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Bird Sightings : Hebrides : Woodchat Shrike

 

 

Woodchat Shrike

Lanius senator

Photograph © Martin Scott
Port of Ness - Isle of Lewis - Outer Hebrides (Western Isles)
6th May, 2011

"Tony Marr (BAE Marr in birding circles) found a cracking Woodchat Shrike in Port of Ness today. A real showy bird that performed well this evening to locals and visitors alike. Just the fourth record for the Outer Hebrides and the first for Lewis ..."

Some video of the shrike with its swinging tail is on You Tube via the following link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nM9nDIUt59s "

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Our Shrike Photographs

Isabelline Shrike	Woodchat Shrike

 

• Woodchat Shrike
• Lanius senator
• WI: Very rare visitor (five or less records) TBC

 

Shrikes are insect eaters, but they also eat small birds and mammals, so they have chunky pointed beaks.

One of the folk names for the Shrike in general is the 'Butcher Bird', (Lanius means butcher) they store their catch by impaling it on the thorns of bushes and trees like the Hawthorn, making larders.

 

Woodchat Shrike records in the Western Isles

Very rare visitor (five or less records) TBC

 

The chart below shows how abundant the Woodchat Shrike is during a month or when you are more likely to see it.

J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D

(Source: Outer Hebrides Birds Checklist)

 

 

Other local bird photographs

Sources of information for the bird sightings section

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