Brown Shrike in Suffolk

Jimmy needed Brown Shrike for a life tick and whilst we were at Spurn on Wednesday one was found quite close to home at Hollesley in Suffolk but I couldn't do the extra miles on the way home on Wednesday having already driven c450miles. I was tied up yesterday and the weather was dire anyway and as it turned out the bird wasn't seen despite people searching all day in the wind and rain. Roll on to this morning and I'm sitting in the garage waiting for an MOT on my car when Jim rings to tell me the Shrike has been seen and to ask if I'd take him and Dad. With the car passing with flying colours I agreed to the trip and so we set off at 10.15am to arrive on site just before noon. The Shrike performed well for the crowd on site but remained busy and a little distant for my little 400mm lens. The Jims were delighted to finally tick the species after a couple of dips over the years.

Year list now 240

Black-faced Bunting at Spurn

News of a Black-faced Bunting at Spurn on 20th October and I had no chance of making the journey on the day. I had family commitments on 21st but had a long awaited free day today so despite the clear night forecast and the risk that the Bunting might have moved on I persuaded Jim to join me on the twitch. Dad was ruled out with the long drive and long walk factors along with his commitment to get Mum to a lunch date. I picked Jim up at 3am and had a reasonable drive up the M11/A14/A1/A15/M180 etc arriving at Spurn at 7am. We walked out towards the point along the sand for a mile or so to meet the five other birders that had arrived before us. The news was negative and we waiting an hour before deciding we'd move along the road a bit incase the bird was still around but had moved further down the road. After a few steps we had a bird fly out of the grass away from us and as we turned the guys behind us that had decided to stay put pointed to the spot where the bird had dropped in. After a short wait and with the help of a thermal we knew the bird was still in the grass but we didn't know it was the target until it moved out into the open to fully reveal itself. I put news out to encourage those waiting on news and then grabbed a couple of record shots.

The Black-faced Bunting is a difficult bird to connect with in the UK. There are only nine accepted records in the UK with the first in 1994 and the last in 2022. (several records are still under consideration from 2023/2024) 

Roe Deer at Spurn

Spurn Lighthouse

Black-faced Bunting

Black faced Bunting 

Black-faced Bunting

After connecting with the target we decided to walk out to the point meaning we'd walk around six miles in total with much of that on soft sand which eventually took it's toll on us both. Our reward for the long walk was a Merlin, Shore Lark, Eider (which was a year tick) Yellow-browed Warbler, Rock Pipit, Redpolls, three Whooper Swans, lots of wader action and the expected migrant thrushes and Chats. Three Red-throated Diver and a Guillemot on the sea added to the day list which totalled 71 species

The Bunting is my third new bird this year with the Booted Eagle and Zitting Cisticola bring my life list to 453 and my year list to a respectable 239 considering the lack of days out etc etc. (I could add 20 sub species to this list making 473 if I included them)

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