Nice birds at Pickering Creek today included a NORTHERN SHRIKE and an
Immature Golden Eagle.  Both of these were seen around 3:00 this afternoon.
The possible presence of a Shrike in this area was raised by Zach Baer a
couple of weeks ago, when he mentioned sighting of a bird far out in a field
that folks ought to be watching for. It was too far away to call, but did
not seem to act quite right for a mocking bird.  Then on Feb 17th, Terry
Allen of the Talbot Bird Club reported seeing what he felt was a Northern
Shrike, but could not come up with someone else to see the bird and confirm
the sighting. He sought it again the next day, but without success.

Today, Mark Scallion (Pickering Creek Director) was out doing Great Back
Yard Bird Count, and also watching for the shrike.  I stopped by to also try
for the Shrike, but got distracted by an Immature Golden Eagle (probably the
same bird that I reported at the same site a few weeks ago) Which flew
across the ponds and caused the huge flock of nearby Canada Geese to all fly
up.  When Mark was able to get my attention, he aimed my view toward the
shrike, and soon we had the bird in my scope for excellent views.  The bird
was first seen along the driveway beside the new wetland ponds. Later it
moved to the top of the large sycamore tree in the field east of the ponds,
then later moved to the top of one of the tallest locust trees beside the
east-bound part of the road in the Pickering Creek grounds.  By then we had
driven closer to it, so were able to get great scope pictures, using Mark's
digital camera and my scope.

As Terry Allen had first reported, the bird is indeed a Northern Shrike.

Also in the area were six Green-winged Teal (on the ponds), and soon they
were joined by a Northern Shoveler and two Tundra Swan.  Two Mute Swans were
already loitering on the ponds when a flock of nearly 200 Tundra Swan flew
over.  Two of the larger group decided to stop in for a visit.

Les Roslund

Talbot County
Easton MD 21601