Last year friends of mine discovered Mongolia’s first Lesser Grey Shrikes in Khovd province. Unfortunately I had no time to join my friends on the trip, but took the chance to confirm the occurrence this summer, together with J. Steudtner. In July we found two pairs with fully fledged young (which were still fed by their parents) in the same area where the species was discovered last year.
Axel
Lesser Grey Shrike. Bulgan, July 2007
Photo © J. Steudtner
Recently published:
Deutsch, M. & Bräunlich, A. 2007. First records and first proven breeding of Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor in Mongolia. Erforsch. biol. Ress. Mongolei (Halle/Saale) 10: 541-546.
Abstract
“During a trip to the Dzungarian Gobi in south-western Mongolia a group of German birdwatchers found several territorial Lesser Grey Shrikes Lanius minor, and documented an active nest. The species had not previously been recorded from Mongolia. Observations were made near Bulgan gol (Bulgan river; nest coordinates: 46°6’N 91°32’E, 1190 m a.s.l.) in Khovd aimag (Khovd province) on 24 June 2006. Besides two territorial pairs, of which a female could be photographically documented on the nest, at least four more territorial adults were found within an area of c1.5 sqkm. Based on these records, an abundance of 4 pairs/sqkm can be assumed for this riparian site, which consists mainly of open meadows with scattered bushes and tress.”
Lesser Grey Shrike, Bulgan, June 2006
Photo © Steve Klasan
Map of Mongolia showing the site (red dot in the
south-west) of the Lesser Grey Shrike records.
Lesser Grey Shrike, Bulgan, June 2006
Photo © S. Klasan
Lesser Grey Shrike at nest, Bulgan, June 2006
Photo © S. Klasan
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