I was getting ready for work this morning when my good friend Pete Brash messaged me to say he had found a Woodchat Shrike during his breeding bird survey in Daresbury, Warrington. Since I was down in Oxfordshire, I knew there was no chance of me seeing it. I had already missed the Frodsham bird in 1996 because I was abroad, and now it looked like I was going to miss this one too. I was totally gripped off by everyone posting photographs and messages about the shrike. I was also receiving some excellent photographs of the bird, as shown below.
(c)Paul Brewster
Seventy-two hours later, incredibly, news came out that the bird was still present. After finishing my morning tasks on site, I began the three-hour drive back north. The traffic was clear, and I made good time. Upon arrival, I walked the ten minutes down the canal and met up with a group of birders who were watching the bird; they put me straight on it; it was on! What a beauty and what a find by Mr Brash.
(c)Owen Parsons
(c)Owen Parsons
Previous Cheshire and Wirral records:
1908 Two birds together near Congleton-2nd May
1954 Birkenhead-22nd June-early July
1958 Middle Eye-Hilbre-10th May
1996-Frodsham Marsh-Juvenile-4th to 7th September
(c) S Rowlands
1998-Hilbre Island-Juvenile-Trapped-9th-11th August
(c) Barry Barnacal
Remarkably, this bird was discovered by one of the observers of the first bird sighting at Hilbre Island 40 years earlier.
No comments:
Post a Comment