Great Grey Shrike.
20th October 2023
Every year in the Brecon Beacons it’s getting more and more difficult to locate one of my favourite wintering birds – the Great Grey Shrike. They never appear in any numbers anywhere in the UK and that is accepted because they lead very solitary lifestyles out of the breeding season, but we always used to have one or two in the area. However, over the last few years sightings have been very few and far between.
These predatory birds arrive in the UK from northern and eastern Europe where the winter cold and lack of food becomes untenable. In the UK they occupy moorland and heaths where there are scattered trees which they use as vantage points to watch out for prey, principally rodents, but also small birds and basically anything that moves along the ground.
Male and female appear very similar and at distance it is difficult to tell the sexes apart.
However, if more detailed observation is possible;
The male has much blacker lores, (complete black mask), mostly black bill and darker black wing markings.
Looks like a male bird.
Females have paler lores (incomplete black mask), a paler lower mandible and less black wing markings. Also female birds of the northern Excubitor race can have vermiculations to the breast and flanks.
Looks like a female bird.
The vermiculations are just visible on the lower belly.
All these markings are subtle and become less detailed out of the breeding season making ID even more difficult in winter.
The Shrike family are one of my favourites and I have been fortunate to photograph all the family members that are seen in Europe.
The Great Grey Shrike, the only shrike likely to be seen in the Brecon Beacons has the Latin name Lanius Excubitor. Translated – Lanius being Latin for butcher and Excubitor being Latin for watchman. Literally, the butcher who watches, and this succinctly describes this bird's behaviour. It perches in elevated positions and watches for prey moving beneath.
Once prey is killed it is usually not eaten wholly but skewered onto either Hawthorn or Blackthorn, these thorny bushes are then used as a larder which the bird revisits periodically when hungry – fascinating.
I am hoping this winter we will get one in this area and if so I will be actively trying to see and photograph it.
These predatory birds arrive in the UK from northern and eastern Europe where the winter cold and lack of food becomes untenable. In the UK they occupy moorland and heaths where there are scattered trees which they use as vantage points to watch out for prey, principally rodents, but also small birds and basically anything that moves along the ground.
Male and female appear very similar and at distance it is difficult to tell the sexes apart.
However, if more detailed observation is possible;
The male has much blacker lores, (complete black mask), mostly black bill and darker black wing markings.
Looks like a male bird.
Females have paler lores (incomplete black mask), a paler lower mandible and less black wing markings. Also female birds of the northern Excubitor race can have vermiculations to the breast and flanks.
Looks like a female bird.
The vermiculations are just visible on the lower belly.
All these markings are subtle and become less detailed out of the breeding season making ID even more difficult in winter.
The Shrike family are one of my favourites and I have been fortunate to photograph all the family members that are seen in Europe.
The Great Grey Shrike, the only shrike likely to be seen in the Brecon Beacons has the Latin name Lanius Excubitor. Translated – Lanius being Latin for butcher and Excubitor being Latin for watchman. Literally, the butcher who watches, and this succinctly describes this bird's behaviour. It perches in elevated positions and watches for prey moving beneath.
Once prey is killed it is usually not eaten wholly but skewered onto either Hawthorn or Blackthorn, these thorny bushes are then used as a larder which the bird revisits periodically when hungry – fascinating.
I am hoping this winter we will get one in this area and if so I will be actively trying to see and photograph it.