Juvi Bateleur with kill

[Stu Bowie]

Some of you may remember a few images from this series. I took a lot of images that morning, and going through my files recently, decided to process this image. As mentioned previously, I came across this scene, so am not sure if the bateleur killed the hare, or if it was road kill. Taken in the Kruger National park early morning in overcast conditions. Unfortunately, the BG is a tar road. For a while, I was the only car at this scene, and when others arrived, I still had front row seats. The Bateleur is known to eat the eyes first.

Canon 50D
100-400 @ 190mm
1/400
F/6.3
ISO 640

Exp Comp +0.33
Hand held from my car.

[Jonathan Ashton]

Super eye contact just about perfect DOF excellent detail. I like the inquisitive pose, my guess road kill judging from the amount and site of the haemorrhaging.

[rajandesai]

Love the head turn. Love the sharpness. Too bad this was on the road other than that I really like it.
I didn't know that "Bateleur eats the eyes first". I learnt something new.

[Rachel Hollander]

Stuart - this is wonderful and the road doesn't bother me at all. Great pose, comp and detail.

TFS,
Rachel

[Marina Scarr]

I think I am so used to looking at sand down here in Florida, that when I first saw this I thought it was all on dark sand. I love the inquisitive look of your bird. Your colors are great and it's sharp as a tack. Not sure about what options you had for a crop but figure you know best with what you had to work with but my eyes are wishing for less room on the bottom and more on the top.

[Randy Stout]

Stuart:

Sharp, well exposed, great head position on bird (not so good on hare)

Yes, road not the best BG, but not bad, glad there are no lines!

Cheers

Randy

[Stu Bowie]

my eyes are wishing for less room on the bottom and more on the top.

Thanks Marina. My reason for keeping it tight at the top is that there is a diagonal line of foliage which would have gone across the frame. Also with the Bateleur looking down towards the LRC, was another reason.

Thanks to everyone else for your feedback.

[gail bisson]

Perfect exposure and IQ on this is excellent.
This would be a prize winner if it wasn't on the road.
I really like the HA and the good DOF,
gail

[Robert Holguin]

Excellent shot Stuart. I really like how the raptor is leaning down towards its meal. Excellent detail, great light, and the road does not bother me.
Well done.

[dankearl]

Neat image, Stuart, I also would have thought this was sand!
i like the look on the birds face.

[PhilCook]

Here in Australia many of our raptors feed almost exclusively on the copious quantities of roadkill, a common sight on the country road , so to me I see this as quite natural and the road does not fault the image imo, especially when it does not look like a road.

Love the head turn and the clarity is excellent, stunning detail including those wicked talons, great image Stuart

[christopher galeski]

nice shot Stuart,love the head angle,good detail,well done.

[Sidharth Kodikal]

Great opportunity, Stu, and you made the most of it.
I love the head turn and the attentive stare. Sharpness, IQ, exposure - all top notch.
I don't mind the road at all.