Brown Shrike at Staines - Page 2

Brian S · October 14th, 2009, 12:29 PM

Paul Hackett has posted some really nice shots of the Brown Shrike on the stop press page - the best so far?

Here's one http://surfbirds.com/media/gallery_p...1013033915.jpg

Brian S

andy22 · October 14th, 2009, 12:32 PM

Yeah.. i agree with you Brian!
so far.. maybe even better so come?

Andy

MichaelF · October 14th, 2009, 02:01 PM

Except for those annoying black and white marks obscuring much of the tail . . .

LeeEvans · October 14th, 2009, 07:13 PM

Roy Hargreaves is spot-on - there must be MANY first-winters that have been overlooked in Britain. I do have the two records mentioned by Roy but there is also an additional Shetland record from Foula (photographed by the Drew brothers).

I found the Staines Moor first-winter a most educational bird and one which I would recommend all keen birders to see. These birds are far from easy and this particular bird is very difficult, hence why many of London's finest overlooked it prior to CDRH's very critical and systematic approach with it. The main differences are structural - bill, head, primary pattern, tail - and these are best judged in POOR rather than good light conditions. Several features conflict with the approach taken by numerous field guide authors of late as regards the identification of Brown Shrike.

If anyone does have good photographs of the bird, I would be very pleased to receive them and will add them to an article I am preparing on this remarkable occurrence.

Red-eyed Video · October 14th, 2009, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeeEvans

Roy Hargreaves is spot-on - there must be MANY first-winters that have been overlooked in Britain.

True, but lets not forget that Red-backed by virtue of its European status will outnumber Brown by a very large margin. I saw video of a Red-backed near Sandy a few years back which has got me thinking though. Does anyone have any pics?

p.s. I hope you noticed that fine Beafsteak fungus on that nice log you were resting on.

MichaelF · October 14th, 2009, 10:59 PM

Quote:

True, but lets not forget that Red-backed by virtue of its European status will outnumber Brown by a very large margin

I'd agree with the outnumbering, but the European status need not make it so; passage Yellow-browed Warblers (and probably also Pallas's) outnumber passage Wood Warblers by a fairly large margin.

RoyHargreaves · October 14th, 2009, 11:12 PM

Also if we look at the 68 accepted records of Isabelline and six of Brown to date. Then simple maths tells us that even if Brown occurs with half the frequency of Isabelline then we have potentially 'missed' about 30 Browns. Of course this assumes that we don't miss Isabellines as well, which we no doubt do:-)

birder-uk · November 6th, 2009, 02:51 AM

Hi, Im mostly into birding whilst out and about with my wife,but heard about the Brown shrike, a quick trip over to staines rewarded me with a superb view,georgous sunrise, no one about, sheer heaven.

November 6th, 2009, 02:51 AM	#18
birder-uk Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 2	first time Hi, Im mostly into birding whilst out and about with my wife,but heard about the Brown shrike, a quick trip over to staines rewarded me with a superb view,georgous sunrise, no one about, sheer heaven.

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October 14th, 2009, 12:29 PM	#11
Brian S Moderator Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Suffolk, UK Posts: 662	Paul Hackett has posted some really nice shots of the Brown Shrike on the stop press page - the best so far? Here's one http://surfbirds.com/media/gallery_p...1013033915.jpg Brian S

October 14th, 2009, 12:32 PM	#12
andy22 Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: hertfordshire Posts: 93	Yeah.. i agree with you Brian! so far.. maybe even better so come? Andy

October 14th, 2009, 02:01 PM	#13
MichaelF Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 939	Except for those annoying black and white marks obscuring much of the tail . . .

October 14th, 2009, 07:13 PM	#14
LeeEvans Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Little Chalfont Posts: 82	Roy Hargreaves is spot-on - there must be MANY first-winters that have been overlooked in Britain. I do have the two records mentioned by Roy but there is also an additional Shetland record from Foula (photographed by the Drew brothers). I found the Staines Moor first-winter a most educational bird and one which I would recommend all keen birders to see. These birds are far from easy and this particular bird is very difficult, hence why many of London's finest overlooked it prior to CDRH's very critical and systematic approach with it. The main differences are structural - bill, head, primary pattern, tail - and these are best judged in POOR rather than good light conditions. Several features conflict with the approach taken by numerous field guide authors of late as regards the identification of Brown Shrike. If anyone does have good photographs of the bird, I would be very pleased to receive them and will add them to an article I am preparing on this remarkable occurrence.

October 14th, 2009, 11:12 PM	#17
RoyHargreaves Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 70	Also if we look at the 68 accepted records of Isabelline and six of Brown to date. Then simple maths tells us that even if Brown occurs with half the frequency of Isabelline then we have potentially 'missed' about 30 Browns. Of course this assumes that we don't miss Isabellines as well, which we no doubt do:-)