On a Sunday at the end of October I had a conversation with my good bird watching friend Chris Burchell. He and I often catch up on what birds we have seen or heard about in the vicinity. I happened to mention that the Surrey Bird Club news Tweet had recorded a Great grey shrike.
Now many of you may not have heard of such a bird or even know that it is a bird! The Great grey shrike is known as a vagrant. It is one of those birds that turn up in the winter time in the UK usually on commons. It’s a bird that is about the size of a Blackbird or Great spotted woodpecker.
The Latin name defines the nature or character of this bird exceedingly well! Lanius derives from the Latin word lanio meaning ‘I tear or rend in pieces’! “Lovely!” I hear you say with irony! This is why it is known sometimes as the butcherbird!
The second part of its name excubitor, meaning sentinel, demonstrates that it loves to perch on high points to look for prey! Technically it is not understood to be a bird of prey as it isn’t found in the bird books under that section but it certainly exhibits the same characteristics! The characteristics of a bird of prey which are similar are; they hover and pounce on prey, they hawk over the ground and similarly sit on bear wires and exposed treetops to search around.
Now you might like to read quickly the next part as it is rather graphic! When I read about this bird I discovered one of the prey animals it likes to eat is none other than the feisty stoat! To be fair it wouldn’t take on an adult! All the same the stoat is an animal to be feared by many other small animals! Other prey items range from large invertebrates to smaller vertebrates. It has been seen stripping a toad of its toxic skin to get at the flesh inside! Often with its prey items it will store them up on a thorn or even barbed wire. Insects are usually the bulk of the diet.
You may wonder why I am writing about this bird. After conversing with Chris about birds of varying species I went home and didn’t think much more of the conversation. Later that same afternoon I was lighting the first fire of the season and I heard a little whisper – “Go to Thursley Common!” I hadn’t been for a walk for some time and missed the experience so I thought I’d go for it. On the way, I wondered whether I would see the Great grey shrike which had been reported.
Arriving at Thursley Common I proceeded with my walk keeping my eyes peeled. It was a very still, beautiful autumn afternoon with only a hint of A3! As I approached a spinney on the south side of Shrike Hill, I was alerted to a lot of activity from a small bird flock, followed by a flock of fieldfare. A squirrel was yickering making me think something more was happening in the trees – especially as the small birds wouldn’t settle. Then I spotted a dot on the top of a pine and zoned in with my binoculars, it was indeed the shrike!
The smaller birds were offended by the shrike and continually made passes at it! They succeeded chasing it off after about 5 minutes. I watched them fly in a ‘v’ formation chasing it until they all disappeared from view. The bird was not dissuaded but came back later to another perch.
The kingdom of God suffers violence and the violent take it by force. (Mat 11:12, Luke 16:16) Not a licence to be violent but a licence to how we approach laying hold of the kingdom of God! (Rom 14:17)
People may get offended by who we are and how we act, if we’re doing things God’s way then it won’t always be liked. If we want to move forward in the kingdom of God we need to be un-swayed by others opinions – be steadfast! Stop being a walk-over by others and by circumstances! Stop begging God in your prayers, he’s already made prey (or provision; 2 Cor 9:8) available for us and given us his armour and weapons to fight with. (Check out Eph 6:12)
David was a boy and took on a giant! He chose not to wear Saul’s armour as it didn’t fit, he chose to put on the Lord his God taking up what he knew best – a sling with stones! So don’t consider yourself too small to do the task which God has called you to, he has provided everything you need. The Shrike knows it’s place in the scheme of things and gets on with its ‘calling’ as God has provided it with the characteristics necessary to take prey!
The Great grey shrike is a bird to look out for this winter. They can turn up anywhere! One did on the edge of a housing estate earlier this year! I hadn’t seen one for 24 years! It is an extraordinary bird and has spoken this parable for my benefit and for yours!