Another Trip to Morton Bagot.

Early this morning I went over to Morton Bagot again to try for some better shots of the GG Shrike.

Despite the heavy frost the journey there was OK until I turned into the narrow lane that leads to the parking spot to find the surface was covered in sheet ice.My car is not great on ice and snow so I was forced to crawl along at snail's pace which was fine until I was suddenly faced with not one but two huge tractors both with trailers attached bearing down on me.Instant panic mode!!!!! I pulled over to the hedge line,braked,closed my eyes and prayed.Somehow they both passed by without crushing me and my car.

In the pond field a birder soon put me onto the GGS which was on a distant oak tree.We were then joined by Pete Walkden who also got a distant view before it flew off into the distance.

A bit later Pete and I walked across the field to the far corner hoping to pick it up there but when we hadn't got even a distant view after half an hour Pete decided to walk up the hill in the next field.Not fancying climbing a hill I headed back and,when I was not really looking for it any longer,it suddenly landed in a tree on the fence line in front of me.I quickly rang Pete but by the time he arrived it had flown again.

Managed a few shots but as usual it was a bit distant.Click on the pics for a larger version.