Not too much until I got to the edge of the airport. There I saw a couple birds wrestling on the grass. Just seeing gray and white, I assumed they were Mockingbirds. Nope. Loggerhead Shrikes. One stayed on the fence and the other flew off. I walked over slowly and the remaining bird and I hung out for a while.
It was fun standing on the edge of a busy street side and the end of the airport runways watching this little bird hunt for food. It would scan the air and the ground between me and fence and suddenly...
...jump off the edge.
There, only about 6 feet or so away from me, it would double check the grass up close. Still amazes me that I am staring at the same spot and only see grass and a few butterflies but the Shrike sees something.
Only once or twice did it even appear that this bird even paid me any attention.
Then, pluck!, it snatches a caterpillar and heads back to the barbed wire.
It began trying to do the signature motions of the 'butcher bird' by thrashing the prey against the barbs in an attempt to impale it for eating.
However, it never succeeded in that endeavor and often stopped between tries. It finally gave up and swallowed the insect whole.
Before I left the scene the bird did a move I had not seen before. It jumped to the ground next to me, squatted, and fluttered its wings while staring straight ahead. I wasn't able to get the shots I wanted but I watched as it fluttered 2 or 3 times until another unseen bug flew up from the dirt and was quickly grabbed by the Shrike for a tasty snack.
Back to the wire and I figured it was time for me to head down the trail.
I am so glad to have so many Loggerhead Shrikes in the area again. I never tire of seeing them and watching them go through their hunting behaviors. Wonder what is awaits at the park ahead...?
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