“We had just finished our lunch when an Oriental Honey-buzzard (Pernis ptilorhyncus) landed quietly atop a Brown Heart (Andira inermis) outside our apartment. This is one of the winter migrants, besides the Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus) and the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) that come regularly.
“Its peace was broken in no time when it attracted the attention of some House (Pacific) Swallows (Hirundo tahitica) that were foraging in the vicinity. The latter repeatedly swept past threateningly. In one instance the buzzard was seen gaping with the tongue sticking out and nictitating membrane closed as a swallow zoomed past (left).
“After five or six sorties, the buzzard decided that it had had enough of the nuisance and left in a haste.
“Some time ago I had also witnessed some House Swallows mobbing a Peregrine Falcon that was awaiting preys on top of a 25 storey building nearby. These show that these swallows are brave enough to challenge raptors many times their own size.
“Watch the video, recorded on 18 Jan 2012 at about 1 pm, played at half speed with no audio here at the top.”
Sun Chong Hong
Singapore
30th January 2012
Bird Ecology Study Group The Pacific Swallow aka House Swallow
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