The Crabtree Hill - Great Grey Shrike

Date:15/03/2016

Location: Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire

Weather: White Cloud with some blue temp - 10c

Other Species: 
Great Grey Shrike, Linnet, Greenfinch, Nuthatch, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Stonechat, Little Grebe, Mandarin, Gadwall, Goldcrest, Greylag, Siskin, Crossbill (Heard), Hawfinch.

Observation:

Had a bit of spare time today, well 6 hours! So thought I'd head over to the Forest of Dean to See that Shrike which keeps eluding me my 5 attempt !  

But today I was lucky.

The Lanius Excubitor or the Great Grey Shrike means "sentinel butcher": Lanius is the Latin term for a butcher, while excubitor is Latin for a watchman or sentinel. The small but deadly spike on beak used for ripping and tearing its prey!

Always at a distance but relocated bird a number of times, saw it catch, cache and eat a Common Lizard.:)

After spending some 2 hours watching it with some very smart looking Stonechats buzzing it from time to time and Wrens hopping through undergrowth I headed on back to car park, where I was surprised to find this Buzzard in the forest, had his eye on something ! 

Thought I'd now give the Hawfinches a go spent, 1.5 hours but nothing going on apart from the sheep and a few very cute Lambs.

Did see this Coal Tit, given background a touch up!

Then for dinner and on to the nearby lake, Cannop Ponds. 

Plenty of Nuthatch and Tits about although no Marsh Tits today.

After a hour or so walked around lake, Little Grebe and muddy knees for this shot!

Losing the light now so final shot the lovely Gadwall, but mission accomplished the Great Grey Shrike in the bag, not literary!! 

Still plenty to find in this Great Forest :)

Thanks For Looking,

Hope You enjoy, I know I do !!