PC's fifth attempt

[Dave Williams]

Still a pretty good shot though Peter. The detail is there to see.

[Peter Connan]

My mind id stuck on f4!

 

Thanks for the tip @Galana

[Soukous]

14 hours ago, Peter Connan said:

117) Dusky Lark

 

Donkerlewerik

Pinarocorys nigricans

 

Even I am working hard at acquiring EBC skills, waiting patiently untill the bird stood behind a twig...

17 February, Timbavati

 

definitely not in the ebc class @Peter Connan keep working on those skills.

[Peter Connan]

Thanks @Soukous

 

118) African Green Pigeon

 

Papagaaiduif

Treron calva

 

18 February, Timbavati

[Peter Connan]

119) Tawny Eagle

 

Roofarend

Aquila rapax

 

 

 

 

15-17 February, Timbavati

[elefromoz]

@Peter Connan, captured the Tawney beautifully...

[Peter Connan]

Thank you very much @elefromoz

[PeterHG]

Truly beautiful flight shots of the eagle, @Peter Connan. It is so dark that the thought of a Wahlberg's Eagle came to mind.I'm sure there are dark Tawny's, too, however. Impressive!

[Galana]

3 hours ago, PeterHG said:

It is so dark that the thought of a Wahlberg's Eagle came to mind

@PeterHG is not alone. The slight crest on the nape and straighter leading edge in flight caught my eye but I was not going to say anything as I would hate to get a reputation of being a picky g*t.

[Peter Connan]

Thank you very much @PeterHG and @Galana.

 

It could well be. My book only mentions that the Wahlberg's gape ends further back, but I must be honest I have never been able to see that, and the bird in the perched shot's gape definitely ends in front of the centre of the eye. Mind you, the perched bird and the two in-flight shots may well be different birds, as they were taken on a different day...

[Peter Connan]

120) African Hawk Eagle

 

Grootjagarend

Hieraaetus spilogaster

 

 

15 February, Timbavati

[Galana]

2 hours ago, Peter Connan said:

that the Wahlberg's gape ends further back,

I have only read that for Steppe Eagle v Tawny where the gape comes well back behind the eye in Steppe but stops at mid eye in Tawny..

[Dave Williams]

Love the Hawk Eagle!

 

[Peter Connan]

Thanks @Galana. For reasons unknown even to me, I had somehow assumed that only the Tawny had a short gape...

 

Wahlberg's it is. Score remains.

 

Thanks @Dave Williams. This was my first sighting of this bird. I always hesitate to use the word "lifer", as to me that has the connotation that one has definitely turned the corner and you are now "a birder", and a ticker, whereas I see myself more as a nature lover and photographer who likes shooting birds. However, seeing a bird for the first time is always nice, and so much more so if it actually gives you a reasonable shot. 

Edited May 2, 2018 by Peter Connan

[Peter Connan]

121) Bateleur

 

Berghaan

Terathopius ecaudatus

 

Interesting that, in both Afrikaans and English, this bir has just a single name...

 

17 February, Timbavati

 

 

Immature bird, 4 April, Khwai community area, Botswana.

[Dave Williams]

3 hours ago, Peter Connan said:

Thanks @Dave Williams. This was my first sighting of this bird. I always hesitate to use the word "lifer", as to me that has the connotation that one has definitely turned the corner and you are now "a birder", and a ticker, whereas I see myself more as a nature lover and photographer who likes shooting birds. However, seeing a bird for the first time is always nice, and so much more so if it actually gives you a reasonable shot. 

 

I'm afraid you're in denial Peter, anyone one who participates in the BY has to be both a birder and ticker to a certain degree but if you experience the same sort of animosity that goes on here in the UK between some photographers and birders I can understand your reasoning! A friend of mine described photographers as vying with dog walkers as the lowest of the low when viewed by birders as between them they are the ones most likely to flush a bird. 

[Galana]

1 hour ago, Dave Williams said:

anyone one who participates in the BY has to be both a birder and ticker to a certain degree

I can think of other epithets too.

[Peter Connan]

Probably @Dave Williams...

[Peter Connan]

In order to try and give some additional empitus to the EBC discussions currently being conducted on a number of threads, I am moving out of whatever rudimentary sequence I have been following up to now.

 

Another way to get a good EBC is to swop out your long lens for the short one you normally use for landscapes (for those with bridge cameras, just zoom out all the way), and change your camera settings to your default preferences for landscapes while you are about it...

 

Nevertheless, I am shamlessly claiming it.

122) Barn Owl

 

Nonnetjie-uil

Tyto alba

 

There are two of them visible, one behind the big guy's shoulder, the other trying to dissappear around the tree.

 

Nikon D500 + Tamron 15-30mm f2.8 @30mm, f8 and ISO100 for 1/125th

 

April fool's day, Island X (a secret location), Botswana. 

Edited May 3, 2018 by Peter Connan

[Galana]

We'll make a champion EBC er of you yet. Great technique. I would not have found the 2nd one without your help so that's worth another point .

Edited May 3, 2018 by Galana
Correcting text.

[xelas]

Also placed strategically to show JJ in his best form !

[Peter Connan]

Thanks @Galana and @xelas

[Peter Connan]

123) African Harrier-hawk

 

Kaalwangvalk

Polyboroides typus

 

17 February, Timbavati

[Peter Connan]

124) Gabar Goshawk

 

Witkruissperwer

Melierax gabar

 

 

16 February, Timbavati

 

3 April, Khwai River Area

[xelas]

Nice Gabar ... and the Khwai one has nice pose!