Bubo africanus

The spotted eagle-owl is one of the most common owls in southern Africa but that doesn't make it any less special. This photo was taken during a night drive in the Eastern Shores of iSimangaliso with Shakabarker Tours. He was sitting fairly high in a tree overlooking one of the 4x4 tracks so we could have quite easily passed him by if the spotlight hadn't picked up the reflection of those huge eyes.