Saturday 24 September 2016

Red-backed Shrike and Wheatear

Red-backed shrike, Lanius collurio
I returned to the Tide Mills on Friday to catch the later afternoon light. The shrike hunted well, catching bees, grasshoppers, crickets, daddy longlegs, a lizard and devil's coachhorses. It flew past me within 2 feet at one point. Another time it landed 3 feet away in a bush and hopped from branch to branch looking for prey. It produced a pellet twice. Another wonderful experience. Stonechats, wheatears and goldfinches were also present.
Dock Bug, Coreus marginatus
The Tide Mills area
Painted Lady, Vanessa cardui

Red-backed shrike, Lanius collurio:
bringing up a pellet





with a grasshopper










he watched the fly go past

afternoon cricket


he watched the fly go by
bringing up a pellet


with a bumblebee


with a devil's coach horse beetle

with a cranefly






with a small common lizard
it was half eaten then hung on a thorn for future use







with a devil's coachhorse beetle








Wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe
Tide Mills

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