Shrike Strikes Twice!
Nearly a year ago I had one of the coolest encounters with a Northern Shrike I've ever experienced. Unbelievably, it happened again today and this time with another birder in exactly the same spot as last year! Dottie Johnson and I were checking the back edge of Pheasant Branch prairie adjacent to the agricultural field for sparrows. We were hoping to find a Harris's Sparrow in the mix of White-crowned, Fox, American Tree, Song and Swamp Sparrows. Without warning, the group of sparrows we were sorting through dashed frantically for cover. My first instinct was an incoming accipiter but was quickly proven wrong. From behind the brush, a gorgeous Northern Shrike perched just above our heads not more than 20 feet from where we were standing on the trail. But did I have my camera with me? Nooooooo! Drat. Still, the shrike gave us quite a show by remaining perched before us for nearly half a minute. Filling the field of view of our binoculars, we silently admired the sleak hunter - the detail was amazing. The shrike scanned around in a frenzied sort of way as it zeroed in on potential meals. We stood perfectly still and didn't say a word. Eventually the shrike resumed hunting further along the trail. I told Dottie we should leave the area so as not to prevent the shrike from catching a meal, or inadvertently make it too easy by unnecessarily flushing sparrows its direction. So, we left! Dottie told me it was the closest she had ever been to a Northern Shrike.
© 2008 Mike McDowell
3 Comments:
I had something similar happen during the Mt. Horeb CBC last year, but without the prey. I watched as a Shrike flew in from about 300 feet away directly towards me, and perched about 20 feet away. It just sat there, staring at me without an apparent care in the world.
Far out! I followed the link to last year's post and can only say -- Also far out! And...winter birding? I don't have to quit soon?
Great capture mike I know what you mean by showing up in the same area year after year we have one that shows up every year like clockwork at the Great swamp and other areas around the northern tier, also great invasion of winter Finches in the forcast this year.
Kevin
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