Seeing loads of pics, of the Turkestan Shrike all over the internet was sending me slowly mental, I'm a big fan of Shrikes also it would be a lifer for me, so a days holiday was booked and Margie I headed up to Suffolk ! We left at 7.30, good effort by Margie who wasn't feeling the best! There was no news on Birdguides, however at our first toilet break, the news was good!! I gave a little cheer, which probably surprised the guy in the next cubicle!! Don't know what he thought was going on but he gave me a funny look as we washed our hands, awkward!😂 We headed on eventually arriving on site at 10.40, delayed by the huge amount of roadworks connected to Sizewell C, as we drove along the entrance road I spotted a Shrike like bird jump of a small tree after a bee! Result! We parked up, six quid for the day, which isn't bad these days!! Kitted up we headed past the coastguard cottages where a group of birders was staring into small copse, we joined them and got stunning views of the target bird!
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| Turkestan Shrike |
The bird relocated to the small patch of Gorse, which I think is it's usual haunt, where it gave even better views!
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| Nice to see some of the Heather and Gorse still in flower |
We tore ourselves away and went for a walk, heading down to the beach and on to Minsmere, although due to feeling extremely knackered and the ridiculously hot weather we didn't go around the reserve. We saw a Hobby attacking a Buzzard, Stonechats, Swans, a couple of Barnacle Geese and and a lot of eclipse ducks! Some of Margie's pics below.
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| Not sure what this is! |
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| Looking across Minsmere to Sizewell |
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| Loads of Dragonflies about |
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| Margie even captured the Barnacle Geese that I missed |
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| Distant Southwold |
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| From whence we came! |
Some of my pics from the walk!
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| Hobby |
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| Buzzard, typically I missed the pic of the Hobby stooping on it! |
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| I love these reeds! |
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| Mute Swan |
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| Stonechat |
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| Stonechat |
We headed back up to the Coastguard Cottages, we popped into the cafe for a cup of tea. Margie had a Cheese Scone. The only Gluten Free article on sale was a strange sandwich Cheese , with Gherkins and Red Onions, which was ok if a bit weird! Seemed a strange thing to have as your only GF offering, come on National Trust it's not that difficult!!
I decided on second helpings of the Shrike, Margie decided to have a rest!! Wandering about I could hear several Dartford Warblers but they were a lot less posy than the Shrike! The Sun was now playing hide and seek so the pics were harder to get second time around
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| Another insect bites the dust, the bird was constantly on the hunt, I saw it catch numerous insects! |
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| Dartford Warbler always on the move and quite distant |
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| Lack of sun makes the bird a lot less red! |
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| Margie having a rest! |
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| Final Dartford! |
We headed back to Ipswich where the Premier Inn awaited! Spent Saturday with my Son Duncan and his other half Shannon. A wander around Felixstowe, which has changed a bit since my last visit, but the Gluten Free waffle was a hit!!
The decision to go on Friday was vindicated think the bird was only seen briefly on Saturday I believe so good job we didn't wait for the weekend!
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