A Trip Down Memory Lane - A Great Grey Shrike at Santon Downham

 3rd February 2019

A Great Grey Shrike had been at Santon Downham since the 23rd January at least, but had been very wide-ranging and disappearing for days at a time. Indeed, some believed it to be the same bird that had been reported at Grimes Graves and Brandon. During the last few days it had been favouring the area by the railway underpass 400 yards west of the level crossing, so that was the obvious place to start.

We managed to locate it straight away, but unfortunately it seemed to be fairly loyal to a section of the hedge 100 yards away. It was changing position several times but, although always visible, it was not only distant but generally obscured by twigs. Then just after 1.30pm it flew to the railway and perched high on a tree allowing a series of shots to be taken at a range of just 30 yards.

That's better!!