Red-backed Shrikes

My first stop of the morning was to try and get more views of the American Golden Plover at Jury's Gap however, on checking the field used by the plover and the flock of Golden Plovers there wasn't a plover to be seen and not in the adjacent fields either. The bushes along the Sand Pit track held 6 Chiffchaffs and a couple of Blackbirds otherwise fairly light on other birds. I then headed to Boulderwall to wander the access track before the reserve gate opened and managed to see the 5 Glossy Ibis that were still mostly elusive feeding in ditches unless they flew about. On reaching the viewing mound I came across a couple from the BBC. They were recording introductions to classical music. I didn't realise or know that it was Dr Sian Williams who presents Classical Unwind on Radio 3, apparently a well known broadcaster. I stood quietly with them for a short while as they asked me for any information on the bird calls that they could hear to add extra information to the introductions. Whilst I remembered to put my phone on silent, my radio was still on full volume and a call came in from Martin which caused me to apologise for the noise and beat a hasty retreat.

Glossy Ibis

A Red-backed Shrike had been found by James near the Craters to the north of the Long Pits, so that was my next stop. My arrival was timed badly as a couple walked their dog through the gorse patch which the bird was favouring. Despite continuing to push the shrike further away from the observers as they continued their walk, totally oblivious to the birdwatchers. The bird eventually returned to the same location but remained wary.

Juvenile Red-backed Shrike at the Craters

After a short visit to the Bird Observatory, a message came through that another Red-backed Shrike had been found along the RSPB Access track. Whilst watching the shrike, Charlotte radioed that a flock of White Storks were over the Trapping Area and these eventually headed north east out to sea. 

The Red-backed Shrike on the reserve was more confiding and remained within a triangle of gorse and elderberry between the track and the Discovery Area. Unfortunately its right eye was missing and it had a deformed bill but had lovely well defined barring.

Juvenile Red-backed Shrike RSPB Reserve

The flock of White Storks comprised 61 birds, distant in the heat haze and riding the thermals.

Part of the White Stork flock

The flock of 61