A bustle of birdlife

There's been a lot of jostling for position in the old spider gum next door lately. The other day, a dove and a juvenile black sparrowhawk were engaged in a sparring match, pecking at each other as they vied for the same space on a favoured branch. It was a most strange interaction between predator and prey, as they seemed oblivious of their natural hierarchy. Eventually the sparrowhawk moved off to another branch and sulked for a while before flying off.

This morning, a paradise flycatcher, with its characteristic bobbing flight and elegant tail, is being relentlessly pursued by a fiscal flycatcher, which has two babies preening themselves among the branches. The paradise flycatcher eventually gives in, and settles on the tip of a branch about a foot away from a red-faced mousebird, who takes absolutely no notice of him and he leaves, no doubt to seek a nice reflective window to admire himself in. This activity forms quite a part of his waking hours.

Unconcerned by all this activity, a pair of red-wing starlings are attending to their youngster. Yesterday the young bird flew into a window and became disorientated, fluttering down to the ground while the parents watched and called to it from the rooftop. One bird would fly down and sit on the fence, calling to it and then flying back up to the roof, in an effort to encourage it to get away from the clutches of the cat which is always around. It hopped about in the shrubbery while the parent kept calling and flying down to it and after about half an hour it flew safely back onto the roof. Fascinating to see parenting in the bird world.

And here's a treat! As I am looking at the assortment of small birds hopping among the twigs, in the background I see six flamingos coming in to land in the Kom. They are the most beautiful birds in flight, necks and legs outstretched and dark pink wings gently flapping them through the air.

There's no doubt about it, there is always something interesting to see when you keep looking up!