Bird of Prey Erongo mountains, Namibia 13 June 2022 (1 Viewer)

[Andy Hurley]

Hi,
please help with the ID. I think it might be a immature Wahlberg's Eagle.

Many thanks

 

[Andy Adcock]

I think it's an immature African Hawk Eagle.

 

[Butty]

I think it's an immature African Hawk Eagle.

Agree. Plumage fits nicely - and bill looks much too strong for Wahlberg's eagle and tail-shape would be atypical.

 

[Andy Hurley]

Thanks very much Andy and Butty for the confirmation!

 

[THE_FERN]

Are we sure both shots are of the same bird? The bill of the first looks very different to that of the second. It's better for a buzzard or perhaps even Wahlberg's. Agree the second

 

[Butty]

Are we sure both shots are of the same bird?

Ah, I did indeed also mean to ask that question 👍🏻

 

[Andy Hurley]

Are we sure both shots are of the same bird? The bill of the first looks very different to that of the second. It's better for a buzzard or perhaps even Wahlberg's. Agree the second

It was in the middle of the series, pics on either side like second so I think so. It might equally be the Wahlberg's/buzzard. I can't remember, a stroke does that to you...

EDIT: all the rest were from below

I thought the terminal band might be too narrow for AHE, hence my reason for posting.

 

[THE_FERN]

It was in the middle of the series, pics on either side like second so I think so. It might equally be the Wahlberg's/buzzard. I can't remember, a stroke does that to you...

I thought the terminal band might be too narrow for AHE, hence my reason for posting.

Well call me crazy but these are 2 different birds for me.

 

[Andy Hurley]

Well call me crazy but these are 2 different birds for me.

I don't dispute that it may be 2 birds, all I can say is that is what I photgraphed. Like I said, it was only shot of the upper parts in the series.

 

[Andy Adcock]

It was in the middle of the series, pics on either side like second so I think so. It might equally be the Wahlberg's/buzzard. I can't remember, a stroke does that to you...

EDIT: all the rest were from below

I thought the terminal band might be too narrow for AHE, hence my reason for posting.

Wondered where you'd been, hope you're recovering well Andy.

 

[Andy Hurley]

Thanks Andy, its an old stroke, dec 92, but my memory is shot. Having a lot of pain dispite opiates. I still try to be on here as often as I can manage.

 

[Andy Adcock]

Thanks Andy, its an old stroke, dec 92, but my memory is shot. Having a lot of pain dispite opiates. I still try to be on here as often as I can manage.

Get off the opiates mate, I was addicted for over twenty years, I'll be honest, the only reason I stopped (and did cold Turkey which was horrendous) was because I can't get any in Cyprus!

 

[Butty]

these are 2 different birds for me

I suspect it but I absolutely don't guarantee it. Certainly the bill alone isn't enough to go on: pic 1 is near-head-on and thus poor for judging bill-depth; and tail-shape/attitude is closely similar in the two photos - and there are also similarities in the pattern formed by the feather-tips across the end of the tail.
However, as the photographer doesn't know, but indicates cause for doubt, we can't ever know either - or not without seeing other photos in the series which have not been posted here.

 

[Andy Hurley]

without seeing other photos in the series which have not been posted here.

I could post all 25, but no other is of the top 1 is of the side with a bit of the top, mainly the wing so here are another 5

 

[Butty]

From the (presumably-automatic) photo-numbering, one of the two upperwing shots lies within the sequence of underwing shots, which is suggestive of a single bird.

 

[Andy Hurley]

Get off the opiates mate,

If I did I would be writhing in agony on the floor. It is painful enough with! How do you manage these days?

 

[Andy Hurley]

From the (presumably-automatic) photo-numbering, one of the two upperwing shots lies within the sequence of underwing shots, which is suggestive of a single bird.

This would be logical, yes and as there are no photos of the other bird, which would be highly unusual for me, there probably wasn't. I tend to shoot first and observe after I have the record shot.

 

[Andy Adcock]

If I did I would be writhing in agony on the floor. It is painful enough with! How do you manage these days?

A bit of resolve and a lot of anti inflammatories!