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Subject:

Fw: [MDOSPREY] Shrike at Pickering Creek

From:

Joe Hanfman

Reply-To:

Date:

Sun, 2 Jan 2011 13:27:13 +0000

The Loggerhead Shrike was seen at 8:15 am this morning in the same location described by Ron Gutberlet. 
Small bill without much of a hook, rounded head without much neck, almost no white above the black eye stripe. 
Joe Hanfman 
Columbia, Md 
Joe Hanfman Columbia, MD 
 
-----Original Message----- 
From:         Ronald Gutberlet <> 
Sender:       Maryland Birds & Birding <> 
Date:         Sun, 2 Jan 2011 00:53:07  
To: <> 
Reply-To:     Ronald Gutberlet <> 
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Shrike at Pickering Creek 
 
Hi Ross and Everyone, 
 
Yes, several of us watched it this afternoon (1 Jan 2011) for over an hour, and Jim Brighton and others saw it earlier today.  When I left the area at 4:05 pm, the shrike was still there. 
 
We refound the bird (Mike Ostrowski spotted it first) this afternoon in the same place that Jim described in his post today.  If approaching Pickering Creek from Sharp Rd, which becomes Presquile Rd, take the first left (Todd's Corner Rd) after you pass the entrance road to Pickering Creek Audubon Center (Audubon Ln).  As soon as you get onto Todd's Corner Rd, pull over on the right side and scan through the gap in the pines into the field which had many, many Canada Geese in the distance. 
 
The shrike was perching in very small trees (short sticks basically) and small, mainly leafless shrubs out at the far edge of the closest field.  The shrike was making many sallies into the grass, spending a little time on the ground and then returning to a perch.  Twice we watched it impale dark, medium-sized insects.  I couldn't tell if they might have been field crickets or something else.  The field is private property, so you have to scan from the edge of the road.  You can find the bird with binoculars, but a scope is pretty important for having a good look. 
 
Mike O. and I both got some photos.  I agree with Matt that the bird is a Loggerhead Shrike.  The bill appears to be too short and stout for Northern Shrike.  The bird has an overall "compact" look that is good for Loggerhead Shrike--the tail appears relatively short, and the bird also looks "neckless."  The color of gray on the upperparts also looked dark in the field under variable light conditions.  The throat and undertail coverts are white, but the breast and upper belly are mostly gray--a fairly dark gray that looked only a little paler than the mantle color. 
 
The base of the lower mandible is indeed pale, and I had thought that that was a strong indication of Northern Shrike--in fact, many field guides suggest this, and I told Jim Brighton this when we discussed the shrike prior to the intitial id.  But the link to the Sibley blog that Matt provided is interesting and indicates that color of the lower mandible is not particularly useful (or maybe not useful at all?) in NA shrike id--I'm curious to learn more about that. 
 
Anyway, I agree that the bird is a Loggerhead Shrike, and I hope it sticks around so that we can get input from additional observers.  Thanks to Zach for this great find and to everyone else who has kept the information flowing. 
 
Have fun and Happy New Year! 
 
Ron Gutberlet 
Salisbury, MD 
 
 
 
 
 
________________________________________ 
From: Maryland Birds & Birding [] On Behalf Of Ross Geredien [] 
Sent: Saturday, January 01, 2011 10:12 PM 
To:  
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Shrike at Pickering Creek 
 
So did anyone see the bird today (Sat)?  I want to go chase after the 'Naptown CBC tomorrow. 
 
Ross 
 
--- On Fri, 12/31/10, Robert Ostrowski <> wrote: 
 
 
From: Robert Ostrowski <> 
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Shrike at Pickering Creek 
To:  
Date: Friday, December 31, 2010, 9:55 PM 
 
 
Hi Gail, 
 
I've posted some photos to my Flickr page. Feel free to comment. 
 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/35144142@N04/sets/72157625717500122/ 
 
Happy New Years, 
 
Rob Ostrowski 
Crofton, MD 
 
 
On 12/31/2010 9:48 PM,  wrote: 
> Have any photos of this bird been posted? 
> 
> Gail Mackiernan 
> Colesville, MD 
> 
> 
> 
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