Updated – 25 February 2009

Christopher Brooking has emailed us to say that on 21 of February, at about 12.00 noon, he enjoyed a very good view of a Great Grey Shrike perched on a bush behind Laughter Tor, south of the Bellever estate on Dartmoor.

Julia Harris, Devon Birds Data Manager, adds: “The Great Grey Shrike first appeared at Bellever in early November 2008. It then became elusive and the next sighting of a Great Grey Shrike was at Sherril, near Dartmeet on Christmas Eve, when it was seen flying west, quite high, from the Corndon Ridge/Buckland Common area, possibly towards Bellever. However, on 27 December it was seen in flight again near Venford and later that afternoon the observer found it at Bench Tor. To my knowledge it was not reported again until Mike & Jan Daniels found it on the Dunnabridge side of Bellever plantation on 10 Feb (see photo below) and it seems to have remained there to date.”

“However, two other members watched the shrike last Sunday at that location and then later saw a Great Grey Shrike on Assycombe Hill on the edge of Fernworthy, which appears to be a second bird. The last time two Great Grey Shrikes were present on Dartmoor was in the winter of 2004/05."

Great Grey Shrike – Dartmoor – © Jan & Mike Daniels – February 2009

We have also heard from Charlie Fleming, who caught up with the Bellever shrike on 17 February. He has provided the photo below and the following account of his sighting:

"I had been to look for the shrike on the previous day but without success – not realising that the 'cleared area' was as large as it was and being late afternoon I had the sun in my eyes for the majority of my search. I was disappointed not to catch up with it but decided to return the next day if the weather remained bright and clear, which it did.

This time, I decided to explore thoroughly and made my way to the slopes of the the Tor where I had a good view of the area beneath me. I reasoned that several factors would help me locate the shrike. Good shelter from the wind and elements would probably dictate which side of the hill the bird might prefer. I presumed that it would have an exposed perch amongst the cleared trees, be in the lee of the hill and have the possibility of prey.

Then, halfway across the cleared hillside and now in the lee, I stopped in my tracks because there in front of me on an uprooted tree was the white breast of my quarry. I mention the white breast because it stood out as a beacon with the dark trees behind. I watched through the lens of my camera and took a few photos but I was still quite a distance away. The bird's behaviour was very interesting; it was scanning the ground beneath in a very intelligent manner, cocking it's head to one side to look. I took a pace or two forward. With the camera on a tripod this was not easy due to the rough terrain. The bird didn't like this and flew up and away to my right very strongly to trees quite some distance away. Encounter over!"

Great Grey Shrike – Dartmoor – © Charles Fleming – February 2009