Great Grey Shrike at Chilham in Kent

We finally paid the Chilham Shrike a visit today to add a year tick to our list and what a cracking bird it was.
with the weather bright, very cold but with little wind we headed first for Elmley arriving via the new faster smarter Dartford crossing we pulled into the reserve at 8am just as the gates were opened.

Pheasant

Curlew

Kestrel

Kestrel

Marsh Harrier

Stonechat

Stonechat with a little help from photoshop

300 plus Curlew were feeding on the wet fields at the entrance along with good numbers of Ruff and two Common Buzzard hunted low across the fields flushing the large flocks of Lapwing and Starling.
Four Marsh Harrier and several Kestrel were seen along with several Skylarks and Meadow Pipits.
A Pheasant posed for a close up and a Kestrel hovered above the car giving another photo opportunity.

After Elmley we made the 20mile journey across Kent to Chilham pulling into the layby at Branch Road we noticed the Shrike sitting up in fields behind the sports centre and managed a couple of shots as we watched it hunting from bushes and at times the over head wires. It was nice to see the bird so active and It looks at home here so I guess it'll stay the winter.

Great Grey Shrike at Chilham

Shrike!