Mikepércs: Rabbit In The Reed

This morning I started to the pond again.

I placed some living plants on the spot before getting into the hide. The usual birds are the first visitors: young bluethroat, bearded reedlings, but the tree sparrows have become also regular nearby. The yellow wagtails appear by the first sunbeams:

Young Yellow Wagtail

Young Yellow Wagtail

Then comes a surprise: a common reed bunting is landing too:

Common Reed Bunting (female)

Common Reed Bunting (female)

But the real surprise comes after: a hopping hare appears at the reed on the opposite side:

European Hare

It must have heard the exposures as it changes up and stops only when reaching the vegetation which overgrew the dried pondbed:

European Hare

Soon a pheasant cock appears on the other side walking towards the bushy vegetation as well. But even a hoopoe lands on the dried soil.
Later a young starling appears hunting for small insects:

Young Starling

Young Starling

Mikepércs: Shrikes V.

Today the first visitors were hoopoes. Two hoopoes landed nearby and started to probe the sandy soil with their long beaks. Stealthily I hoped they would alight on my branch in front of the hide but they didn't do this favour for me. One of them just picked a bit the crust of the branch. Unfortunately they couldn't be well photographed because of the grass. They left soon anyway.

Shortly the young shrikes appeared:

Young Red-backed Shrike

Young Red-backed Shrike

Then came the surprise: a bee-eater settled on the branch with it's prey:

Bee-eater

Bee-eater

It didn't stay long, perhaps it was afraid of the shrikes, as I observed there was a kind of rivalry between the bee-eaters and the shrikes for a nice perching place. Close to the hide a couple of bee-eaters digged their nest tunnel in the horizontal soil, however there is a sand wall hereabout.
Shortly the shrikes have returned:

Young Red-backed Shrike

Even a hare appeared nearby coming quite close:

European Hare

The male shrike alighted as well from time to time as usual, ...:

Red-backed Shrike (male)

... but it were the youngs who settled on it most often:

Young Red-backed Shrike

Young Red-backed Shrike

Young Red-backed Shrike

Young Red-backed Shrike

When there were two of them on the branch at the same time quarrels took place often between them:

Young Red-backed Shrike

Young Red-backed Shrike

The youngs often hunted themselves, they picked up different kind of insects in the grass which they ate frequently on the branch:

Young Red-backed Shrike

Young Red-backed Shrike

Young Red-backed Shrike

Young Red-backed Shrike

This bird took the small twig for a worm perhaps:

Young Red-backed Shrike

Red-backed Shrike (male)

Young Red-backed Shrike

Young Red-backed Shrike

Young Red-backed Shrike

Young Red-backed Shrike

Young Red-backed Shrike

Young Red-backed Shrike

Young Red-backed Shrike

Young Red-backed Shrike

Young Red-backed Shrike

Young Red-backed Shrike

Sometimes they alighted on the long stemmed plants as well:

Young Red-backed Shrike

I wouldn't have thought that they use their foot to eat their prey at times:

Young Red-backed Shrike

Young Red-backed Shrike

Young Red-backed Shrike

Young Red-backed Shrikes

Young Red-backed Shrike

Conflict:

Young Red-backed Shrikes

Young Red-backed Shrike

Young Red-backed Shrike

Mikepércs: Shrikes I.

After my several unsuccessful attempts with the bee-eaters I decided to deal with the shrikes. The youngs have already left the nest but their parents are feeding them. There are many of them on this place, so I could choose between the spots. I placed a landing branch to see if they are using it. They did, so I built a simple hide of branches there which I tried out the next day already. T my greatest surprise only one shrike landed on it just for one moment. I was a bit disappointed, but after a week, today I gave it a try again. The first visitor was not a bird but a hare (there are a lot of them too here):

European Hare

It was approaching carefully but after a while it passed away, it must have got a scent.

Meanwhile I could hear the gruffy cries of the the shrikes. They were sitting a lot on the acacia trees nearby and on top of my hide as well.
Then suddenly the male landed in front of me:

Red-backed Shrike (male)

Soon one of the youngs did so as well:

Young Red-backed Shrike

Young Red-backed Shrike

Young Red-backed Shrike

Then another young bird arrived:

Young Red-backed Shrikes

With the arrival of their mum a jarring evolved between the parent and one of the youngs:

Young Red-backed Shrike

Red-backed Shrikes

Red-backed Shrikes

Red-backed Shrikes

Red-backed Shrikes

Red-backed Shrike (female)

The feeding was taking place in front of me too:

Red-backed Shrikes

Red-backed Shrike (male)

Here comes the breakfast:

Red-backed Shrikes

Red-backed Shrikes

Red-backed Shrikes

Awaiting the next course:

Young Red-backed Shrike

Red-backed Shrikes

Young Red-backed Shrike

The delicious snacks would come in row:

Red-backed Shrikes

Young Red-backed Shrike

Red-backed Shrikes

Red-backed Shrikes

Red-backed Shrikes

Red-backed Shrikes

Young Red-backed Shrike

Young Red-backed Shrike

Red-backed Shrikes

Red-backed Shrikes

Red-backed Shrikes

He is already interested in the flying insects:

Young Red-backed Shrike

Dozing off with a full belly:

Young Red-backed Shrike

Young Red-backed Shrike

Then stretching:

Young Red-backed Shrike

Young Red-backed Shrike

Young Red-backed Shrike

The Hunchback:

Young Red-backed Shrike

Young Red-backed Shrike

I've had such a successful day that I can't wait for the next opportunity.
Coming soon ...