Saturday 24 November 2012

Steppe Shrike?

For at least two weeks there were two Great Grey Shrikes on Beeley Moor, the regular bird around Wraggs Quarry and a second bird found by Ken Smith close to Beeley Triangle.
The upper photo is the Wraggs Quarry bird taken this morning and the lower photos is Ken's shot of the Beeley Triangle bird. The latter has pale tips to the greater coverts (or base to the secondaries?), more extensive pale tips to the scapulars and the rump looks noticeably paler than the mantle it also has a more extensive pale base to the bill, it was last reported last weekend. 
The lower bird shows some of the characteristics of the race 'homeyeri' known as Steppe Shrike and is similar to the bird seen in the Sheffield area in 2010.
I've added a couple of shots of the tail which Ken has kindly forwarded on - it looks like the penultimate feathers are black at the base which is more like excubitor than homeyeri.

Great Grey Shrike Wraggs Quarry

Great Grey Shrike showing features of race homeyeri  (photo Ken Smith)


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