shrike and plans

Loggerhead shrike:



Loggerhead shrikes are colored a bit like the more common northern mockingbird, but they are smaller and they have a little bandit's mask on their face. They look like relatively meek songbirds, but they are fierce predators, capable of taking not only insects but also small birds. I came upon this one today at lunch in Heritage Park in Sachse, near my work. It's fun to come up on a "mockingbird" and then find it's a shrike. I wish I had gotten a better photo.

This Saturday I am scheduled to drive to Garland to get some hail damage on my car inspected for insurance purposes. A week from Saturday I plan to be at the Texas Linux Fest. During my drive back, I plan to stop at a state park. Perhaps I'll choose Mother Neff, the oldest in Texas. Perhaps I'll go further west into the range of the endangered golden-cheeked warbler. Perhaps I'll go somewhere simpler like Lake Waco or Waco's Cameron Park. I'll have to make it all a quick stop-over, as I will need to
be in Allen by 2 p.m. and then have an activity at 5 p.m. I'll probably skip the festival after-party so that I can drive part-way to my destination Saturday night.
We'll see.

The mail brought me a wireless pen mouse. Now I can draw my poor stickfigures more naturally. They still do not look like great cartoons.