Monday 14 March 2011

Adult Osprey chasing juvenile, Kartong, 20th January

A juvenile male was attempting to land on the mangroves when suddenly an alarm calling adult male? came rocketing over the bushes towards it. A short chase resulted in the talon bearing adult seeing off the juvenile. Territorial behaviour was most apparent when juveniles flew over or landed near perched adults, usually within the mangrove areas where adults were resting up. But it wasn't always the case and we did see many juveniles sitting peacefully with adults. Very little aggression was seen when birds were fishing together. The above adult appeared structually like a male but had plumage more like a female (heavily spotted underwing coverts and breast band). Not all adults can be easily sexed on plumage.