Red-backed Shrike at Flamborough

Steve Evans managed two extremely useful videograbs of this odd looking Red-backed Shrike which was present at North Landing on Flamborough Head earlier this month. The extensive grey in the upperparts and obvious pale patch at the base of the primaries led some observers to suggest that this bird may possibly be of the race kobylini found from south-east Turkey and into the Middle East. The taxonomy of Red-backed Shrike does seem to be far from simple (with authorities such as BWP not even recognising kobylini), but thankfully this record has been well documented should future information come to light.