Great Grey Shrike

Emsworthy Mire, Dartmoor, Devon
I had an early finish today and went to look for the Great Grey Shrike. I bumped into Dave Stone and Charlie Fleming and discovered it was on site. Another birder caught site of the bird in the third field from the barn and we soon obtained really nice views. I had a look at the barn area for a reported Common Redstart with no joy.

Great Grey Shrike

Yarner Wood, Bovey Tracey, Devon
As I was in the area I popped along and got killer views of 2 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Male and Female) and 2 European Pied Flycatcher both Males. No sign of Common Redstart though.

Hen Harrier

Woodbury Common, Devon
An hours look after work was rewarded within minutes of arriving (4:15pm) as a juvenile Hen Harrier flew extremely low almost directly over me. The views were brief as trees were blocking me and it quickly went low and was hard to keep track of but they weren’t half close views for a few seconds.

I then decided to walk right out in the direction of the grenade range in the hope of seeing yesterday’s Short-eared Owl and we are due a Great Grey Shrike. No joy there but there were large numbers of Meadow Pipit and Common Linnet to keep me entertained on the way. I also enjoyed distant views of a small group of what I believe were Roe Deer (I’m no good with deer species so I’m happy to be corrected). On the way back (around 5:05pm). The Hen Harrier again flew directly over me and this time I was able to watch it fly low for a few moments longer than the first sighting. Unfortunately it was all still a bit quick for me to set my scope up for a photo. I always enjoy seeing this species and sadly that doesn’t occur too often.

Roe Deer?