Northern Shrike -- a rolling log for 2017/2018

Last year, a mega bird, a Northern Shrike was spotted in Northern Virginia. This year, many anticipated its return. And surely enough, on November 1, it made its first appearance at Sully Woodlands, where it was spotted last year around the same time.

On November 14, I made a trip to this area -- this was my 3rd try this year, the first two times without finding the bird. It turns out that my third "shrike" was a luck one -- I quickly spotted the bird in a bare tree in the field.


Northern Shrike


Northern Shrike


Northern Shrike


Northern Shrike


Northern Shrike

December 1, another month. I had been out of town quite a bit in November (first to Florida then to Texas), and I finally made a trip to Sully Woodlands again. As if on cue, the bird was perched on a powerline just as I walked toward the abandoned shed. It flew to a tree in the field, then to other trees behind the shed. Nothing new or exciting on this day -- I did not see it hunting insects, but, like seeing an old friend, it was reassuring.


Northern Shrike


Northern Shrike

December 16, the calendar says it's still autumn, but there are no leaves on the trees and there is dusting of snow on the ground.

I went to Sully Woodlands on this chilly morning, and the Northern Shrike was right there in the middle of the field. It was calling and singing softly. Lighting was not the best, but I got some okay shots. I could have gotten closer, but I decided to leave it alone to enjoy this bright (albeit cold and breezy) morning.


Northern Shrike


Northern Shrike

January 7, 2018. I had been out of town during the holidays (to South Florida and the Bahamas), and rather alarmingly, the shrike (I now just call it the "Sully Shrike") had not been reported for more than 2 weeks (last known report was on December 22, 2017). I did not see the shrike on this day either, the consolation is that I photographed a Red-shouldered Hawk.


Red-shouldered Hawk

January 14, 2018. The "Sully Shrike" was back! It was reported a couple of days back after an absence of three weeks. I had planned to look for it anyway, and this boosted my interest and confidence.

And as if on cue, I saw it in a bare tree outside (southeast of) the abandoned barn immediately as I arrived. It flew to a cedar tree just southwest of the barn, then to the line of cedars to the west of the recently burnt fields. It was active, but not alarmed; at one point it seemed to chase another bird (probably an American Goldfinch). The burnt fields provided a lot of food for foraging birds, in particular American Robins, European Starlings and Northern Flickers. I saw the shrike a few times through the branches of the cedar trees, but eventually lost it. I did not quite get the shot I wanted, but managed to get one that's identifiable.


Northern Shrike


One of hundreds of American Robins

Exactly a month later, after 3 unsuccessful tries, on February 14, 2018, finally I saw the Northern Shrike again. This was during my lunch time (so I was rather in a hurry), and it was right there in a bare tree near the abandoned barn. It was vigorously preening itself, and flew from tree to tree. There was a little restlessness in this little bird on this day. It seems to have expanded its range compared with last winter and has become less easy to spot, but the area around the abandoned barn still remains one of its favorite haunts.


Northern Shrike

February 27, 2018. A beautiful and warm day for February, and I took a long(ish) "lunch break" and went to Sully Woodlands. I counted myself lucky to find the "Sully Shrike" shortly after my arrival, but it proved to be jittery and did not allow me to get close. I managed to get a shot that's somewhat okay.


Northern Shrike

March 11, 2018. Spring is definitely in the air. I went to Sully Woodlands 2 times on this day: first at 9AM. This was on my way to another place and I was in a hurry. The "Sully Shrike" was a no-show, but then again, I did not have much time to look. A Fox Sparrow made a cameo in the tree beside the stable, as if to console me.


Fox Sparrow

I made another stop just past noon. This time I had a little more time to comb the field. But, after 20 minutes or so, I did not find the shrike. I thought this would be my last try this year -- the shrike will probably linger a little more (last year it stayed well into April), but I rather detest ticks and chiggers. The bird seemed to be more elusive and jittery this year, which is probably good for its survival, but not good for me as a photographer.

Just when I almost resigned to the fact that I may just not see it again this year, I took one last look over the field before I left. There it was! The "Sully Shrike" was perched on top of a small tree in the field west of the burnt field. I walked a little closer (but still kept a respectful distance) and snapped a few pictures. It hopped to the ground, likely hunting some insects or other small animals, then flew to the same perch or another one, repeating a few times. It eventually flew to a tree in the burnt field, then to the telephone/power wire in front of the stable. There, it posed beautifully for me, and I got some good shots. It then flew to a tree beside the stable, then to the field. I did not pursue and left it in peace.


Northern Shrike


Northern Shrike


Northern Shrike


Northern Shrike

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