[Birdtalk] Swallow eaten by Hawk

[Brenda Kidman]

Hawk swoops on rare bird visitor
* Birdwatchers who gathered to see a rare swallow on the Angus coast were
horrified when they saw it being snatched and eaten by a hungry hawk. *

Twitchers headed for Lunan Bay as word spread that enthusiasts had
discovered a bird so unusual that it was last seen in the area 20 years ago.


However, the red-rumped swallow, which is usually to be found in the
southern Mediterranean, did not last long.

A sparrowhawk swooped and snatched the swallow from the roof of a building.

Mike Sawyer, a member of a Dundee group comprising RSPB members, said: "We
were absolutely horrified. That's life I suppose."

An RSPB spokesman added: "It's very unfortunate that it was devoured after
such a short space of time, and before more people had seen it.

"Sparrowhawks do feed on small birds, and this one was probably not a great
student of what is rare and what is not.

"Sadly, it is just one of those things."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/tayside_and_central/6147042.stm

Published: 2006/11/14 13:55:22 GMT
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