Wednesday, 21 March 2012

Great Grey Shrike



Another example of `extreme` digiscoping.

A very distant record shot of my first Great Grey Shrike in the PBC area (and a heavily cropped version from the original) and an extremely good bird for my 2012 PBC year list. This bird was seen and reported yesterday evening close to the village of Thorney , just north of Peterborough and was again present today.

Mike Weedon phoned me early this morning to let me know that the bird was still present and gave me directions and after a bit of fighting with traffic and some searching with Brian Stone I managed some distant, but passable views of this stunning bird. I am hoping to return in order to get some better shots, but I leave you with these pictures as a `taster`. I only hope you can tell what it is!
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14 comments:

  1. holdingmoments21 March 2012 at 22:24

    Cracking bird to see John.

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    1. John23 March 2012 at 07:11

      Yes, it was Keith, I only wish it had come a bit closer!
      J

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  2. bazza21 March 2012 at 22:57

    How far away were you from the bird? In my case, your hope that I can 'tell what it is' will have to be dashed! I wouldn't know it if it landed on my head. I just checked it out on the RSPB site and it's rather lovely!
    Click here for Bazza’s Blog ‘To Discover Ice’

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    1. John23 March 2012 at 07:12

      Hi Bazza,
      All I can say is, a long way, several hundred yards. At least you can now say that you know what one looks like, just in case one landed on your head! ;)
      J

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  3. Roy21 March 2012 at 23:41

    That is pretty special John.

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    1. John23 March 2012 at 07:13

      Hi Roy,
      Yes, a special day in the PBC area in which I was fortunate to be a part.
      J

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  4. ShySongbird22 March 2012 at 15:06

    Yes, I can definitely tell what it is John, despite having never seen one myself. There was one near me last year but unfortunately I wasn't able to go and see it. Well done!

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    1. John23 March 2012 at 07:15

      Hi Jan,
      Thank you. I am glad you can make it out from my `extreme` shots! ;)
      The problem with a Great Grey Shrike is sometimes the distances the bird covers in its territory, I have read that this can be 50 square miles, so it could be anywhere within that!
      J

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  5. theconstantwalker22 March 2012 at 21:05

    A wonderful bird to see John... and another that I haven't so thanks for sharing yours.

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    1. John23 March 2012 at 07:16

      Hi Andrew,
      Thank you. This is only my second in the country, so not an annual bird for me by any means.
      J

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  6. Midmarsh John23 March 2012 at 07:59

    I will admit to having never even heard of them before today and it would appear to be a rare sighting so well done in getting a record shot.

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    1. John24 March 2012 at 06:40

      Thanks John,
      Yes, they are not overly common birds with only about 75 birds spending the winter here.
      J

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  7. Mike Randall Bird Photography23 March 2012 at 20:22

    Always a great bird to see John and my lens wouldn't have picked it up

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    1. John24 March 2012 at 06:40

      Hi Mike,
      I am sure it would have made out a blob on top of a tree, which is what my photos look like! ;)
      J

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