25 March 2014

Grey Butcherbird

singing a fabulous song


watching with intent



 You can learn some, and hear the Grey Butcherbird too, on this Birds in Backyards fact-sheet, here

40 comments:

Carol Mattingly said...

He is gorgeous Carole. He has such a presence about him. Carol

TexWisGirl said...

fabulous shots, carole! wow!

Karen said...

Great shots of this handsome bird, beautiful detail. I expect by the name, he isn't a vegetarian!

Carver said...

Wonderful shots of the butcherbird. That's a new one for me.

Unknown said...

Fantastic shot! Such a cool sighting. :)

Russell Jenkins said...

I remember lying in bed in just before light in the morning listening to a Grey Butcherbird song. Everything else was silent. A striking memory.

Unknown said...

Carole I can vouch for the beautiful song of the butcher birds. We have some that have just returned after an absence. Ours are a black and white bird. They sit up high on the TV antennas or trees and the sound is just wonderful.

Carole M. said...

Linley; your's over there is perhaps the Pied Butcherbird?

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

We used to have a butcher bird (a Red-Backed Shrike)in the UK, which shared the habit of impaling prey on thorns as a larder for later consumption. I say "used to" because they are hardly ever seen these days. Your photos are excellent as ever.

eileeninmd said...

Carole, your Butcherbird is awesome..Fantastic closeups! Have a happy day!

Irma said...

Hi Carole,
Beautiful shots of the Butcher Bird.
The last picture is my favorite.
Greetings Irma

Elizabeth Edwards said...

neat. would love to hear him sing. ( :

Nancy said...

I do love his hefty body and the gleam in his eye! Great shot Carole!

Susan said...

Hi Carole, you did well to snap the Butcher Bird, the ones we see in East Gippsland seem to be too nervous. It may be that the Wattlebirds gang up on them (for good reason unfortunately!).
Great shots :D)

Gumer Paz said...

Makes you want to adopt, Carole. What beautiful photographs.
a kiss

Roy Norris said...

That is one vicious looking beak Carole.

Dział Przyrody MŚO said...

Amazing bird and nice photos!
Greetings from Poland/Michał and Piotr

Hootin Anni said...

Y'all have such incredible, unique birds in your country!!! I so wish I could see one of these butcherbirds in real time. Fabulous images. That beak looks deadly.

Grandma Barb's This and That said...

Wonderful shots! I went to the fact sheet to hear him sing. Wish I could see and hear one in person.

Bob Bushell said...

Brilliant images, but my fave is number 3, it is superb Carole.

Liz said...

Gorgeous images,Carole! I particularly love the last one. The catch light in his eye is lovely!

DeniseinVA said...

What a very interesting beak this bird has. He's lovely and your photos are gorgeous! Thanks Carole :)

mick said...

Great photos - I often see the Pied Butcherbird around here but have not seen a Grey here yet. I agree about the song - very beautiful!

Brian King said...

Very cool looking bird! Love the color and that beak! Great photos!

Esther Joy said...

I'd never heard of a "Butcher Bird" before... Great shots of him!

Seraphinas Phantasie said...

Really wonderful with all this little details on the head. Amazing !
Best regards, Synnöve

Unknown said...

Great shots! I'm hearing the call in my head now!

Rhodesia said...

Fabulous photos, so different to the butcher bird that I know from South Africa. Diane

Rambling Woods said...

I love seeing birds from other countries and compare them to our own. Great photos to appreciate this bird.. Michelle from Nature Notes...

Jan Castle said...

Looks like he is just waiting for you to snap his picture....good job Carole!!!!
Jan

Unknown said...

Fabulous shots of a beautiful bird.

Phil Slade said...

Just brillant shots Carole, especially the last one of course.
Interesting that yours is a Butcherbird capital "B" whereby our UK shrike which used to breed here the Red-backed Shrike was always known as a butcherbird, small "b". It's all about them hanging their meat up for later consumption.

Yes, the Chiffchaff is so named after its "chiff-chaff" repeated song phrace.

Ida said...

Fabulous shots of this bird. I really like the intent look and that beak is quite impressive.

Linda said...

Great portraits!

Mary Howell Cromer said...

What a fab looking bird, just great to see these images and it sings too, nice~

Helma said...

What a beautiful picture of this beautiful bird Carole. Beautiful portrait too. he can sing very nicely, I think immediately :-)

Ela said...

What a beautiful bird !
Greetings

HansHB said...

Lovely post!

Anonymous said...

ein toller Vogel

DANKE für die Bilder

LG vom katerchen

maryaustria said...

Fantastic shots! He is a beauty!