On our way to Durban before catching our flight in the morning to Ethiopia we stopped by the Africa Birds of Prey Center to get an up close look at some of the raptors we saw (or missed) during our visit to Southern Africa and some raptors we hope to see in Ethiopia.
![IMG_0295](https://i1.wp.com/alaskabirder.taiga.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/img_0295.jpg?resize=300%2C225)
Pygmy Falcon
![IMG_0302](https://i0.wp.com/alaskabirder.taiga.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/img_0302.jpg?resize=300%2C225)
Bateleur
![IMG_0300](https://i0.wp.com/alaskabirder.taiga.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/img_0300.jpg?resize=300%2C225)
I love this bird’s name
![IMG_0319](https://i0.wp.com/alaskabirder.taiga.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/img_0319.jpg?resize=300%2C225)
Cape Eagle Owl – We saw this bird near Creighton, South Africa
![IMG_0328](https://i1.wp.com/alaskabirder.taiga.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/img_0328.jpg?resize=300%2C225)
Barn Owl
![IMG_0329](https://i0.wp.com/alaskabirder.taiga.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/img_0329.jpg?resize=300%2C225)
African Grass Owl
![IMG_0311](https://i0.wp.com/alaskabirder.taiga.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/img_0311.jpg?resize=300%2C225)
Crowned Eagle
![IMG_0315](https://i1.wp.com/alaskabirder.taiga.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/img_0315.jpg?resize=300%2C225)
Southern White-Faced Owl
![IMG_0345](https://i1.wp.com/alaskabirder.taiga.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/img_0345.jpg?resize=225%2C300)
Verreaux’s Eagle Owl
![IMG_0349](https://i2.wp.com/alaskabirder.taiga.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/img_0349.jpg?resize=300%2C225)
Don’t you just love the pink eyelids?
![IMG_0334](https://i2.wp.com/alaskabirder.taiga.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/img_0334.jpg?resize=300%2C225)
African Wood Owl. We saw this species on our Namibia tour.
![IMG_0327](https://i1.wp.com/alaskabirder.taiga.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/img_0327.jpg?resize=300%2C225)
Spotted Eagle Owl. We saw this species in Naimibia too.
![IMG_0292](https://i2.wp.com/alaskabirder.taiga.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/img_0292.jpg?resize=300%2C225)
Lanner Falcon
![IMG_0366](https://i2.wp.com/alaskabirder.taiga.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/img_0366.jpg?resize=300%2C225)
Brown Snake Eagle
![IMG_0367](https://i0.wp.com/alaskabirder.taiga.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/img_0367.jpg?resize=300%2C225)
Up Close and Personal
![IMG_0384](https://i1.wp.com/alaskabirder.taiga.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/img_0384.jpg?resize=300%2C225)
Hooded Vulture
![IMG_0376](https://i2.wp.com/alaskabirder.taiga.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/img_0376.jpg?resize=300%2C225)
Palm Vulture. We missed seeing this bird, which has a very restricted range.
![IMG_0400](https://i1.wp.com/alaskabirder.taiga.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/img_0400.jpg?resize=300%2C225)
Rock Kestrel
![IMG_0404](https://i1.wp.com/alaskabirder.taiga.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/img_0404.jpg?resize=300%2C225)
Rock Kestrel
![IMG_0409](https://i2.wp.com/alaskabirder.taiga.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/img_0409.jpg?resize=300%2C225)
Lanner Falcon
![IMG_0411](https://i2.wp.com/alaskabirder.taiga.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/img_0411.jpg?resize=300%2C225)
African Harrier Hawk
![IMG_0413](https://i0.wp.com/alaskabirder.taiga.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/img_0413.jpg?resize=300%2C225)
This one I guess can be quite friendly
![IMG_0415](https://i0.wp.com/alaskabirder.taiga.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/img_0415.jpg?resize=300%2C225)
Or maybe not ….
![IMG_0417](https://i2.wp.com/alaskabirder.taiga.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/img_0417.jpg?resize=300%2C225)
Of course I don’t blame the bird, I wouldn’t want to be caged up either
![IMG_0421](https://i1.wp.com/alaskabirder.taiga.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/img_0421.jpg?resize=300%2C225)
Yellow-billed Kite – probably the most prolific raptor in South Africa
![IMG_0423](https://i0.wp.com/alaskabirder.taiga.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/img_0423.jpg?resize=300%2C225)
Beautiful birds
![IMG_0392](https://i1.wp.com/alaskabirder.taiga.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/img_0392.jpg?resize=300%2C225)
Cape Vulture
![IMG_0395](https://i2.wp.com/alaskabirder.taiga.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/img_0395.jpg?resize=300%2C225)
African Hawk Eagle, I believe
I’m not sure what I think about raptor rehabilitation places. While it does serve as an education tool, allowing people to see these raptors up close and maybe appreciate them more, I hate seeing the birds in cages. The birds we saw cannot be released back into the wild due to debilitating injuries.
We also saw a very nice Amethyst Sunbird. Wow, when the light reflected off the feathers on the bird’s throat – beautiful.
![IMG_0293](https://i0.wp.com/alaskabirder.taiga.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/img_0293.jpg?resize=300%2C225)
Next up …. Birding in Ethiopia
It is always A GREAT DAY TO BIRD
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Wow, you have a nice collection ofAfrican raptors now. Nina