This African Wood-Owl, Strix woodfordii, was pretty well hidden by the leafy tree in which it was perched. We'd left Nxamaseri Lodge (Botswana) early in the morning on August 21, 2012, by boat and birded the floodplains and islands in the area until mid-morning. Time was running short, so we concentrated our efforts on finding a Pel's Fishing-Owl by birding one of the islands. Pel's continued to be elusive, but we did photograph an African Wood-Owl with its yellow bill and large, pale, spectacle-like eye-orbits that surround its dark eyes. Underparts are barred. This species lacks ear-tuffs. Temperatures were in the upper 70's on a beautiful clear day with blue skies.