An early start with the main aim of the morning to photograph White-backed Woodpecker. Daniel and Solly, the local guide, knew of a nest hole, reached after a 30 minute climb up a rather steep wooded slope where they erected a couple of portable hides in a position overlooking the site. Not as close as we would have liked but the terrain was not easy to negotiate.

We were left for a couple of hours or so. The birds were incubating and we saw them change duties a couple of times.

Also in the same dead tree, a pair of Collared Flycatchers were beginning to nest.

On the drive for some lunch, the guides noticed another pair of Collared Flycatchers at a nest site so a quick stop for some more shots.

After lunch (the local bean soup is quite unforgiving on an unsuspecting stomach!!!), we went to find a Lesser Spotted Eagle nest. After some stalking, we finally managed a reasonable perched shot,

but the cloudy sky was not really conducive to flight shots, unfortunately.

Then, for me, the highlight of the day - a Ural Owl perched in a tree. The first shots were of a partially obscured bird,

but after some re-postioning, with the bird totally unconcerned with our presence, a much better shot.

Two new species for the day for me so another success.