The raptors are hungry.

Birds of prey need to eat every day, but the heavy rain spoils their hunts.

See how junior at the left was screaming during a rain break.

They are African Harrier Hawks (Polyboroidus typus), and I don't know the reason for their name change, as we have always known them as Gymnogenes.
The latter was more descriptive of their gymnastic actions while climbing trees and crawling into roofs to grab prey such as small birds and rats.
They have a special ability to do this, as they have double-jointed knees.
I have posted them several times before, as they are fascinating to watch.

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Two shots below on another day of a Jackal Buzzard (Buteo rufofuscus).

We are in Autumn (Fall), now and we are also in a winter rainfall area between the mountains and the sea. So, our first winter rains arrived early resulting as usual in many floods in the city suburbs, and a few rural areas. No floods here though, as a contractor has been working in the river close by since last year to widen and to remove obstacles in the river. We can still hear his machines at work in the river right now as I type this.

A recent article described the harrowing situation at the Vaal Dam in the Gauteng province. The dam is full and overflowing, so 5 sluice gates had to be opened to prevent damage to the dam wall. Sadly, the houses on the riverbanks below the dam are now starting to become flooded. I remember this so well as years ago we were right there when all of the 16 sluice gates were opened. It was a nightmare, and we were caught right in the middle of the tons of water coming down.
Thankfully we survived.

I hope you enjoyed the pictures and the story.

Photos by Zac Smith. All-Rights-Reserved.

Camera: Canon PowershotSX70HS Bridge camera.

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