Having recently dipped on the Hemingby Shrike, I found another one on "BirdGuides" not too far away, just across the NOTTS border in LEICS, at Plungar ( about 10 miles from Grantham ), where it first appeared on 21 March.
I detoured en route so as to see the reported Garganey about 5 minutes' drive from the Shrike stakeout. I arrived at the Castle View Road Easthorpe bridge over the Grantham Canal at c. 08.30 this morning (Tue), and had immediate views of the drake Garganey in the middle of the Canal in its last reported spot..... about 100m. NW of the bridge. I stayed around for c. 30 minutes and although I had further views of the drake, the female stayed out of view in the reeds.
I arrived at the Shrike stakeout off Long Lane , near Plungar, just after 9.00 and, thanks to Steve L. and Dave, two LEICS birders, I was put straight onto the Great Grey Shrike perched in a sapling across a field. I stayed around for the next hour and the Shrike showed on/off, sometimes distant......but far more 'obliging' than my experience with the Hemingby bird.
A steady stream of 8-10 LEICS/NOTTS birders called in, plus an "interested" PC in his patrol car.
On my way back home, I called in again to see the Garganey : this time I was luckier as both drake and duck were showing on the Canal about 200m. NW of the Easthorpe Bridge......but not for too long, as two dog-walkers flushed them. (Lots of cursing all round from the assembled birders.)The birds circled briefly before flying further up the Canal and out of sight (10.25).
I was very pleased to return to the Plungar area, as some 60 years ago I was stationed at the nearby (only 4 miles away !) Whatton-in-the-Vale Royal Army Service Corps Camp as a young Lieutenant "doing my National Service"........and the Plungar-Grantham Canal-Vale of Belvoir area was a happy hunting/'birdwatching' ground. It was the new Queen's Jubilee Year (1953).....now it's her Diamond Jubilee Year : Phew ! that all went quickly
.....and I certainly remember that the Prime Minister of the day (Winston Churchill) had a lot more charisma, leadership qualities, etc. than some of his successors. .......
Freddy
PS....I see from "BirdGuides" that by 1445 the 2 Garganey had returned to the spot about 200m. NW of the Easthorpe Bridge.
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