Tuesday 5 October 2010

Woodchat: Hartlepool Headland


I finally crumbled today and gave in to the temptation of the juvenile woodchat shrike that has been residing on Hartlepool Headland for the past week or so. It's not a long drive from home (in fact it's nearer to home than Holy Island) but it is out of the county... so the sense of urgency is never as that of a Northumberland bird.

My visit was well timed - the woodchat was easily located in Croft Park - a small green patch on a built up headland (park is located in lower right hand corner of link image). So without further ado I set up the camera and waited.


Sure enough the shrike was as bold as recent correspondence and  internet images had suggested, and it was not long before the bird landed a few feet away and surveyed for prey. My only issue was quickly taking the 1.4 extender off ~ both images here are taken with the 500mm.

It's my second juvenile, but the first that I've managed to photograph well.

A smart bird indeed...

4 comments:

Alan Tilmouth said...

Smart and well captured John, a real poser.

The Liverbirder said...

80 mile round trip, enchanting bird and great photos. Bargain!

Ghost of Stringer said...

Very nice !

John Malloy said...

Cheers Lads, always nice to see an interesting species close up. & a bonus being a shrike too...