Phil Roberts went to the percolation pond in the morning of 12th July and saw a Western Osprey perched in the large dead tree to the side of the pond. There are a number of breeding pairs of Black-winged Stilts on the pond and as I have said previously they make great parents and chase away anything they feel is a threat. I have seen about fifteen of them gang up on an Arabian Red Fox that was getting too close to a nest last year and these photos show how they took on the much larger Western Osprey. I thank Phil for kindly allowing me to use his excellent photos.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje4QMMiM6KDqZBDg48I8eEfzDI5OugTyugBowTYDWnTGb44lY-Dvxx4X0XVDRLNHoPlg6TtUogsXZAUDX8giuZb8eT_aX-4vgRG0KAnzvjG0qHq-X9o1yjSU5GASqeXn4-_9rD9KElKOo/s1600/Western+Osprey+&+Black-winged+Stilt.jpg) |
Western Osprey & Black-winged Stilt (photo kind permission of Phil Roberts) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfPyAlYyuAD1iB0Sn4ObcvQN3r4yeJHg9-sgnKYydo3rnVyBzXGZfJ728iwlibinq1yXw8cCUMKaufcyIc-yf_hYOfgH7KGGrBrNwCUdZXvje-G-hCaOtLm9ZLRUWBXR3TiVOKoT3ImUM/s1600/Western+Osprey+&+Black-winged+Stilt+(2).jpg) |
Western Osprey & Black-winged Stilt (photo kind permission of Phil Roberts) |
Other birds seen on the patch in the last few days include Clamorous Reed Warblers, Caspian Reed Warblers, five Little/Saunder's Terns, two Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters, 10+ Barn Swallows and 10+ Sand Martins.