Moments From Nature's Secrets

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Mikepércs: Shrikes II.

After the successful last shrike photography I planned to repeat it again today. I've been curious if there will be interesting moments again.
Early in the morning I was sitting in the hide already and was waiting for my birds. First the female appeared ...:

Red-backed Shrike (female)

... then the male:

Red-backed Shrike (male)

Later the youngs came:

Young Red-backed Shrike

There must be something interesting down in the grass there:

Young Red-backed Shrikes

Hey, what have you got on your beak?

Young Red-backed Shrikes

Young Red-backed Shrikes

Might is right:

Red-backed Shrikes

In peace:

Young Red-backed Shrikes

Young Red-backed Shrike

Landing:

Young Red-backed Shrike

Young Red-backed Shrikes

I crawl a bit higher so that my parents can see me better and get food sooner:

Young Red-backed Shrike

The parents caught such beetles mostly:

Red-backed Shrike (male)

Red-backed Shrike (male)

The ever hungry beak:

Young Red-backed Shrike

Red-backed Shrike (male)

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Túristvándi: Dragonflies

We spent 2 days in Túristvándi taking part on a water tour on river Öreg-Túr. The dragonflies  were very active near the water, I recorded some of them:

Banded Demoiselle (female)

Banded Demoiselle (male)

Azure Damselfly

There was a hornet nest in a hole of a tree in the camp site:

Hornet

Hornet

Banded Demoiselle (female)

Monday, July 1, 2013

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 ...