Mashatu offers a variety of raptors many of which are resident but their numbers build as migrants arrive for the summer. I did not see a Martial eagle this trip but there is a pair resident in Mashatu and I am told that Black eagle’s have been seen hunting dassies in the rock outcrop next to Rock Camp near the Limpopo river.

I have a penchant for raptors which started in high school at Falcon College in Zimbabwe where falconry was encouraged as an extra mural activity and there was an active ornithological society which was overseen by our english teacher, Peter Steyn, now a recognised authority on raptors.

“If I have ever seen magic, it is in Africa.” ~ Ernest Hemmingway

A favourite of the larger raptors is the African Hawk-eagle. This is one of the most aggressive predators I have come across and it hunts in pairs making it even more dangerous. The female is the larger of the pair. Once the morning air warms up sufficiently for thermals to develop this pair of African hawk-eagles can be regularly seen soaring over Mashatu. This species prefers assorted woodland in drier areas. It is a relatively large diurnal and non-migratory bird of prey.

The African hawk-eagle can be mistaken for a Martial eagle from a distance but the Martial is around 30% larger than the African hawk-eagle and has dark brown plumage on its throat and chest whereas the African hawk-eagle has dark streaking from just below its beak and eyes down to its legs. The African Hawk-eagle has a varied diet preying upon birds, from francolins to hornbills and guineafowl. It also feeds on mammals (such as hares, dik-diks, squirrels, monkeys, and mongoose), reptiles and occasionally on insects.

Even though the main river coursing through Mashatu, the Majale, is seasonal, we often see Fish eagles along this river. Sometimes there are remaining pools of water which have trapped Catfish. More often than not in spring the Fish eagles can be seen along the Limpopo river on the southern and eastern border of Mashatu where large pools of water remain throughout the year.

A closeup of the Fish eagle reveals how big this raptor is, with its large strong beak to rip open its prey. Its feet has rough soles and are equipped with powerful talons to enable it to grasp slippery aquatic prey. When the fish are few and far between the Fish eagle will adapt and catch water birds such as ducks, ibis, storks, herons, Greater and Lesser flamingos, also small turtles and terrapins, baby crocodiles, lizards, frogs, and carrion. African fish eagles are known to steal the catch of other bird species (such as Goliath herons), which is behavior known as kleptoparasitism. Its distinctive cry is one of the more evocative sounds of Africa.

“Hearing a Fish eagle cry you are transported to a cathedral of large trees lining a river in Africa. It is early in the morning, it is fresh, the colours are soft pastels blues, mauves, greens, and apricots, the air is still and the river reflects the sky.” ~ Mike Haworth

A juvenile Gabar goshawk hunting red-billed queleas from a hidden vantage point. This is a small goshawk and the juvenile has quite different coloured plumage to the adult which has grey upper parts, a light grey throat and chest and grey horizontal barring on its belly legs and rump. Gabars tend to hunt in pairs. They perch on the sides of bushes and trees, waiting for hunting opportunities. They are highly agile and can climb through branches to attack their prey. Given their small size they prey on queleas and weavers and juvenile francolin and guineafowl. These goshawks will also prey on small mammals, reptiles and insects.

A melanistic Gabar goshawk perched on a dead tree trunk next to the Apple Leaf grove alongside the vlei. This is a dark morph and is seen occasionally. It seems to be able to hunt just as effectively as its normal coloured cousin. Melanism is known to occur more regularly in the Gabar goshawk than in other species of birds.  It is caused by an excess of the dark pigment in their feathers making the birds look dark all over.  This is one of the few raptors recognised to be polymorphic and the melanistic morph occurs in up to 25% of individuals in some areas.

A Greater kestrel is not often seen in Mashatu. It has a beige plumage with brown streaks on its throat and chest and brown bars on its upper parts and belly. It is a perch hunter. It feeds mainly on invertebrates such as grasshoppers, termites, beetles and sun spiders. It also preys on lizards and sometimes small birds, mammals and snakes.

“The eye never forgets what the heart has seen.” ~ African proverb

This Greater kestrel was perched on top of a Shepherd’s tree. These raptors are often seen perching conspicuously in an isolated tree which gives them a good view of the surrounding area. It is usually found in semi-desert, grassland, and arid savanna which in winter and spring makes Mashatu one of its hunting grounds.

A Verreaux eagle-owl first thing in the morning. These large owls are nocturnal hunters so retreat to the deep shade of a large Apple Leaf of Mashatu tree when the sun rises high in the sky. We usually see a pair of Verreaux’s eagle-owls when we leave camp first thing in the morning. They seem to enjoy the thick foliage of the Apple Leaf trees next to the rock outcrop near Rock Camp. This is the largest owl in Africa. Apart from its large size, an easy identifiable feature is its whitish face and noticeable pink eyelids when it blinks. The ears have distinct ear tufts. This eagle-owl is known to hunt mammals such as genets, hares, small monkeys, squirrels, bats, rats, birds (including other owls) and mice. They will even go for a reptiles, insects and fish if available.

There are numerous Tawny eagles in Mashatu, including the different coloured morphs. The most common is the tawny coloured plumage seen in the image below. The image was taken to give some perspective as to the size of tree that this large eagle was sitting in. Tawny eagles are good hunters in their own right but are happy to feed to carrion if they find it before the vultures.

This is just a small selection of raptors that you can see while travelling around Mashatu. Its varied landscapes facilitates the diversity of birdlife. Mashatu is also home to Martial eagles, Dark chanting goshawks, Lanner falcons and a variety of vultures. Springtime heralds the arrival of the migrants such as Wahlbergs, Lesser spotted and Greater spotted eagles. You will not see Bateleur or Crowned eagles in this environment.

“Africa is mystic; it is wild; it is a sweltering inferno; it is a photographer’s paradise, a hunter’s Valhalla, an escapist’s Utopia. It is what you will, and it withstands all interpretations. It is the last vestige of a dead world or the cradle of a shiny new one. To a lot of people, as to myself, it is just home.” ~ Beryl Markham

Explore, seek to understand, marvel at its interconnectedness and let it be.

Have fun, Mike