The Great Grey Shrike is still present at Thorney, just north of Peterborough, but it continues to be very distant and extremely wary of anything that is slightly bigger than it, including a Wood Pigeon that spooked it the other day whilst I was paying a visit. It is very enjoyable, though, watching this bird through my `scope and it has put on a few good hunting shows, catching bees, butterflies and on one occasion catching a small mammal, impaling it on a thorn and proceeding to pull it apart (not for the squeamish). The second photo (above) shows it diving to floor after some poor unsuspecting beastie, although it was unsuccessful on this occasion.
Will it ever come closer?
It's a bird I have never seen John so any image of one is always nice to see... a bit of a horror show though.
ReplyDeleteHi Andrew,
DeleteI know I am lucky in seeing it and it gives good views through a scope, that just doesn`t transfer very well through digiscoping! I don`t mind seeing stuff like that, nature is red in tooth and claw.
J
Well, at least you have seen it John and recorded the fact.
ReplyDeleteHi Roy,
DeleteYes, most definitely `record` shots!
J
I find Shrikes quite fascinating as well. They do look like such sweet little birds, until you see them feeding on a mouse!
ReplyDeleteHi Tammy,
DeleteThey are amazing birds, but with a gruesome way of devouring their food!
J
I can readily sympathise John ... not a species that is easy to get close to but nevertheless fun to watch.
ReplyDeleteHi Frank,
DeleteYes, a very twitchy bird, but as you say, it puts on a good, if distant show.
J
Great sighting John. Hope I get one this year. It might get used to bigger beasties!
ReplyDeleteHi Mike,
DeleteThank you. I hope you get to see one, or even a rarer shrike would be nice, a Lesser Grey or Isabelline would be good!
J
Nice one John - last time I saw one was ages ago!
ReplyDeleteHi Jerry,
DeleteThank you. Yes, my last one was a few years ago.
J
Interesting looking bird, lucky you seeing it!
ReplyDeleteHi Gillian,
DeleteYes, a fascinating creature, I am very lucky!
J
Hi John, You may not have got as close as you would have liked but at least you were able to spend time watching its fascinating but rather gruesome behaviour.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos of the Green Sandpiper on the previous post!
Hi Jan,
DeleteThank you about the comments regarding my Green Sand post, very kind.
Yes, it was enjoyable and lucky being able to observe this bird going about his life. Gruesome to us, but perfectly normal to him.
J