Archive for the 'Birds' category

This medium-sized eagle was a great discovery for me in Botswana. The African Harrier Hawk (Gymnogene) hunts for insects and small animals in dead trees and rocks. It’s very mobile and devilishly active.

Gymnogène d'Afrique - African Harrier-Hawk	Gymnogène d'Afrique - African Harrier-Hawk
Gymnogène d'Afrique - African Harrier-Hawk	Gymnogène d'Afrique - African Harrier-Hawk
Gymnogène d'Afrique - African Harrier-Hawk	Gymnogène d'Afrique - African Harrier-Hawk

African harrier Hawk (or Gymnogene) (Polyboroides typus), Gymnogène d’Afrique.
Moremi National Park, Botswana, May 2010.

Great White Pelican

Great White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus), Pélican blanc.
Moremi National Park, Botswana, May 2010.

I love this bird. It seems to be right out of the illustrations of a XIXth Century book about prehistoric wildlife (and it’s the only living species of the genus Scopus). I love its name. It seems a near impossibility (that’s probably why there are so many other possible names like Hammerkop, Hammerkopf, Hammerhead, Hammerhead Stork, Umbrette, Umber Bird, Tufted Umber, or Anvilhead).

Hamerkop
Hamerkop	Hamerkop

Hamerkop (Scopus umbretta), Ombrette.
Moremi National Park, Botswana, May 2010.

Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis

Jabiru Stork or Saddle-billed Stork (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis), Jabiru.
Moremi National Park, Botswana, May 2010.

Yellow-billed Stork

Yellow-billed Stork (Mycteria ibis), Ibis tantale.
Moremi National Park, Botswana, May 2010.

Guêpier nain
Guêpier nain	Guêpier nain
Guêpier nain

Little bee-eater (Merops pusillus), Guêpier nain.
Moremi National Park, Botswana, May 2010.

Some may be hesitating slightly when they are told the exact name of this large bird. Isn’t it a hoax or a word play? But ornythologists love these names as complicated, as tortured as they come in Wattled Crane, without even listening to the sound and considering only yhe precise description of the brightly-coloured flesh extensions ornating the face of this crane.

Wattled Crane

Wattled Crane (Bugeranus carunculatus), Grue caronculée.
Moremi National Park, Botswana, May 2010.

Moremi National Park, Botswana, May 2010.
Great white egret (Ardea alba), Grande aigrette.

Coppery-tailed Coucal

Moremi National Park, Botswana, May 2010.
Coppery-tailed Coucal (Centropus cupreicaudus), Coucal des papyrus.

Yellow-billed duck

Yellow-billed duck (Anas undulata), Canard à bec jaune.
Moremi National Park, Botswana. Mai 2010.

Bergeronette du Cap

Cape wagtail (Motacilla capensis), Bergeronette du Cap.
Moremi National Park (Botswana), May 2010.

The bateleur eagle is very easy to spot in flight, even for the amateur ornithologist.

First, it does not have a tail (Look! The legs are actually longer than the tail). Since this appendage is usually needed for steering, the bateleur compensates with very flexible wing tips. This combination is nearly unique within raptors.

Second, the adult is highly recognizable because of its wing colors and red face.

But while shooting one eagle in flight is a bit difficult (I have plenty of bad/failed pictures and I have tried even more without even getting a picture), there is one situation that you should not miss: Two eagles.

At first, I thought that the adult was teaching the juvenile and they were flying together in a tight formation. But, then, I did not think and start to shoot a continuous sequence when the juvenile tried to play with the adult.

Mental note to inner photographer: Always keep the camera with you; Always be ready to shoot the unexpected.

Bateleur (Terathopius ecaudatus), Bateleur des savanes.
Moremi National Park, Botswana.
May 2010.

This flappet lark is of the western form, according to “Birds of Southern Africa” by I.Sinclair, Ph.Hockey, W.Tarboton (recommended reading, by the way).

Flappet lark

Flappet lark (Mirafra rufocinnamomea), Alouette bourdonnante.
Moremi National Park, Botswana. May 2010.

Bateleur Eagle - Botswana - Copyright (C) Y.Roumazeilles
Bateleur Eagle - Copyright (C) Y.Roumazeilles	Bateleur Eagle - Copyright (C) Y.Roumazeilles
Bateleur Eagle - Botswana - Copyright (C) Y.Roumazeilles

Botswana, May 2010.