This morning,on the way to Holy Island,news broke of a singing Great Reed Warbler at East Chevington. I diverted there and joined the crowd of one listening to and trying to see the warbler. It gave fleeting views and sang often.A good number of Reed and Sedge Warblers could be seen and heard too.A migrant Tree Pipit was on a fence post nearby.
I was alerted to the presence of a county mega, in the form of a Lesser Grey Shrike up on Holy Island, as well as a good few other rare and scarce migrants up there, so a car full of us headed off.
On arrival, the shrike could be seen feeding along the wall running north from the main visitor car park. Although always quite distant and in foggy conditions , decent ‘scope views were obtained. Later in the day , we again saw it from the Straight Lonnen. In the village ,at the Vicar’s garden, a good selection of spring migrants could be seen, including Pied and Spotted Flycatchers,Tree Pipit, 4 Garden Warblers, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff ,and 3 Siskins. We failed to see the reported Icterine Warbler, but a cracking Common Rosefinch alighted in a tree not 10 ft away,a nice find! It sang briefly before flying towards the Priory. Down to the Crooked Lonnen ,where a female Red backed Shrike was feeding from the fences at the cottage here. Also seen was another Spotted Flycatcher and a Lesser Whitethroat.
To the Snook now ,where another female Red Backed Shrike and Lesser Whitethroat seen,but no sign of the Rustic Bunting.
A.S Jack.