And the world went quiet...........

On Sunday afternoon I decided to go for a drive, I'd been sick in bed for a few days and needed to get out and check what the birds in 'my' block were up to?

I found Red-eyed Doves on the Eskom line, looking a little like pegs on the washing line.

A little further along a huge flock of Red-Billed Quelea mixed with Widowbirds of various shapes and sizes, all very drab in their winter attire, were feeding in a pasture near a vlei. When I got level with the vlei, suddenly this huge flock came hurtling out of the sky and dropped like stones into the reeds,

and the world went quiet......................


I looked around for the cause of this sudden change and there coming towards me was a Red-Eyed Dove with a Lanner Falcon hot on its heals (well, should I say tail feathers) the Red-Eyed Dove chose to fly across the dam hoping to get away from the monster on its tail.............. a few seconds later it was Lanner dinner!!

Yip, I watch this whole drama take place as if in slow motion, the Dove flew a little close to the water, as it touched the water the Lanner had it. Feathers flew.......Lanner smiled........Dove cried and the LBJ's that had dropped like stones from the sky realised that the drama was over, they came out from their hiding place and merrily went on feeding in the pastures.

I had just witnessed a drama in the life of one Red-Eyed Dove and the hunting skills in the life of a Lanner Falcon.

After this drama, I continued with my drive,
I found a group of serene Grey Crowned Cranes dancing in the
pastures and Denham's Bustards quietly looking for a tasty morsel.

Satisfied that I had checked my patch I retired back to bed.