Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2000 17:13:34 -0800 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: craig tumer Subject: Northern Shrike, Loudoun County,VA Comments: To: VA-bird MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Today at approximately 4:35 I observed an immature northern Shrike off Creighton Road in Loudoun County, Virginia. I watched the bird for approximately 5 minutes total. When first observed, it was perched in the top of a small walnut tree approximately 50 feet from my vehicle. After several minutes it dove into a honeysuckle thicket where it wrestled with some unknown prey. It then flew to a poison ivy thicket several feet off the ground, clutching a meadow vole in its feet before flying behind a thicket of red cedars and out of site. This shrike was very brown with a slight grayish cast. It was much browner than any loggerhead shrike (even juveniles) that I have seen. The breast was barred with fine bars, giving it a distinctly scaled appearance. The mask was thin and dark, grayish brown in color, contrasting slightly with the light brownish crown. The mask did not extend across the top of the bill on the forehead as in loggerhead shrikes. The back and wings were also quite brown. The mask did not extend across the forward over the top of the bill. The bill was long and heavy with a distinct hook on the end, a blackish upper mandible, and a yellowish lower mandible. I have observed northern shrikes on several occasions in Vermont and Massachusetts so I am familiar with this species. I observed the shrike on private property, and I am not at liberty to grant permission for anyone to enter the property to search for this bird. However, it was in a spot that should be observable from Creighton Road. Additionally, suitable habitat is present all along the easternmost portion of Creighton Road, and it's possible that it could show up in any of the thickets along the roadway. From the Dulles Greenway (Rte. 267), travel south on Rte. 659 (Belmont Ridge Road) approximately 3 1/2 miles. Turn right on Rte. 774 (Creighton Road) and go to the end of the road. The shrike was in cedar trees on the hill top on the north side of the road (near an old stone shed). Good birding. Craig Tumer Washington, DC __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Calendar - Get organized for the holidays! http://calendar.yahoo.com/ ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================