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Birds

Wildlife Images of Birds in Botswana and the rest of Africa
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Scavengers
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Scavengers

White-backed Vultures, Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, Botswana

BirdBotswanaCarcassMakgadikgadi Pans National ParkWhitebacked vulture

  • With a storm approaching, I was scanning the horizon for something to photograph against the foreboding sky, when I spotted a fish eagle perched on a dead camelthorn tree with a terrapin clasped in its talons. The amphibian was proving a tough nut to crack and, to complicate matters, swirling gusts of wind were buffeting the exposed bird, practically toppling her from her perch. I had to balance my shutter speed selection in order to achieve both a sharp subject but also allow some movement to portray the swirling winds. When a sudden gust forced the raptor to raise a wing I knew I had the opportunity I was waiting for. Soon afterwards, she lost her grip and the terrapin tumbled to the ground, uneaten.
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