Thanks to Brad Lanning I was able to get to exact location for the Shrike. The bird I saw this morning is a Loggerhead Shrike. I was able to view the bird through my scope at a distance of about 300 feet from the roadway for about five minutes. In addition to the features in common with a Northern Shrike, It had, on the other hand, a broad black mask that extended above the eye and a thin white line above it. Its beak was all black but I did notice its hook. I did not see any barring on the breast and overall the bird appeared quite compact.
I located the Shrike at 9:20 AM in a small tree next to a Cedar and a small pile of large rocks in a corn field about 300 feet south of Route 40. A good reference point is the Del-Mar Inn (16715 National Pike--Rte 40); the tree is 0.3 miles east of the Inn ( or 12 telephone poles from the Inn).
Have Fun Birding!
Wallace Kornack
Washington DC |