A drive-by Shrike

An initially intriguing report of a possible Great Grey Shrike came over the York Birding email group this morning from a village on the edge of York. As I was driving home at lunchtime I decided I'd drive through the village and keep an eye open for the Shrike but unfortunately there was no sign, though I did see a small covey of five Grey Partridge a Corn Bunting and a Little Owl.

It later transpired that the person who'd thought they'd had a the Shrike said there was 6 of them! So presumably they were Magpies...? Never mind, you win some, you lose some! Better to hear about these things and get them checked out. It would have been a bit gutting if a nice photo arrived at the end of the year long after the bird had gone!


 

Glaucous Gull North Duffield Carrs

I see (via Birdguides) that someone has reported a juvenile Glaucous Gull at North Duffield Carrs this lunchtime (1230). I've not heard who though.  I wonder if it was the bird that I had on 1st January? I'm working at home tomorrow so will pop across at lunchtime and see if it's still about. It will also be interesting to see if the cold weather has moved any waterfowl around...

I also see (again via Birdguides) that there is a Great Grey Shrike a few kilometres outside of the York recording area, fingers crossed it decides to move west a little as a repeat of the bird that spent a recent winter (2011) frequenting the Lower Derwent Valley (namely North Duffield Carrs and Skipwith Common). There was a brief bird near York last year (2012) but I didn't get chance to go for that one.

Great Grey Shrike trapped at Skipwith Common in 2011. The bird was commuting between Skipwith Common where it was feeding, and North Duffield Carrs where it was roosting. 

Great Grey Shrike trapped at Skipwith Common in 2011. The bird was commuting between Skipwith Common where it was feeding, and North Duffield Carrs where it was roosting.