Another gorgeous warm sunny day, ideal shrike viewing conditions I thought as I walked into Cross Inn Forest.
Before long I met another birder coming the other way: Dave Haslam who told me that he had seen a Great Grey Shrike, around the usual area but elusive and very mobile.
After well over an hour I still hadn't found the bird and was entertaining myself by counting the large number of raptors that were soaring in the sunshine. About 60, including one group of 35. I estimated about 70% Red Kites and 30% Buzzards.
I was about to give up, but decided on a last sweep of the area and there was the bird at last. Managed to scope it for about 20 seconds before it flew off. All's well that ends well, as they say.