Michael´s Year

[michael-ibk]

345/EA16.) African White-Backed Vulture (Gyps africanus) / Weißrückengeier

 

The Mara, 26/11. Very common in the reserve, also seen in Solio.

 

 

[michael-ibk]

346/EA17.) Rüppel´s Griffon Vulture (Gyps rueppellii) / Sperbergeier

 

The Mara, 26/11. Also very common there.

 

 

 

The other Vulture we saw is the Lappet-Faced Vulture:

 

[michael-ibk]

347/EA18.) Brown Snake-Eagle (Circaetus cinereus) / Einfarbschlangenadler

 

Akagera NP, 20/11.

 

 

Also saw a couple of Black-Chested Snake Eagles (Akagera and the Mara), never in photo reach.

[michael-ibk]

348/EA19.) African Marsh Harrier (Circus ranivorus) / Froschweihe

 

Akagera, 21/11. Very common in that park.

 

[michael-ibk]

349/EA20.) Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus) / Steppenweihe

 

Seen a couple of times in the Mara and in Solio. Photos 26/11 and 9/12.

 

 

 

The female:

 

[michael-ibk]

350/EA21.) Montagu´s Harrier (Circus pygargus) / Wiesenweihe

 

Solio, 9/12. The thin black line on the secondaries says this is not a Pallid.

 

[michael-ibk]

351/EA22.) Lizard Buzzard (Kaupifalco monogrammicus) / Sperberbussard

 

Akagera NP, 21/11. Also seen at Kakamega.

 

[michael-ibk]

352/EA23.) African Goshawk (Accipiter tachiro) / Afrikanischer Habicht

 

Aberdares, 6/12. Very tight crop.

 

[michael-ibk]

353/EA24.) Little Sparrowhawk (Accipiter minullus) / Zwergsperber

 

Solio, 4/12. An immature bird. Very similar to an immature Shikra but this one has no throat streak.

 

[michael-ibk]

354/EA25.) African Harrier-Hawk aka Gymnogene (Polyboroides typus) / Höhlenweihe

 

Aberdares, 5/12. A juvenile starting to moult into adult plumage.

 

[michael-ibk]

355/EA26.) Augur Buzzard (Buteo augur) / Augurbussard

 

Solio, 9/12. A very common Kenyan bird.

 

 

The dark morph from the Aberdares, 6/12.

 

[michael-ibk]

356/EA27.) Mountain Buzzard (Buteo oreophilus) / Bergbussard

 

Volcanoes NP, 23/11. More often seen in the Aberdares where it is reasonably common.

 

[michael-ibk]

357/EA28.) Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis) / Steppenadler

 

The Mara, 27/11. Note the long fat gape.

 

 

Here´s a juvenile, Lake Bogoria, 2/12. Textbook stuff, looks exactly like the illustration in "Birds of East Africa" - for once, I usually struggle big time with Eagle identifications and asked the professionals over at Birdnet for some help, as with quite a lot of birds from this trip.

 

 

Comparison shot of a Tawny Eagle (taken in Solio):

 

 

A very creamy Tawny morph (close to Solio):

 

Edited January 2, 2017 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

358/EA29.) Wahlberg´s Eagle (Aquila wahlbergi) / Silberadler

 

Akagera NP, 20/11

 

[michael-ibk]

359/EA30.) African Hawk-Eagle (Aquila spilogaster) / Afrikanischer Habichtsadler

 

Akagera NP, 20/11

 

 

Other Eagles seen:

 

 

Bateleur, common esp. in Akagera and the Mara.

 

 

A juvenile.

 

 

Booted Eagle (light morph), one sighting on the way from Nairobi to the Mara

 

Also saw Martial Eagle twice, but never in photo range.

Edited January 2, 2017 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

360/EA31.) Long-Crested Eagle (Lophaetus occipitalis) / Schopfadler

 

On the way from Akagera to Kigali, 22/11. Several sightings, interestingly more "on the road" than in national parks.

 

[Tdgraves]

Wow so many raptors in one trip @@michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

361/EA32.) Grey Kestrel (Falco ardosiaceus) / Graufalke

 

Akagera NP, 21/11. Also seen in the Mara.

 

[michael-ibk]

360/EA31.) Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis) / Amurfalke

 

Solio, 4/12.

 

 

That´s it for Birds of Prey!

[xelas]

Fantastic collection, @@michael-ibk !

[michael-ibk]

One mistake in the last post. The Amur Falcon should be 362/EA33, and I forgot to mention that we also saw Common Kestrel (several times).

 

Moving on to Francolins, Bustards & Friends!

 

363/EA34.) Scaly Francolin (Pternistis squamatus) / Schuppenfrankolin

 

Aberdares, 5/12. Common in the Salient.

 

[michael-ibk]

364/EA35.) Jackson´s Francolin (Pternistis jacksoni) / Bambusfrankolin

 

Aberdares, 6/12. Common up in the bamboo area and the moorlands.

 

[michael-ibk]

365/EA36.) Coqui Francolin (Peliperdix coqui) / Coquifrankolin

 

Mara Triangle, 28/11. The only sighting of this species.

 

[michael-ibk]

366/EA37.) Hildebrandt´s Francolin (Pternistis hildebrandti) / Hildebrandtfrankolin

 

Solio, 4/12. Also seen in Akagera NP.

 

[michael-ibk]

367/EA38.) Crested Francolin (Dendroperdix sephaena) / Schopffrankolin

 

Lake Baringo, 1/12. Also reasonably common around Sandai Farm.