Pel's Fishing Owl

[Loukie Viljoen]

This photo has many mistakes and problems, I am only placing it on BPN because of its rarity, some very serious birders have never even seen it, during the day as you can see it sits in a tree in deep shade or foliage, at night it sits on a tree, a stone or the river bank and watches for fish to catch. The under surface of the feet are rough and spiny to grasp slippery fish. Hand held

Camera Model: Canon EOS-1D Mark III
Date/Time: 2009:10:19 14:46:51
Shutter speed: 1/1600 sec
Aperture: 6.3
Exposure mode: Tv
Exposure compensation: +1/3
Flash: Off
Metering mode: Multi-segment
ISO: 2500
Focal length: 600mm
Image size: 455 x 800
Rotation: none
Color space: AdobeRGB
Color profile: Adobe RGB (1998)or fish to catch. The under surface of the feet are rough and spiny to grasp slipery fish

[Betsie Storm]

Loukie, Great sighting, where did you find him? I have only one image, a "brown blob in tree", (seen near Muzi pans in KZN)- just to confirm your statement of how difficult it is to find any photo opportunity for this species. Some time consuming PS work will improve the image, but I like it as it is! Pretty sharp for handholding a 600mm:)

[Loukie Viljoen]

Betsie saw it near Shakawe, in Okavango

[Morkel Erasmus]

extremely rare - actually first photo I've seen of one, and you did great Loukie!

[Marc Mol]

Excellent capture of this very elusive species Loukie.
I've been very fortunate also and have one very similar image as well, taken in the Sth Luangwa plus a large male that was actually out in the open in full midday sun!

[Arthur Morris]

Good self critique; a shame about the blocking vegetation....

[Harshad Barve]

Rare image for me for sure , never seen
TFS