A rare bird that kills prey by impaling it has touched down in Pannel Valley, near Hastings.

The great grey shrike, from Scandinavia, impales victims on thorns and barbed wire to store them until feeding time.

Birdwatchers have been scanning the valley between Pett Level and Icklesham.

Shrikes are territorial so tend to hunt alone. They perch on fences and trees to scan for prey – small mammals, other birds and insects.

Shrikes are only 25cm long and are white, grey and black.

They have a striking black mask around the eye.

Darren Oakley-Martin, from the RSPB, said: “They are a winter visitor to Britain. Our birds, not knowing how fearsome they are, perch near them making themselves easy targets.”