Good afternoon. It has been a very busy week here and I will return with some recent sightings on Saturday. In the meantime though, I thought I would share some great photographs that have been taken here this week.
On Saturday morning, this masked bandit with a hooked beak made a brief appearance on the reserve:
Image credit: Chris Sharp
If you are not sure what it is, it’s a female red backed shrike. Sadly, it wasn’t around for long before disappearing off again.
This incredible picture of a bittern was also taken at Mere Hide recently:
Image credit: Ann Karim Solheim
If you look carefully, it has a cheeky four spotted chaser dragonfly perched on its beak!
Thank you very much to Chris and Ann for sharing these images with us.
Oh dear John I am sorry to hear that. I haven't seen a red backed shrike in Britain for several years myself.
Putting aside that great shot of the bittern, that's the second RBS I've missed at an RSPB reserve by just 24 hours this year! (Not that I was deliberately after them.) I was wondering if someone got record shots. What a bogey bird... I'll get you one day!
John aka Zeeox
It is indeed Alan!