It’s not often I make a return visit to photograph a bird that I have done previously, but I made an exception with the Turkistan (Red-tailed) Shrike at Bempton Cliffs. I was a little disappointed with the visit I made on the 2nd July, a few days after it had been found, as the bird was a little distant during the time I was there, and I should have gone back later in the afternoon.
Anyway on this occasion the bird performed well, and gave some excellent views.
In 2000 the taxonomy of the Isabelline Shrike complex was reviewed. Turkistan or Red-tailed Shrike was part of that complex and a view was taken to split the complex into three distinct species: Daurian, Turkistan and Chinese. There are around 10 or so previously accepted records of Turkistan Shrike.
