[EBB Sightings] Northern Shrike?

On Jan 17, 2005, at 10:46 AM, Les Chibana wrote:

> On the NorCal Birdbox this morning's transcript:
>> Alameda Co.
>> -----------
>> On Jan 16, an adult NORTHERN SHRIKE and MERLIN were seen at
>> Martin Luther King Jr Regional Shoreline in Alameda. The shrike
>> was on the left hand isde of the entrance road, across from
>> the end of the 1st pond. The merlin was also on the left
>> hand side, just before the last parking lot. (Tracy Scwartz)
> Has there been any resightings, confirmations, or more description of 
> the bird? Is there any more knowledge of this sighting?


This is VERY interesting to me, as a couple of times last month 
(December 19th and 20th), I saw a bird I suspected of being a northern 
shrike in what sounds like the same location as this bird was seen 
yesterday. I've never seen a northern shrike, though, and after 
studying various books, I didn't feel confident in calling it a 
northern, rather than a loggerhead, because the mask looked more 
extensive than on some of the northerns pictured. The bird I saw, 
however, did seem to have a longer beak than is pictured in some of the 
field guides.

The good news is . . . I have pictures of my bird. You'll find a few of 
them (the best of the bunch) here:

http://homepage.mac.com/herebedragons/shrike/

I would love to hear opinions from people with experience of both 
birds, one way or the other. If this turns out to be a northern shrike, 
I'd be a happy bunny. (Life bird)! ::grin::


Wendy St John
San Ramon, CA
herebedragons at mac.com