Turkestan Shrike at Dunwich Heath

I took my grandson to school this morning and with some free time on offer I decided to use it by heading up the A12 towards Dunwich. It was a nasty journey with road closures at Orwell bridge and road works all the way but I arrived mid morning paid a fiver to park the car on some gravel that belongs to the national trust and walked out to the gathered birders that I presumed were watching the Turkestan Shrike. Indeed the bird was showing and showing well. I enjoyed watching it for an hour before heading back down the A12 for the school pick up. I saw three Dartford Warblers and a Stonechat whilst there and also bumped into a few birding friends too which was nice. The Turkestan Shrike was feeding well and I saw it catch a Dragonfly, a Bee, several small honey bees or wasps and a few other bits that had the misfortune to fly within thirty feet or so of the butcher bird. It would return to a regular branch to eat and occasionally take a catch into the gorse to impale it in it's larder for later. 

This is my second Turkestan Shrike following the Bempton bird of July 2022 but this being a first for Suffolk has nudged my Suffolk list along to 283 and my year list along to 236.

Formerly assigned to Isabelline Shrike and since split to Daurian (Lanius-Isabellinus) and Red-tailed Shrike or Turkestan Shrike (Lanius-phoenicuroides) this bird is at home in central Asia hence it's rarity value in the UK with just eleven previous records. 

Year list now 236 (Suffolk list now 283)

Pec Sand at Stanborough gravel pits in Herts

I couldn't find time yesterday to do the short 30minute run up the A1 for the Pectoral Sandpiper found at Stanborough gravel pits on Coopers Green lane but after a bit of family stuff this morning I decided to pop up for it. I parked near the cottages after asking a local if it would be ok and he pointed me to an area that wouldn't offend anybody allowing me to park up and walk across the main road to the pits. I saw a group of four birders to my right by a large oak tree and joined them to find the Pec Sand was on the pit below with three Snipe, some Mallards and Teal. I watched the bird for a while before heading back to the car after adding another tick to my Herts list and indeed my 2025 year list too which now stands at 235.

Pec sand at Stanborough gravel pits