I used to see these fairly often, they they disappeared for a few years. About 3-4 sightings just in the last two weeks! Always seem to spot them on the local power or telephone cables, never in one of the local trees or bushes.

[reh321]

I used to see these fairly often, they they disappeared for a few years. About 3-4 sightings just in the last two weeks! Always seem to spot them on the local power or telephone cables, never in one of the local trees or bushes.

I'd rather see him in a 'natural' setting - like a tree or bush - but if this is where he sits, you did a good job with what you have.

[K2 to K50]

I'd rather see him in a 'natural' setting - like a tree or bush - but if this is where he sits, you did a good job with what you have.

Thanks reh321. A few days later, and I caught him in a tree. Not the best, but here it is. It was a very dull day, and the shot was rather dark: had to lighten it up in Ricoh Digital Image Utility to try and bring out the dark eye from the black face.

[Tonytee]

Both are really great however, I have to go with number one. Your getting a bead on his eye was quite an accomplishment. Nice work, friend.

TT

[Arjay Bee]

These are the cuckoo shrike we get locally in Far North Queensland - they do use powerlines for perching but the odd dead tree provides a useful perch for the flock





Not black facfed clearly but like little bandits with the mask on the eyes.

[ToddK]

Nice captures K2 to K50. In our modern world, power and phones lines have become natural settings, at least to the birds. Where else would you be able to see 50 or more pigeons all lined up in a row like they are on a parade ground?

[K2 to K50]

These are the cuckoo shrike we get locally in Far North Queensland - they do use powerlines for perching but the odd dead tree provides a useful perch for the flock

Not black facfed clearly but like little bandits with the mask on the eyes.

What a fascinating variation! Thanks for that, Arjay. Did some googling, and it seems (according to one site I found - Bird - Australian Cuckooshrikes) that your birds are called White Bellied Cuckoo Shrikes. It is always fascinating to find that what you always thought was an unique bird is one of a number of variations!

---------- Post added 09-11-20 at 08:44 AM ----------

I'd rather see him in a 'natural' setting - like a tree or bush - but if this is where he sits, you did a good job with what you have.

Both are really great however, I have to go with number one. Your getting a bead on his eye was quite an accomplishment. Nice work, friend.

TT

Nice captures K2 to K50. In our modern world, power and phones lines have become natural settings, at least to the birds. Where else would you be able to see 50 or more pigeons all lined up in a row like they are on a parade ground?

Thanks also to you guys for your interest and comments and/or "Likes". @pichaser, thanks also for your "Like"

[reh321]

What a fascinating variation! Thanks for that, Arjay. Did some googling, and it seems (according to one site I found - Bird - Australian Cuckooshrikes) that your birds are called White Bellied Cuckoo Shrikes. It is always fascinating to find that what you always thought was an unique bird is one of a number of variations!

It is still 'unique' - they are not familiar to most of us.

Australia is a continent, after all, large enough for variations to develop. I am always surprised at how birds migrate. For example, around here, the {tiny} warblers migrate across {fairly narrow} Lake Erie, but the {much larger} Blue Jays fly around the lake.