I went up a Mountain, and came down a confirmed physical wreck

I was looking at the bridge at Cound on Saturday morning, in the hope of a bird or two, and I get a call. "There's a Great grey Shrike been reported on Burrow hill fort, I'll pick you up".

OK says I, little knowing what was in store for this, what I can definately say is a frail human body.

A nice gentle walk across a field, after having been lulled in to a false sense of security, there it was, like some nemisis right out of the thing nightmare's are made of. Large malevolent and covered in those scary sort of trees dark dank and birdless. We or rather I stopped briefly to observe the sight, I looked up, and up and up until I could not look up anymore!! "OH bugger!" was one of the thoughts racing through my dizzy head. Oh well! I thought, you want a GGS ? then get on with it. Andy went of like a racing mountain goat, whilst I followed at a more sedate pace, somewhat more akin to my window shopping meanderings during a lingerie sale. Finally I managed, with some cajoling from Dawn , "you should stop and rest" I think more an excuse for her to stop!! "It's not worth it just for a bird", just for a bird?? oh how little did she know what a bird this was, but she kept me going, like a strong laxative! working through that resolve! until you have just got to go, on to the top. Well it was either that or another trip to Mordor, a no brainer that one.

I managed to get there, to find Andy and Yvonne admiring a real gripper.
OH!  and please,for goodness sake do not tell my physician.

And this is what it was all about.
PS.
I should add that we also got Raven, Goshawk. With Crossbill and Red Kite seen by Andy.

And to round of a goodly day out, one of these was got, sadly only record shots. for now!

A nice Male Ring-neck Duck, what a cracker he is to "Duck!".
A couple more to come. so come back again soon!

Paul