Birders gathered in Scotland to see a rare red-rumped swallow. They got a bit more of a show than they’d expected.
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.”
The caption on the photo (above) is classic BBC understatement. “The swallow was spotted briefly before it was eaten.”
(via BoingBoing)
Or maybe, the Sparrowhawk was completely aware of what is “rare” in small birds and was thinking…
“Yyyeeessss! an exotic tidbit that will be really yummy to my tummy! Wait ’till I tell the guys about what I had for dinner. They’ll be so jealous, they’ll molt! Ah hahahahahahah!”
As the sparrowhawk goes back to his nest and marks off another sighting in his bird book …
Heh.