Kit's Fledgling BY

[Kitsafari]

016: Eurasian/European bee-eater, MNC/OMC Jan 16/20

 

 

we saw the european bee-eaters twice , and always single. 

[Kitsafari]

017: Black-backed puffback, MNC Serian Main Camp tent no 4 deck, Jan 15

 

 

I sat on the deck of tent no 4, which has a large deck that sticks out into the trees overlooking Mara River, staking out birds. This little fellow was quite far away but it was hopping from twig to twig. It has a wide range from Angola to east Africa down to southern Africa. it was all puffed up throughout the time I saw it. 

 

018: Blacksmith plover: OMC, Jan 16

 

This I recognised, thanks to time spent in the presence of @michael-ibk in Kafue when we stopped for various lapwings! thanks Michael.

 

[Kitsafari]

019: Black-throated wattle-eye, female, MNC Serian main Camp, Jan 14 

 

 

Thanks to offshorebirder who ID-ed it for me in my TR, otherwise I really had no clue what species this was. For a change, i thought the female looks more attractive than the male. 

 

 

020: Cattle egret: Masai Mara National Reserve, Jan 16

 

As always, we found the egrets close a herd of buffaloes lazing around in the reserve. These were the only egrets we saw throughout the trip, if my memory serves me right, which was rather unusual. 

 

 

 

Edited March 17, 2018 by Kitsafari

[Kitsafari]

021: Black Bellied Bustard, Masai Mara National Reserve, Jan 16

 

 

we saw the Black bellied bustards only in the reserve, and fortunately they were hanging near the road because the grasses were so high, we wouldn't have seen them if they were further in

 

 

022: White-Bellied Bustards : MNC/OMC  Jan 14/17

 

Male

male

female

 

There were quite a few of them in both conservancies. Once, we saw the male trying to court the female, sticking its neck forward and showing off the black bristles on the side of the head. it then picked something up before dropping in front of the female which promptly ate it. Quite fascinating to watch. 

 

[Kitsafari]

023: Common bulbul : Serian main camp, MNC Jan 14/15

 

024: Common greenshank, MNC

 

an EBC - looks like a common greenshank and the guide said it was one. it just refused to emerge fully and it was far at the water's edge. 

[Kitsafari]

025: Common rock thrush, MNC, Jan 14

 

 

026: Egyptian goose, MNC Jan 14 

 

[Kitsafari]

027: Black-chested eagle, Juvenile, MNC Jan 14

 

 

Looking like a martial eagle from afar, in  dark dawn hours and in light drizzle (which caused the spots in the second photo). we followed it from tree to tree, as it was a little shy and flew off each time James slowly moved forward. 

 

028: Steppe eagle, MNC Jan 14/17 - hope I got this right!

 

This eagle was seen both times hanging around vultures and tawnies at kills, but each time it stayed at a distance, unlike the tawnies which were more tenacious in fighting for a morsel with the vultures. 

Edited March 18, 2018 by Kitsafari

[Kitsafari]

029: Tawny eagles - light and dark

 

 

This was by far the most seen eagle in MNC and OMC on this trip. The light-toned tawny was beautiful. The tawnies weren't shy of fighting for a morsel, and hung around the vultures at kill. another tawny was trying to steal a piece of bone from a cheetah, which made for an entertaining show (in my TR).

 

 

[xelas]

Birds of prey are remarkable on your photos! 

[Kitsafari]

@xelas thank you! you are most kind since a couple of them were not as sharp as I would have liked them. 

 

[Galana]

A great collection and you did well to 'split' your Steppe from your Tawny Eagles.

Two ringers if I may.

I think your Greenshank (#24)  may well be a Marsh Sandpiper.

and even though it takes me into conflict with @offshorebirder I think, indeed know, that #19 is Brown-throated Wattle eye and not Black-throated WE.

1. The Brown-throat is very visible and

2. The Black-throated does not have a white wing bar.

 

[Kitsafari]

030: Great Spotted Cuckoo, MNC, Jan 14/16

 

031: Grey Backed Fiscal, OMC/MNC Jan 14/18

 

One fiscal, 

 

two fiscals,

 

three fiscals,

 

three's a crowd.

 

 

[Kitsafari]

@Galana no argument from me on 024 - just so that I will learn for the future - what were the features that makes you think it is a marsh sandpiper?

 

And I've wronged @offshorebirder gravely. Instead of putting it down as brown-throated, as you had correctly pointed out, I had labelled it wrongly as black throated. Offshorebirder had ID-ed it accurately as brown-throated. I can only blame it on lack of sleep (stayed up with my dog through the night). apologies offshorebirder!

[Kitsafari]

032: Grey crowned cranes, MNC, Jan 14

 

[Dave Williams]

You have some stunning captures amongst those shots. 

[Galana]

Ah. I did wonder if it was a 'transcription error" with the Wattle-eye. No harm done. Hope the dog is not too serious.

Greenshank or Marsh Sandpiper? It just looks rather 'dainty' and the bill pointier. I always remark that a Marsh Sandpiper is very much like a miniature Greenshank in plumage and leg colouring etc.,

Really love the Greater-spotted Cuckoo photos and the Fiscal college. (and I do mean College  not a typo!)

You really are doing well.

[xelas]

Those are seriously great photos of the crowned cranes, @Kitsafari!

[Kitsafari]

 

20 hours ago, Galana said:

Ah. I did wonder if it was a 'transcription error" with the Wattle-eye. No harm done. Hope the dog is not too serious.

Greenshank or Marsh Sandpiper? It just looks rather 'dainty' and the bill pointier. I always remark that a Marsh Sandpiper is very much like a miniature Greenshank in plumage and leg colouring etc.,

 

@Galana

here are a couple of photos which I had labelled common sandpiper and which I thought I wouldn't include in the BY. this bird was across from the waterhole from the greenshank, and mostly hidden in the reeds so I couldn't get a good clear shot of it - it looks like  a greenshank so could I have confused the two?or did i hear the guide wrong?

 

Edited March 19, 2018 by Kitsafari

[Kitsafari]

15 hours ago, xelas said:

Those are seriously great photos of the crowned cranes, @Kitsafari!

 

Thanks @xelas credit has to go to the OH, Herman.

 

[Galana]

5 minutes ago, Kitsafari said:

I had labelled common sandpiper

Actually I think that bird is a Wood Sandpiper. Bill is too short for Greenshank.

[Kitsafari]

2 minutes ago, Galana said:

Actually I think that bird is a Wood Sandpiper. Bill is too short for Greenshank.

 

Aha! another bird that is not what I thought it was. I probably didn't pay enough attention to the guide. 

 

Thanks much @Galana. I'm sure I will continue to fudge it as I go along. 

 

But thanks to you, I shall claim it as an EBC.  

 

[Kitsafari]

Correcting #24 to Marsh Sandpiper, thanks to @Galana, unless others have a different opinion?

 

[Galana]

7 minutes ago, Kitsafari said:

I will continue to fudge it as I go along

You are doing fine. No worries! We have all been there!

[Kitsafari]

033: Wood sandpiper, MNC Jan 15 (an EBC) These are seriously tricky birds to identify!

 

 

034: Grey backed camaroptera, Serian main camp, MNC, jan 14

 

 

what a difficult name to pronounced and remember! according to what I've read (in the Guardian), the grey-backed camaroptera is also known as the grey-backed bleating warbler. Shame I don't remember hearing it call or I had probably heard it but didn't associate it with this bird. But the article also recounted that it has been seen to bind large leaves together low in the bush and then build a grass nest inside. How cool is that!

Oh I should also credit @Tdgraves and @michael-ibk for their help in ID-ing this bird. 

 

Edited March 19, 2018 by Kitsafari

[Kitsafari]

6 minutes ago, Galana said:

You are doing fine. No worries! We have all been there!

 

thanks much for the lessons!