As we all
know Masked Lapwings aggressively defend their breeding territory especially
when they have eggs and young.
Who hasn’t
been harassed by a cranky Lapwing?
At Yellow
Waters in Kakadu National Park I witnessed a Lapwing harass and drive away a
Whistling Kite that had landed on a dead branch at the top of a large paperbark
tree within its territory.
The Lapwing
made six or seven swoops close to the Whistler before it moved on. I managed to
capture three of the swoops.
|
The Lapwing
closing in rapidly. The Whistler raises its wings and faces the attacker. Note,
a spur is visible on the right wing. |
In the
second attack I captured the Lapwing very close to the Whistler – a matter of
luck I must point out, as the swoops were very fast. I should have tried a few
bursts of continuous shooting to try and capture the action.
|
The spur
is visible on the left wing in this shot. The Whistler is on a very precarious
perch – one leg is out on space. |
|
The
Whistler recovers from the attack. |
|
The
Whistler is looking ruffled. |
|
The
last attack I captured – one of the Whistler’s legs is out in space again. |
|
The Whistler
has finally had enough of the harassment and is about to depart to a quieter
perch. It looks like a little preening will be required to regain composure. |
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