Picture of the Day!

Topic: African Fish Eagle in front of a ‘palm tree wall’ at Lake Saint Lucia

Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f11/800mm | ISO 5000 | 1/2000sec | ev-0.5 | WB 6500K | AV Mode | Hand-held from a boat

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Iconic!

One of the most iconic birds representing Africa is the African Fish Eagle. This large and beautiful bird of prey has a very distinctive call to communicate with other members of its species.

They resemble the American Bald Eagle as they are part of the same bird family (Accipitridae).

The African Fish Eagle is typically larger in size compared to the Bald Eagle. The African Fish Eagle has a wingspan of up to 8 feet (2.4 meters) and a body length of around 3 feet (0.9 meters). In comparison, the Bald Eagle has a wingspan of around 6.5 to 7.5 feet (2 to 2.3 meters) and a body length of about 2.5 to 3 feet (0.76 to 0.91 meters).

I took this picture of an African Fish Eagle landing on a tree stump at the Falcon Ridge Bird of Prey Centre in the Drakensberg. A place well worth visiting!

Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f4-6.3/24-240mm | ISO 800 | 1/2000sec | f4.5 | ev+2 | 62mm | WB 6500K | AV Mode | Crop to 60% of original image

#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography

Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f11/800mm | ISO 3200 | 1/2000sec | ev+1.5 | WB 6500K | AV Mode
Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f11/800mm | ISO 1000 | 1/2000sec | ev+/-0| WB 6500K | AV Mode
Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f11/800mm | ISO 640 | 1/500sec | ev+1.5 | WB 6500K | AV Mode
Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f11/800mm | ISO 1250 | 1/2000sec | ev-0.5 | WB 6500K | AV Mode
Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f11/800mm | ISO 4000 | 1/2000sec | ev+0.5 | WB 6500K | AV Mode

TAKE OFF

African Fish Eagle taking off after a bath and a drink

Lake Panic, Kruger National Park

#ChristianSperkaPhotography #ChristianSperka #Kruger #KrugerNationalPark #KrugerSouthToNorth #KrugerNorth #KrugerSouthAfrica #ExploreKruger

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@SperkaChristian

THE MORNING POST – THE LOOK

It does not happen often that I post bird pictures two days in a row, but yesterday’s Martial Eagle sighting was very special. I was really glad that as rather large mammal I was not not on the menu list of this impressive raptor.

Enjoy your day 😊

#Thandasafari @thandasafari #christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography

BIRD WEDNESDAY – AFRICAN FISH EAGLE

Fish for lunch?

This *African Fish Eagle* caught his meal just in front of our boat.

For many people its distinctive and shrill cry represents the true spirit of Africa. This magnificent creature appears in the coat of arms of Namibia, Zambia, and South Sudan, as well as on the flags of Zimbabwe and Zambia.

And just in case you wondered: African Fish Eagles are related to the North American Bald Eagle and look quite alike, but they are two different species in the same genus.

They are both considered sea eagles not true eagles.

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography

Bird Wednesday – Tawny Eagle

A few days ago I took this picture of a *Tawny Eagle* perched in the late afternoon, backlight by the sun. Tawny Eagles (Aquila rapax) are large, long-lived birds of prey. Like all eagles, they belong to the family Accipitridae. It is estimated that these beautiful birds can reach the age of 16.

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Bird of the Day – African Fish Eagle

The sound of Africa: African Fish Eagle – This picture was taken at iSimangaliso Wetland Park, KwaZulu Natal (St.Lucia Estuary).

To view more of my African Fish Eagle images go to http://www.sperka.biz/sgb9

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The African Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer) is found throughout sub-Saharan Africa wherever large bodies of open water occur that have an abundant food supply. It is the national bird of Zimbabwe, Zambia and South Sudan.

This species resembles the North American Bald Eagle in appearance.

The African Fish Eagle is a large bird, and the female, at 3.2-3.6 kg (7-8 lbs) is larger than the male, at 2-2.5 kg (4.4-5.5 lbs). The adult is very distinctive in appearance with a mostly brown body with a white head like the Bald Eagle and large, powerful, black wings. The plumage of the juvenile is brown in colour, and the eyes are paler compared to the adult. The feet have rough soles and are equipped with powerful talons in order to enable the eagle to grasp slippery aquatic prey.

Coat_of_arms_of_Zimbabwe.svg Coat_of_arms_of_Zambia.svg  Coat_of_arms_of_South_Sudan.svg

Bird of the Day – Wahlberg’s Eagle

As I am working on the re-organization of my image library I thought to start a series of blogs, which many of you might enjoy. I will present a ‘Bird of the Day’ as often as possible – might not be every day, but we will see how it goes 🙂


This very dark specimen and its mate have a nest near Thanda house. I took this shot trough my office window as the bird sat only a short distance away in the newly cut grass.

To view more of my Wahlberg’s Eagle images go to http://www.sperka.biz/sgb2

Wahlberg’s Eagles (Hieraaetus wahlbergi – named after the Swedish naturalist Johan August Wahlberg) are medium-sized raptors. They are about 53–61 cm (21–24″) in length with a wingspan of 130–146 cm (51–58″) and occur in many color variants from pale and light brown to almost black. They are bird of woodland, often found near water. Wahlberg’s Eagles hunt reptiles, small mammals, and birds.

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New, funny, harassed, well light and rocky!

A good morning drive on Ithala. I encountered …

… a new species (for me :-)): An antelope named Tsessebe, which I have never seen before.

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… two Secretary birds with their funny walk across a burned area.

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… a Tawny Eagle who was harassed by a Black-shouldered Kite.

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… a well light scene at sunrise with Zebra and Wildebeest.

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… and an exciting drive on a very rocky 4×4 trail.

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Let’s see what the afternoon will bring!

More from Reelfoot Lake …

Here are four more Reelfoot Lake pictures (Tennessee, USA).

Check out Nancy Moore’s website for more information on boat trips on the lake http://blbweb.bluebasin.com (the site is about her “bed and breakfast” place, but she also does great photography lake trips – just contact her at jaybird@bluebasin.com)

Into the Sun – Osprey and Geese at Sunrise on Reelfoot Lake

Take-off – Duck on Reelfoot Lake

Nesting – Bald Eagle at Reelfoot Lake 

What are YOU looking at? – Osprey at Reelfoot Lake

Enjoy the pictures!