Great Grey Shrike in North Cornwall 23rd January 2021.

 

Absolutely delighted to find this stunning Great Grey Shrike this morning close to home.

The first of these I've photographed in this country.

It was perched at the top of an elm tree surveying the fields and then moved lower down into some bushes before I got some quite close shots of it sat up on some bare twigs on the top of a hedge.

I also watched it hunting from a barbed wire fence, dropping down into the grass on either side and then returning to the fence. Never saw it catch anything though!

Got so excited I gave myself a migraine! Ha!

 

 

Stonechats on the Cornish coast. January 2021

It's always good to watch Stonechats on the coast but especially so when there's great light.

I got lucky and the late afternoon winter sun was just perfect for lighting these little birds as they took up their vantage points on the brambles and gorse.

One of the bird species that has decided to stay on in Cornwall to face the winter weather. Often a casualty of hard weather hopefully they can survive.