Paphos Life

In open grassland ( farmland ) I recognized this bird, sitting on top of an high fence and not really shy, so I took some pics. I am not sure if it is a Grey Shrike ( Lanius minor ) but perhaps Shane will tell me as usual.



Max

Spot on Max, Lanius minor it is, the English name is Lesser Grey Shrike!


Shane

Thanks for your confirmation Shane. You did not tell me that it is a common bird sighting in Cyprus though....maybe I am wrong.

Max

Great pic Max. I sometimes see a Grey Shrike sitting on the fence across the lane from my house, there is a large pile of old branches piled up next to the fence, and he seems very interested in the insect/larvae life in the wood. Beautiful bird (if little sinister looking!)

TLR wrote: ↑Mon Sep 10, 2018 9:05 am Great pic Max. I sometimes see a Grey Shrike sitting on the fence across the lane from my house, there is a large pile of old branches piled up next to the fence, and he seems very interested in the insect/larvae life in the wood. Beautiful bird (if little sinister looking!)

Nice link which I found searching for Shrikes. It also explains "what they eat" :

"Once a large prey has been captured, Southern Grey Shrike usually impales it upon stumps, thorns, or barbed wire, due to its inability to hold it with the claws for a long time".......

https://www.giraffa.co/southern-grey-shrike/

Max

We had a Hoopoe in one of the trees last week, wasnt quick enough to get a picture though, here is one

https://youtu.be/yBdnHWb8nR0

Keep your eyes peeled folks, there will be a lot more migrants passing through in the next couple of months!


Shane

I heard a different sounding bird outside my window this morning, it was one of these birds jumping from branch to branch on a bush. It had a sort of soft warble. It didn’t stay for long though.

Nicely caught photo Max, I would also be interested to know if they are a common sighting as this is the first time I’ve spotted one. X