In 2000, I had a great look at a loggerhead shrike at the Beltsville Ag Research Center farm.  It was my first summer in MD so I assumed I'd see more but have not.

Michel Cavigelli
Greenbelt

>>>  06/08/04 10:08PM >>>
The recent exchange about Loggerhead Shrikes prompted me to look back at my
records of LOSH sightings.  I was surprised to see that Toni and I have seen
only one east of the Mississippi.  In April, 1996, we saw one along Lilypons
Rd, east of the entrance to Lilypons itself.  At that time we were still
pretty new to birding and didn't realize its significance, because we had
seen several in other parts of the US.  However, we are pretty confident of
the ID.

Could somebody with a longer perspective tell me how unusual that 1996
sighting was?

Btw, LOSH are still abundant in some parts of Texas.  A couple of months
ago, in two hours of birding with my son in the Katy Prairie west of
Houston, we saw at least 2 dozen.

    Bob Hartman
    Colesville, MD