Masked Shrike.

Masked Shrikes are a delicate little bird, the smallest shrike found on the island of Lesvos, favouring semi-open woodland, scrub and particularly olive groves where they can be quite difficult to see. They are much less conspicuous than the other shrikes found on the island. They have a scratchy song which can sometimes be mistaken for an Olive Tree Warbler, a notoriously difficult bird to see which also inhabits olive groves.
These little birds don’t perch as openly as the Woodchat e.g. so when one pops up on a branch it is always a welcome bonus.



Taken handheld from a car while driving past an olive grove.