediately one of their number spotted the excellent 1st winter Isabelline Shrike perched up just north of the 3rd pillbox, It was perched at the very top of the bush. Typically pale sandy with russet tail. It was actively feeding and caught several wasps and dispatched them. The weather had changed and it was now very cloudy, I managed to get a few pics until a cliff top walker disturbed it and it flew right towards the 2nd pillbox. Literally a minute later it flew back to its original perch and continued hunting. We were joined by Dick W. However, a squally shower started and we decided to leave, I drove to Ashby to try for the GGS but the weather conditions were awful with squally showers and gale force winds so unsurprisingly no sign of the Shrike. 2 Magpies, a male Kestrel perched on the wires briefly whilst at the back 2 Red Kites jostled with each other and it was unusual to see a fine white male antlered Fallow Deer that walked along the hedge line before it disapeared. Finally, 2 Hares were seen in the field.

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