Meru, Samburu, Lake Nakuru, Kenya — October, 2014

[Tom Kellie]

Standing up on its two back feet,

The Dwarf Mongoose is a biped,

Its versatility complete,

A deft acrobat, born and bred.

 

 

 

Head Down, Working

 

 

 

Helogale parvula Biped

 

 

 

Gentle Slide

 

 

[Tom Kellie]

Mongoose vigilance is needed,

With raptors in the neighborhood.

Every warning must be heeded,

Shared with all for the common good.

 

 

 

Standing Room Only

 

 

 

Watchers at the Brink

 

 

 

Helovale parvula Clan

 

 

 

Heading Back

 

[Tom Kellie]

These Reticulated Giraffe,

With patterns uniquely bespoke,

Their behavior good for a laugh,

When each other they shove and poke.

 

 

 

No Two Patterns Alike

 

 

 

Not a Pushmi-Pullyu Relative

 

 

 

Different Points-of-View

 

 

 

Giraffes on the Samburu Side

 

 

 

Must You Go, So Soon?

 

[amybatt]

Perfect timing as I contemplate an all-northern-Kenya safari!  I'll have to get caught up on this topic now!

[Tom Kellie]

There's no avoiding that sharp gaze,

Yellow eyes, dark pupils of steel.

The bold Martial Eagle displays,

A raptor's fearlessness so real.

 

 

 

Polemaetus bellicosus on a Bush

 

 

 

Gazing Down Into a Bush

 

 

 

Eye Contact

 

[Tom Kellie]

Talons outstretched in fierce display,
Wings unfurled with powerful force.
Life or death hunting, it's not play,
Hidden mongoose tremble, of course.

 

 

 

Fearsome Display

 

 

 

Martial Eagle Ferocity

 

 

 

Equipoise on a Bush

 

 

 

Feathers At Full Force

 

 

 

Intent on the Task

 

 

 

Talons Outstretched

 

[Tom Kellie]

For us, a memorable sighting,

For the eagle, the fight to eat.

For mongoose, as of this writing,

They survived, their relief complete.

 

 

 

Inspector-General

 

 

 

Memories of Mexico's Flag

 

 

 

In Attack Mode

 

 

 

At the Entrance

 

 

 

Bellicose Eagle

 

 

 

Persistent

 

[Tom Kellie]

At last, off to a higher height,

Frustration has taken its toll.

A lofty perch offers far sight,

A full stomach is each day's goal.

 

 

 

Fleeing Frustration

 

 

 

Able to Soar At Will

 

 

 

Approaching a Roost

 

 

 

Resettled

 

[Tom Kellie]

Having survived the grim onslaught,

The mongoose are ready to flee.

Understandably they're distraught,

They look, then scamper to safety.

 

 

 

Evacuation

 

 

 

Tail Up Run

 

 

 

Is It Truly Safe?

 

 

 

Extreme Caution Required

 

 

 

Flying Mongoose

 

[Tom Kellie]

Each type of giraffe has its charm,

Their coat patterns easy to see.

I suppose that it does no harm,

To note giraffe diversity.

 

 

 

Reticulated Giraffe with Doum Palm

 

 

 

Portrait Mode Essential

 

 

 

Going My Way

 

[Tom Kellie]

Young impala look innocent,

They're so bashful, yet curious,

Nonchalant but not indifferent,

Their mother remains serious.

 

 

 

No Harm Intended

 

 

 

Bashful Bunch

 

[Tom Kellie]

[Tom Kellie]

Not a drongo, a flycatcher,

In plumage of a dark blue black.

Deep brown eyes a striking feature,

Perched within spines beside the track.

 

 

 

Flycatcher with Acacia Spines

 

 

 

Southern Black Flycatcher

 

 

 

Flycatcher by Samburu's Ewaso Nyiro River

 

 

 

Melaenornis pammelaina

 

[Tom Kellie]

To possess a neck so slender,

With supple elegance of form,

It's essential to remember,

That graceful design is the norm.

 

 

 

Male Gerenuk and Friends

 

 

 

Listening Front and Back

 

 

 

Slenderest of Necks

 

[Tom Kellie]

Browsing Kudu mother and calf,

Near the river in midday light,

Unlike impala or giraffe,

Their lifestyle remains recondite.

 

 

 

Chalk Stripes

 

 

 

Browsing Kudu

 

 

 

Sound Trumpets

 

 

 

Pleasantly Subdued Coloration

 

 

[Tom Kellie]

Mr. Gerenuk doesn't need,

To stand upright on his back feet,

When on low branches he may feed,

Browse both nourishing and complete.

 

 

 

No Need to Stand Up

 

[Tom Kellie]

Although common elsewhere, not here,

A Marabou Stork overhead,

Is headed elsewhere, never fear,

A misguided symbol of dread.

 

 

 

Passing Fancy

 

 

 

Marabou Aloft

 

 

[Tom Kellie]

Most river days are just like this,

With animals here for a drink.

When I'm away, this I do miss,

A place to relax and to think.

 

 

 

Visual Differential

 

 

 

Oxpecker Flight

 

 

 

Business Trip

 

 

 

Organic Lace

 

 

 

Reticulated Pair

 

 

 

Thanks for the Chat

 

[Tom Kellie]

Over to the river's shallows,

Front legs in a braced position,

Best for the quenching that follows,

Standing back up, tough transition.

 

 

 

Headed to the River

 

 

 

Is the Coast Clear?

 

 

 

Ready to Begin

 

 

 

Nearing the Surface

 

 

 

Reticulated Giraffe Drinking from the Ewaso Nyiro River

 

 

 

Finished, Time to Leave

 

 

[Tom Kellie]

Thirst satisfied, the giraffe clan,

Regroup to resume their browsing,

No hurry, moving with élan,

Living with free outdoor housing.

 

 

 

Going to Rejoin the Others

 

 

 

There's No Easy Way

 

 

 

Non-forked Tongue

 

 

 

Awaiting Others

 

 

 

Unconcerned Neighbor

 

 

 

Together Again

 

[Tom Kellie]

The Laughing Dove is one I've missed,

Which must have always been around.

The bird should have been on my list,

Too many overlooked, I've found.

 

 

 

Spilopelia senegalensis

 

 

 

 

[Tom Kellie]

Seven Sparrow-Weavers, oh my!

All in a row, with loud chatter,

As we draw nearer, they don't fly,

Our close presence doesn't matter.

 

 

 

Percher-ons

 

 

 

White-browed Sparrow-Weavers on a Branch

 

 

 

Plocepasser mahali Group

 

 

[Tom Kellie]

Being small is a state of mind.

For Dik-diks, size is relative.

They measure life by their own kind,

Tiny stature as positive.

 

 

 

Exquisitely Specialized

 

 

 

Just Enough But No More

 

[Tom Kellie]

What dignity for animals,

Who care nothing for dull pretense?

They're all goofy at intervals,

Silly looks without consequence.

 

 

 

Combination Gerenuk

 

 

 

Someone's Curious

 

 

 

Goofy Husband

 

[Tom Kellie]

An Oryx tends to be solid,

Neither fragile nor delicate,

They seem admirably stolid,

Confidence their horns indicate.

 

 

 

Quietly Grazing Oryx