Terathopius ecaudatus

The bataleur or short-tailed eagle has to be one of the most handsome birds of prey I've ever seen. This shot was taken early in the morning in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve on a trip with EuroZulu Safaris. I imagine that he had spent the night in this dead tree and was waiting for the thermals to start rising to allow him to soar off over the iMfolozi River.

The two extra shots were also taken early that morning. The spotted hyena was one of four crashed out near the side of the road - by the stains round his muzzle and his fairly distended stomach it appeared that they had dined well the night before. The Burchell's coucal, or rain bird is always easiest to photography early on a winters day when they tend to sit in the sun and puff themselves up until they get warm.