Help with two IDs from Agulhas Plains (South Africa) (1 Viewer)

[arodris]

Hi,

I need help to identify these two birds I saw in the Potteberg Guest Farm within the Agulhas Plains, last august 2024. I guess that the first picture is from a Spotted Eagle-owl (Bubo africanus), but as I never saw the Cape Eagle-owl, I am not completely sure.

Pictures 2-4 I think that are from a Agulhas long-billed lark, but I would appreciate confirmation.

And finally, I think that the vulture is a Cape vulture, but again not completely sure.

Thanks

 

[Gander]

The owl has yellow eyes and spots on the ear tufts, so it will be Spotted Eagle-owl

 

[THE_FERN]

The owl has yellow eyes and spots on the ear tufts, so it will be Spotted Eagle-owl

? The owl has orange eyes and coarse horizontal barring. I think that makes it Cape Eagle Owl.

 

[THE_FERN]

Hi,

I need help to identify these two birds I saw in the Potteberg Guest Farm within the Agulhas Plains, last august 2024. I guess that the first picture is from a Spotted Eagle-owl (Bubo africanus), but as I never saw the Cape Eagle-owl, I am not completely sure.

Pictures 2-4 I think that are from a Agulhas long-billed lark, but I would appreciate confirmation.

And finally, I think that the vulture is a Cape vulture, but again not completely sure.

Thanks

I think the lark is OK [corresponds with my memory].

The vulture should be white-backed I think because it has a dark eye and notably dark greater coverts the same colour as (blending with) the flight feathers. Cape griffon/vulture has a pale eye in most plumages although juv/imm have dark eyes. However, the greater coverts should have buff fringes which we don't see here. (But I'm not sure what the expected range of white-backed is.)

 

[Gander]

? The owl has orange eyes and coarse horizontal barring. I think that makes it Cape Eagle Owl.

I stand corrected. The eyes look more yellow when you zoom in, and there does seem to be spots on the ear tufts, but the lack of fine horizontal barring does seem to be definitive upon review.

 

[njlarsen]

I looked at the owl a bit and felt more confused afterwards. My copy of the Sinclair guide to Southern Africa says that the rare rufous morph of Spotted has orange eyes and more heavily blotched underside than the regular grey morph. The say it is best separated from Cape EO by its call, smaller size, and smaller feet.
Niels

 

[arodris]

I think the lark is OK [corresponds with my memory].

The vulture should be white-backed I think because it has a dark eye and notably dark greater coverts the same colour as (blending with) the flight feathers. Cape griffon/vulture has a pale eye in most plumages although juv/imm have dark eyes. However, the greater coverts should have buff fringes which we don't see here. (But I'm not sure what the expected range of white-backed is.)

Theoretically, the white-backed is out of its normal range, and in fact, there is a breeding colony of Cape Vulture in the area. But I also saw something confusing with this vulture. The ligth was bad, so the picture is not very good.

 

[arodris]

@THE_FERN @njlarsen @Gander
So the definitive answer in your opinion is Cape Eagle-owl?

 

[njlarsen]

I am not convinced either way
Niels

 

[THE_FERN]

I am not convinced either way
Niels

On basis of Macauley images of the 2 taken in South Africa, colouration is clearly Cape Eagle Owl. No spotted image is anything like as dark as this bird, even though there are examples with orange eyes. Spotted's horizontal barring is also much finer.

Against this are 2 points. Firstly, what we can see of the feet suggests they are on the weaker side which is better for spotted. Secondly, I think (iirc) Cape tends to be on large isolated rocky outcrops whereas spotted is all over the place. So I don't know if a farm gate is better for spotted.

Somehow I don't feel this bird has the heft and presence of Cape. It "feels" more like spotted despite the plumage. I'd be keen to have a native's comment.

 

[arodris]

In the web iNaturalist two people have placed it as spotted. I agree with @THE_FERN that would be interesting to have a native'es comment.
Thanks to all anyway.