April 12, 2011
Kori Bustard in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa

On our last morning in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, near Twee Rivieren, we had more nice opportunities with birds. The first was a very cooperative kori bustard, and the last was a pygmy falcon. Pygmy falcons are only about half the size of most other falcons and they're usually rather skittish, so we were quite happy to have the opportunity to photograph a very cooperative subject on our way out of the park. It was a nice way to end our stay, not only in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, but also in South Africa. My favorite image of the day is of a very cooperative kori bustard. We worked it first using our 500 f4s as it hunted along the edge of a small pan, or playa, then after it crossed the road and dust bathed in an area of very short grass, we worked it with our 70-200s for full-body images and our 500 f4s for head shots (above).