Rat-fishing eagle

wong1979 · 8th May 2006

Hi, just want to share something interesting to u guys. Pls pardon the crappiness here despite some high standards here. I saw some eagles hovering above the sea and thought they must be fishing for fish until on closer inspection ...huh? Fish got tail meh?

I thought it could be some kind of monitor lizard or sea creature with a tail, but from the vague shape I can make out of, it looks like a rat. So I went googling and found out that indeed, a rat can swim half a mile out into the sea.

After which, I saw another eagle sparring with it, as if to snatch the food:

Also, can anyone ID the eagles despite the very poor quality, thx.

All pics are 100% crops.

slaam · 8th May 2006

whoa... never knew that ... where is this taken?
did it snatch the tailed creature fresh from the sea? or did it drop it and recatch it? haha or was it trying to drown it first cos its ferocious?

JediForce4ever · 8th May 2006

Issit an Osprey?
Can the experienced birders cfm?Im just a newbie..

wong1979 · 8th May 2006

Found them at Changi boardwalk. I've also noticed rats living below the wooden shelter on the sea. It can even walk upside down, amazing

seankyh · 8th May 2006

maybe it was washing the rat in the sea before eating it

cajuca · 8th May 2006

nice series here , u been so lucky to get it. cheer
i been looking for it , but still now no luck.

Koelsch · 8th May 2006

i think i've seen this bird yesterday when i was at boardwalk. nice catch on the action there even despite the poor quality.

cerebrus · 8th May 2006

You discovered a new species of bird!!

Nice 'catch'!

Originally Posted by JediForce4ever

Issit an Osprey?
Can the experienced birders cfm?Im just a newbie..

Hmmm.. not an experienced birder, but I think Osprey's have a white head & breast. Could be another type of raptor.

mervin · 9th May 2006

looks like a Juv. White-bellied Eagle.

wong1979 · 9th May 2006

Originally Posted by mervin

looks like a Juv. White-bellied Eagle.

yup, it should be. 1 bird expert has also confirmed this. well, i must say it really looks so diff from the adult.

DeSwitch · 9th May 2006

since when fishes dont have tails? Fish's tail look different though. Sorry for trying to be funny. Thanks for sharing the series. Wonder if the birding expert here would like to give some pointers on how to shoot Eagles of other large flying birds. How to make this shot better?

Sorry to OT and borrow this tread.

zhang3feng · 9th May 2006

Originally Posted by seankyh

maybe it was washing the rat in the sea before eating it

taste better with salt

fern37 · 12th May 2006

I have got the ID of the bird from the expert, R Subaraj. Yes, it is the White-bellied Fish-Eagles.

jacquesvile · 16th May 2006

Originally Posted by fern37

I have got the ID of the bird from the expert, R Subaraj. Yes, it is the White-bellied Fish-Eagles.

spore also have this bird?

8th May 2006	#1
wong1979 Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 541	Rat-fishing eagle Hi, just want to share something interesting to u guys. Pls pardon the crappiness here despite some high standards here. I saw some eagles hovering above the sea and thought they must be fishing for fish until on closer inspection ...huh? Fish got tail meh? I thought it could be some kind of monitor lizard or sea creature with a tail, but from the vague shape I can make out of, it looks like a rat. So I went googling and found out that indeed, a rat can swim half a mile out into the sea. After which, I saw another eagle sparring with it, as if to snatch the food: Also, can anyone ID the eagles despite the very poor quality, thx. All pics are 100% crops.

8th May 2006	#2
slaam Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: West Posts: 1,519	Re: Rat-fishing eagle whoa... never knew that ... where is this taken? did it snatch the tailed creature fresh from the sea? or did it drop it and recatch it? haha or was it trying to drown it first cos its ferocious? __________________ my photo project http://naturespies.blogspot.com http://www.dreamstime.com/kevinlam_info Last edited by slaam; 8th May 2006 at 02:12 PM.

8th May 2006	#3
JediForce4ever Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Singapore, CanonGraphers.org Posts: 3,163	Re: Rat-fishing eagle Issit an Osprey? Can the experienced birders cfm?Im just a newbie..

8th May 2006	#4
wong1979 Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 541	Re: Rat-fishing eagle Found them at Changi boardwalk. I've also noticed rats living below the wooden shelter on the sea. It can even walk upside down, amazing

8th May 2006	#5
seankyh Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 790	Re: Rat-fishing eagle maybe it was washing the rat in the sea before eating it

8th May 2006	#6
cajuca Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west Posts: 429	Re: Rat-fishing eagle nice series here , u been so lucky to get it. cheer i been looking for it , but still now no luck.

8th May 2006	#7
Koelsch Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: The Land of the Teddy Bear Posts: 1,466	Re: Rat-fishing eagle i think i've seen this bird yesterday when i was at boardwalk. nice catch on the action there even despite the poor quality. __________________ I Love You :)

9th May 2006	#9
mervin Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Simei Posts: 757	Re: Rat-fishing eagle looks like a Juv. White-bellied Eagle.

9th May 2006	#11
DeSwitch Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: 1.45N 103.83E Posts: 2,937	Re: Rat-fishing eagle since when fishes dont have tails? Fish's tail look different though. Sorry for trying to be funny. Thanks for sharing the series. Wonder if the birding expert here would like to give some pointers on how to shoot Eagles of other large flying birds. How to make this shot better? Sorry to OT and borrow this tread. __________________ NPX Multiply

12th May 2006	#13
fern37 New Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 3	Re: Rat-fishing eagle I have got the ID of the bird from the expert, R Subaraj. Yes, it is the White-bellied Fish-Eagles.