Great Grey Shrike
two Linnets this morning ,no GGS but a seen and watched a mistle thrush calling in the trees at the top end of Velvet Bottom,[ also seen last week at the lower end of VB in Longwood SWT]
Shrike was in usual area this morning at 11.00. A couple of distant pictures on my Flickr account.
The shrike was showing well morning in the same area as previously mentioned, along with at least 6 Wheatears, several smart Linnets and a flyover Peregrine.
It sounds like I was in the right place but at the wrong time, thanks for your quick response
Drove to Velvet Bottom (Not been before ) and walked up the hill to the south (by the info board) to the top of the rise and scanned the trees and bushes towards the southern edge of the reserve. The shrike was on the tops of the small trees and could be approached to about 50 yards. It could be seen from the first entrance coming from Cheddar as well. Hope that helps.
Hi Andy, could you give some detail as to the whereabouts, I was there only a short time after you
Great Grey Shrike present at 14:30, great scope views with a pair of Northern Wheatears.
No sign of Shrike today from about 15.00 till 16.00, should have gone yesterday !
Thanks John for your quick response, I will give it a go.
Ubley Warren is a Somerset Wildlife Trust Reserve; full details can be found on their website.
Parking is available at the roadside (ST 503554) or in a car park at the end of the track beside Charterhouse Centre nearby.
This afternoon I entered the reserve from the roadside parking and followed the path that runs approx. south-east uphill from the access point.
The shrike was between that path and the road on bare trees amongst the gorse.
Never been to this site before, can someone suggest where to park, and where the Shrike has been seen
Still there between 14.30 and 15.00; showing well but fairly mobile.
Many thanks Chris for the posting this morning and great to meet you later this afternoon. I was just leaving the area when I saw your posting and quickly headed over to Ubley Warren to see if it was still around.
A fairly easy bird to spot and although wary of people it did not see to be too concerned if we kept a decent distance. Looks like it caught a lizard at one point. Great to see and photograph.
Couple of image on my flickr site…...
GGS at Ubley Warren reserve this morning on the Mendips