Som de fleste gribber og rovfugler har kongeørnen et fantastisk blikk og kan se et dyrekadaver over store avstander. Det hjelper selvsagt med skvatringen fra ravner, skjærer og kråker, og kort tid etter at den første kongeørnen har landet ved et kadaver kommer fler. Og med det blir det kranglinger som her, når en sittende […]
A critically endangered species, and unsurprisingly the only one of the species I encountered during my time in Botswana. Last night’s kill by wild dogs has attracted this individual and other species of vulture and scavengers, and this hooded vulture was the only one of its kind. Decades ago it would have been alongside many […]
Last night a group of wild dogs made a kill, and at dawn furry and feathered scavengers honed in on the leftovers. This eagle was waiting for the large vultures to scatter, so it could have its pickings. The dogs made a good job of cleaning up the kill, so not much was left. But […]
Last night a group of wild dogs made a kill, and at dawn furry and feathered scavengers honed in on the leftovers. This kite was waiting for the large vultures to scatter, so it could have its pickings. The dogs made a good job of cleaning up the kill, so not much was left. But […]
A critically endangered species, but surprisingly 5 of them gathered here. Lot less than in a healthy population, but it could have been just a single individual. Or none. I encountered very few of any species of vulture, and sadly this is all due to human activities like trophy hunting and religious excuses, poisoning of […]
My only encounter of the species, and in luck as it was relatively close. Hawks are ambush predators that swoops in on their prey, and we usually locate them by following the agitated calls from its prey, smaller birds, or during their hunt. I located this one by following the agitated calls and flights of […]
A juvenile looking for opportunities as daylight is fading. When excited they will raise their crest, hence the other commonly used name – crested eagles. This individual was at ease and it crest-feathers were resting and only visible in profile. Changeable is in fact a good name, as this species has two forms – one […]
Without a long lens I would not have had any idea that this bird had blood around the corner of the mouth, and thus recently having had a kill and meal. Being content I guess it simply sat here to watch over its territory, perhaps feeling an achievement of having conquered it and its bounties. […]
Although this species seems common on Socotra, it is in fact threatened throughout its range due to human chemicals like pesticide, antibiotics and heavy metals like lead. I don’t know the status and health of the Socotri population, but they do bread, and I found several young birds. Perhaps the worst case of human impact […]
En sjelden gang ser jeg silhuetten av en spurvehauk fare som en prosjektil mellom trærne. Andre ganger hørere jeg spetakkelet til småfuglene som varsler om en fare i nærheten, uten å finne faren. Jeg finner også fjærplukk med jevne mellomrom både på tomten og i nærområdet, så både spurv- og hønsehauk er aktive her. For […]
This near adult was in now way giving way to our car! It was simply watching and taking a couple of steps to the side as it was letting a cow pass. A very relaxed individual, and I did not see any prey nearby, so I wondered how it could be this relaxed to a […]
Getting to the Refugio Los Volcanes is a steep descent in dense forest-clad slopes. You hear birds constantly, but seeing them is difficult unless they are perched like this kite. Altitude: 1228 metres. It sounds like this: