Friday 17 July 2020

Shetland Lesser Grey Shrike

Finally caught up with the Lesser Grey Shrike that's been present for the past 4 weeks. First it was down the Maywick Road at Billister then it disappeared and turned up after 2 weeks on the road from Bigton to Ireland

These two locations are not far apart and it seems the bird may have just been further down  feeding in fields just west of Billister but out of sight from the road.

This was my third attempt to see this bird, the first along the Maywick road then down at the Bigton site.

local birders had been seeing it more in the afternoon, perhaps when more insects were active. It was spending time along the fence posts from the bridge up to the red roofed house at Billister

If you have been down you will know there are hundreds of posts to look at, not good when the bird only pops up to feed and spends most of its time in the grass


I was scanning the far fence posts for what seemed like ages with no success and then i caught a small grey coloured bird in the corner of my eye

It landed in a bush close to the road and started to call (Only heard this when close)

It took no notice of me or the weather, it was raining, foggy with a strong wind, not really ideal for photography

I have seen a few birds down in the Camargue before but this was my first in the UK. A rare bird from Southern Europe.

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