gerdavs' photostream

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ID please

Could this be a juvenile Martial Eagle? The second and third photographs are for ID purposes only.
Photographed in Kruger National Park

Note: I would have liked the head to have been sharper...!

Uploaded on May 29, 2012

33 comments

Spent

The spent seedhead of Scabiosa africana, photographed in our garden, Pretoria

Uploaded on May 28, 2012

34 comments

African Fish Eagle pair

African Fish Eagles Haliaeetus vocifer, Kruger National Park

BirdLife South Africa’s Bird of the Year for 2012 is the African Fish-Eagle. Its scientific name is derived from the ancient Greek words halieos and aetos meaning ‘fisherman’ and ‘eagle’. Vocifer refers to its loud, vociferous call. It is one of Africa’s most widespread eagles, being found almost everywhere south of the Sahara, except in waterless areas. As the name suggests their main prey is fish, but they are not above scavenging and immature birds that lack territories frequently feed on carrion, often far away from water.

Though the African Fish Eagle’s IUCN listing is “Least Concern” threats do include water pollution and wetland degradation. In Namibia its status is “Vulnerable” on the basis of its small population there.

If this photograph looks familiar to you it would be because it is an oldie which I have cleaned up a bit with PS.

Uploaded on May 27, 2012

39 comments