An Oriental Honey-buzzard (Pernis ptilorhyncus) first visited KC Tsang’s home in March 2008. The raptor then peeped into his kitchen window.

In July 2009 the raptor made its presence felt when it was mobbed by House Crows (Corvus splendens) and Black-naped Orioles (Oriolus chinensis) while perching on the roof of the building opposite KC’s home. And in November 2009 the raptor was again peeping into KC’s kitchen window.

Its latest visits to KC’s Simon Lane’s home were in February 2010. The image on the left was taken at 0815 hours on the 4th. The raptor’s latest return visit was on the 11th.

It would be interesting to find out whether it is the same bird that paid KS these visits through the years. We would be monitoring future visits…

“My wife and I first saw this Crested Goshawk (Accipiter trivirgatus peninsulae) furiously chasing a Lineated Barbet (Megalaima lineata hodgsoni) yesterday morning. The barbet was yelping in terror – a call I have not yet heard from this barbet. Not sure as to outcome as they flew into some trees.

“Note how the bird likes to sit on one foot, with the other often hidden in the feathers. Occasionally the foot will ‘peep out’ when a gust of wind blows the feathers. I thought it might be a damaged foot but yesterday’s shots show the same action but with the other foot.

“I reviewed past photographs (previous years) and saw the same posture. It does use both feet as well to perch. Wonder if this “one foot perch” is for long durations.”

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh City
Perak
Malaysia
20th & 21st December 2009

Note: Birds standing on one foot may to reduce heat loss.

Chris Lee a.k.a. chrisle023 was at Singapore’s West Coast Park sometime in January 2010 when he saw an Oriental Honey-buzzard (Pernis ptilorhyncus) around the car park. The raptor was flying around, moving from tree to tree (above). It was relatively close by and Chris could not resist photographing it.

Imagine his surprise when he processed his images and found that the raptor was partially blind (left). The right eye was damaged but the injury had healed.

Apparently the Oriental Honey-buzzard was not totally disadvantaged by the damaged right eye. The bird was actively flying and foraging. However, with only one good eye, it would not be able to function as effectively as when both eyes are in good condition.

This post is a cooperative effort between NaturePixels.org and BESG to bring the study of bird behaviour through photography to a wider audience.

“Was very kindly alerted by Chiu that there were three Black Baza ( Aviceda leuphotes ) at the Chinese cemetery near my home yesterday. So early this morning, at the tail end of our usually cycling, my wife and I passed that location to check it out. Found a lone Black Baza at edge of another Chinese cemetery 1.5 km from the site mentioned above. Rushed home and got my gear. It was still there but lighting was poor (about 7.45 am, cloudy).

“The Black Baza was quite compliant for some pictures and then it flew deeper in. I followed into the cemetery (overgrown) and saw it land on a tree with more than 30 Black Bazas. The above picture shows 23 birds among the Golden Shower trees (Cassia fistula). At this time I was overrun by a swarm of mosquitoes and returned to my car to get some repellent. When I returned they had flown even deeper into the cemetery. I drove around the margins of the cemetery and spotted them again and got some pictures from a distance.

“I managed to get the cemetery caretaker to let me in from the front entrance after explaining what I was about. However in his excitement at seeing a flock of raptors he startled them.

“It was quite an awesome sight to see more than 30 (my estimate 32-35) Black Bazas fly close overhead. I wish I had a 35 mm lens to catch the sight!

“They flew in the direction of the golf course and I spent the next 1.5 hours trying to locate them by driving around the margins of the course, but could not – the first time I regret not being a member of the golf club.

“Migratory parties locally are noted to be 3-10 in size, with up to 20 noted (Wells 1999). This is an unusually large group.”

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh City, Perak, Malaysia
20th December 2009

Comment by Avril McLeod: “This reminds me of an influx of Black Baza recorded from Tambun Height between 6th Jan to 28th March 2002, reported by me in various emailed updates at the time.. Unfortunately, my computer was out of action with a particularly nasty virus around mid-end of March 2002, so I am not sure of the date of the last report. However, the highest number recorded was on March 23rd at 13.45 hours when a staggering +/-150 were seen circling over the garden and adjacent area before gaining height and moving on. The final date was March 28th with a further 27 having been recorded. In 2003 between 29th Jan and 3rd March numbers were reduced and the final total was 141. Sadly, nowadays, I see very few, if any, Black Baza in this area, along with a several other species which seem to have disappeared from the scene. Habitat-wise nothing has changed.”

Reference:
Wells, D.R., 1999. The birds of the Thai-Malay Peninsular. Vol. I, Non-passerines. Academic Press, London. 648 pp.

“The White-Bellied Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster) is one of the largest raptors in Southeast Asia. Its distinct image can even be found (printed) on the $10,000 Singapore note. This eagle is a good hunter and feeds mainly on fish and sea snakes.



“These magnificent eagles were often seen with fish caught in their powerful talons. Before today, I have never (personally) seen these eagles with snakes in their talons. Hence, I’m pleasantly surprised that this morning, in the space of 10 minutes, two different birds were seen successfully catching different species (presumed; based on different colour and body sizes) of sea snakes from the surface of the sea.



“The images attached show Eagle A in the sequence of diving down (top) and catching a sea snake and then flying away without much fanfare (above). Eagle A was seen soaring at great height while looking for prey. Once it found its target, it extended its feet and descended at speed by folding its wings and then gradually opening its wings to “parachute” gracefully to the target. Its aim at the targeted prey was perfect and its talons caught the snake in one strike. Immediately, it flapped its huge wings to ascend and fly away; probably to a perch to enjoy its catch.



“The hunting technique was similar for eagle B. However, there is a bit of drama for eagle B as the sea snake it caught put up a struggle and coiled itself around its leg (above). It cannot be ascertained whether the snake managed to bite the eagle. The eagle must have felt uncomfortable as the sequence of pictures captured eagle B in spectacular manoeuvres defying gravity in its attempts to disentangle the snake’s coiling around its leg. In mid-flight, the eagle was seen using its beak as well as its free leg to handle the snake (below). The eagle was even observed diving low in an attempt to free the snake’s strangle hold. After much effort, the eagle managed to subdue the snake with both talons gripping firmly onto the snake before it flew away from sight.



“Sea snakes being poisonous, I’m curious what could have happened to the eagle if it was actually bitten? Could it survive?

”


Kwong Wai Chong


Singapore
27th December 2009