Shrike Bike Strike

Late May, north-easter, cloudy with drizzle. A major displacement of Scandinavian-bound Red-backed Shrikes on the east coast. A bicycle ride up to Corton old sewage works (COSW) in the tail-end of the rain proved a good move. A cock Butcher Bird downed by the precipitation on the perimeter fence. This highway dandy glowed ice white, blue-grey pastel and chestnut with a rosy pink blush. Singing and bee-catching, too. A nocturnal re-orientation to its Danish or Swedish summer quarters meant it was likely the other side of the North Sea the next day.