Immature Northern Shrike Jackpot!

I felt like I had hit a jackpot yesterday when I found an immature Northern Shrike perched on a Common Mullein at Farmington Bay WMA. I wiggled in the seat of my Jeep because I was so excited.

Immature Northern Shrike on Common Mullein – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

This is my first decent Northern Shrike photo in almost twelve years so I had a great reason to feel so joyful. It isn’t that I haven’t found or seen this shrike species in that long a period of time.

Finding them and getting images of them are totally different creatures. I’ve seen them on the wrong side of the road. I’ve found them but couldn’t get to them before they have taken flight. I’ve spotted them when they were too far away to get decent photos of them. They were in dreadful light. Or I was about to take photos of them when a vehicle noise scared them off before I could take a single shot.

So, yes, I was ecstatic to have this young Northern Shrike in my viewfinder and to be able to take photos of it. In good light. Out in the open. On a pretty perch. I am beyond thrilled to add this photo to my Northern Shrike gallery.

That isn’t to say I got all the photos of this immature Northern Shrike that I wanted.

I tried for more.

After I took my first series of images of this young shrike I was about to turn on my Jeep to move closer to it when it lifted off, flew across the water, dove down into the grasses and flew off with a vole grasped it its feet. I wish I could have gotten photos of that action. I had placed my camera on my lap to move forward and I couldn’t get it back up into my window in time.

Since the shrike had just caught a meal I drove around for a bit thinking it might have cached its prey. I thought that if I came back in a bit that I might find the shrike again.

I did. I was driving up to where it was perched on another mullein, camera at the ready, and about to focus on the young shrike through my viewfinder when and American Kestrel flew in, zeroed in on the shrike and they both took off at warp speed.

I was foiled.

Then I saw the immature Northern Shrike land on a greasewood and drove to that location. My camera was ready, I was close enough to get high quality, close up images of the bird. I turned off my Jeep, started focusing on the shrike…

And the kestrel chased it off once more. I had to laugh at the point in time because it was better than groaning.

Both the shrike and the kestrel are after the same kinds of prey and that kestrel seemed determined to keep the shrike out if its territory. Despite my frustrations and not being able to get more images of the Northern Shrike it was fascinating to see these two different species interacting.

Plus being out in the field was good for me. I needed time in nature.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Northern Shrike photos plus facts and information about this species.