Secretary Bird - Bird of the Month, November 2018

[Richprins]

[Flutterby]

[Lisbeth]

[Dindingwe]

As said, the Secretary Bird eats mainly snakes, but it can also eat other kind of reptiles, insects, eggs and even small mammals. I saw this one eating a poor lizard that doesn't seem to realize that it is living the last seconds of its life... We can see the nictitating membrane of the eye that is closed when the bird ingurgitates a prey.

Another close portrait of this bird that I find particularly photogenic.

A younger individual, with its browner plumage, not yet completely grey, and with paler eyes.

All pictures were taken at Etosha National Park in July 2018.

[Lisbeth]

Brilliant!

[Richprins]

What awesome behaviour!

[Flutterby]

Fantastic shots.

[Peter Betts]

Secretary Birds seem to be most active in the heat of the day (Snakes like the warmth??) which makes it a challenge to take the conditions..Taken at Saamevloeing waterhole at the confluence of the Auob and Nossob Rivers..both dry of course but big puddles after the good April Rains ..Give him a click to make the most of the flat conditions

[Lisbeth]

The bird stands out nicely

[Peter Betts]

The bird stands out nicely

Yes thanks ..Yip this new Tamron 150 - 600 G2 lens is far better optically than the Nikon equivalent costing 8 times as much ..never used to be like that ...It really allows me to shoot a bit later in the morning like here which I was never able to in the past