Bahrain - Steppe Grey Shrike at the Chicken Farm

Ringing at the Chicken Farm we managed to catch a really handsome Steppe Grey Shrike. The bird was caught in a newly refurbished spring trap by Abdulla whilst we were concentrating on catching and ringing Barn Swallows. It was a lot larger and heavier than the Southern Grey Shrike we had caught at A'Ali Farm two weeks before, and showed a lot more white in the secondaries than the Southern Grey Shrike. Abdulla kindly held the bird, a potentially dangerous job as they like to bite and Howard King held the wing and tail out to allow photographs and only got bitten once. I ringed the bird and managed to keep away from the birds bill but the sharp claws were a bit uncomfortable on the hand.