Lena Chow was in Kinabatangan Rierside Lodge, Sabah in late March 2010. There, she saw a Buffy Fish Owl (Ketupa ketupu) hunting in a frog pond at the lodge where she stayed.
It was then evening. There was an afternoon downpour, the first rain after two months. The frogs were out in the pond and croaking. Suddenly the owl flew down from its perch, spreading its huge pair of wings as it landed and grabbed a crab, to fly back to its perch to enjoy the meal. Obviously the owl was not after the frogs.
Buffy Fish Owl takes mainly fish, as its name implies. However, it also takes crustaceans, frogs, lizards, small mammals, etc.
The above images by Lena, show the owl’s magnificent wings when it landed on its perch (left) and a small crab that it caught, tightly clutched in its talons (right).
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