Statistics elude me at this level, however I consider it’s a protected assertion to make that almost all of tourists to the very well-known Masai Mara Nationwide Reserve in Kenya will not be essentially all for birds. Charismatic megafauna abounds all through the park, and folk can be forgiven for overlooking a sparrow-lark whereas lions battle buffalo in entrance an viewers consisting of the whole lot from bite-sized dik-diks to elephants.
I, nevertheless, can’t assist myself. And subsequently determined to shine a light-weight on a few of the much less celebrated inhabitants of this unbelievable vacation spot. Featured listed here are a few of the birds we encountered over the course of a pair days a number of months in the past, in alphabetical order.
This African Gray Flycatcher virtually blended into the clouds.
The Bateleur is a hen I dreamt of for a few years – a wierd and charismatic eagle with a really distinctive silhouette. I managed to set my eyes on a juvenile some years in the past on my first safari, however that one appeared to be virtually in outer area – a mere speck from my finish.
Searing yellow eyes of the Black-chested Snake-Eagle assist to construct its imposing presence.
Oftentimes the Frequent Ostrich looks as if too massive a hen to be thought-about a hen.
Can’t ever tire of seeing the enigmatic Hamerkop!
It could lack brilliant plumage and terrifying talons, however we had been exceptionally happy to get a superb view of a Hooded Vulture. They’re Critically Endangered and genuinely undeserving of their human-induced destiny.
Against this, a superb view of a Lilac-breasted Curler takes everybody’s breath away.
The tiniest of all bee-eaters, the Little Bee-eater is nonetheless massive on look.
We stopped for lunch underneath a unfastened cover. Whereas guarding our prized packing containers from the roving eyes of monkeys and baboons, this Rüppell’s Starling posed properly within the noon warmth. Not the very best mild to showcase the iridescent great thing about its plumage!
The Velociraptor power of a Secretarybird on the hunt will get hearts pumping. This species is among the most requested birds on our journeys. Unsure if it’s the eyelashes or the yoga pants.
We had views of two species of chats at this specific spot. I solely managed a photograph of a single Sooty Chat, a brand new hen for me. The opposite was a Northern Anteater-Chat, and I can affirm that it was certainly consuming ants.
Of all of the hornbills, the Southern Floor-Hornbill is of absurd proportions. Whereas it is probably not obvious from this picture, they’re bigger than a few of the smaller antelopes.
A Kittlitz’s Plover hides in plain sight close to to a sleeping Noticed Hyena. Cellphone photograph by my spouse Joanne.
One of many true Aquila eagles, the Tawny Eagle is a comparatively constant sighting all through the suitable habitat.
Birds are sometimes a lot too near be photographed with an extended lens – as evidenced by the photograph of the plover – I at all times take a brief lens with me simply in case. This White-bellied Bustard solely reluctantly left the highway and by no means went additional than a number of metres off.
Though this Woodland Kingfisher was photographed over a river, its dietary preferences level primarily to bugs.
Regardless of its brilliant coloration, discovering a Yellow-fronted Canary is one other story.
The inspiration behind the outline of occasions within the introductory paragraph to this submit, this Yellow-throated Longclaw was seen foraging in a ditch only a few metres away from the place a pleasure of lions had taken down a Cape Buffalo.
What’s safari with no Cisticola? The corporate that makes all our preparations there’s Cisticola Excursions – so it might be remiss of me to not see a minimum of considered one of these mysterious warbler-like birds. I noticed a number of truly, however few had been close to sufficient for me to attempt to ID. I nonetheless required help with this one, admittedly: Zitting Cisticola
