Thursley Common

A gift of a morning up on Thursley Common meant I could fit a little birding (and more importantly stretch my legs) en route from Korea to Baltimore.  There is a wintering Great Grey Shrike there (Northern Shrike in the US), the only issue being finding it in a large area of boggy scrub.

 We thought Shrike Hill would be a good pace to start, and saw a perched lark singing on the way 'up' (it is only a slight rise).  We found a local birder who confirmed Woodlark, and then proceeded to stalk him as he also looked for the Shrike. We eventually saw him at great distance (unfortunately my scope was packed), as little more than a perched, or flying, white-grey dot. Certainly too far for pictures, but we did find some (winter plumage) Reed Buntings on the way back.