SA'S LARGEST EAGLE VS THE LARGEST FLYING BIRD

The Martial Eagle is certainly one of the most impressive birds of prey and a bird not to take lightly. Surely one raptor to evoke fear in a lot of the smaller antelope as it is not unknown for a Martial Eagle to take the lambs of medium size antelope.  Below is a photograph of an immature Martial Eagle taken in 2019.  Those talons are the things nightmares are made of! They are huge and powerful.

The Kori Bustard, pictured below, is Africa's largest flying bird and an adult male Kori Bustard can weigh up to 18kg although the female is much lighter, in the region of 7kg. 

Early one morning on our way from the Nossob campsite to Twee Rivieren campsite we saw a Martial Eagle with a Kori Bustard in one talon, flying low to a burnt out Camel Thorn tree stump.  This was incredible and so very special!  A truly unique sighting.

Naturally we did not realise at the time what he had, that it was heavy was all to clear. The excitement on our side was palatable as we watched him tearing apart his meal, alternating between the binoculars and the camera, not sure which to use.  Once perched with what was left of his meal, it was easy to recognise the markings of the Kori Bustard. The setting was not ideal for photographs as he was somewhat silhouetted with the rising sun behind him, however, this was a once in a lifetime sighting and we had to record what we had just witnessed.  

The above photographs clearly show him ripping the Kori Bustard carcass, feathers flying as he dug further into his meal.  

A rather extended crop told us he had already eaten somewhat while still on the ground.