Last night I saw Morrissey at the RAH, so this morning found me just north of the Staines Reservoirs, thus an opportunity to see the Shrike arose.
Travelling south and existing at Junction 14, I took the small left fork signposted "Stanwell Moor". The sight is easy to find from here, follow the road until you get to the PH on the map, "The Anchor" and turn right, another 200 metres as soon as you see the banks of the resrvoirs, park sensibly near the small stream.
Brown Shrike Site Map (courtsey of UK 400 Blog by Lee Evans)
From here follow the footpath along the reservoir fence, keep your eyes and ears peeled here as Firecrest has been reported a few times.
Take a right at the swing metal gate and its another 300 metres on, what is now, a muddy track, until you get to a small broadwalk, drop off the other side, walk 10 yards and view the area across the stream. The shrike tended to frequent the same group of three small bushes all the time I was there, but as Tony's shot shows it can range a bit. Whilst here we heard and saw regular high flying RN Parakeets, a few Redpoll,a Blackcap and what we are sure was a Yellow Wag. The bushes on the way were alive with birds and a few hours here would surely produce a good list.
Mark C. |
• Thursday, October 29, 2009 - Brown Shrike
I was hoping that the Eastern Crowned Warbler would remain for a few more days. My intention was to drive down from Glasgow and get there at Dawn on Tuesday but unfortunately it didn't hang around.