Lesser Grey Shrike...

This little beauty has been hanging around on Mount Batten Point near Plymouth for the last few days and finally proved too much of a temptation. A brief visit paid off with glorious weather and excellent views of the shrike, on one occasion as close as 10ft away! Dave Helliar got some fantastic photos of it whilst I managed to grab some video.

Close...Lesser Grey Shrike: Dave Helliar

Closer...Lesser Grey Shrike: Dave Helliar

Closest!...Lesser Grey Shrike: Dave Helliar

Adult Lesser Grey Shrike (video grab): R. Harris

Lesser Grey Shrike: R. Harris

Migrants on the move...

Thanks to Dave Helliar for sending in his photos from the past couple of weeks. A mammoth round-up of migrants - very much on the move starting  with some nice local waders at Seaton and on Dave's local Dorset patch:

Little Stint, Black Hole Marsh: D. Helliar

Little Stint, Black Hole Marsh: D. Helliar

Curlew Sandpiper, Black Hole Marsh: D. Helliar

Little-ringed Plover, Chard Res: D. Helliar

Green Sandpiper, Chard Res: D. Helliar

Redshank, a scarcer visitor at Chard Res: D. Helliar

Common Snadpiper, Chard Res: D. Helliar

Despite challenges from one US birder on Twitter that this was a Lesser Yellowlegs, it is definitely a Greenshank...and cracking pics too:

Greenshank, Chard Res: D. Helliar

Greenshank, Chard Res: D. Helliar

Wood Sandpiper, Black Hole Marsh: D. Helliar

Other birds were on offer too including...

Black Tern, always a good bird to see locally.
This one was at Chard Res briefly on 20th and 21st
of August: D. Helliar 

Black Tern, Chard Res: D. Helliar

Juv/1st Winter Med Gull: D. Helliar
Another scarce but regular visitor
on Chard Res LNR

West Bexington on the Dorset coast had a bit of a fall recently with large numbers of passerines to be found, including:

Tree Pipit, West Bexington: D. Helliar

Whinchat: D. Helliar

Whinchat: D. Helliar

One of at least two Wrynecks present
at the end of August: D. Helliar

Yellow Wagtail: D. Helliar

Whinchat, Blackdown Hills: D. Helliar

Whinchat, Blackdown Hills: D. Helliar

Great White Egret: D. Helliar
Still a rare bird outside the Somerset Levels.
This one graced Chard Res for 8 minutes!

Little Egret, Chard Res: D. Helliar

Little Egret, Chard Res: D. Helliar

Great sequence of shots of a Kingfisher swallowing its prey.

Kingfisher: D.Helliar

Going...: D.Helliar

Going...: D.Helliar

Gone...: D.Helliar

The local Grass Snakes have done well this year with good numbers seen basking on Dave's patch:

Grass Snake: D. Helliar

Grass Snake - this individual is close to
sloughing its skine: D. Helliar

Last but not least a couple of butterflies to finish on a bright note...

Small Copper: D. Helliar

Clouded Yellow - rare 'open wing' shot: D. Helliar

Thanks again to Dave for sharing his excellent photos.