Near Kwetsani camp in the Okavango Delta, Botswana, and 3 spoonbills find that the top branches of a tree make a good vantage point. Taken with the 500mm lens, these African spoonbills (Platalea alba) lined up nicely for me in the high branches of a tree overlooking the wetlands of the Okavango Delta in Botswana. Patience was required to get the right head angles on all three birds. With the light coming from camera left, falling onto the backs of the birds, I was pleased that all the birds adopted head angles that allowed some light to fall on the near side of their faces and bills.
The species has a wide distribution across sub-Saharan Africa and isn't considered threatened or endangered. Their diet consists of small fish and aquatic invertebrates such as crayfish and water beetles, they are in effect birds of prey.
Suggested further reading: Birdlife.org
*** Update: 25.11.14. Further Botswana images are online. ~KD ***