I spent a very patient 5 hours this morning waiting for the opportinity to see and hopefully photograph a juvenile Red backed Shrike that was discovered this morning on Dawlish Warren Nature reserve.  Seeing it in the distance was one thing but then getting it close enough to photograph was quite a different story.  At first it was  accross the golf course but in the end it was discovered further down towards the point.  Dave Land and I stood for ages trying to get photos of it along with a group of other birders.  We were patient as we watched it in the distance…. but now, much nearer, feeding on the brambles in front of us.  Eventually Dave and I were left as the birders gave up and drifted home to their cars, probably worried that they hadnt put enough money on their parking  tickets.  Now without a crowd the bird was much more confiding  and it  made its way nearer and nearer  to us.  Eventually it flew  to land right in front of me just 10 feet away.  I am a lucky person, but the more time you put in to something the luckier you become and my reward was some nice close up pictures.

With a wasp or a bee.

With a Grasshopper.

Dealing with the Grasshopper.

With a Cranefly