A mid-morning visit to Soussons got off to an unpromising start after two disappointed birders gave us negative news. We needn't have worried as on arrival the Great Grey Shrike was showing very well in the first big clear fell south of the Golden Dagger gate. We watched for 20 min or more as he flitted between the big snags. On a couple of occasions he left his perch to hover (not nearly as well as the Kestrel in the valley) as if prey was spotted but no swoop followed.
In the NE corner of the wood were Crossbill and near the gate Reed Bunting.
All the way up the valley to Vitifers, several mixed flocks of up to 100 Redwing, Fieldfare and Mistle Thrush.
Over Birch Tor a flock of 50 Golden Plover.
The best surprise on the way home, in an area not known to me as a roosting site a ringtail Hen Harrier being half-heartedly chased by a Crow.
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