Verreaux's Eagle catching a mole - insane experience!

As many of you know, I am a keen bird photographer and in particular I enjoy pointing my lens at large, powerful birds of prey like the verreaux’s eagle. I have been fortunate enough in the past to photograph both adult and juvenile verreaux’s eagles feeding on rock hyrax (commonly known in South Africa as a dassie) but never dreamt that I would witness an adult actively hunt and catch it’s prey - and this time it was not a rock hyrax!

Juvenile verreaux’s eagle feeding on Rock Hyrax - last season

This image of last season’s juvenile eagle feeding on a rock hyrax early in the morning is still one of my favourites, however the thrill of last weekend’s experience makes it the best encounter with the verreaux’s eagle to-date (read on!)

The scene

As always, I was up before sunrise ready for an action packed day of photography and after checking my camera batteries and formatting my SD cards I was ready to roll. I eagerly started the car when all of a sudden I felt an overwhelming instinct in my gut that I should rather go find the eagles than to head off to my local National Park as previously planned.

I have learnt to listen to this gut instinct as on many trips to the African bush we actually ignored our original routes/plans and rather followed the “feeling” and on almost every occasion we found leopards and lions!

Upon arrival I quickly scanned the area and when I saw both eagles perched in the open I knew it was the right decision - little did I know what was to follow!

The hunt

I quietly jostled into position so the sun was behind me meaning the eagles would have the light shining directly onto them instead of being backlit. I was sitting quietly watching them preen in the beautiful golden light of sunrise when all of a sudden one of the adults flew into a dead tree just to the right of me.

After looking around for a few minutes it suddenly locked onto something at the bottom of the embankment as it was all of a sudden very alert and those piercing eyes did not waiver. Without warning or sound, the eagle gently launched from it’s perch high in the tree with it’s massive wings fully spread - what’s going on?

I quickly took 2 steps to my right so I could see down the embankment and managed to catch sight of the eagle again about halfway down the slope. It was clearly on a mission and seconds later I realized what was about to go down as those razor sharp talons extended as it struck the long grass. I stood with my mouth wide open as the eagle started flapping it’s wings and as it took to the air it was not alone - it had caught a MOLE!

action

There was a fresh breeze causing an updraft off the embankment and with the other eagle still perched to my left I quickly guessed that the eagle will ride this updraft and make a pass or two right in front of me.

With shaky hands I crouched down low as to not disturb the eagles and waited for the eagle to fly past me. I did not try to take photos yet as it would have been into the sun and more importantly I did not want to stress the bird out after just having caught it’s prey.

Within seconds the eagle flew past and away from me at eye level with the mole still fighting for it’s life - AMAZING!

As predicted, the eagle banked and started riding the thermal - this time in beautiful light - I managed a few frames as it flew past me at eye level (notice the mole’s head clearly visible)!

I anxiously looked at the back of the camera to see if I managed to get anything whilst waiting and hoping that the eagle would do one more flyby. I was more ready this time and as the eagle flew passed me again I managed to press the shutter release as the eagle banked with the sky as a backdrop.

Success

I am super proud of the image below and equally honoured that nature let me share in this amazing experience!

This is one experience I will never forget!

Till next time…