Hieraaetus wahlbergi Wahlberg's Eagle Bruinarend
Modimolle, Jan 2018
A breeding summer visitor, present between Aug and Apr. Fairly common. Occurs widely across the Waterberg, favouring areas with tall, open woodland (recorded in 42% of the Waterberg pentads). Pairs typically return to the same nest site and same mate year after year, refurbishing the previous year's nest and laying in Sep; the single chick that they raise fledges in Jan. About 25 nesting pairs are known in the Waterberg and by extrapolation the population in the whole area probably numbers 100-150 pairs.
A breeding summer visitor, present between Aug and Apr. Fairly common. Occurs widely across the Waterberg, favouring areas with tall, open woodland (recorded in 42% of the Waterberg pentads). Pairs typically return to the same nest site and same mate year after year, refurbishing the previous year's nest and laying in Sep; the single chick that they raise fledges in Jan. About 25 nesting pairs are known in the Waterberg and by extrapolation the population in the whole area probably numbers 100-150 pairs.
Ticaboo Nature Reserve, Mar 2020
Bateleur Nature Reserve, Sep 2019
Because Wahlberg's Eagles have such variable plumage, individuals are often recognisable as in the case of this unusual 'blonde' female.
Because Wahlberg's Eagles have such variable plumage, individuals are often recognisable as in the case of this unusual 'blonde' female.
Modimolle, Sep 2018
A typical nest is shown here, the incubating bird's head just visible. Pairs build the nest in a fork high in a tall tree, usually choosing the largest in the area, often using a Boekenhout as they've done here. Successful nests are reused annually but some pairs move between two or more alternate nests. The nest is smaller than those of other eagles and, even in the absence of the birds, is usuallly identifiable by its size.
A typical nest is shown here, the incubating bird's head just visible. Pairs build the nest in a fork high in a tall tree, usually choosing the largest in the area, often using a Boekenhout as they've done here. Successful nests are reused annually but some pairs move between two or more alternate nests. The nest is smaller than those of other eagles and, even in the absence of the birds, is usuallly identifiable by its size.
Lindani, Feb 2018
A bird fitted with a tracker at Manketti (close to Lephalale) in Mar 2017, left on its migration soon after and flew north across Botswana, Zambia and the Congo, crossing the equator to reach the Sahel region where it spent winter ranging between Chad and South Sudan. It left the area in mid-Aug and headed south but was lost en route back to South Africa.
A bird fitted with a tracker at Manketti (close to Lephalale) in Mar 2017, left on its migration soon after and flew north across Botswana, Zambia and the Congo, crossing the equator to reach the Sahel region where it spent winter ranging between Chad and South Sudan. It left the area in mid-Aug and headed south but was lost en route back to South Africa.
Modimolle
Unusual pale form, a female that bred for several years outside Modimolle.