Red-backed Shrike and Wheatear

Red-backed shrike, Lanius collurio

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I returned to the Tide Mills on Friday to catch the later afternoon light. The shrike hunted well, catching bees, grasshoppers, crickets, daddy longlegs, a lizard and devil's coachhorses. It flew past me within 2 feet at one point. Another time it landed 3 feet away in a bush and hopped from branch to branch looking for prey. It produced a pellet twice. Another wonderful experience. Stonechats, wheatears and goldfinches were also present.

Dock Bug, Coreus marginatus

The Tide Mills area

Painted Lady, Vanessa cardui

Red-backed shrike, Lanius collurio:

bringing up a pellet

with a grasshopper

he watched the fly go past

afternoon cricket

he watched the fly go by

bringing up a pellet

with a bumblebee

with a devil's coach horse beetle

with a cranefly

with a small common lizard

it was half eaten then hung on a thorn for future use

with a devil's coachhorse beetle

Wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe

Tide Mills