Spotted eagle owl sitting in the road
While driving back to the lodge at the end of a great afternoon game drive we came across a spotted eagle owl sitting in the road. We stopped to enjoy the presence of this wise old owl.
We noticed that she was holding something in her talons and on closer inspection saw see that she had a dung beetle in her grasp. She held it down and did not seem very interested in her prize. All of a sudden she hopped into the air leaving the beetle behind and flew to the other side of the road where we could see some movement on the road.
As we continued watching her we saw that she was dancing around a large scorpion, trying to get the scorpion into a position that would suit her. The whole time the scorpion kept up its defence by lashing out with its tail, trying to sting the owl. This didn’t deter the owl as she pounced on the body of the scorpion and in a flash had bitten the sting off the tail of the scorpion, rendering it harmless.
How wise of the owl as now the spotted eagle owl could take her time and just stood on the scorpion for a few moments before picking it up in her beak and swallowing it alive.
She proceeded to spread her wings and fly off into the night.
Mark Burns
Kapama Karula
