The Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve (www.sbwr.org.sg) still continues to amaze its many visitors on many levels. However, most visitors (the lucky quiet ones anyway) get to see the many monitor lizards, an odd crocodile, some of the many birds and even the occasional spotting of the family of resident smooth-coated otters which live in the Reserve.
It is not often that one looks up into the skies above the reserve but the tower hides provide for spectacular views if one is willing to climb them. And sometimes, that little effort coupled with a little quiet patience pays off.
As there was a storm brewing, three white-bellied sea eagles were seen flying in the skies above the Reserve. Two of the eagles seemed to be engaged in a chase. The third was lower in the sky and seemed to a little less interested in the two higher up. I was first aware of the unfolding action when I heard the characteristic squawking this specie of eagle.
The two higher up were engaged in a chase for about 5 minutes despite the strong winds brewed up by the impending storm. There were times when the birds were flapping their wings vigourously but were not apparently moving much at all due to the strong headwind. Despite this, the chase went on with both of the higher eagles making sharp twists and turns occasionally getting very close to each other. Finally, the two eagles locked talons and spun about 3 fast loops towards the ground before they parted ways well above the ground.
This was an amazing sight to see.
The chase and the locked talons suggest that the resident pair of adult eagles had been visited by another non-resident eagle and they had seen fit to see it off but the visitor had been reluctant to leave the area. The visitor left the territory after the spinning dive.
Next time you visit a nature reserve, be quiet and observe and listen to the sounds about you. You might be in for a rare treat.
Read about the white-bellied sea eagle :
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