18/02/2024 Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire

Great Grey Shrike: I started the day over in a fantastic woodland, the remnants of an ancient royal forest in Nottinghamshire, Sherwood Forest. 

Meeting up with tom Marshall and Matt Woodward, two legends who I've not seen in far too long a time.  

Made legendary as the home of the famous outlaw in the ballads of Robin Hood this 400 acre forest, surrounded by lowland heathland this is one of the premier places in the UK to see the famously scarce lesser-spotted woodpecker. Our main target for the day although we only had a brief male calling before flying overhead and out of sight. 

We moved on to Buddy Common where we got wood lark singing and this smart shrike. the bird was predictably mobile and ranging across areas without access so it was tricky to get anything decent on it, but good to see all the same. 

 

Lesser Scaup: After a laugh and chinwag over a cup of coffee and some scran in the visitor centre coffee shop I moved on back home and headed to Woolston in Warrington to try my luck with the lesser scaup.

Dave Spencer refund the lesser scaup  at Woolston Weir after it being found over the bund on Woolsten Eyes NR. The bird after relocating here was in a poor light and at some distance, let's hope it goes back to the Eyes and shows better. 

15/11/2016 Little Woolden Moss, Manchester

Great Grey Shrike: This would be my third visit to see this bird, but you can't blame me it's an absolute cracker!  

The bird was still favoriting the farm houses and buildings at the end of Moss Lane and although it was still disappearing from time to time it would regularly reappear on the aerials on the cottages.

I also caught a glimpse of the female merlin that has been regularly seen in the same area, it flew low and headed over the polytunnels.

07/11/2016 Little Woolden Moss, Manchester

Great Grey Shrike: It's always good when you wake up with no specific birding plans to then pick up a decent local report of a bird down the road.

Despite the poor light the bird showed really well at times.

The bird seemed to favour the television aerials and bushes surrounding the cottages near the farm, however the bird did disappear for short periods before coming back to the cottages.

The GGS seemed to be taking an interest in the House Sparrows and was observed attempting to catch one and I think this is why it was keeping to the area  around the cottages.

Great to bump into Dave Steel who did a brilliant job of finding the bird, he also gave me a lot of information on the birds movements.

It was also nice to meet Brian and Margaret Hilton two Manchester based folks who were lovely to chat to.

15/11/2014 Lytham Moss

Great Grey Shrike: There are times I love this time of year, when I am watching a Hen Harrier down on Burton Marsh or the times when I successfully find a large white winged gull among the gull flocks on Richmond Bank.

What I don't like is the lack of daylight hours we have, the lack of photography light and birding time.


This was my second visit to Lythams Shrike hot spot, however this time I took Garry along.

We didn't have to wait too long before the bird was spotted on the other side of the road to Easterleigh Animal Sanctuary.

Garry and I spent the last of the light watching the bird getting mobbed by the local Great Tits.

It was also great to bump in to Mr Carlton-Jones, who had a two Shrike day bagging both this bird and Grindleton bird.