It would be an interesting contest between two predators. I hope the shrike would be too big for a rat snake but maybe not. Someone I know has a video taken in his garden of a python eating a goat!
Yikes! Shrikes! A very lovely collection, indeed. All are excellent, Andrew, especially the shrieking shrike, but that last foliageated framed shot is just superbulous. 🙂 Try saying “foliageated” quickly several times. Such an innocent looking bloke.
I remember my ex once describing his previous girlfriend as a shrike, I remember thinking ‘I hope he never refers to me as one!’ Beautiful photographs, Andrew. You make bird photography look so easy and I know that it’s not! I’ve been photographing the swallows here that are nest building just outside the kitchen (I want to write a post about them one day) and trying to get some good in-flight shots is near impossible but I know that you’d make a marvellous job of it 😀
Lottie, try manual focus. Switch off auto. Pick a spot on their flight path as they approach the nest. Focus on that and wait for them to fly through the viewfinder. Its not easy – sometimes you need dozens of goes before you hit the jackpot. You need a fast shutter speed too. At least 1/1000s for a flight shot. The faster the better. Don’t use aperture priority – you need speed.
But they are so BEAUTIFUL, Andrew ! – why do they have a bad name ? Oh hang on … it’s a poem or something … a Victorian misery story ? Something like that. I’d love to have them on my balcony …
How fascinating ! I’ve been trying to work out where you fit in that Corndancer setup, but I can’t, Andrew: is there a sub-web of yours ? – I’d hoped it might be Crows’ Cottage …
I am just a contributor, M.R.
Eb runs the site and he and I collaborate on bird essays.
Got it.Thanks. 🙂
Has my letter arrived too?
Not yet, Andrew: you think I wouldn’t have told you ?
Well … maybe I won’t. [grin]
It was posted a week or so ago so perhaps I am being over optimistic!
Not only must we tolerate the Asia -> Oz problems, but even when it reaches these shores things postal are fraught with danger. It’ll be some time this week … :-\
All downhill from here 
I’m with Jenny–I hope they stay clear of the snakes!
It would be an interesting contest between two predators. I hope the shrike would be too big for a rat snake but maybe not. Someone I know has a video taken in his garden of a python eating a goat!
Magnificent!!
Reblogged this on Green Writing Room and commented:
Another Shrike
This is very exciting for me, because I have a shrike too (in the house). I will try and reblog this along with our shrike…
Yikes! Shrikes! A very lovely collection, indeed. All are excellent, Andrew, especially the shrieking shrike, but that last foliageated framed shot is just superbulous. 🙂 Try saying “foliageated” quickly several times. Such an innocent looking bloke.
What dictionary are you using, Steve? Quabbins Quotable Quips?
It’s the New Modern Dictionary of Imaginary Words, Andrew., abridged. 🙂
I thought maybe Murphy was ghost writing your comments Steve.
Nah, Murphy is much more coherent.
What a nice collection, showing them in different activities or poses.
The last is my favourite. I like the depth of the background that shows well without distracting from the shrike
I know you are an ‘in habitat’ man, Rod. I try to oblige.
Super!
Thank you, Alois.
I remember my ex once describing his previous girlfriend as a shrike, I remember thinking ‘I hope he never refers to me as one!’ Beautiful photographs, Andrew. You make bird photography look so easy and I know that it’s not! I’ve been photographing the swallows here that are nest building just outside the kitchen (I want to write a post about them one day) and trying to get some good in-flight shots is near impossible but I know that you’d make a marvellous job of it 😀
Lottie, try manual focus. Switch off auto. Pick a spot on their flight path as they approach the nest. Focus on that and wait for them to fly through the viewfinder. Its not easy – sometimes you need dozens of goes before you hit the jackpot. You need a fast shutter speed too. At least 1/1000s for a flight shot. The faster the better. Don’t use aperture priority – you need speed.
Thanks! I’ll give it a whirl 😀
But they are so BEAUTIFUL, Andrew ! – why do they have a bad name ? Oh hang on … it’s a poem or something … a Victorian misery story ? Something like that. I’d love to have them on my balcony …
They are called butcher birds, MR. They impale their prey on thorns. This is a photo essay I wrote about a shrike:
http://www.corndancer.com/crow/crowgloss/gloss060079/crwglss68.html
How fascinating ! I’ve been trying to work out where you fit in that Corndancer setup, but I can’t, Andrew: is there a sub-web of yours ? – I’d hoped it might be Crows’ Cottage …
I am just a contributor, M.R.
Eb runs the site and he and I collaborate on bird essays.
Got it.Thanks. 🙂
Has my letter arrived too?
Not yet, Andrew: you think I wouldn’t have told you ?
Well … maybe I won’t. [grin]
It was posted a week or so ago so perhaps I am being over optimistic!
Not only must we tolerate the Asia -> Oz problems, but even when it reaches these shores things postal are fraught with danger. It’ll be some time this week … :-\
http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/species/Cracticus-torquatus
I forgot to say that as ‘butcher birds’ they’re very familiar to me ! – we have several kinds.
great shots of these beautiful birds, Andrew. I particularly like to one in full song!
Thanks James. I think he is yelling at the swallow. Get off my patch!
Pretty little chaps. Hope they stay away from your snake.