I missed this guy's take off at my first attempt, but patience was my reward.
They are very fast in the take off and one has to be quick to snap, as the take offs are not regular and can take place in a second, at any time.
The white-throated swallow (Hirundo albigularis) is a small bird in the swallow family. It is a common species, found in southern Africa, which has benefited from the increased nesting opportunities presented by the construction of bridges and dams. The swallow breeds in southern Africa from Angola and Zambia southwards to the Cape in South Africa. It is mainly migratory, wintering in Angola, Zambia and southern Zaire. This is a bird of open country and grassland, with a preference for highlands and nearby water. It is often found around man-made structures.*
I took the photos at one of our local golf courses, and while everyone is playing golf, I do my own thing by taking nature photos, with permission of course. Funny that the games have never interested me, and on one occasion a friend invited me to try, but sadly it turned into a catastrophe, as with my luck, I connected the ball with my tee off swing, and the ball disappeared. That was it for me, as game over forever Lol
During the wait, for the swallow to take off, I snapped a wider shot to show you where the swallow sat.
Gotcha! My second chance worked, and I was happy to get him.
Flying at high speed over the dam, and I got his reflection on the water.
And now I will show you a hawk that came over very high up in the sky.
At first I could not make out what kind of bird it was.
As soon as it cleared the clouds, I could get it better on the zoom.
African harrier-hawks are a common raptorial species south of the Sahara being most commonly found in the tropical regions of western Africa becoming less common in East and South Africa. African harrier-hawks are adaptable in their habitat preferences, occupying the following habitats in the Dzanga-Sangha Special Reserve in the Central African Republic: thick rainforest, forest edge, riparian areas, agricultural land and human occupied areas.
African harrier-hawks are adaptable and able to live in both urban and rural human occupied areas and they are one of the most common raptorial species in traditional rural villages of eastern Guinea-Bissau. African harrier-hawks have also been known to breed in Palm trees present in cities and urban gardens.
It was a Harrier Hawk (Polyboroides typus).
It seems that the hawk's left wing was not in a good status. Maybe injured during a fight.
Although it is stated that the Harrier Hawks are less common in South Africa, we are in the Cape, at the extreme southern tip of the African Continent, and we see the hawks regularly. Let me tell you that nothing is safe here in the sky, as we have gangs of patrolling pied crows, and they will attack any intruders into their territories. Maybe that's why this hawk flew so high, as it offers him space to escape. Or maybe he was high on the thermals in order to avoid the strong wind gusts below.
Such is life.
I hope you enjoyed the pictures and the story.
Photos by Zac Smith. All-Rights-Reserved.
Camera: Canon PowershotSX70HS Bridge camera.
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