Martial Eagle

[Ken Watkins]

Taken in Kwando concession Northern Botswana, 3rd July 2009

EOS 1D MkIII

500mm F4 IS hand-held

F5.6, ISO 800, 1/8000

I have lightened the sky and cropped heavily to remove clutter.

[Joe Senzatimore]

Great action captured. Seems a bit soft in the head and eye. Maybe from the big crop?

[Ignacio Yufera]

Very nice sense of movement and wing position. I like how the talons show against the sky. Looks sharp enough in my monitor.

In my opinion this isn't a Martial Eagle, but a subadult African Fish Eagle.

[Ken Watkins]

Joe,

I see what you mean, maybe I should have sharpened the JPEG a little more as it looks "reasonable in TIFF, it is aboyt 1/3d of full frame.

Ignacio,

One thing I would not claim is being any good at Bird ID. Looking at the beak you maybe correct, the chest colours are what made me go for Martial.

[Hendri Venter]

I like the take-off pose and talons as mentioned above. Def young Fish Eagle Ken.