Lena Chow videoed an Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher (Ceyx erithaca) with a skink clamped in its bill at the Panti Forest in Johor, Malaysia on the morning of 24th July 2010. She missed seeing the kingfisher catching the skink, noticing it only when the bird was perching on a branch. The skink had by then stopped struggling and remained lifeless in the kingfisher’s bill, head facing away and tail dangling towards the bird.

The kingfisher remained on the perch of some time, probably waiting to fly to its nest to feed its young. Usually is will not fly directly to its nest with a prey but transit nearby to ensure that the coast is clear before proceeding.

“On arrival to Chaaya Village, Habarana, Sri Lanka, 4th July 2010, evening, we were so fortunate to be able to witness the Changeable Hawk-eagle (Spizaetus cirrhatus) feasting on his recent kill of the Black-naped Hare (Lepus nigricollis).

“The unfortunate hare was ripped open from his most vulnerable part, which is his stomach. The fearsome tool that the eagle had was his very strong curved and sharp beak, that constantly tore at that section of the body, tearing off portions of the skin together with the hare’s fur. Than it proceeded with tearing off pieces of fresh meat slowly filling up his crop. The whole episode lasted more than three quarters of an hour, and in the meantime the smell of fresh meat also attracted a lot of flies, which constantly accompanied us in greater or smaller numbers.

“On almost finishing three quarters of the hare, the hawk-eagle decided that it could than fly away with the remains of the hare to a more private place away from the prying eyes of us humans, and their cameras and flashes.

“This video clip was done with the Sony Handycam HDR CX 550, with a ProOptik 2x Tele-conversion lens.”

KC Tsang
Singapore
16th July 2010

. Haw-eagleCh-hare

“I would like to use this post to make a suggestion based on a number of observations about the feeding behaviour of the Lineated Barbet (Megalaima lineata hodgsoni).

“Firstly, the Lineated Barbet is known to take small birds as prey - flowerpecker and Eurasian Tree Sparrow. Whether this is for self or for chicks we are uncertain (possibly for juveniles).

“I have also recently seen the Crested Goshawk (Accipiter trivirgatus peninsulae) furiously chasing a Lineated Barbet with the barbet yelping in terror. See HERE.

“Last week my wife and I saw a raptor nest while out cycling early. We both thought we saw a juvenile in the nest. I went back later to have a look and found a Lineated Barbet feeding in the nest (left). I was too far to identify what was taken.

“My suggestion: When I saw the Crested Goshawk chasing a Lineated Barbet I assumed it was for a meal for juveniles or self. But could it be that the Lineated Barbet has a habit of robbing nest for chicks and the Crested Goshawk was acting out of anger to chase away a predator from its nesting site?

“Appreciate views from readers’ observations.”

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh City, Perak, Malaysia
18th April 2010

“I was out today to re-visit old locations in the city, with secondary jungle/scrub, that are being threatened by development. This location, now beseeched by housing on three sides, has always had a lot of ‘wild’ Water Buffalo (Bubalus arnee) kept by herders for their milk and ?meat. Hard to get near them when they are free ranging and grazing – they give a cold stare from far off that keeps me away.

“The Cattle Egrets (Bubulcus ibis coromandus) love them and come daily to feed at their feet and often sit on them. I managed to get close when they strayed near a road and used the car as a hide. Almost all were in some stage of breeding plumage.

“This egret caught a frog that was dislodged by the cattle (left centre). It immediately flew a short distance away to enjoy it. Managed to catch up but sadly lots of foliage in between.

“Balancing on the Water Buffalo requires skill and this chap was almost dislodged (left top). One of the birds had part of the bill fractured off but did not seem to interfere with feeding (left bottom).”

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh City, Perak, Malaysia
6th March 2010

Note:
Non-breeding Cattle Egret, also known as Eastern Cattle Egret, has an all-white plumage and blackish legs and feet. The adult breeding bird has extensive rufous-buff head and neck, short rufous-buff nape and breast-plumes and long rufous-buff back-plumes. The legs and feet are more yellowish. The bill become reddish with yellowish tip during courtship - see HERE. The bird above appears to be just entering the breeding stage as seen from its plumage. Also, the legs and feet are still blackish.

Kennie Pan photographed a Stork-billed Kingfisher (Halcyon capensis) manipulating a talapia it caught earlier before swallowing it (above left). In the course of bashing the struggling fish, something stringy trailed out from its mid-section (above right).

According to Marcus Ng, “the fish is a tilapia cichlid, a naturalised alien. The ’string’ doesn’t seem like a fishing line though. My guess is that the bird, perhaps while violently shaking or smacking the fish to kill it, squeezed some organ that ruptured and caused the contents or viscera to be ejected from a wound or the anus of the fish.”

Dr Khoo Hong Woo has this to add, referring to the possibility of the fish’s innards coming out from its anus: “Yes, that may be so since the first photo didn’t show any ’stringy’ stuff to indicate its a fishing line. Tilapias are herbivorous and they have very long tubular intestines and their ’shit’ comes out stringy and encased in a mucous tube. But there are several ‘plys’ so it could be the intestine being forced out. Too bad the photo showed it coming out of its gill space.”