Great Grey Shrike White Coppice
Moderator: Neil Southworth
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- Woodpecker
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Great Grey Shrike White Coppice
A superb days birding from White Coppice to the uplands today but the star of the show was a Great Grey Shrike at the western end of the beech wood that borders the upper levels of Dean Black Brook. Initially perched atop a stunted oak it took off hunting for prey. I was not aware the these birds were capable of hovering Kestrel like using their long tail for balance, a real showman! Superb bird watched for several minutes and a UK first for me!
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- Avocet
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Re: Great Grey Shrike White Coppice
Great record Paul. Thanks for posting. I just hope it hangs around for a day or two!
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- Peregrine
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Re: Great Grey Shrike White Coppice
A well timed days holiday !
GGS still there and showing well at western end of beeches and 200m east on small spindly tree 315 to 355pm a least.
Also saw some of the hovering.
A superb bird, well done Paul on finding a cracker !
Swallow and Willow Warbler also present plus Red Grouse on the walk up from Well Lane.
Takes me to 108 species for the year.
GGS still there and showing well at western end of beeches and 200m east on small spindly tree 315 to 355pm a least.
Also saw some of the hovering.
A superb bird, well done Paul on finding a cracker !
Swallow and Willow Warbler also present plus Red Grouse on the walk up from Well Lane.
Takes me to 108 species for the year.
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- Peregrine
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Re: Great Grey Shrike White Coppice
Currently on site. Unfortunately some dog walkers off trail right in the area seen... No sight of the bird.
6pm edit. Simon is a GGS expert. He's found it at the far eastern end of the trees Sat in trees that run N-S at the eastern end of the main tree group.
2nd edit - a great find Paul. Male Stonechat, Lesser Redpoll and Curlew were other new birds for the year whilst on the walk up and back. Now onto 87 for the year
6pm edit. Simon is a GGS expert. He's found it at the far eastern end of the trees Sat in trees that run N-S at the eastern end of the main tree group.
2nd edit - a great find Paul. Male Stonechat, Lesser Redpoll and Curlew were other new birds for the year whilst on the walk up and back. Now onto 87 for the year
Ian Ball
http://nobbyball.blogspot.com/?m=1
http://nobbyball.blogspot.com/?m=1
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- Woodpecker
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Re: Great Grey Shrike White Coppice
Great to be validated, well done Ian, Simon and John!
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- Avocet
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Re: Great Grey Shrike White Coppice
Great sighting Paul , ive only ever seen one at martin mere years ago hope it sticks around .
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- Goldeneye
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Re: Great Grey Shrike White Coppice
Shrike still in same wooded area mid afternoon. Nearby pair of Stonechat and male Reed Bunting. Plenty Meadow Pipits and a couple of Red Grouse calling but not seen.
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- Peregrine
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Re: Great Grey Shrike White Coppice
The Great Grey Shrike was posing nicely by the ruins of Great Hill farm around 7.00 this evening, before it was mobbed by a gang of Meadow Pipits and flew off down Dean Black Brook.
Other sightings
Wheatear 3. Skylark. Reed Bunting. Curlew 2. Red Grouse heard.
Willow Warbler singing at White Coppice.
A clump of doomed frog spawn in a small puddle on the path near Drinkwaters,
GGS. Wheatear and Willow Warbler take my score to 94.
Other sightings
Wheatear 3. Skylark. Reed Bunting. Curlew 2. Red Grouse heard.
Willow Warbler singing at White Coppice.
A clump of doomed frog spawn in a small puddle on the path near Drinkwaters,
GGS. Wheatear and Willow Warbler take my score to 94.
Re: Great Grey Shrike White Coppice
Great find, is this area the group of trees on the way up to/just below Great Hill next to the ruins?
Cheers
Cheers
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- Avocet
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Re: Great Grey Shrike White Coppice
No Tony, it's in the trees by Dean Black Brook but directly opposite Drinkwater's ruin.
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- Avocet
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Re: Great Grey Shrike White Coppice
Great Grey Shrike still present this morning at 10.30 am in the usual location. Other sightings:-
Red Grouse (one seen but several others calling), Curlew, Raven 4, Crow 2, Woodpigeon 2, Skylark (several singing), Meadow Pipit 20-50, Stonechat 2 pairs and a female.
Butterflies:- Peacock
GGS and Red Grouse take me to 97
Red Grouse (one seen but several others calling), Curlew, Raven 4, Crow 2, Woodpigeon 2, Skylark (several singing), Meadow Pipit 20-50, Stonechat 2 pairs and a female.
Butterflies:- Peacock
GGS and Red Grouse take me to 97
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- Woodpecker
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Re: Great Grey Shrike White Coppice
Well, this is a turn up, either we have two birds or it's moved. I avoided disturbing the sight this am to leave it clear for others. Instead I took the path up Lead Mines Clough heading East towards Rivington Road, to my astonishment I spotted a GSS moving from perch to perch on the small conifers around Higher Hempshaws. Same bird?
Re: Great Grey Shrike White Coppice
The GGS. Meadow pipit.and Red Grouse.make my total 86.
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- Little Egret
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Re: Great Grey Shrike White Coppice
Paul, I was with Neil, Nora and Tommy this morning when we saw the Shrike. We watched it for 7 minutes between 10:26 and 10:33 before we lost sight of it. What Time did you see it?
GGS takes my species score to 103.
GGS takes my species score to 103.
Last edited by Leonard Poxon on Fri Apr 12, 2019 9:29 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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- Peregrine
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Re: Great Grey Shrike White Coppice
The original shrike was certainly still present this afternoon 400-530pm above WC ranging a bit further north east than Tuesday in small isolated trees towards Great Hill although back in the spot at the west end of the beeches when I left at 530pm.
Also 2-3 vocal Red Grouse (1 seen in flight), 2 Raven and a Golden Plover heard calling on Anglezarke Moor.
Also 2-3 vocal Red Grouse (1 seen in flight), 2 Raven and a Golden Plover heard calling on Anglezarke Moor.