Whixall Floods - Red backed Shrike

Shropshire lifers don't come along easily nowadays, I'm averaging one every year recently (apart from 2021) No complaints at all really but this Red-backed Shrike was either too distant or too wet and bedraggled to celebrate with images!

Here's the distant selection in the dry!

Even managed to not include the prey just eaten!

As close as it came in the 'favoured field'...

As the afternoon wore on, drizzle turned to proper rain and fair to say the Shrike (which finally perched close by) was not sitting pretty!

I hate white sky but I suppose these 'damp pics' are interesting for artistic appeal?

You can only play with the hand you are dealt :-) But what the heck, Shropshire bird number 239 is all that matters

Sutton Park - Red-backed Shrike!!

I've seen quite a few juv Red-backed Shrike over the years but only one adult male and that was back in 2008! The West Midlands produced a cracking  male on Saturday My first chance to get over to Sutton Coldfield came on the Bank Holiday Monday with Dave Chapman and whilst the sun didn't shine, at least the shrike was showing well, busy catching insects all morning! 

Another Bee bites the dust but Beetles and Moths seem to have been the main quarry...

A bit of weak sunshine, helped during the early part of the morning...

At least there were one of two chances for flight shots!

And just before 'siesta' time, a prolonged perch in the nearest bush to the path...

We had a great (albeit frustrating) day and it's great to be back amongst the birds plus a few West familiar faces!

Old Town, St Mary's - Red-backed Shrike

There's usually a good supporting cast on these islands and it would have been rude not to have called by Old Town Churchyard and had a look at the Red-backed Shrike!  Favouring the first field on the coast past to Penninis, here's a few images from the closest approach...

Ever alert and on the look out for prey...

Success and here about to swallow a shield bug!

Whilst this Spotted Flycatcher looked on with envy!