Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta)

This distinctive species includes a migratory Palearctic population and a largely resident east and south African population. The latter is said to have red eyes unlike European birds (Zimmerman et al. 1996) but no subspecies are recognized. This one looks dark eyed to me. These members of the Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets) forage in shallow water, sweeping their bills back and forth. Females have a more strongly upturned bill than males. I judged this individual to be a male.