The Salton Sea in Southern California is home, at various times of the year, to 424 species of birds.
The Loggerhead Shrike is a song bird who is a tough ten inches of feathered lethality!
Listen to his song repertoire by clicking on the link (be patient, it takes him a bit to warm up!)
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Loggerhead_Shrike/sounds
Loggerhead shrikes sing beautifully, and kill quite effectively, resulting in a couple of common nicknames for them including, ‘the butcher bird’ or ‘the littlest bad ass.’
They kill prey like lizards by impaling them on thorns or barbwire fences. They are tough little birdies.
Despite their toughness, loggerhead shrike populations in California have declined 72% since 1967. They are designated a ‘California Species of Special Concern.’ Efforts by California’s Audubon Society are achieving some success in bringing California shrike population numbers back up. I was thrilled to see this very curious little guy who seemed almost as interested in me as I was in him!
Cheers to you from California’s oh so curious, and oh so beautiful, lethal-little-loggerhead shrike~
I think from seeing few pictures here I can think I know how they came up with the name. I like the sound 🙂
It is quite a colorful name for a very colorful bird! Happy & Healthy New Year my friend. I look forward to sharing 2021 with you დდ
That photo of him giving you the evil eye says it all, “Don’t mess with me.” Great photos, Cindy!
Yes!! I see this too! Happy & Healthy New Year Jennie დ
Haha! Happy New Year to you, Cindy. Stay well.
Happy & Healthy New Year 2021! 👪🌃🥂🎇
Gouregeous pictures!!! Really, they are stunning.
Wish you Happy Holidays and a great 2021 🙂
Awwww, honored! Thank you so much and Happy & Healthy New Year to you დ
gourgeous
Grazie mille დ
Ein ähnlicher Kerl, der seine Beute auf Dornensträuchern aufspiesst, ist bei uns der Neuntöter. Alles Liebe und Gute meine Freundin für 2021. Bleib munter und gesund. Ernst
Ich wünsche Ihnen Gesundheit und Glück im neuen Jahr, mein Freund, und freue mich darauf, ein weiteres Jahr mit Ihnen zu teilen! დდ
The minute I heard it singing, a smile popped onto my face. What a gorgeous little predator…stunning mask. I’d love to see one,but I’m in the wrong part of the country. I hope the California Audubon Society will have great success, it would be such a shame to lose these birds.
Aren’t they wonderful! This little guy looked at me with such intelligent curiosity. დ
” I was thrilled to see this very curious little guy who seemed almost as interested in me as I was in him!” Maybe he was contemplating what you might taste like, Cindy. 🙂
Happy New Year. –Curt
I think he was fantasizing about shrinking me down to a main course portion…..
Fantastic photos! It reminds me of a ninja!
That is such a good name for him! Ninja the Impaler has quite a nice ring to it 😉 😉
“They kill prey like lizards by impaling them on thorns or barbwire fences. They are tough little birdies.”
Shrike indeed sounds fierce! So sorry to hear their numbers are declining.
Yes, thank you. We humans need to do better!
Sooo beautiful, just amazing! Thank you so much and many blessings for you and your family! ❤️
Back 2UX2! დდ
Beautyfull! You made me more happy 🙂
Happy I did!! დდ
Though beautiful, at first glance he doesn’t look that impressive. THEN you see his attitude! Such presence. 😀 I love this, Cindy. Hugs on the wing!
Hugs back to you Teagan. He does have that rather kingly haughtiness doesn’t he! Healthy & Happy New Year to you Teagan! 👪🌃🥂🎇🕛
Thank you for sharing these little rascals. I think they are beautiful.
I’m planning on visiting a place known to be the home of the Eagle-owl before going back to work after the holidays. Birds are interesting animals. Happy New Year Cindy!
Eagle owls are incredible birds. I have seen them once. I hope you post photos. Happy & Healthy New Year! 🤩🌃🎆✨🍾
It looks very similar to the Lesser Grey Shrike in South Africa.
They are probably closely related. Happy & Healthy New Year to you Anne! 🤩🌃🎆✨🍾
Thank you, Cindy. It has started off well and I hope yours has too 🙂
Amazing pictures.. loved them;💕
So pleased you did & thank you Ishita. Happy & Healthy New Year! 🤩🌃🎆✨🍾
Beautiful, truly. Lots of love and best wishes. ❤
Happy & Healthy New Year to you! 🤩🌃🎆✨🍾
What lovely little power houses they are! I am not aware of the exact number of the birds in my area. I know we used to have more pheasants and Bob Whites (another type of pheasant). But there was an avian flu that killed off quite a bit of them. And just the other year I had wild turkeys in my yard! I hadn’t notice them before.
Best of the New Year to you and yours! (((Hugs))) From SE, PA 💖
It is a joy to have wild bird neighbors. Wishing you a Happy & Healthy New Year Jules! 🤩🌃🎆✨🍾
Happy Mew Year wishes Cindy
Visa versa 2UX2! Happy & Healthy New Year! 🤩🌃🎆✨🍾
Beautiful pictures…
Thank you & Happy & Healthy New Year! 🤩🌃🎆✨🍾
Thanks and you too have a great year! 🙏
დ
The mask over his eyes completes the picture of one tough birdie! glad their numbers are improving some!
Thank you Kathy. Wishing you and yours a Happy & Healthy New Year! 🤩🌃🎆✨🍾
Happy New Year, Cindy. Best wishes for 2021.❤️♥️
Happy & Healthy New Year to you and thank you! 🤩🌃🎆✨🍾
Cindy, wishing you an amazing 2021! Blessings! ♥♥
Happy & Healthy New Year to you and yours! 🤩🌃🎆✨🍾
Beautiful shots, Cindy. It looks so innocent, ‘as though butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth’, as my gran used to say. 🙂
Yes! Longs, and song, can be deceiving! Happy & Healthy New Year my friend! 🤩🌃🎆✨🍾
I wish you a Happy New Year, my admired Cindy! 🙂
Happy & Healthy New Year to you! 🤩🌃🎆✨🍾
happy new year 2021 !
Happy & Healthy New Year to you! 🤩🌃🎆✨🍾
ich wünsche ein besseres gesundes Jahr 2021 und mögen alle deine Wünsche in Erfüllung gehen.
In diesem Sinne ein schönes Wochenende für dich, Klaus von der Müritz
Was für ein schöner Neujahrsgruß mein Freund. Vielen Dank. Frohes und gesundes neues Jahr für Sie. Ich freue mich darauf, ein weiteres Jahr mit Ihnen zu teilen. 👪🌃🥂🎇
These are amazing photos! Do you make a calender with some of them every year?
I would love to do a bird calendar. I think I have enough clicks for a bunch of years! Happy & Healthy New Year Mark 👪🌃🥂🎇
Your photos would make a great calendar. I know someone who takes the same calibre of photos that you do, and he produces and sells calendars every year. 🙂
Thanks for the tip and the encouragement დ
Cindy, you are the real ornithologist!
However, for me the best bird singer is nightingale.
https://youtu.be/mKqfcR4mXMI?t=54
I am a psychotherapist by training. Birdies are my hobby. The nightingale’s song is worthy of it’s fame. Shakespeare didn’t miss a thing! დ
I know you are the psychotherapist by education. But as a bird hobbiest you are advanced!
Smiling…. You are a wonderful friend Alexander დდ
Perfect shots. Nice eye you have.
Much appreciated. Thank you დ
Cindy, your pictures make my heart smile. You are gifted.
Your very kind comment makes my <3 smile Selina. Thank you! დ
Such a pretty bird… 🙂
Yes, a delicate beauty დ
🙂
Oh a badass he is 😉 I have seen the grasshoppers skewered on thorns 🙂
Smiling…they store them on the thorns to marinate! 😉
Haha;)
What beautiful birds. Happy and safe New Year to you Cindy 🙂
Happy & Safe New Year Charlotte. I look forward to sharing another year with you my friend დ
That’s quite the bird!
He’s got avian-attitude!