28/09/2014 Twitching in Yorkshire for Rosefinch and Masked Shrike

Sunday 28th September 2014
Kilnsea nr Hull, Yorkshire
With Alastair G

A juvenile Masked Shrike was reported in Yorkshire and Kilnsea near Hull.  Alastair, who has every Sunday and Monday off work, asked me, almost a week ago, that if the bird was still around when he was next off would I be interested in the "twitch".  Despite the huge distance I agreed instantly.  After all this bird has never before been seen in England; the only other sightings had been been one in Scotland and another in Ireland - both a long time ago.  It should have been in Turkey or even further east so it was very, very lost.

With the bird still being reported as present and the weather conditions looking very favourable it was all systems go.  Up at 02.00 to pick Alastair up at 03.30, a long drive up the M23, M25, M40, M42, M118 and M62 to arrive on site in Yorkshire at 08.15 a journey of over 300 miles. There must have been a steady 100 or so birders all day who were on the same mission as us.

• We took almost an hour to get our first sighting of the shrike as it had flown from it's original position and took up a position on the other side of the hedge row.  It was well worth the wait as the bird was showing well in the bushes 80 to 100 metres away.  Every now and then it would disappear into the undergrowth before reappearing.  This was the pattern all day but it meant we had a surfeit of opportunities to observe this lovely creature as and when we wanted to.

Masked Shrike
Library picture

Masked Shrike
Library picture

•  By way of a huge bonus, there just happened to be a Common Rosefinch around as well.  It seemed to be moving around with the small flock of Greenfinches but it was proving very elusive.  We tried for several hours to locate the bird but we always seemed to be just too late.  Our luck finally changed just after we had visited the wader hide and decided to try  just one last time to see the Rosefinch before heading home.  We joined a group of birders near the feeders of the Friends of Spurn site and the Rosefinch duly appeared in the trees directly ahead of us, about 60 metres away.  It was perched on a branch of a low tree just below middle and it was like a good model, showing us views from all angles over a lengthy observation period.   After it flew away, we headed back towards the car ready to make the long journey back to Sussex when there, ahead of us, showing brilliantly at the top of a small tree was the self same bird.  Now it seemed we just couldn't fail - 2 quality sightings in 15 minutes!

Common Rosefinch
Library picture

Our hearts were set on these 2 birds to the exclusion of nearly everything else.  The pick of the rest was probably the  Common Snipe which appeared directly in front of the hide - much to the delight of the photographers.



Additional Information

Masked Shrike: The masked shrike is a member of the shrike family Laniidae. It breeds in southeastern Europe and the eastern end of the Mediterranean, with a separate population in western Iran. It is a common species in Turkey, Cyprus, Israel and Syria.

In full plumage the bird looks like this

Masked Shrike
Library picture

 

 

Common Rosefinch: Found in throughout Western Europe and much of Asia. Breeds across northern Eurasia and winters across southern Eurasia. Rare vagrant to the western Aleutians and Alaska during migration. Preferred habitats include scrubby areas, especially near water and often near human habitation.

First-year birds tend to disperse further than adults which explains why colonizing birds are almost always dull-plumaged (young) males.

A group of rosefinches are collectively known as a "bouquet" of finches.

In full plumage the bird looks like this

 

Common Rosefinch
Library picture

Additions to 2014 UK Bird List:
Masked Shrike   (262)
Common Rosefinch   (263)


Additions to 2014 UK Life List:
Masked Shrike   (275)
Common Rosefinch   (276)



A full on day but well worth it with 2 "lifers".  Who knows when I will get to see a Masked Shrike again in England? 


Arrived home at 20.30 - tired but fulfilled.