Bob's Birding Days Out: 13 November 2014: A trip to the Forest of Dean to catch a Great Grey Shrike,

Having had no luck catching up with a Great Grey Shrike at Great Barrington, I decided on the longer trip into the forest of Dean, setting off nice and early. I arrived at Crabtree Hill nice and early and walked up the path towards where I hoped to see the Shrike. I noticed two photographers further up the track pointing their cameras out into the clearfell. There it was, so I set up and started shooting.

In this one it apears to have a beetle for breakfast

The Shrike seemed to be edging down the clearfell towrds my position, so I was beginning to think I might get some really close shots

when all of a sudden it flew acroos to the other side of the clearfell.

It was then I realised what had happened - the two photographers had encroached into teh clearfell after a shot and eventually completely spooked the bird. They even ah dthe nerve to say good morning to me as they passed(-:). Shortly afterwards it started to rain and I left - a total of 10 minutes watching the bird. As I approached Gloucester and it wasn't raining, I stopped at RSPB Highnam Woods to check out the feeders in front of the hide as its quite close to the road.
Robin