Brown Goshawk with Frogmouth Chick

When I arrived at the Lake I checked on the special little Frogmouth chicks that have hatched. They are growing fast and one of them had actually hopped away from the nest and was on the branch above. These Frogmouths are celebrities. All the walkers stop and admire them. They are on facebook and instagram. They have a huge following.

I left them dozing on the branch and went for a big walk. A Brown Goshawk was doing the rounds and passed over me a few times hunting. Suddenly I heard a great commotion of many different birds giving their alarm calls, I looked up and the Goshawk came speeding over me with a bird in its talons. I quickly took some photos. I thought he had got hold of one of the pretty little waterbirds called Rails. On my way back to the car I met my friend and he told me that only two of the Frogmouth chicks were in the tree. I was sure the little fellow had just hopped higher. I was wrong. The Goshawk had him in his talons. I discovered it today when I downloaded the photos!

 

The Goshawk has chicks to feed and our independent baby Frogmouth was easy prey. Hope he doesn’t get the other two chicks. I may have to go and check tomorrow.

Done