“At Kekek Quarry in Pulau Ubin last weekend, I saw two White-bellied Sea Eagles (Haliaeetus leucogaster) in a short interchange. A sub-adult flew towards an adult bird which began to bank steeply and roll. I was hoping they would engage in some locking of talons but the sub-adult only made a nip at the adult’s tail. The two birds then went their separate ways. It seems the adult was prepared to engage in the aerial displays the species is famed for but the young bird was perhaps not so well-versed in the norms of the tribe.
“Also sighted at the quarry: Grey Herons (Ardea cinerea), Pacific Reef Egrets (Egretta sacra), Little Egrets (Egretta garzetta), Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis), Asian Glossy Starling (Aplonis panayensis) and a Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus) carrying a large fish in its talons.”
Marcus Ng
The Annotated Budak
30th March 2009