Subject: No. Shrike caught in the act
Date: Sep 29 12:43:31 1995
From: Phil Hotlen - n8540420 at gonzo.cc.wwu.edu


Thursday, Sep 28, I came upon a Northern Shrike (whitish lores) carrying
a freshly killed sparrow with its feet from a weedy area to a low alder.
All this took place along side the Lummi golf course, Whatcom County.
When I approached, it moved from branch to branch with its prey held in
its beak. It then flew to a more distant tree (dead branch) again
holding the dead sparrow with its feet. I could not identify the prey
species, but had the impression it was an immature Whte-crowned Sparrow.

According to seasonal bar graphs in 3 different books on local birds,
this was an early date for Northern Shrikes.

This particular location is a favorite for local birders. Along the the
golf course are tidelands, a long dike, and a small estuary that always
seems to host a few L. B. Dowitchers, both Yellowlegs, and who knows what
else may pop up during September, etc. For example, this time a Merlin
flew directly with its power flight, passed close by, and continued down
along the dike and out around the shoreline, leaving wishing I had been
born a Merlin, ha ha! Lots of dicky birds in the briars, to include
lots of the "Gamble's" race of White-crowned Sparrow, an immature
Golden-crowned Sparrow, and et al.

Phil Hotlen <n8540420 at Henson.cc.wwu edu>
Bellingham, WA