Great Grey Shrike
On Saturday the 1st June i had a day trip to East Anglia, the first location was Needingworth in Cambridgeshire, and the target bird was a Great Grey Shrike.
Very confiding bird.
On the walk down to the quarry entrance (many thanks James for directions) we heard several Turtle Doves & a distant Cuckoo, there was also a Lesser Whitethroat calling but remained unseen.
Having reached the quarry entrance the Great Grey Shrike was on show pretty much the whole time we were there, only disappearing into the quarry and returning with a large dragonfly to eat every now and again.
Watching us watching him.
Having a preen.
Great Grey Shrike.
Next stop was Rspb reserve Lakenheath in Suffolk , i was hoping to see Bittern here and although my companion did see one , i missed it !!!!!
We had some really great views of 2 Cuckoo's playing chase.
2 Cuckoo's.
There were several Marsh Harrier's & Common Buzzard's plus good numbers of Hobby
Close view of Hobby
Whilst watching the Hobby 2 Common Crane's flew over head.
2 Common Crane's
There were several birds with young and i was especially pleased to see a pair of Great crested Grebes with 2 young, one hitching a ride on an adult's back.
'Humbug' Chick.
Trying to get a lift.
Adult & Chick.
It was also great to see this Moorhen chick so close.
Moorhen Chick
The final destination was Weeting Heath which is just over the boarder in Norfolk , this is the site i saw my first ever Stone Curlew many years ago.
Head of a Stone Curlew.
We went into the West hide and was told there is only one Stone Curlew present another kind birder pointed that bird out to us , as i watching this bird i saw another Stone Curlew appear from behind the first bird and then a 3rd Stone Curlew (wow) appeared, although distant we had great views through the scope of these superb birds.
An Eurasian Curlew dropped in nearby and soon got a rebuff from the Stone Curlew.
Stone Curlew.
A really great days birding in East Anglia in great company .
