Steppe Grey Shrike? Has it gone?

Andrew Chick · **Posted:** Thu Nov 27, 2008 8:16 pm

Has it gone? When was the last date it was seen?

Andrew

Chris Grimshaw · **Posted:** Thu Nov 27, 2008 8:40 pm

It was reported on BirdGuides today but certainly not this morning

Freddy Johnson · **Posted:** Thu Nov 27, 2008 9:53 pm

Chris,
I have just trawled through today's (Thu) "Birdguides" reports (up to 20.45hrs) and the only Grey Steppe Shrike entry I can find reads:
' 16.48 27/11/08 - No news either way so far today'

Regards,

Freddy

Chris Grimshaw · **Posted:** Thu Nov 27, 2008 10:42 pm

All I can say is I must have been dreaming because I could have sworn I saw something on the map about tea time today

If it has finally gone didn't it give a great deal of pleasure to so many people

Freddy Johnson · **Posted:** Thu Nov 27, 2008 11:01 pm

The latest 'Birdguides' report - 21.48hrs -(Thu) -
" No sign of the 1st-winter today!"

Regards,

Freddy

Roy Harvey · **Joined:** Thu Dec 30, 2004 10:23 pm **Posts:** 956

Pager message this morning that feathers have been found at the site indicating that the Steppe Grey Shrike has probably been taken by a predator.
A great shame, but always more likely to happen as observer numbers reduced.

Roy

Geoff Williams · **Posted:** Fri Nov 28, 2008 4:34 pm

I'd have thought a shrike would put up a good fight against a Sparrowhawk,so lets hope it survived and moved somewhere safer.
Geoff

Michael Surr · **Posted:** Fri Nov 28, 2008 5:04 pm

While at Covenham today, Friday, was told the S. G. Shrike had been taken, and all the indications were that it was a Sparrowhawk.
Regards, sadly, Mike Surr

Richard Gunn · **Posted:** Fri Nov 28, 2008 6:14 pm

In my years in Spain we occasionally found the remains of Southern Grey Shrike on steppe areas, presumably falling prey to Sparrowhawk.Unfortunately their habit of perching atop shrubs etc. invites predation.

Richard...

Dean Eades · **Posted:** Fri Nov 28, 2008 9:06 pm

Mandy West · **Posted:** Fri Nov 28, 2008 9:22 pm

So sad to hear of the Shrikes demise and Im sure lots of people who witnessed the beauty and trust of the bird will be left feeling heavy hearted at its sad end. As many times before, what Mother Nature gives with one hand, she takes away with the other.
Im sure that it will live on in the hearts and minds of many of us and I shall certainly remember it fondly. It put smiles of joy on everyones face who shared a moment with it, raised pounds for the local church and will certainly be a talking point in the years to come

Gone but not forgotton

Mandy

Katherine Birkett · **Posted:** Fri Nov 28, 2008 9:48 pm

blgp_birder · **Posted:** Sat Nov 29, 2008 12:27 am

Michael Surr wrote:

While at Covenham today, Friday, was told the S. G. Shrike had been taken, and all the indications were that it was a Sparrowhawk.
Regards, sadly, Mike Surr

Hi Mike,

Were there any further details? E.g. corpse found, body parts, what led to the conclusion of Sparrowhawk?

Cheers
Josh

Graham Catley · **Joined:** Tue Dec 28, 2004 11:20 pm **Posts:** 1667

On several visits I never actually saw a Sparrowhawk there so is this an assumption based on that species bad press? what I did see was a Kestrel that was occasionally in close proximity to the shrike plus passing Merlin and Hen Harrier; Kestrels are often an underestimated bird killer by birders and possibly birds themselves the reason that some passerines may be taken by surprise; on my last visit the shrike saw a potential threat above and squatted in the grass possibly a poor strategy for such a pale bird--

blgp_birder · **Posted:** Sat Nov 29, 2008 1:46 pm

Graham Catley wrote:

On several visits I never actually saw a Sparrowhawk there so is this an assumption based on that species bad press? what I did see was a Kestrel that was occasionally in close proximity to the shrike plus passing Merlin and Hen Harrier; Kestrels are often an underestimated bird killer by birders and possibly birds themselves the reason that some passerines may be taken by surprise; on my last visit the shrike saw a potential threat above and squatted in the grass possibly a poor strategy for such a pale bird--

Yes; we saw a Kestrel take the Spurn Lesser Grey Shrike in Autumn 2005, so they are perfectly capable of taking shrikes!

The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Steppe Grey Shrike? Has it gone?

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