Great Grey Shrike

In the last blog I complained about the shortage of good birding days during October but we then manage to squeeze in one good day just before the end of the month.

Dave and I went back to Wrens Warren, in the Ashdown Forest, to have another look for the Great Grey Shrike. We had tried it last Friday but had seen very little in the way of bird movement. It really had lived up to it's other name of "Eeyores sad and gloomy place", with the lighting down in the valley so dull compared to the surrounding hills.

Today was completely different, a bit slow to start but cold, crisp and clear. A couple of wet feet early on whilst traversing the valley reminded me that my favourite boots, splits and all, must be replaced for the coming winter and distant Fieldfares held promise of things to come.

A couple of passing birders tipped us off to the location of the Shrike but just at that moment Dave had picked up a Dartford Warbler in the gorse nearby. A good picture of a Dartford takes priority over a Shrike so we focused on that target first.

It did pop out on top of the gorse once, a bit further away than I would have like and not for as long as I would have liked and I did get a picture, but it's not the one I wanted. Just didn't manage to pull focus quick enough and it was gone. Or perhaps I should say they were gone as there was a second bird there, so probably a pair. Hopefully we will get a second chance later in the year.

Dartford Warbler

A quick lunch, a chance to dry the feet out a bit and then we trekked up the hill in search of the Shrike. They are not a bird that hides away so once in the right area it was easy enough to find.

Camera settings were interesting. With a white bird in bright sunlight I had to underexpose by a full two stops to prevent the picture from being burnt out. This then underexposes the background trees giving a black background and a slightly false looking studio type shot.

Coughing up a pellet

Unlike the Dartfords the Shrike seemed quite relaxed about our presence, flying off a couple of times but then returning to the same perches.

We eventually lost track of it when it was pursued by a Kestrel. The Shrike took refuge in a densely branched tree whilst the Kestrel sat and then hovered over the top but was unable to get past the branches. It was a half hearted pursuit and I don't think the Kestrel was intent on killing the Shrike but it may have been seeking to pinch food from it or to chase it out of its hunting territory.

Whatever the intent, it was enough to ensure that the shrike did not return during the next half hour or so that we waited there.

Well pleased with the time spent observing the Shrike we were about to leave when a dozen or more Crossbills flew into an adjacent tree on their way into a drinking pool. I missed the first few shots as I had forgotten to take the couple of stops underexposure out of the camera but I still managed a reasonable record shot.

Some of the Crossbills

The drinking pool was nearby and although we could not get close without risking disturbing them, you do sometimes get the benefit of lugging a big lens combination all the way up the hill.

A flock of fourteen fieldfares flying down the valley as we were on the way out finished what was one of the best birding days in a long time.

Crossbills, Woodcock, and Dartford Warblers

Just got back from a great day's birding with Dave. Poor light so not much good for photography but we saw 42 species during the day.

We started by addressing one of my pet hates - "the bird was in its usual tree". I cannot think of anything more annoying when reading through sighting reports. If you don't want to tell me where the bird is, then don't post the report.

I got Dave to point out the "Little Owl in its usual tree at Staple Ash Farm West Dean". I had been up there just before Christmas and wasted a couple of hours searching every tree in the area. For anyone having the same problem the usual tree is pictured below.

It's the dead Larch in the middle. The picture was taken standing on the road at Grid Reference SU841151 looking towards the west. The Little Owls are usually best viewed from down on the road seen in the background.The Owl was present but well hidden amongst the branches and at 1/8sec  ISO800 in the dull early morning light I ended up leaving without even a record shot.

We had a look for Hawfinches further along the road towards Yew Tree Cottage. Got a distant sighting and were hopeful, but even through the scope we could not be sure. Probably Greenfinches so this one did not count.

There was a shoot starting up on the West Dean estate so we decided to move on to Ambersham Common where I had managed to get a picture of a Dartford Warbler on my last visit. All seemed very quiet at first but then we had a flock of Coal Tits through and behind these a brief glimpse of a Dartford Warbler. This was a male and had much bolder colouring than the one I had previously seen.

All the birds had flown into the low sun so we decided to reposition in an attempt to get some photographs. As we arrived under our chosen tree Dave thought he heard Crossbills and this was confirmed by a steady shower of wood and cones from above.

The beak in action

It looked like there were three birds, and fortunately the sun was out, so we had about an hour observing and photographing these before they left the tree and flew off in search of water. We were then able to count a total of seven birds disappearing into the distance.

Finally as we walked around the tree to leave we flushed a Woodcock that must have sat hidden within 10 metres of us for over an hour. A great sighting or a real missed photographic opportunity - I am not sure which.

We then moved on to Lavington Common. Heading east just past Cowdray Park Polo Club we passed a couple of trees with a huge finch flock rolling through them and over the road. It was impossible to count the numbers with all the movement going on but it must have been several hundred. They were mostly Chaffinches but we could also see Goldfinches, Greenfinches, and Brambling in the flock.

 A great sight but our cameras were safely tucked up in the back of the car. There was no obvious reason for them being there. They did not appear to be feeding other than in the trees and they all disappeared in small groups heading in the same direction, south over the adjacent hills.

Lavington was a bit of a let down. We walked around the plantation but nothing was moving, only a couple of wrens heard and a Goldcrest seen in a gorse bush. Burton Mill Pond our next location was also very quiet. No small bird movement and just a few ducks - Mallard, Pochard, and Tufted on the pond.

We finished off with a quick visit to Burpham with distant views of Buzzards and Red Kites. Not many pictures but a great days birding.