Raptor record

After spending the weekend away in Cape Town for the summit, Shane and I spent some time together and took a day to go raptor ringing, and bird watching. After an early morning drive over the pass, and picking up a colourful hitchhiker, we turned towards George and began the search. It turned out to be the most successful of raptor catching days! With a grand total of 5 birds caught and 2 new species turned the day into a record breaker! I got a lot handling experience, and we spend some good time bird watching at a variety of ponds along the way. Lunch was had at a quaint farm stall, seemingly in the middle of nowhere, a simple lunch of a toasted cheese sandwich and coffee but by then I was starving and man was it amazing! It was a long day out, we only arrived back home after 5pm that evening after a 7am start, but with 2 Jackal Buzzards, 2 Rock Kestrels and a Pale Chanting Goshawk, it was awesome!

The release of the first Jackal Buzzard caught. Photo by Shane McPherson. 

The second Jackal Buzzard being released.

What a beautiful bird, with long legs like a runway model.

A little Rock Kestrel, they have quite a bite! The Jack Russels of the bird world..

UGH! They touched me! Get if off! Photo by Shane McPherson.