From: Rupert Watson <rupertwatson48@gmail.com>

Date: 2013-01-21 16:41

Subject: Strange goings on in Tsavo

One mid-morning we were round behind the dam wall of Aruba dam, close to where the road crosses the outlet stream, when we noticed an African grey hornbill quite far away on top of a dead or otherwise leafless tree, with a yellow bird in its beak.

The prey bird was a very lemon yellow, and given the huge number of golden pipits in the Park it was probably one of these.

Anyway, for several minutes, we watched the hornbill beat the bird's carcass against the branch on which it was perched, with extraordinary ferocity.  Then it flew off with the victim in its beak, out of sight.

I have no idea how or where it caught the pipit, if that is what it was, or whether it would have eaten, and the whole incident posed so many questions.  Research into grey hornbill behaviour has done nothing to answer any of them.

Comments welcome, 

Salaams, Rupert Watson