Monday, 24 September 2018

Woodchat Shrike at Ynyslas

Late this morning on my usual rounds at Ynyslas I walked along the track down towards the boatyard from the beach when I stopped to have a scan around the Kale/set aside field (still not sure what it is). I instantly noticed probably 10+ Stonchats and a couple of Whinchat working the fenceline on the northern edge of the field. As I was appreciating a rather smart Whinchat, it was quickly displaced from its post by a larger bird, a super 1st-winter Woodchat Shrike! I managed some sketchy record shots before the bird headed further away from the track. The bird showed regularly all day for a steady stream of birders, but usually at some distance.