Sunday 1 November 2009 - BROWN SHRIKE in Surrey - 31/10/2009

Saturday 31st October 2009

BROWN SHRIKE in Surrey

Today was a real gamble.  I was offered a lift down to see the mysterious 'Mildly Green Lizard Warbler' down in Cornwall at midnight.  During the week I was convinced from descriptions that the bird in question stood a real good chance of becoming Britain's second ever GREEN WARBLER however my opinion changed as soon as I saw a photograph of the bird.  It just didn't look right and I became swayed towards the original identification of GREENISH WARBLER.  In addition I had made a number of long work trips during the week and didn't really relish spending another ten hours in a car.

So with the decision made, Steve Richards and I made our way down to Surrey in order to twitch the long staying 1st winter BROWN SHRIKE instead....... but would we regret this decision?  Upon arrival we were surprised by the number of birders that were present considering that the bird was now well into it's fourth week on site.  Initially the rarity proved elusive and distant and the views were quite disappointing.  With everyone remaining patient and sticking to the the sensible side of the river though, the bird eventually made its way towards the group of birders where it showed very well indeed.  Here it fed eagerly on bees and wasps, ignoring various Long-tailed Tits that dared to feed too close.  As it was Halloween I was hoping that it might impale one, decapitate it and tear it apart infront of us but this bird seemed more than satisfied with its diet of stinging insects.  It obviously preferred its food with a bit of a kick.

BROWN SHRIKE (1st winter) - Staines Moor, Surrey - October 2009 

The Shrike then attracted the attention of a Common Kestrel that flew over to see what the Shrike was getting up to.  I don't think the Kestrel was considering preying on the star bird, it just seemed curious about what the Shrike was eating.  Anyway while the Kestrel was perched in the top of the same hawthorn the Shrike took no chances and hid itself away in the middle of the bush until it departed.

Common Kestrel - Staines Moor, Surrey - October 2009

Other birds in the area included a Green Woodpecker, small groups of Redwing and Ring-necked Parakeet, the odd Siskin and Lesser Redpoll overhead and a probable Water Pipit in flight.  There were also at least 3 European Stonechat feeding along the riverside.

BROWN SHRIKE fact file

The Surrey bird is just the seventh record of this species for Great Britain with the full listing as follows:

1985 - adult - Sumburgh, Mainland Shetland - 30th September to 2nd October (3 days)

2000 - first winter female (trapped) - Fair Isle, Shetland - 21st October (1 day)

2001 - first winter - Bryher, Isles of Scilly - 24th to 28th September (5 days)

2004 - adult male cristatus (trapped) - Skaw, Whalsay, Shetland - 19th to 24th September (6 days)

2008 - adult cristatus - Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire - 24th to 25th September (2 days)

2008 - first winter - Vallay Strand, North Uist, Western Isles - 18th November (1 day)

2009 - 1st winter - Staines Moor, Surrey - 12th October +  (23 days +)

STOP PRESS: 

Whilst we were on site, confirmation filtered through that the intriguing Cornish Phylloscopus had been identified as a definate GREENISH WARBLER from analysis of sound recordings of its call.  Steve and I breathed a sigh of relief however we spared a thought for those who we knew had decided to make the long journey south west.  

Sunday 1 November 2009 - Scilly

Monday 2 November 2009 - Grrrrrrrrrrr....eenish Warbler !