On our second day in Damaraland in Namibia, our guide Chris was doing his best to locate the desert adapted elephants for us to view. We were driving through a dry riverbed, going in a direction that seemed to be completely opposite to where the elephants tracks were headed. Since I couldn’t make heads or tails of the ellie tracks that crossed back and forth, this way and that, I kept my eyes out for birds and other animals.
A short distance from the vehicle, I spotted a martial eagle perched in low branch above the sandy riverbed. Chris quickly stopped the vehicle so I could get a quick shot, assuming as I did that the bird would be gone in a moment. Lucky for me, the eagle was very interested in posing for photos that morning, and sat still while the vehicle moved ahead, and then moved past it, so I could get photos from all angles. I do really seem to have great luck with bird photos when I least expect it (and we did carry on to locate the ellies too).
![An incredibly regal looking bird. All photos 1/800sec, f5.6, ISO640](https://jsawicky.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/20150803_martial-eagle-4.jpg?resize=525%2C351)
All photos 1/800sec, f5.6, ISO640. April, 2015, Wilderness Safari’s Damaraland Camp, Namibia
![A piercing stare.](https://jsawicky.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/20150803_martial-eagle-3.jpg?resize=525%2C351)
![Checking out what's happening in the riverbed, besides us.](https://jsawicky.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/20150803_martial-eagle-2.jpg?resize=525%2C351)
![Head rotated backwards, and if you look closely, you'll notice the eyes are half closed.](https://jsawicky.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/20150803_martial-eagle.jpg?resize=525%2C351)
![Searching the ground for prey? Or getting bored of all the attention?](https://jsawicky.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/20150803_martial-eagle-8.jpg?resize=525%2C787)
![I thought he was getting ready to take off at this point, but he settled back into his branch.](https://jsawicky.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/20150803_martial-eagle-6.jpg?resize=525%2C787)