Hi Everyone,

I have some updates on the shrike near Hagerstown, Washington Co. Bill Sherman left me a message yesterday to let me know it was still present. (Thanks, Bill.) The following is additional info from Brad Lanning:

"Hi Bill, some friends from West Virginia called me just before 2 p  yesterday to inform me about a shrike they saw back where Jim Green found one near the pool near Sedgwick Way.  After getting a few things done at work, I headed out to try to find the bird.  They had said shrike but probably the same Loggerhead.  After lots of patience, the bird popped up on one of the small trees just west of the tennis courts.  This field is on the other side of the field where it was found by Jim.  It never flew over towards the pond area the whole time I was there.  This field looks good for Short-eared Owl as well containing much taller grasses and some nice perches.  Just as I was about to leave, the Loggerhead Shrike vocalized softly a couple of times and then flew over to a very thick tangle near the play-ground and interacted briefly with a Mockingbird.  This was truly awesome as I had only heard about interactions but never actually witnessed it.  This made
 for illuminating study in the fading light and a better understanding of it's movements.  Birders who would like to chase this one for their county and year lists should be aware that the area around the pond is not the only option as I found out yesterday.  Ideally, if one continues around the circle there and then make a right towards the large homes there, one can easily view the bird from the road there by looking at the small trees in the tall grass field on the west side of the pond location.  It probably is the same bird that Jim found there before.  Thanks to Barry and Beverly from Martinsburg, WV for this find! [snip]

Have a very happy New Year with lots of awesome observations!"

Thanks, Brad!

Good birding,

Bill

Bill Hubick
Pasadena, Maryland

http://www.billhubick.com