Great Grey Shrike, Fillingham, Lincs

 

Not bad weather so we thought we would head to Fillingham for another look at the shrike. We thought we may be on our own as surely everyone has seen this bird now but afraid we thought wrong. Packed with hardly anywhere to park ! We headed up the track and saw everyone now standing in the farmers field with the shrike in the hedgerow on our side. A few snaps were quickly rattled off and thank goodness because it suddenly went into hunting mode, flying at every bird and finally coming to land on the opposite side of the field, a dot in the hedge. So good views were had, although extremely brief ! So we headed off to Toft, a place we haven't been in ages......and saw absolutely nowt !

Birds, fungus and a camera catch up

 

Stonechat

The very first snowdrop in the garden this year

A very, very distant ringtail harrier

Lots of goldfinches with a single redpoll

The time of year I really look forward to....when the propagators come out !  It's the sign of a new season, time to grow and plant. We have loads of peppers all pricked out and trays of spring onions growing away. The onions are now in the greenhouse. Tomato seeds went in the propagator today !

Our first orchid of the year, just the one rosette

Kestrel looking for lunch

Lots of Jelly Ears

Another trip for the shrike. It showed the whole time we were there but never close. We beat a retreat when the heavens opened yet again !

Lots of Collared Earthstars in an area new to us

The country was treated to a decent display of the northern lights last week. Everywhere else seemed to have a sky full of bright yellows and reds but afraid this dingy pink was all I could manage through the thick grey cloud that covered Lincolnshire.

Winter Aconites, a lovely display this year

Great Grey Shrike, Fillingham

 

Distant was an understatement !

We had been to Fillingham the previous day with the weather cloudy but fine as we left home. Fillingham is only half an hour away but as we pulled up the heavens opened and the rain was biblical ! A very quick walk up the hedgerow and we were soaked so beat a retreat to return the following day. So we stood for a couple of hours with 20 other folk and all we saw was a fieldfare ! The never ending din of a large pack of dogs that didn't stop barking for 2 hours was enough to drive me mad.....we were told it was the hunt which I am pleased to say that not one birder there supported. A never ending stream of gun dogs passed us on the path, non on leads. So, enough was enough. Got back to the car and saw a birder peering through the hedge further up the road and there sat the shrike. Pity the crowd on the roadside didn't put it on the pager......would have saved us two hours. So, a few heated comments were said from the birders that had travelled and quite rightly so !

Great Grey Shrike, Doddington, Lincs

 

A New Year's day trip out to Doddington, Lincoln for the shrike. Not a bad start for the year !  The mud was on a whole new level so be wellies would have been good to get through the ankle deep slippery mud ! About a dozen birders that stood back at the field edge to view the shrike until a photographer arrived and walked both sides of the hedge, virtually in the hedge !  The bird flushed to the far end of the hedge and despite many shouts and expletives directed at him, he continued regardless. An absolute, total wankspangle  😡😡

Great Grey Shrike, Wistow

 

Excellent views of the Great Grey Shrike this afternoon as it caught a mouse and then stashed it away on the other side of the hedge. Pity it wasn't closer but still, a good bird added to the list and it's only the 2nd !

Great Grey Shrike, Cottam Power Station, Notts

 

A short drive over into North Notts to hopefully see the great grey shrike that has been around Cottam Power Station for over a week now. The drive brought back a few nice memories as we passed Sundown Adventure Park. I had to take Lucy and Tom here many, many times each year, it was their favourite day out. It was called Tresswell Park back in the day.  Good times.

Anyway, onto the shrike. There was just us two there when we arrived and as Simon was putting his boots on, the shrike flew into the dead tree, sitting at the top, giving us some excellent views. Infact, we stayed for a couple of hours and the shrike showed the whole time we were there. Pity it was such a grey day, but the bird made up for that. The shrike favoured the dead tree and the brambles and hawthorn opposite.

We beat a retreat around lunch time as we were going to Lucys for a cuppa. Lucy has been on holiday for well over a week so we could safely visit and drink tea in her garden. So nice to see her and Dottie, who has doubled in size since we last saw her !