Black-chested Snake Eagle

Black-chested Snake Eagle Circaetus pectoralis

On the Road to Bogol Manyo, Ethiopia

17 January 2014

    This is a large snake-eagle and looks especially fearsome with its big, glaring yellow eyes. As its name implies it feeds principally on snakes, whether venomous or not. Smaller prey is killed on the ground and consumed whole in the air; larger prey is torn apart and eaten on the ground, or carried to a convenient perch. It perches on dead trees, poles or pylons - any convenient platform from which to scan the ground for prey. It walks easily on the ground and upon spotting prey crushes it with its powerful feet.

    As you may see from these photographs this individual was perched close to the road and appeared quite unconcerned by our presence.

Egyptian Vulture

Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus

On the Road to Bogol Manyo, Ethiopia 

17 January 2014

    In contrast to the other species of vulture we saw in Ethiopia, Egyptian Vulture seemed delicate and almost un-vulture like. In flight it flapped more noticeably than other vultures and soared effortlessly on flat, outstretched wings. Due to its small size it is always on the periphery of a kill waiting for an opportunity to dart in and snatch whatever scraps it can. It is an opportunistic feeder, frequenting garbage dumps where they exist, consuming organic waste, insects and sometimes the young of smaller birds. It is known for its habit of dropping rocks onto the eggs of bigger species to crack the shell and gain access to the contents.