Harsh reality

[Steve Clark <>]

G'day all

I spent an hour wandering through my favourite patch of the Grampians 
(sw Victoria) this morning.  Lots of the regular birds around.  At one 
point I had the binoculars on a Thornbill perched on a branch of a dead 
smal tree maybe 2-3 m from the ground.  Just as I decided it was a 
Buff-rumped a Collared Sparrowhawk flew in, grabbed the Thornbill and 
flew off.  Only after the event did the other birds in the area put up 
an alarm.
I've not often seen a kill before.  The sparrowhawk was tiny so I guess 
a male, totally silent and so quick.
Cheers

Steve Clark
Hamilton, Vic
http://members.datafast.net.au/clarkja/sw_birds.htm (recently revised 
with updated news, a Townsville trip report and some photos)
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