The Lincolnshire Bird Club

!!! Mega in Lincs

Steppe Grey Shrike still present at Grainthorpe Haven - even after the snow!

The Steppe Grey Shrike was still showing, quite well in fact. So well, that we could open the door of our car and the door would be over the bird!!!! The best thing to do is go down Keyholme Lane on the right, where the main road, A1031, goes hard left in Eskham. This is coming from the south. This is towards and beyond Keyholme Farm and Middle Farm and The Fitties was almost exactly where the bird was.

Directions

However, the road CANNOT IN ANY WAY take a huge number of vehicles. If you can, park at The Fitties and walk. There is a signpost just after the right-hand bend. More information on this Multimap page. http://www.multimap.com/s/h7VhLxua. The circle represents where the bird was and the ending of the metalled surface is shown by the road going from yellow to white. Please note that this route, beyond the metalled suface is only meant for one car every few months, to operate the pumps at the pumping station. This is a much quicker way, but if everyone abuses these guidelines, it wil be very boggy and people will get stuck.

Food shop just south of turing. There is a slant down when you exit the main road. If you go up to Donna Nook, there usually is a café trailer there. There are also local services including fuel and accommodation in the town Louth, approximately 5 miles away.

Grid reference of the bird was TA392002. Wellington boots are recommended, but not essential if everyone keeps off the unmetalled surface. Washing your car also recommended, but not essential if everyone keeps off the unmetalled surface!!!!!!!!

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Alastair Carr

Where there is a will, there is a way....

Or as most people did you could park at Horseshoe Point and walk south along the bank to the pumping station and then walk inland to the small bridge and then scan the bushes to left

But if you are a a masochist you could park at Stonebridge and take the long stroll north

Good views at lunch time

It weren't at the bushes to the left when we saw it, it was either on the road or in an unsown field.

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Alastair Carr

Where there is a will, there is a way....

Thats even better Alistair. It did spend a few minutes in the field but never semed to settle - perhaps too many people!

Dean has a cracking shot of it already on the forum

Shrike feeding on worms around donations box ( also preched on box for a couple of mins) 0830
glaucous gull feeding on seal placenta Donna, 0900, dessert wheatear feeding on insects Haven
1000, and per Barry Clarkson Bean goose in field near caravans off Haven track, John.

This is the bird 20cm from my car! (Or rather my mother's car.)

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Alastair Carr

Where there is a will, there is a way....

How has it got here or there?
Do they behave like this at home? (I mean like a Cheeky Robin or Sparrow at a Takeaway etc..)

Called in to see this today (Wed 19th), as I had a site meeting nearby. What a fantastic performer....... only take a scope for it to perch on!!

Wonder whether it will stay after the cold weather strikes this week-end?

Alan

Well, I'm hoping to put a bit of a shelter out there and a little bit of food, so it should survive this.

Meanwhile, is it still there?

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Alastair Carr

Where there is a will, there is a way....

Alastair,
Bird reported still present at 2.00pm today (SAT 22 Nov) at the Grainthorpe Haven stake-out.
(via Birdguides).

Regards,

Freddy

What does this Shrike eat? What do Great Gey Shrikes eat?

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Alastair Carr

Where there is a will, there is a way....

Alistair,
If you look on this Forum the thread "Grainthorpe and Donna Nook 18/11", you'll see an interesting entry by Graham Catley that will partially answer your question.

So, after much analysing (because I don't know the latin names of animals/insects), I think, that this bird eats beetles and other insects? Is that correct?

Maybe Graham Catley could confirm this for me, please.

Much appreciated.

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Alastair Carr

Where there is a will, there is a way....