Raptor's in the 'Fairy Forest'

23 May 2024 - Beaulieu Bird Sanctuary

I managed to spend 2-hours walking around and enjoying this local Sanctuary with its 100+ year old Blue Gum trees. Yes they are not indigenous, but how can you even think of replacing such glorious old trees that locals call the "Fairy Forest".

I was greeted by a few Cape Starling's in the car park

Cape Starling (Lamprotornis nitens)

The backlit Bulrushes glimmered in the early morning light, adding further mystic in the shade of the giant trees as the sun slowly rose

Mystical Bulrushes

Raptors generally love this Sanctuary, as the big dead trees provide lofty places to perch and so it was for this cool Long-crested Eagle. Sadly, this tree has since been chopped down for reason's unknown

Long-crested Eagle (Lophaetus occipitalis)

Little did this Long-crested know that the Fairy Forest was the territory of the local Ovambo Sparrowhawk and soon after taking off, had to put on the gas as the Ovambo came tearing out of the forest and after a little aerial sortie - the bigger Long-crested gave way and flew off into the distance

Long-crested Eagle (Lophaetus occipitalis) versus Ovambo Sparrowhawk (Accipiter ovampensis)

The Ovambo returned to his kingdom in the Bluegum forest where I was able to track him down and get a few images as he surveyed his domain from above

Ovambo Sparrowhawk (Accipiter ovampensis)

Ovambo's are uncommon in our area, but they really do love these ancient Bluegum's where they both hunt from (as they are ambush predator's) and build nests in. Long may this pair stay at this reserve as breeding season is imminent.