Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus)
While waiting in the car for my husband who was looking at a wildflower, I saw this bird dive into the thorn bush right next to the busy parking lot at the Hellhole Canyon trailhead. (Anza Borrego) When the bird took off, I got out and perched my heavy lens on a coat on top of the car and waited. I thought it might be skewering food items, but instead, when it returned it I could hear noises of a chick begging for food. The parent was looking around trying to locate the sound of my camera clicking. When it flew again, I found the large fledgling low in the shrub.