I was in my hometown of Grimsby, Ontario the other day for a wedding. I had hoped to find the Northern Hawk Owl that had been seen all winter at one location. I spent 2 hours hiking the railroad tracks off 10th E., looking for it, but to no avail. On my way back to the road, this bird was perched in the top of the tallest tree on the north side of the tracks, west of 10th Rd E. Apparently in the location where the owl was frequently seen. I thought it was a Northern Shrike, but I had only a Canon S3 IS camera with me and took these photos at 10x optical 4x digital zoom. (The photo taken only at 10x optical is not any better, in fact, it is worse.)

I will say that the bird was HIGH in the tree - at the very top, probably 40-50' up. When it finally flew it maintained its altitude of approximately 40' and flew off in a slightly undulating manner.

Compared to the Loggerhead Shrikes I see at home in North Carolina, this bird had a much 'thinner' mask. I could not make out some of the details that are described in the OFO website for Shrike ID.

Any comments would be appreciated.