In Flight

Looking out over the vast expanse of forest, it was like looking for a needle in a haystack.

The Great Grey Shrike appears to be a regular winter visitor here in the Forest of Dean in an area that is being cut for wood but finding it is another matter even though it is pale grey standing out against the greens and browns of the trees. It perches on branches to pounce on it's prey of small mammals, beetles and insects underneath. There is only one as they are very territorial, often being mobbed by other birds as, although only being about 9½ inches big, are dangerous predators. Often you can spot it's larder where the bird has impaled a lizard say to a thorn up in a tree. 

Very camera shy, I found it difficult to get close to but at least got a few shots as it flew from tree to tree over quite large distances. All good exercise. Yoga tonight too.