We couldn't believe it! There we were, taking an early afternoon walk when
we came to the corner and found ourselves in the midst of a three way battle
for a large flying insect. The combatants were a mockingbird, the male
hooded oriole and, are you ready for this, a Kestrel!

When we first approached the mockingbird was doing aerial loops as he tried
to catch the bug. Meanwhile the oriole was flying inbetween the mockingbird
and bug and scolding loudly. The bug was holding it's own with evasive
actions, but he was dommed. Suddenly, in swoops the Kestrel from stage
right. It pursues the bug, literally, onto the front porch of a house
nearby and momentarily out of our sight. He emerged moments later and flew
off "bug in hand" so-to-speak. The mockingbird landed on a nearby wire and
fluffed in annoyance, while the oriole landed on top of a nearby phone pole.

Amazingly, the couple sitting on the balcony of the house never noticed a
thing! And this was not a quiet encounter!

BTW, I've noticed the male oriole and (presumably the male) mockingbird
arguing over the same territory this past week. I think the orioles may
have their nest in a palm tree which is part of the mockingbird's territory
and they've been scolding and contact-fighting the last couple of days..
When the crowds go home Sunday evening (it's been running in the mid-90s
here and everyone's coming to the beach) we're going to try and spot the nest.

Were we lucky or what?!

Peggi
Ben & Peggi Rodgers
Aptos, CA (near Santa Cruz 122 W, 37 N)
USA
woodduck at cruzio.com


"A bird does not sing because it has an answer,
It sings because it has a song"