Verreaux's Eagle Owl - Bubo Lacteus
I always feel incredibly lucky when I stumble across an owl. This bird stood a good 70 cm tall - thats a big owl. The largest of all African owls in fact. It had a very distinctive face with the black edge and then those heavy pink eyelids - it really did look sleep deprived but then it had decided to roost up under the thin branches of an old tree right next to the main thoroughfare in the Park. Despite its size I had to have it pointed out to me. We probably all drive past an owl every day.
This is a true apex avian predator. They will kill and eat all other owls ! Mongoose, monkeys, gennets, bustards, storks, herons, young vultures from the nest, eagle chicks (after chasing off the parents), secretary birds, hornbills (no !!) and cranes - as well as the normal hares etc.
Lake Manyara, Tanzania
July 2012
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