Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator
Rare. Southern Europe.
Woodchat Shrikes: left, 2CY+ female Friskney August 7th 2006 (Dean Eades) and centre, August 22nd (Russell Hayes); juvenile Gibraltar Point August 17th 2013 (Paul Neale).
The first Woodchat Shrike in Lincolnshire was seen at Gibraltar Point on June 7th, 1960. Up to 2021, there has been a total of 14 individuals in the county. Seven out of the 14 have been found in spring, and seven in autumn, plus one bird at Saltfleet Haven on June 30th 2008. The latter was thought possibly to belong to the Balearic race badius but there was not enough evidence for a submission to BBRC. The earliest occurrence was of one at Chowder Ness, near Barton upon Humber, on May 1st, 1994. However, there have also been other early birds at Donna Nook on May 2nd-3rd 1995 and May 4th, 2003. The latest in autumn was one at Skidbrooke North End on September 21st 1974 (chart). Most have occurred along the coast, but with one on the Humber and two on The Wash. Most have been present for a single day but two have made prolonged stays, including the one at Frampton Marsh-Witham Mouth which was present for 46 days. Woodchat Shrike ceased to be considered by BBRC in 1991 with 505 British records 1950-1990. The trend has been for an increase in records with the annual mean number rising from 16 in the period 1980-1989 to 28 during 2010-2018 (White and Kehoe 2019).
| Site | First date | Last date | Count | Notes |
| Gibraltar Point NNR | 07/06/1960 | - | 1 | Adult. |
| Gibraltar Point NNR | 26/05/1968 | - | 1 | Adult male. |
| Skidbrooke North End | 21/09/1974 | - | 1 | 1CY. |
| Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe NNR | 21/08/1977 | 22/08/1977 | 1 | 1CY. |
| Donna Nook | 06/08/1978 | - | 1 | 1CY. |
| Gibraltar Point NNR | 16/05/1992 | - | 1 | Female. |
| Chowder Ness | 01/05/1994 | - | 1 | Female. |
| Frampton Marsh-Witham Mouth | 30/07/1994 | 13/09/1994 | 1 | Female. |
| Donna Nook | 02/05/1995 | 03/05/1995 | 1 | Male. |
| Pye's Hall, Donna Nook | 04/05/2003 | - | 1 | Female. |
| Rimac, Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe NNR | 09/06/2005 | - | 1 | Female. |
| Friskney Marsh | 29/07/2006 | 23/08/2006 | 1 | Female. |
| Saltfleet Haven | 30/06/2008 | - | 1 | Female. |
| Gibraltar Point NNR | 17/08/2013 | - | 1 | 1CY. |
| Gibraltar Point | 03/09/2023 | - | 1 | 1CY. |
Finder’s report: Woodchat Shrike at Gibraltar Point NNR, June 7th, 1960: first county record
by D. Mill and A. D. Townsend
Note: this account is taken from the original BBRC submission which came from the observer (DM) via the county recorder at the time (AD). The RC for 1960 noted that the comparatively large influx of Woodchat Shrikes (17) was one of the features of the spring migration. The numbers occurring each year continued to be relatively substantial though with double figures recorded in 21 of the years thereafter up to 1990, the last year the species was considered by BBRC.
Circumstances
At 10 hr. at the northern end of the line of trees by Sykes Farm at Gibraltar Point NNR, I (DM) saw an adult Woodchat Shrike. Bird was watched for 5 minutes at a distance of 30-50 yd. and using 8x30 binoculars, and during which time it was continually mobbed by a male Reed Bunting.
Description
The chestnut crown, white rump and two white wing patches were clearly seen as was the bill. It was about the size of a Red-backed Shrike, with which I am familiar. Plumage very striking. White underparts, chestnut head, darker back and wing patches gave a pied appearance.
(Account prepared November 2017; updated with reference to the new Birds of Lincolnshire October 2022)