Red-backed Shrikes at Waxham

Norman, Brian and I met at Hickling for an enjoyable catch-up and a stroll around the largely empty NWT Reserve. Not too much to report until we stopped at the 'new' scrape, where first one, then two, then three Great White Egrets flew westwards. Never close, it was nonetheless interesting to see six birds in the air together. Four Common Cranes bugled across, landing at the back of the scrape. The only other birds of note were numerous Great Spotted Woodpeckers.

Norman needed to return home, so Brian and I drove in convoy to Waxham to look for the previously present Red-backed Shrike. A walk around the field margin to the portaloos (!) provided us with excellent views of not just one, but two birds! One was a much 'foxier', rusty individual, while the other looked quite frosty at times. Although they shared the same bush for a while, I never managed to photograph the two together: every time one approached the other, it flitted away!

On the walk back to the car we came across a group of three Lesser Whitethroats in a path-side Hawthorn. A great morning session.