Kwando Files (Images from Lebala/Lagoon)

[Rainbirder]

It's a juvenile Bateleur.

When checking out any perched brown eagle the first step is to check the legs (in reality the tarsal bones) -they are feathered in the true eagles (Martial, Crowned, Tawny, Verreaux's, Steppe, Booted, Hawk Eagles, Long Crested and Wahlberg's).

 

Bateleur is grouped with the Snake Eagles and they all have unfeathered tarsi (as does African Fish Eagle, all the buzzards and Harrier-hawk).

 

The longer loose back of the head/nape feathering in this bird is typical of Bateleur. The closest confusion species is Brown Snake Eagle -but all the Circaetus eagles have that prominent yellow iris -lacking in this bird.

 

Edit: the tarsus is that bit of the leg just above the feet.

Edited November 20, 2013 by Rainbirder

[Soukous]

Wow! @@Rainbirder clear and concise introduction to eagle identification - thank you, very helpful

[madaboutcheetah]

Thanks @@Rainbirder @ geoff .......... I have never been a keen birder and memory over two weeks doesn't always provide for correct i.d., when I get home and process images with the prolonged gap ..........

Edited December 16, 2018 by madaboutcheetah

[kitefarrago]

The other thing that points at bateleur here (where there's such a good quality image showing a lot of detail) is the unfeathered skin from the bill all the way to the eye. If we had a bit more of a profile we could also see the very short tail.

 

 

When I saw my first juvenile bateleur I went `what on earth is that?', so I can well understand why you didn't think it fit.

 

Andrea

[madaboutcheetah]

Thanks Andrea ....

[madaboutcheetah]

YB kite

[madaboutcheetah]

YB kite (I think this is the easiest bird to do; for in-flight shot)

[madaboutcheetah]

Thirsty Kudu

[madaboutcheetah]

Mr.Moe (A man of few words - but, he can be funny, entertaining and articulate)

[madaboutcheetah]

Why do they get spooked so easily? - the slightest movement or noise and they stampede; the whole herd.... not sure if they are always tagged by Lions; or the fact that they spend a lot of time in the mopane woodland and they are vigilant at all times- tough life!!!

[madaboutcheetah]

Lebala's own Duba moment (the boys got a second calf)

[madaboutcheetah]

The concession has been thriving with several relaxed Leopard sightings of late; this boy lazing away in good light

[madaboutcheetah]

In the park-

[madaboutcheetah]

Mister

[madaboutcheetah]

We spent a heck of a lot of time with this lazy boy......(every drop of patience/energy drained by the cheetah boys - I left him be to go to brunch and a rest; He was still same place ROBALA when we returned)

Edited November 24, 2013 by madaboutcheetah

[madaboutcheetah]

The big herd out and about...

[madaboutcheetah]

October sky

[madaboutcheetah]

Mister with his prize - staring at his brothers ( I think)

[madaboutcheetah]

In the Park -

[madaboutcheetah]

If it's easy to get a shot of the YB kite in-flight; getting a profile pic of them is easier (they are around predators/rotting carcasses etc etc.,) -

[madaboutcheetah]

Let's go birding in the Kwando concession (something that's only in bits and pieces in 22 pages )

[madaboutcheetah]

For some reason no big Carmine colonies this year as of October; (usually I've seen them much earlier in the year - August/Sept) - I heard from Carlos the guide; there is one near the BDF camp only accessible by boat from Lagoon

[madaboutcheetah]

The other cheek too ...... I waited over 20 minutes to get an in-flight shot and then I was not ready for it - If I'm on the boat at Lagoon it's for Elephant or Hippo

[madaboutcheetah]

A silhouette against the October sky

[madaboutcheetah]

Okay, Arnott's chat; We put in a lot of work to get this shot here inside the mopane veldt - they are not just a small bird ....... they don't sit still.