Great Grey Shrike (23/10/11)

A bright but blustery day and I went to Thursley Common.

On arrival I walked out on the boardwalk, over shrike hill and then along the bog near the moat.  There were quite a lot of people searching for the shrike and nobody had seen it.  I gave the bog one more scan and suddenly picked up the bird sitting on a blackened tree.

I got another couple of birders onto it and then watched it for the next 1/2 hour or so.  It seemed to have a circuit and didn't seem overly afraid of casual walkers.  I eventually went down to where it seemed to perch a lot and eventually got some photos.

Also in the area were a few Crossbills, one male perched in a low tree by the boardwalk.

Lower Farm GP (09/10/11)

The immature Spoonbill was still present so I went to have a look.  Originally viewable from the far right of the hide, it then moved slightly left and was quite difficult to spot behind the undergrowth.  Also a Little Egret here.

Suffolk (03/10/11)

At last! The Sandhill Crane originally seen in Scotland had now become within my reach as it had pitched down at Boyton in Suffolk.  I set my alarm early so to get there at first light but eventually reached the location 1/2 hour after sun up.

However, the bird was still on site and feeding reasonably close in a field at the end of Mill Lane.  What can you say - a large grey bird with a red patch on its head and a long dagger like bill.  However, it was a lifer and a British tick! It was busy feeding in the field mostly with its head down but looked up occasionally.

I then drove to Minsmere - what a mistake, it was dead!  4 Red-breasted Geese (escapes) amongst the Barnacle Goose flock was the oddest thing.  The only birds of note were 2 Little Egrets and 4 Ruff.  There was supposed to be a Garganey on the scrape but I couldn't find it.

Finally I went to Levington Creek where after a few minutes frustration I managed to get onto the moulting adult Dotterel which was amongst the large numbers of Golden Plover on the far side of the creek.

Fudgy duck (Dinton, 02/10/11)

When the news came through that this bird was good for Ferruginous Duck I headed over.  It was feeding on the west side of Sandford Lake loosely associating with Tufted Ducks and Coots.  Obviously a male with its pale eye but lacked the rich mahogany colouring of a full adult so must be a bird of the year.

Nothing interesting from Lee Farm, just a Barn Owl at Lavell's and two Red Kites which flew over as I was leaving.