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Archie's British Birding Blogz - Regional MEGA - WOODCHAT SHRIKE in Warwickshire - 29/05/2009

Friday 29 May 2009 - Regional MEGA - WOODCHAT SHRIKE in Warwickshire - 29/05/2009

Friday 29th May 2009

WOODCHAT SHRIKE in Warwickshire

News filtered through this afternoon of a superb regional rarity. An adult WOODCHAT SHRIKE had been found by a keen-eyed birder from Nuneaton. So after work, myself, Tom Perrins and Jules Allen made our way over to Brandon Marsh Nature Reserve east of Coventry. As we paced through the reserve, disaster struck... whilst opening his Nightjar like 'cake hole' Pezza Perrins inadvertantly swallowed an unidentified insect species. Neither Jules or I fancied performing the Heimlich manoeuvre on him so we simply laughed out loud and walked on whilst he retched behind us. As we entered the Carlton Hide we found Martyn Yapp with his scope set up on the Shrike, I barged him out of the way for a quick glimpse before setting myself up. The bird had just reappeared after going missing for a while and and now provided us all with prolonged yet distant views.

Woodchat Shrike (adult) - Brandon Marsh, Wawickshire - May 2009

A terrible photo I know but please take into consideration the following factors: 1) Distance 2) Heat haze & 3) An 18 stone insectivore bouncing around the hide like a hyperactive Labrador puppy!

During our short evening visit other birds around the reserve included 2 Oystercatcher, Common Redshank, 8 Common Tern, 2 Cuckoo and at least 5 singing Cetti's Warblers.

This was just the third record of WOODCHAT SHRIKE for the West Midland Region. The first record involved a pair of birds present at Weatheroak Hill in Worcestershire on the 14th May 1893. It was then another 106 years before another turned up, this time a male was found in the Longmoor Valley on Sutton Park, West Midlands (old Warwickshire) and was present from the 1st to the 14th June 1999.

Monday 1 June 2009 - No Choking Matter!

Posted by Pezza

Nice to know who your friends are!!

Arch Responds: Sorry dude, rest assured that if you'd have turned blue then I would have made Jules grapple you from behind and unclog the blockage! :o)

Edited by ArchieArcher69 on Monday 1 June 2009 at 3:38 PM

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Tuesday 2 June 2009 - Woodchat

Posted by Laurie

How long was the bird there? I didn't see any follow up reports so assumed it was a .........Tree Sparrow! What about the bird on Catherton Common?

Arch Responds: It first came up about 2.30pm on Friday and was last reported about 8.30pm. Sorry Laurie but the Catherton Common bird didn't make my blog at it was in Wales. :o)

Edited by ArchieArcher69 on Friday 5 June 2009 at 3:36 AM

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Wednesday 3 June 2009 - Catherton Common NR

Posted by Laurie

You had better tell the locals that they're all sheep-sh*ggers then! CC is at Hopton Wafers, Ludlow, Shropshire according to my botanical records for Marsh Gentian. Adjust your records young man - BTW I didn't hear about that one either - boo hoo!

Arch Responds: WHAT!? Are you telling me that Shropshire is actually in ENGLAND? I'd always assumed that it was the wrong side of Offa's Dyke. :o)

Edited by ArchieArcher69 on Friday 5 June 2009 at 3:38 AM

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Wednesday 3 June 2009 - Woodchat Shrike

Posted by Gary Hobbs

This is the keen eyed birder from Nuneaton who found the Woodchat Shrike at Brandon Marsh! Glad you were lucky enough to get a photo - any chance of a copy?

Arch Responds: CONGRATULATIONS GARY! A brilliant find, thanks for putting the news out. It would be a pleasure to provide you with a print.... obviously the quality of the photo does not match the astounding quality of the bird itself. Please e-mail your address and I'll send it you as soon as I can.

Edited by ArchieArcher69 on Friday 5 June 2009 at 3:36 AM

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Thursday 4 June 2009 - Picture of Shrike

Posted by Laurie

Gary - Right-Hand click and save image as - if you only want an e-copy and then print out ...

Arch Responds: Thanks for the tip Laurie, do you work for PC World or summut? :o)

Edited by ArchieArcher69 on Friday 5 June 2009 at 3:40 AM

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Saturday 6 June 2009 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Laurie

Nah - but i would'nt have minded when they 'repaired' Gary Gutters laptop ! - Have just downloaded BWPi and Bird Songs of Europe for nowt - isnt the Internet great? The Men in Black will be around to arrest me shortly - i was going to post 2 Blackwits at Middleton Hall ystda but due to your record count it now looks feeble BTW had a Hobby there on Sunday - not an adult but too early for a juv and doesnt look like a FS bird either it still puzzles me, Brownish looking but size and jizz says Hobby so if somebody reports an odd small falcon...........................

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About Me

Aye up folks! My name is Adam 'Archie' Archer, a birder from the West Midlands of England where the birds maybe slightly sh*te but the birders are among the best in the World. This is simply a blog about my birding experiences from my beloved Isles of Great Britain. I have been fortunate to see many great birding spectacles from Unst at the highest tip of Shetland to pelagic trips off the coast of the Isles of Scilly. I have also included sightings from around my home in North Warwickshire and my local patch Alvecote Pools a Site of Special Scientific Interest that straddles the Warwickshire & Staffordshire borders. Birding is a great hobby.... so please relax, smile & enjoy it. WARNING: SOME CONTENT MAY OFFEND! PLEASE NOTE THAT ANY COMMENTS LEFT ON THIS BLOG ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE VIEWS OF MY GOODSELF.... SO THERE!