Great Grey Shrike. 26th Feb

Well its been work work work all week so no birding to be had, Saturday was spent sorting stuff out for my trip to Spain on Thursday. But Sunday I was given permission by Rach to go out to Dumfries and Galloway birding with Keith.  

So we headed for the long staying Great Grey Shrike, which was now into its 3rd Winter and a cracking looking bird... It showed fairly well albeit in the drizzly rain.

We had a wander around the area too but nothing out the ordinary. A few Crossbill and some Red legged Partridge and Greater Spotted Woodpecker were the only other birds of note. The Woodpecker seemed to favor the same tree as the Shrike but wasn't at all phased.. The local Chaffinch's and Reed Buntings kept having a go at the Shrike, at there own peril, I've seen Great Grey Shrike hunt down Reed Buntings before and catch em.. 

We then headed to Keilder Forest to see if we could spot a Goshawk or two but the weather was misty and Drizzly no good for raptors. Families of Crossbill showed well though. A Green Woodpecker gave us a fly past and a few Buzzards were knocking around.

All in all not a bad day pity about the Goshawks but we can save that for another time..

As I say off to Spain birding with Keith on Thursday for a week so hopefully my next blog will be a full one...

Bye bye for now...