Shrike Hunt 27th Feb

The weather was sunny and fairly mild. Highlights were Hen Harrier and Raven.

The most reliable place for Great Grey Shrike over the past few weeks had been Shatterford Bottom, so we met there and set off across the heath having heard Chaffinch singing and seen a few Siskin in the car park. A bird atop a bush was seen, but turned out to be a Mistle Thrush which was singing. A couple of Stock Dove flew over and we scanned the area over the footbridge over the railway. No birds seen, just a Skylark singing. As we walked towards the area where the Shrike had been seen 2 Raven flew over and we got good views of them. A little further on and a scan produced a Carrion Crow and a Stonechat or two. Just before we got to the area, Carole shouted “Hen Harrier!”. She was a little way behind us, so we ran back and got brief, but quite good views of the male Hen Harrier floating over the heath.
We got to the area where the Shrike had been seen and we searched it thoroughly. However there was no sign of it. We did see a few Mallard, a Heron, a Lapwing and a Little Egret by the pool and the Hen Harrier was seen again briefly, as well as a Kestrel hovering over the heath. We also got lovely views of a few Stonechat, which seem to have returned to the heath now after being absent for most of the winter.
Simon Curson