Thursday 7 October 2021

Shetland Woodchat Shrike

 Managed to take a chance and headed over to Aith on the westside where a Woodchat Shrike had been reported  on the 30 September, but not for a few days


I made my way down the road to the back of the houses and the Shrike showed straight away on the garden fence but facing away from me.





It flew round the trees at the end of the garden then reappeared a few mins later flying strongly across the field and landed on a bank next to moorland then disappeared.




With no other birders around i got into the field but couldn't relocate the bird. I made my way back to the garden fence to find a black and white cat sitting in thick grass.




About 10 mins later it flew onto a fence post running at the side of the moorland and started to making its way along , occasionally dropping to the ground to feed.

It flew off again and returned to the same part of the fence about 10 mins later. It stayed for a few moments before dropping and feeding again, slowly making its way east along the fence




It then flew further east and out of sight and didn't return while i waited another hour. Just as i departed another birder arrived and started a search to the east.

I had a message that he had not found it during an hour search

Woodchat Shrikes are found in central and southern Europe, and this juvenile arrived after easterly winds .

These photos were taken on the 6 October

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