Who's Seen the Lincs Steppe Grey Shrike?

[AndyB]

Looks like it's being very confiding. This was a feature of the spring Cornish bird where it would approach to within a couple of feet of observers. I seem to remember reading that the first ever bird on Fair Isle also behaved similarly as did the Swindon bird. Wondering if this bird is behaving similarly.

[AndyB]

Looking through the Clement and Worfolk article in Birding World vol8 no8, I am still uncertain why we can be so sure the first summer bird on the Isle of Man (BW vol16 no6) is pallidirostris and not homeyeri. Even these black-lored adults (http://www.birdsoman.com/Birds/122-Shrikes/SteppeGreyShrike/SteppeGreyShrike.htm) seem to show a pale-based bill whereas the Manx bird appears solid black (as well as dark lores). Are some adult pallidirostris indistinguishable from homeyeri except in hand?

[Hotspur]

Looks like it's being very confiding. This was a feature of the spring Cornish bird where it would approach to within a couple of feet of observers. I seem to remember reading that the first ever bird on Fair Isle also behaved similarly as did the Swindon bird. Wondering if this bird is behaving similarly.

Massively confiding bird feeding on worms on the deck. Was approaching the crowd to a few feet after resting far side of the field and at one stage alighted on a sign in the middle of the scrum.

[Brian S]

Andy

homeyeri was of course considered during ID of the Man shrike.

They are quite similar, and I checked the specimens at Tring, but there are some subtle differences: the upperparts are a pale silvery grey in homeyeri - often the scaps contrast in being whiter, whilst in pallidirostris they are a pale buffy grey; the underparts of homeyeri are clean white, compared with a pink white on pallidirostris; often there is considerably more white in the wing on homeyeri - not just on the primary bases, but extending across the base of the secondaries (though this can be hidden in a closed wing), and on the greater coverts. Finally, the rump of homeyeri is possibly paler and whiter than on pallidirostris, but this might need checking.

The Man bird does not have the upperparts described other tham pale grey, but the underparts are ('subtly washed buffish pink'), and the wings have the white largely confined to primary bases.

See http://www.birds.kz/Lanius%20excubitor%20homeyeri/indexe.html (http://www.birds.kz/Lanius%20excubitor%20homeyeri/indexe.html)for images of homeyeri.

It is not easy, but I think the Man bird is pallidirostris.

Brian S

[AndyB]

That's an excellent link. I was struggling to find good photos of both. And that first link shows a black-billed Steppe with black lores.

Take it, there are no structural differences are there? Does pallidirostris appear to be a big-headed, bigger-billed bird?

[beltonbirder]

Well I hope it is still there as I have just left Norfolk and I am on my way will sleep in the car so wake me up lads if you see me in a yellow Range Rover (Well mustard coloured.)

I will be photographing the Idiots not just the bird.:certifiable:

[Andrew Cunningham]

Massively confiding bird feeding on worms on the deck. Was approaching the crowd to a few feet after resting far side of the field and at one stage alighted on a sign in the middle of the scrum.

We were coming back from the far end of the footpath when I saw the bird on the sign! I was cursing my luck as I knew that would make a comical picture!

A smashing bird and very obliging. Desert Wheatear and some Waxwings too on the day. The Donna Nook seal colony was great too. A nice twitch to make up for the few dips.