Kit's Fledgling BY

[Kitsafari]

050: Plain martin, Masai Mara National reserve-MNC, Jan 16

 

 

We were very lucky to have the swallows and the martins resting on the road in the late afternoon, and lucky they didn't fly off when we drove up to them. I've not seen a martin up close before so it was a lovely bonus to see these tiny little birds. even then, my camera wasn't powerful enough to do the little bird's beauty proper justice.

 

051: Red-faced Crombec, Serian Main Camp, Jan 15

 

 

this little bird was perched on one of the ropes holding up our tent at Serian camp. The camp staff ID-d the bird and I hope they got it right. I was intrigued by the lack of a tail.  such a pretty bird. 

[Kitsafari]

052: Black-winged Plover, OMC, Jan 17

 

 

Plover/Lapwing sub-species are easier to ID than the greenshanks and the sandpipers, and I haven't even come to the pipits yet! So while googling this species, I came across the slight difference between plovers (pointed wings) and lapwings (broader and rounded wings). I only realised there were so many sub-species while I was in Kafue with Michael.

 

053: Three-banded Plover, MNC, Jan 15

 

 

054: Senegal Plover, MNC, Jan 14

 

Edited March 25, 2018 by Kitsafari

[Kitsafari]

055: Red-necked Spurfowl, Leopard's Gorge MNC/Masai Mara National Reserve, Jan 14/16

 

 

056: Rose finches, Serian Main Camp, MNC, Jan 15

 

 

 

[Kitsafari]

057: Ring-necked Dove, MNC/OMC, Jan 15/18

 

 

058: Speckled Pigeon, Kicheche Camp OMC, Jan 19

 

 

This was such a shy pigeon. It flew off each time I approached. So I had to hide behind bushes and tents to get a closer shot. 

[Kitsafari]

059: Rosy-throated Longclaw, MNC/Masai Mara NR, 

 

 

A bird I was first introduced to in Kafue and it was considered an elusive bird there. But we saw them quite often in MNC and in the national reserve. A beautiful bird with a lovely trill as well.

 

060: and its cousin the Yellow-throated Longclaw, Masai Mara NR, Jan 16

 

 

I was so pleased to see the yellow-throated longclaw especially after the rosy-throated ones. But we didn't get to hear its song though.

 

[Kitsafari]

061: Scimitarbill: OMC, Jan 19

 

An EBC! a very shy bird. I managed to take a quick snap before it disappeared into the bushes. I would have loved to have seen more of it as I'd not seen it properly previously. 

 

062: Secretary Bird, MNC, Jan 17/18

 

 

From one shy bird to a definitely not shy bird. Another iconic bird strutting in the Mara. we saw the secretary bird mainly in MNC during this visit. 

 

[Galana]

I am finding it hard to believe you are just a "beginner" so good are some of your shots and calls. Well done!

The Cisticola on your last conversation could well be two species with the first photo (EBC) and a Pectoral Patch. It is hard to say with these chaps. 2nd I am comfortable with my suggestion.

Love the Rosy-throated Longclaw, a bird I have only seen once many years ago and yearn for another.

Well done on correctly splitting both the Black-winged and Lesser Black-winged (Senegal) Plovers.

That's the good news.

Sadly your "Scimitarbill", Abyssinian if correct with that red bill, is I fear a Green Wood-hoopoe due to relatively straight bill.

And I think your "Rosefinch" would cause quite a stir amongst birders. I assume a misstype for Firefinch.

Nice shot of the Red-faced Crombec too.

[PeterHG]

Many beautiful photos in your additions @Kitsafari and a lot really good species, too! 

[marg]

@Kitsafari....must say that I am impressed.  We are all learning with these photos and ids.  Great job!!!

[Kitsafari]

@PeterHG @marg thank you!

 

On 25/03/2018 at 7:32 PM, Galana said:

 

And I think your "Rosefinch" would cause quite a stir amongst birders. I assume a misstype for Firefinch.

 

 

@Galana such a major rookie mistake - and that is why I'm still a beginner!

 

On 25/03/2018 at 7:32 PM, Galana said:

Sadly your "Scimitarbill", Abyssinian if correct with that red bill, is I fear a Green Wood-hoopoe due to relatively straight bill.

 

 

Thanks Galana. The tip of the bill is hidden by the twig, which made it difficult to confirm if it is a hoopoe or scimitarbill. But James the guide had a very good look at it, and was very confident to call it a scimitarbill, and he repeated it because I couldn't catch the name the first time. so in this case, I'll keep it. 

 

[Kitsafari]

063: Silverbird, Kicheche Bush Camp, OMC, Jan 18

 

 

we were walking around the camp, when we came onto this pretty bird, a member of  the Old world flycatcher, according to Wikipedia. It seems the bird is a resident in the camp and is seen often. 

 

064: Slate-coloured Bulbul, Serian Main Camp, MNC Jan 14

 

 

another bird found frequently around camp, this time in Serian's main camp in MNC. 

[Kitsafari]

065: Sooty Chat, MNC, Jan 14

 

A tough subject to photograph as the little chat was very lively and moving a lot. This was the only time we saw it. 

 

066: Speckled mousebird, Serian Main Camp, Jan 14

 

 

The mousebirds were shy. they were thirsty and drinking from the bird bath, but each time I moved closer, they flew off. cute birds!

 

[Kitsafari]

067: Southern Ground Hornbill, MNC, Jan 14/15

 

Junior: 

 

we saw quite a few of the southern ground hornbill over 2 days. On the second day after we had moved away from them, we heard their boom calls which was really cool.

 

 

 

068: Spotted Thick Knee, MNC, Jan 15

 

While we were watching the Marsh pride of lions taking shelter under bushes, the thick knee was sunning itself in the open. a beautiful bird. 

[Kitsafari]

069: Spur-winged goose, Masai Mara National Reserve, Jan 16

 

The goose was on its own in the Musiara marshes It was the only time we saw this species. 

 

 

070: Spur-winged Lapwing, Masai Mara NR, Jan 16

 

[Kitsafari]

071: Greater-blue earred starling, MNC, Jan 14

 

 

This was another species that I had to learn to distinguish the sub-species. Just hope I got them correct!

 

072: Hildebrant's Starling, MNC, 

 

073: Ruppell's long-tailed Starling, Masai Mara Jan 16

 

A tough bird to catch! it kept hopping away before I could get a proper and clear shot. Many of the starlings - the Ruppell's, Hildebrandt's and superbs - were near the Talek River crossing in the reserve. 

 

 

074: Superb Starling, MNC, Jan 14/15

 

[Kitsafari]

075: Temminck's Courser, Mara conservancies

 

 

This was such a common bird in the Mara but I'd never noticed them before this trip. 

 

076: Verreaux's Eagle Owl, OMC, Jan 18

 

 

The only owl we saw while in Mara. The largest African owl and it was wide awake when we saw it mid-morning. I guessed we must have woken it up.

[Kitsafari]

077: Winding cisticola, OMC, Jan 18

 

 

Thanks to @Galana for ID-ing this bird (wrongly ID-ed as pectoral patch cisticola) which has bumped up my list.

 

 

[xelas]

Truly amazing collection of East Africa's birds!

[Kitsafari]

The clean-up crews of Mara: 

 

 

078: Lappet-faced Vulture, Mara conservancies and reserve

 

 

079: Ruppell's Vultures, MNC, Jan 14

 

080: White-backed vulture, Mara conservancies

 

 

Oddly, I was missing hooded vultures. but hooded are critically endangered so we would have been very lucky to see one. 

Edited March 27, 2018 by Kitsafari

[Kitsafari]

thanks much @xelas!

[TonyQ]

A great collection @Kitsafari. I didn't know the difference between lapwings and plovers, so that is helpful. We also saw a Silver bird when we were at Kicheche Bush

[Dave Williams]

I'm very envious of the Ground Hornbill and Spotted Thick-knee, they both gave me the run around in The Gambia the one time I have seen them.

[michael-ibk]

Seeing a Rosy-Throated again made me smile!

[Peter Connan]

Some lovely additions!

[Kitsafari]

On 27/03/2018 at 8:07 PM, TonyQ said:

A great collection @Kitsafari. I didn't know the difference between lapwings and plovers, so that is helpful. We also saw a Silver bird when we were at Kicheche Bush

 

Thanks @TonyQ  I once was told that lapwings and plovers were the same, so I'm still not sure if there is a clear difference or not. in any case, when the bird isn't flying and its wings are folded, it'll be hard to tell them apart still!

 

On 28/03/2018 at 0:54 AM, Dave Williams said:

I'm very envious of the Ground Hornbill and Spotted Thick-knee, they both gave me the run around in The Gambia the one time I have seen them.

 

I was quite pleased with the spotted thick-knee - it's such a pretty bird and its markings are so well defined. 

 

On 28/03/2018 at 0:55 AM, michael-ibk said:

Seeing a Rosy-Throated again made me smile!

 

@michael-ibk made me smile too. I didn't expect to meet it again so soon but i was glad I could introduce Herman to it! LOL. 

 

On 28/03/2018 at 11:26 AM, Peter Connan said:

Some lovely additions!

 

Thank you @Peter Connan