Tuesday, 7 July 2026

20260707-12 Long-tailed Shrike, Crail, Fife

 

20260708 Long-tailed Shrike
Unblocked.
Lanius schach erythronotus
Pleased with the separation in this shot.
Will re-process the background blur for less blur when time permits...
Shot used in the Rarity Finders Report: www.birdguides.com/articles/rarity-finders-long-tailed-shrike-in-fife

20260708 Long-tailed Shrike
Very early morning sunshine.
1680mm.

20260708 Long-tailed Shrike
1/500th, ISO1250 during a pause to pose.
Tail wear...

20260707 Long-tailed Shrike
Mobbed and tracked about fruit farm hedge by 2 male Yellowhammer.
Midday on the 7th.
3rd hand info has it that the Shrike had predated a Yellowhammer nest and had used a hawthorn 
bush to butcher prey.

20260707 Isle of May
To the South of the Barnsmuir Fruit Farm.
Polytunnels full of strawberries and raspberries stretching for many clicks,
surrounded by arable fields with large hedges between.

20260707 The Bass
Good to see The Bass once again.

20260707 Long-tailed Shrike
One of the first tail shots as bird continually searched about hedgerow with intent...
Head as Red-backed Shrike, tail as Brown Shrike.
Note tail reduced as heavily abraded.


20260708 Tree Sparrow
Each time the Shrike entered a nearby ash tree this Tree Sparrow shot out and persistently called.
Many strange observation occurred without seeing or shooting any prey taken...
2nd hand info related that young Blue Tits had been grabbed and consumed.

20260708 Willow Warbler
3 times the Shrike sat in this hawthorn and 2 Willow Warblers came out and moved about it.
They seemed to be mesmerised by it...
A regular and persistent 'hueet' call was heard during these confrontations...??

20260708 Long-tailed Shrike

20260708 Long-tailed Shrike
1st summer male.