Saturday 8th November 2025.
The superb Great Grey Shrike in Bishops Dyke.
Though the Boat-tailed Grackle had long departed Calshot Spit, there were still some interesting birds to go for today and on such a beautiful day, with near clear blue sky and plenty of sunshine and very mild temperatures; Geoff, Andy and myself had a superb day. So, with the Grackle gone, it was off first to Fishlake Meadows for the Yellow-browed Warbler and then onto Shatterford (actually Bishops Dyke) in the New Forest for our third attempt this season for the Great Grey Shrike. We rounded the superb day off with a trip to Pig Bush in search of another Yellow-browed Warbler.
Cowplain Marsh, Andy’s house:
Above, a dead Black Rustic moth and a 'just above alive' Feathered Thorn moth. Below, Geoffs MV Moth Trap.
Maybe I was just being lazy, but I never had my Moth Box on last night, regrettably, but Geoff had put his MV Moth Box on overnight in Andy’s Garden. Sadly, there was only one moth present, but a good moth nonetheless; a Feathered Thorn, which was my first for the year. I did look a little on the lifeless side, resting near the Box on one of the shelves and I did see it move to prove it was still alive! There was also a dead Black Rustic close by, but I decided not to give it CPR to improve the moth total here!
While enjoying a cup of coffee outside in Andy’s garden, we were treated to a variety of birds that included several very large flocks of Wood Pigeons flying over. At least three large flocks flew over and Geoff guessed at least involving around 150+ birds. Other birds noted included Goldfinches, Greenfinches, a few Chaffinches, a couple of Goldcrests and a Jay flying over. As we were just leaving, Geoff saw a ‘crest’ by the front garden and it turned out to be a Firecrest! I managed to see the bird briefly while I was sitting in the car. This was a first for ‘Cowplain Marsh!’
Fishlake Meadows, Romsey:
A male Sparrowhawk was one of several raptors over Fishlake Meadows.
Though we never ventured more than the first bench at Fishlake Meadows; for from the Car Park to the first bench is where the Yellow-browed Warbler was apparently being seen, we did eventually see the bird very briefly in one of the trees by the Canal Path, but it was a poor sighting nonetheless, though its call was diagnostic. We heard it again a little later somewhere near the Car Park, but simply could not locate the bird and so returned back to the same bench again where a fellow birder told us that he had great views of it and then watched it fly west over into some nearby Sallows. Sadly, there was no further sign of the bird, but during that couple of hours there, we did get to see some nice birds and also try out my new camera here as well.
Above, one of several Cormorants flying over the Reserve.
Above, a Long-tailed Tit balancing on a small twig and below, this male Goldcrest was searching for food in a bush by the bench.
In fact, I was struggling a bit to get some flight shots of some of the birds overhead, including a male Sparrowhawk that soared above us. After playing around with the Menu and a few other bits and pieces, I think I figured out what I was doing wrong in the end and to be honest, I was rather pleased with some of the results when I looked at my computer screen.
Above, another photo of one of the Long-tailed Tits and below, a Grey Heron flying over the reserve.
As mentioned, there were some nice birds around that included a gorgeous male Bullfinch that we saw several times along the footpath and over the reserve, we picked out a distant Marsh Harrier, Red Kite, a Common Buzzard and two Ravens flying in the gorgeous blue sky. Both Cetti’s Warblers and Water Rails were calling deep within cover and would not show for us, but a few Goldcrests put on a good show as did a small flock of Long-tailed Tits. It was with the Long-tailed Tits that the Yellow-browed Warbler suddenly appeared, but that moment didn't last long. A few high flying Siskins and Redpolls were seen flying over and after around a couple of hours, I suggested we head down to Shatterford Car Park for the Shrike (which had been seen this morning)
Shatterford and Bishop’s Dyke, New Forest:
Our first view of the Great Grey Shrike in Bishops Dyke.
The Car Park at Shatterford was near full and probably were all ‘birders’ cars too as we passed a lot of smiley faces on the way there to Bishop’s Dyke. A small party of Crossbills flew over the trees by the Railway Line as we made our way south and a few Meadow Pipits flew up from the neighbouring heath. As happy ‘birders’ passed us, some gave us exact directions on where to see the Shrike and nearing the big pool within Bishop’s Dyke, a flock of 15 Redwing flew over our heads.
Above, small Toadstools were growing out of the poo! Below, I only grabbed a quick snap of the passing male Merlin that flew over our heads.
Above, the woodland within Bishops Dyke was stunning, what with the sunshine pouring through the trees. I could have stayed here all day.
Joining around six people present in the same location overlooking the big pool, it didn't take long to pick out the Great Grey Shrike perched up on a tall conifer behind the pool. In the pleasant sunshine, the bird showed very well for all those concerned; chasing and catching Dragonflies that were abundant over the heath (mostly Common Darters). As I got busy taking a lot of photos of the bird, something caught my eye and amazingly, it was a female type Merlin flying overhead and thankfully, a lot of birders present caught sight of it too. That was my third ‘year-tick’ of the day and along with the Shrike and the Yellow-browed Warbler, it certainly was turning out to be a superb day indeed.
The first batch of some of the Great Grey Shrike photos.
It was time for lunch here and as I ate my sandwiches with relish, we had a superb, if not distant, show from the Great Grey Shrike. Overhead, more Crossbills, Redpolls and Siskins were flying over along with a distant Common Buzzard drifting low over the heath by Denny Wood. Very happy with the showy Great Grey Shrike, we made our way back to the car.
Above, the Great Grey Shrike landed just the other side of the pond and below, Geoff correctly identified this fungus as Candle-snuff Fungus.
Above, the walk back to the car in Bishops Dyke and below, the heath looking north from Bishops Dyke.
Above, the boys enjoying the view and below, the Great Grey Shrike returned to land some 100ft away from us.
However, when we reached the second bridge, Andy picked out the Great Grey Shrike again, this time perched high up and not too far away, on a tall Silver Birch tree. Was this a second bird? Sadly not; as another birder joined us and told us that the Shrike we had seen earlier had flown east. Again, the bird was showing very well and then went off in search of prey over the heath. Amazingly, we watched it climb into the sky to chase a butterfly of which the insect escaped by flying down to the ground and ‘Kestrel-like’ it closed its wings and chased the butterfly down to the ground where it caught it and ate it in a nearby sprig poking out of the heather. A wonderful moment.
Above, the Great Grey Shrike was now in a different location out on the heath.
And now it was by the railway line.
It didn't end there either as the Shrike then flew over to Birch trees by the railway line and perched there for about 5 minutes or so and was enjoyed by a family group of birders. We were then surprised by a Kingfisher flying very low to the ground and then headed off into Bishops Dyke and out of sight.
Pig Bush, New Forest:
A cracking Marsh Tit enjoyed feasting on the Crab Apples by the wood at Pig Bush.
Earlier today, a Yellow-browed Warbler was seen in the southern end of the wood by Pig Bush Car Park and so I decided to round off our superb day here and spend a good hour in search of the bird. Sadly, we had no luck in finding it, but a pair of Marsh Tits put on a good display, feeding on Crab Apples that had fallen from the trees. A small flock of Long-tailed Tits had our hopes up and Geoff had seen a Chiffchaff among them. A Nuthatch showed briefly and a single Redpoll flew overhead and headed off southbound over the heath. All the time we were watching out for the Yellow-browed Warbler, a Dartford Warbler was calling behind us and I was lucky enough to see the bird briefly perched on one of the larger bushes on the heath until it flew down into the heather and out of view.
Above and below, a pair of Marsh Tits showed very well in the woodland at Pig Bush.
Above, Sulphur Tuft toadstools grew abundantly by the Car Park.
It had been a very good day for raptors with Marsh Harrier, Red Kite, Common Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Merlin and on the M27 on the way back home, a Kestrel was seen hovering on the roadside bank.
Film footage of the Great Grey Shrike today.
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