Bright, pristine plumage against the backdrop of a brilliant blue summer sky…the beautiful Woodchat Shrike is back from African wintering grounds, once again bringing an exotic splash of colour to the hillsides of Lanjaron. These fantastic shots from Richard at Spanish Highs Mountain Guides have captured this spectacular species perfectly, so let’s take a closer look at one of our favourite seasonal visitors…
There are a number of points of interest here. The stout, sharp, slightly hooked beak, strong claws and dark eye mask are typical of the group as a whole. Note the clean, bright white chest and the black and white detail of its wings and back. Note too the unmistakable rich chestnut on the cap and the back of the neck…helping to make identification of this particular species a pretty straightforward affair!
Like other shrikes the Woodchat Shrike is often highly visible, perched alertly on overhead wires or at the top of a bush, waiting for its prey to pass by. Shrikes are every bit as predatory as the smaller falcons and will take large insects, small birds and reptiles, snatching them from the ground or hawking their unfortunate victims from mid-air.
Keen birdwatchers from the UK will know the Woodchat Shrike often overshoots on migration, and is a rare but annual visitor to mainland Britain. Generally however this is a bird of southern Europe, where patchworks of cultivation, orchards and broken countryside can provide the plentiful supply of large insects it requires. Indeed, the bird can be a common sight in the right habitat and we’re lucky to have them in some numbers around the village.
Bold, brightly coloured and full of character…the Woodchat Shrike is without doubt a firm local favourite, and a bird I never tire of seeing. Enjoy the photos, and keep checking in for all our latest news as the season rolls on…
