Superstar mugged in public park!

[Peter Connan]

Despite yesterday being a drab and dank day, I was out at Rietvlei trying to bulk up my big year.

 

Just exiting the ablutions at the picnik site after a comfort break, I noticed a Hoopoe on the lawn.

 

He was having some success in his own hunting too, pulling up a nice juicy mole cricket.

 

But scarcely had he pulled the bug out of the ground and the thieves were on him!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 29, 2020 by Peter Connan

[Kitsafari]

They were just waiting to pounce on the hoopoe! Robbed!

[Soukous]

wonderful sequence Peter

[michael-ibk]

Very cool!

[Peter Connan]

Thank you very much lady and gentlemen.

[ForWildlife]

Very cool sequence! Is that an Indian mynah in the background of picture 4?

[mtanenbaum]

No fair! Where are the police when you need them? 

[COSMIC RHINO]

great detailed action bird photos  

[Peter Connan]

Thank you very much.

 

@ForWildlife, yes it is, but I suspect he was an innocent bystander. There were a couple foraging the same patch of lawn.

[offshorebirder]

Outstanding photo sequence @Peter Connan

 

I suppose the Hoopoe might not be able to swallow the Mole Cricket instantly, until it had dispatched / subdued it.   A healthy Mole Cricket on the way down might do damage. 

 

Which set the Hoopoe up for a mugging.

[Peter Connan]

Thank you very much @offshorebirder

Indeed the claws on those things look pretty mean!

[xyz99]

Great series of photos!

[Peter Connan]

Thank you very much @xyz99