Turkestan Shrike Bempton

29th June 2022

I don't recall getting a birthday tick for a very long time (if ever as an adult!).

The former Isabelline Shrikes have now been split in to two ' Daurian Shrike' and 'Turkestan Shrike' (although confusingly the latter is also known as Red-tailed Shrike). Izzy shrikes are not particularly rare in the UK, with a handful annually but usually in late autumn. Identification to the newly split species of autumn individuals is pretty much impossible for most birds, so it's necessary to see an adult in most cases. Luckily I'd seen a smart adult Daurian in Cornwall (at Pendeen in October 2013), which conveniently was found as Jono and I were in the area (en route to Scilly). Amongst several other autumn immatures, I'd also seen a a bird at Buckton (very close to today's bird) which had been widely thought to be Turkestan but never made the official grade. 

Thankfully there are intermittent records of adults in the summer, and that is exactly what happened here. The bird had been found a couple of days earlier, clearly just 'in-off' as it landed on a wire fence close to albatross watchers. It rapidly disappeared, but had been refound yesterday about half a mile inland along a green lane. 

So I was up early and once again over to Bempton. The adult TURKESTAN SHRIKE was immediately on show, in fact it showed beautifully.

I needn't have hurried as it stayed for weeks - long enough to complete it's summer moult.

Whixhall Moss 12th June 2022

A rare day off birds and concentrating on Odanata. Clearly not my strong point, but I've been a few times to the lovely Whixhall in search of one particular species and failed; White-faced Darter had always eluded me, although I never managed to get there within the optimum flight period for them, or in decent conditions. I had decided to make the effort this year within the short window of opportunity, and today was the day even if it was windier than I would have liked.

Whilst I knew the general preferred area, I initially struggled to find any dragons but with patience and a little bit of help from Twitter I eventually found myself at the correct spot. After that it took minutes, and I really enjoyed myself watching and attempting to photograph these rather stunning insects. The photos leave a bit to be desired, but will do for now. I'll hopefully return next year.

BBA / HB 1st June 2022

A day out on the east coast with Malc and Al Orton, mainly for the irresistible Black-browed Albatross at the seabird Mecca of Bempton. 

But first we called in at Woolston. The reserve has been re sculptured with scrapes and wetlands and is now, unsurprisingly, pulling good birds in. Late the previous afternoon cheshires first White-tailed Plover had appeared (a long staying bird from Lincolnshire that has toured), but sadly it was gone in the morning (being refound in the Wrst Midlands later that day). 

On to Bempton, where Albert eluded is all morning, so we eventually cut out losses and headed over to Wykenham Forest. This is the first time I’ve been to the raptor viewpoint and it was almost instantly successful- a mid range Goshawk was rapidly followed by a superb close fly-by of three Honey Buzzards. Probably the best views I’ve had in the UK and I will certainly return. As we headed back to the car news of the albatrosses return came through, so we doubled back to Bempton in time to see it sat on the sea. Not the hopes for close views but better than not seeing it. We missed a Bee-eater that apparently flew through, but still a good day in the sunshine.