Date: 11/14/24 8:46 am From: John Williams <john...> Subject: [AZNMbirds] What I saw at Arthur Pack Park, 11/14 Tucson
Well, there was a Loggerhead Shrike working at something, on the ground, in the open. It would grab what I quickly saw was a bird, and drag it toward cover. Similar in size the shine was making an effort, probably worried about me and the poodles staring at it. In a minute, it had dragged it 6-7 feet to the base of a leaning tree, then it dragged it up the 45 degree slope of the trunk, wedged it into an old branch scar and began to eat.
Something about the kill caused me to move closer. The shrike retreated into the crown. I quickly lifted the prey up assessing the black crown, chestnut rump patch and the overall slate gray body and wings. GRAY CATBIRD. I must have missed the kill by no more than two minutes. I walked off, noting the shrike return to feeding when I was about 30 feet away.
Since Marc Passman recorded the park’s first record just three days ago, I have to wonder if it was the same bird. Since I didn’t see it alive, I’m still missing the species in AZ.
Also of note a male /female pair of Mountain Bluebirds, first of the fall. Three Western Bluebirds continuing. Ducks were back down to four species. Didn’t see any of the falcon species.
