Apparently first sighted on the 17th, this Great Grey Shrike was still on the fell-side the following morning. It was presumably the same bird which spent much of the late winter here earlier in the year. Today (the 18th) it was very mobile, occasionally hunting from post tops along the wall crossing the moor to the west of the road but often it would disappear over the crest of the hill for long periods. It never came within less than 200 metres so that any photographs had to be taken at extreme range. Unfortunately, the overhead wires which it used to frequent have now been removed.
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Interestingly, two days later it could again be seen from a vantage point by the roadside from where a Black Redstart could also be watched. Two scarce birds visible simultaneously here was unusual. The Shrike was seen intermittently but less frequently as the end of the year approached but it reappeared briefly over the New Year period with the most recent sighting being on January 9, 2011. There is a very large are of unfrequented but suitable habitat on these moors and the bird had probably been there all the time. Alternatively, might this be the same bird seen at Padiham at Christmas, seeking respite from the harsh weather at that time?
