The Bateleur is a medium-sized eagle with very distinctive plumage. The dark colours make them difficult to photograph in the harsh Kalahari light. However, if you find them during the “golden hour” of early morning or late afternoon, they glow and you can capture the beauty of the feathers.
A Bateleur enjoying the late afternoon sun ©WMB/notesfromafrica.wordpress.com
A close-up of the wing feathers ©WMB/notesfromafrica.wordpress.com
The Bateleur is named after the French for “tightrope walker” as it spends most of the day up in the sky, riding the air current and rocking from side-to-side.
©WMB/notesfromafrica.wordpress.com
The adult Bateleur plumage only develops after seven to eight years. Juveniles are a mottled brown.
A juvenile Bateleur eating a dove for breakfast. ©WMB/notesfromafrica.wordpress.com
©WMB/notesfromafrica.wordpress.com
©WMB/notesfromafrica.wordpress.com
©WMB/notesfromafrica.wordpress.com
©WMB/notesfromafrica.wordpress.com
For more info and stories about the Kalahari see Kalahari Series I – 2009 and Kalahari Series II – 2011.
Notes from Africa | photoblog 
Amazing pictures. Well done.
OMW, these are magnificent photos – were they taken with your new long lens? The detail on the wings is incredible… what a stunning bird!
Amazing pics of the plumage. (Is that correct?) Those varying shades of brown make me want to paint it….
Yes, isn’t it beautiful? Definitely not a boring brown.
Lovely pics. I’ll enjoy following your posts.
Cheers,
Frank
Hi Frank! Welcome and thanks for your kind comment.
Great photo captures of these special birds!
Thank you! 🙂
Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving a comment.
Love the Bateleur and most other African animals/birds. Fond memories from our Safaris.
Don’t know how I missed your comment . . . It’s a privilege to live close to areas where there is African wildlife. Glad to hear you enjoyed your safari trips.
I almost drove off the icy road today when I saw a small falcon fly up out of a ditch here in West Michigan. I love my song birds, I am also fascinated by birds of prey. Those rounded, buff colored shoulder feathers on this guy are fascinating.
LOL In our wildlife reserves birders are well known for stopping suddenly when they spot a bird they want to watch or photograph. We don’t know a lot about birds, but like to photograph them. There’s another set of interesting photos here We were photographing a couple of lions when a vulture swept in, and turned out to be the more interesting photograph subject.