Territorial Disputes

Cape White Eye Staring Down Grey Loerie

One evening I heard quite a commotion coming from my apple tree. Some birds were having a loud altercation!

Though I could hear the fight, I could not see anything, but started taking photos anyway.

Loerie Hiding

On closer inspection I saw a bird at the top of the tree.

The Grey Loerie sits vertically on a branch and even thought he is a fairly large bird, he is well camouflaged and hides very well.

Can’t see him?

Two Loeries

Actually there are two birds here! I did not notice the second till I came to process the shots for this post.

Loeries 2

The two large Grey Loeries were perched in the apple tree, but they wanted to eat the ripe loquats in the neighbouring fruit tree.

Loeries 3

The tiny Cape White Eye decided there were not enough loquats for all of them and chased off the bigger birds, simply by being there and staring them down.

The Stand Off

Having trouble spotting them? There are still two Loeries here.

The Stand Off 2

This tree ain’t big enough for the both of us.

Little White Eye Victorious!

Eventually, the two larger birds decided they had had enough and flew away, leaving the tny Cape White Eye victorious.

To the victor the spoils; or in this case, the loquats!