Outdoor Ontario

Photography => Ontario Birds => Topic started by: Rob'in'To on February 20, 2011, 07:47:46 PM

Title: Shrike at Col. Sam Smith about to hurl a pellet
Post by: Rob'in'To on February 20, 2011, 07:47:46 PM

Second time seeing the Shrike for me, pics are a bit better than first time around.  But, he was high up in the tree.  Angie and I got to watch him for a number of minutes.  It was interesting to see him open his mouth wide, then shut it, and repeat this process half a dozen times or so and then out came a pellet.  If the ground was snow covered, I might'a gone looking for it.  But with the recent thaw, ground is caked in mud and doggy doo...  so no searching for a pellet.  We did see him again, in a much lower branch, and probably 10 ft in front of us...  but as I got the lens cap off and pointed the camera, away he went.

Sitting nicely way up there...
(http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk187/lilevl13/gbbc7.jpg)

Moments before the pellet was launched...  cool thing to witness I tell ya!
(http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk187/lilevl13/gbbc6.jpg)

Title:
Post by: Luv2Bird on February 20, 2011, 09:12:25 PM

So you finally "saw" the Shrike after many trips.   Worth it  .. isn't it?  It's such a lovely bird.  Interesting to witness the expulsion of a pellet.

Title:
Post by: JW Mills on February 20, 2011, 09:25:15 PM

Nice catch Rob!

Title:
Post by: angieinto on February 21, 2011, 06:55:29 PM

It was neat to watch, once I figured out what he was doing.  Would'a been sweet to catch the pellet in the shot too.

Ooops, Angie was logged in, and I can't delete the comment, only edit it...  so, this is from me, Rob.