Aurora borealis

Brown Shrike!!

Hmm. Can't really tell you just how exciting today has been... but will try.

Yesterday's crappy views of Red-backed Shrike weren't very revealing. JL got better views today, and texted me that he thought it was an Isabelline or even a Brown... I hurried back to the island, to find JL had managed to walk it into the heligoland.

I went round to the trapping box to see... an adult Brown Shrike looking up at me through the glass!

I took it out and between us we carefully bagged it (I held a Brown Shrike!!), then took it to B's to be processed and to prove we weren't hallucinating. Sure enough, it's the real deal. And my bloody camera wasn't charged, so no piccies to accompany this sensational news. Sorry!