Loggerhead shrike

It's always a particular privilege to see a bird that was once a common resident of the area but is now a rare and lucky find. Loggerhead shrike populations overall are down some 75% since the 1960’s (almost certainly due to our extravagant habits with chemical pesticides), and they’ve practically been extirpated from my part of the country.

This one was probably the same individual spotted in this area last year and had drawn a small crowd of admirers when I was there late in the afternoon on the day it was found. One of the best things about chasing rare birds is that you get a chance to hang out with people who also want to talk about the plight of the loggerhead shrike, and there's usually plenty of time to chitchat while waiting for the bird to reveal themselves. I was especially lucky today to grab a few shots while the bird was perched on this exposed branch near the roadside - shortly after this, the bird took off and still hadn't been refound by the time I had to leave. I hope he or she finds safe pastures.