Ian Morris - Nature Notes

FROM IAN'S VERANDA - Just after you hung up today, I was still sitting on the veranda with lots of birds in front of me, including Eric Pitta, when a pair of Drongos chased a Brown Goshawk, which swooped silently up to the bird bath for a drink - or thats what it looked like. All the birds exploded off in different directions while the Drongos chased the Goshawk up into the lower branches of the nearest tree. Eric, who was out in the open at the time, went into an arrow-like squat, froze & faced the Goshawk who was a few meters away. He never moved a muscle & the Goshawk didn’t appear to see him! It wasn’t until I tried to get a shot of the Goshawk, minutes later, that he moved, after the Goshawk had taken off with Drongos in hot persuit! Amazing strategy!

Other observations... Eric the young male Shining Flycatcher is caught in an embarrassing 'cross-dress' attire. 18/7/2017

Eric the Pitta in a relaxed mode (photo copyright Ian Morris)

Eric the Pitta in Goshawk mode (photo copyright Ian Morris)

Eric the Brown Goshawk (photo copyright Ian Morris)

Eric the cross-dresser... Young male Shining Flycatcher in transition to mature plumage (photo copyright Ian Morris)