Thursday, 2 January 2020

Northern Shrike

Northern Shrike
Lanius excubitor
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Family Laniidae
 
They prey upon : insects, small mammals, and birds.
Usually catches birds on the wing.
 
This Shrike was unusual in that it just sat on the branch while four Chickadees harassed it. In fact it only yawned at the culprits.
The usual happenings when the Shrike is around is : birds freeze in position ; those birds close to cover disappear for up to an hour.
On this day, Tuesday, every bird continued feeding except for the four chickadees that popped from branch to branch flipping their tails , sometimes as close as a foot away from it.

New Year's Day Birds 2020

First bird of 2020
At 8:30 am
Dark-eyed Junco
Then
Black Capped Chickadee
Hairy Woodpecker
Blue Jay
Downy Woodpecker
American Tree Sparrow (stuck here for the winter)
Red breasted Nuthatch
Pileated Woodpecker
Ruffed Grouse
 American Goldfinch
Raven
Canada Jay/Grey Jay
Crow
 
 
Pileated Woodpecker on suet cage.
 
 

Sunday, 3 February 2019

Boreal Chickadee

Boreal Chickadee
Feb. 3, 2019
 
Moves too much for the camera to catch up.
 
On brown bread.
 
Finally stayed put.