Woodchat Shrike

[athleticpete]

Not today, but took this picture of a Woodchat Shrike (I think) in the orange groves near home.
I have never seen one before and was wondering whether they are common in Spain, or was I lucky?

thanks

Pete

Save the Rainforests!
http://www.gopetition.com/online/17255.html

[Mark Andrews]

Always good to see these birds Pete, yes it is a fine looking Woodchat Shrike. They are very widespread in Spain and have a preference for mixed cultivated land with scattered trees often in association with fruit orchards!

Nice!

Mark

[Colin Key]

One of my favourite birds which, I think, typifies Iberia in summer. I twitched my first at Dungeness (in the "Desert" area) many years ago, now I have them nesting in my garden!!! The following shot is the female - one day, two years ago, I was standing in the shade of a Carob tree when she briefly perched on my shoulder before grabbing a beetle off the ground which she took back to her brood in the nest in a Pomegranate tree - magic:

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o100/Passarinhos/IMG_2520a.jpg

Colin :notworthy:

[sue-o]

One of my favourite birds which, I think, typifies Iberia in summer. I twitched my first at Dungeness (in the "Desert" area) many years ago, now I have them nesting in my garden!!! The following shot is the female - one day, two years ago, I was standing in the shade of a Carob tree when she briefly perched on my shoulder before grabbing a beetle off the ground which she took back to her brood in the nest in a Pomegranate tree - magic:

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o100/Passarinhos/IMG_2520a.jpg

Colin :notworthy:
Wow, Colin, that really is a magical moment. They really are beautiful little things and that is a splendid shot.

[athleticpete]

Great photo Colin. What gear did you use to capture that shot?


Pete

Save the Rainforests!
http://www.gopetition.com/online/17255.html

[Colin Key]

Great photo Colin. What gear did you use to capture that shot?


Pete



Thanks Pete. This was not taken with my usual birding gear (Canon 1D Mk3 + 500mm lens) but with a Canon 400D and a very old EF 70-210 "film" lens, which shows that simple (and what many "gear snobs" would refer to as "entry level" equipment) and relatively cheap stuff can come up with the goods.

Colin