PURPLE HERON, CHOBE RIVER, BOTSWANA

   We can ID this heron as a Purple Heron by its rufous head and neck with a black stripe and dark grey wings.

   The Purple Heron is a new species to our Photographic Life List, which now stands at 427.

AFRICAN MARSH HARRIER, CHOBE RIVER, BOTSWANA

   Even though these photos were taken at a long distance and then enlarged we can ID this raptor as an African Marsh Harrier by its wing pattern, whitish breast band and barring on tail.

   The African Marsh Harrier is a new species to our Photographic Life List, which now stands at 426.

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WIRE-TAILED SWALLOWS ON BOAT RIM, CHOBE RIVER, BOTSWANA

AFRICAN FISH EAGLE AT RIVER, CHOBE RIVER, BOTSWANA

GIRAFFE DRINKING WATER, CHOBE RIVER, BOTSWANA

   In the third photo you can see that when the Giraffe bends down to drink water, it spreads its front legs apart in order to balance itself.  This makes it more vulnerable to predators.  We noticed that before it actually does this, it very carefully checks out that there are no predators nearby.

NONBREEDING WHITE-WINGED TERN, CHOBE RIVER, BOTSWANA

   We can ID this tern as a nonbreeding White-winged Tern by the black on rear of crown, white forehead and mostly pale grey and white plumage.

   The White-winged Tern is a new species to our Photographic Life List, which now stands at 425.

GREY-HEADED GULL, CHOBE RIVER, BOTSWANA

   We can ID this gull as a Grey-headed Gull by its grey head, grey upperparts, white underparts, pale eye, red bill and red legs.

   The Grey-headed Gull is a new species to our Photographic Life List, which now stands at 424.