Shrikes 

Another family of Summer - visitors to our area are the shrikes.We are quite fortunate to see four different shrikes in quite good numbers locally.The terrain and fauna make for great hunting -grounds for these attractive birds and last summer I was fortunate enough to find a "shrike larder" which was located in one of the many thorny bushes that grow in the hedgerows.The larder is where the shrike pierces its kill on a thorn enabling it to return, at a later time ,to feed on its collection of insects.  

That of course is if it has'nt been the unfortunate victim of one of the Eleonora's falcons I mentioned earlier, as shrikes happen to be one of the falcon's favourite meals, due to the shrike's habit of perching on exposed branches looking for insects, flying below.This makes them vulnerable to attacks from above.

The shrikes that appear locally are the Red -backed,Woodchat,Lesser Grey and the Masked shrike which I have yet to photograph.  

 Red backed shrike       

 Woodchat shrike  

 Lesser grey shrike