Parrot Crossbills, Gunners Park, Shoebury, Essex

More good quality birds this weekend, but still no ticks. Surely I can't go the whole of 2013 with just 2 measly ticks. Last year was the lowest number of ticks in a year so far, and then I racked up a decent 10! Anyway, enough of that, back to these crackers, just 45 minutes up the road at Gunner's Park, Shoebury.

I arrived late morning in driving rain and terrible light. All 4 birds (2 males and 2 females) were in a small conifer tree, on the edge of a housing estate, feeding well but proving hard to get good views of. After 30 minutes or so the rain stopped and the birds appeared happier to move out to the open branches, eventually providing great views.

I have only ever seen one Parrot Crossbill previously, so to see 4 together was a bit of a treat.
  

Lesser Grey Shrike - Harty Ferry, Kent

I managed to get out for just a couple of hours this weekend, so popped down to Harty Ferry, Kent, to see a showy, if bit distant, cracking Lesser Grey Shrike. Below are a couple of digi-scoped shots that really don't do this smart bird justice.