Bempton Shrike

It had been planned on the 4th of October that myself and Neil Massey a very good friend of mine was going to go to the east coast as a Daurian Shrike was still at Bempton Cliffs and an Olive Backed Pipit was seen at Thornwick Bay. Neil picked me up at 0700 and we were off the weather was looking good sunny with little cloud. We got to Thornwick Bay at just before 0900 and walked up to the area where the pipit was seen the previous day we asked a couple of birders who were there if they had seen it they had but it wasnt on show at present. we walked round the perimeter to an area which had a bit of an opening and stood there for about 10 minutes before another birder called out he had the pipit.

So after a short time the pipit came into the open and gave very good views a buffish coloured pipit with a clear supercillium and bigger than our Meadow Pipit this bird was a lifer for myself and Neil we watched the bird as it fed for around 15 minutes before the bird disappeared into the long grass . We decided then to go to the Sewage compound which wasnt far away.

We arrived there after a quick 5 minute drive and got good views of a Yellow Browed Warbler and a Red Breasted Flycatcher we stayed only for about 10 minutes more as we wanted to get to Bempton Cliffs to see the Daurian Shrike which had been there for a few days. So after a short drive to Bempton we arrived in the Car park.

We quickly rushed round to the area where the bird had been showing and wow we werent disappointed the Shrike was sat out in the open in the top of the bush a pale looking shrike much paler than any of the regular shrikes we see in the uk we watched this bird for an hour or so before it moved to the back of the bushes and out of view so we moved place to the top of the path which overlooked the bushes and low and behold we could see the shrike albeit at distance but still good scope views. We decided then to go back to the car parker area where a Red Flanked Bluetail had been showing.

Daurian Shrike

After a short walk back to car park i popped into the rspb shop to buy a sandwich as i was pretty hungry now after our lunch stop we were stood near the car checking the bushes out when a guy shouted Bluetail and there it was in the gap in the hedge Red Flanked Bluetail showed stupidly close for a couple of minutes before diving further back into cover well what a day 2 lifers and a great year tick in the Bluetail. We stayed for about 10 more minutes before we decided to head home a great day with amazing birds.