#shrike — Public Fediverse posts

Long Tailed Shrike. A UK Rarity

It’s hard to credit but the Long Tailed Shrike is still sowing up at Eastleach in Gloucestershire. It was first sighted around the beginning of July, and I rode Morrigan up there to try and photograph it in the first week of August.

Its normal range is the scrubland of Asia, so gods only know what it’s doing here. I gather there have been others in the past but very few.

A pretty thing with its bandit mask and pale red chest, but look at that hooked beak! I was wondering why a medium sized songbird would have such a vicious looking beak, and it turns out they are indeed carnivorous, catching small mammals and reptiles.

It was a nice day for a ride and with a rare bird spot too. Not that I discovered it… my thanks go to the Gloster Birder for the alert.

Obligatory shot of Morrigan, with the burning hills of North Wales beyond (July 28th)