Its been a frustrating week for me as this little bird has been showing very well for a week in North Widecombe, Somerset. Due to work my first opportunity to get there was today so another early start, up at 4 a.m and on the road by 5 Rob and I made the 100 mile trip. On our arrival I was extremely pleased to see the bird on top of the hedgerow so hopefully it would not be a wasted journey.

Due to the cold weather insect activity was virtually non existent so the bird was not as active as we would have liked however it did perch in front of us on many occasions, sometimes quite close. Eventually when it found a food source it returned to the same perches in front of us for the next couple of hours.

The day was ever so slightly ruined by a birder who obviously didnt like photographers as he walked straight past another birder 5 yards to my left and told us we were not supposed to be on the grass (which is common land) and we would be stopping the bird from feeding which of course was total rubbish! if anyone follows my links to Rob Cross images you will see shots of the shrike feeding!! Before this rude idiot came over there was a young family and three other birders with us that all had close views and witnessed the bird feeding on worms, beetles a bumble bee and what looked like a cricket despite the fact I thought it was a bit early in the year for them.

Woodchat shrike