Michael´s Sixth Year

[michael-ibk]

1 minute ago, Soukous said:

Micahel, I was going to click 'like' on every image you posted from Kenya but felt the risk of RSI or Carpal Tunnel Syndrome was too great. So I'll just say that you have posted so many beautiful photos I feel sick with envy. My own favourite is the Nubian Woodpecker, 'cos I've never seen one. I hope I can give you more of a run for your money in 2022

Thanks Martin, and no worries, please conserve your precious hands, I hope you will put them to good use in 2022. I look forward to the competition next year!

[Soukous]

2 minutes ago, michael-ibk said:

Thanks Martin, and no worries, please conserve your precious hands, I hope you will put them to good use in 2022. I look forward to the competition next year!

 

[michael-ibk]

381/K127) Brown-Crowned Tchagra (Tchagra australis) / Dorntschagra

 

Aberdares, 18/11/21. Two sightings of this bird. 

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

382/K128) Tropical Boubou (Laniarius major) / Glockenwürger

 

Aberdares, 15/11/21. An abundant species. You only realize how common they are once you are familiar with their vocalisations.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

383/K129) Slate-Coloured Boubou (Laniarius funebris) / Schieferwürger

 

Ol Kinyei, 12/11/21. Not an uncommon bird, their frog-like sound is often heard but a tricky one to get a photo of. So I was pretty happy with this one.

 

[michael-ibk]

384/K130) Sulphur-Breasted aka Orange-Breasted Bushshrike (Telophorus sulfureopectus) / Orangebrustwürger

 

Sandai Farm, 17/11/21. A new addition in my popular „Damn that twig“ series. Probably the easiest Busshshrike to see (apart from Grey-Headed which I heard only). I made quite an effort to see Doherty‘s Busshshrike in the Aberdares but no success. Next time!

 

[michael-ibk]

385/K131) Fork-Tailed Drongo (Dicrurus adsimilis) / Trauerdrongo

 

Ol Kinyei, 13/11/21. One of the most common „safari birds“.

 

[michael-ibk]

386/K132) African Paradise-Flycatcher (Terpsiphone viridis) / Graubrust-Paradiesschnäpper

 

Sandai, 17/11/21. No idea why ebird taxonomy is grouping them here and not with other Flycatchers. 

 

 

 

[elefromoz]

Beautiful collection, I've too much catching up to do to 'like' them all. A big year indeed, against the odds.

[michael-ibk]

387/K133) Red-Tailed Shrike (Lanius phoenicuroides) / Rotschwanzwürger

 

Ol Pejeta, 21/11/21. Slippery ground here - Red-Backed, Red-Tailed and Isabelline Shrikes are all palearctic migrants occurring in Kenya this time of the year.

 

 

The problem is most of the birds seen are 1st year ones. And it´s tricky enough to tell apart adult Red-Tailed and Isabellines (a recent split). I haven‘t come across any useful explanations how to separate the juveniles - young Red-Backeds are very similar as well.

 

388/K134) Isabelline Shrike (Lanius isabellinus) IsabellwÜrger

 

Nairobi NP, 10/11/21. My guide‘s call (who was good) was Isabelline‘s so Ím going with that. Seems to be more sandy, uniform than a Red-Tailed. But really cannot be sure.

 

 

Another one I‘ve labelled as Isabelline but just guesswork here really.

 

 

This one a Red-Tailed? (Cannot be Red-Backed because of the colour of the undertail it seems).

 

 

Another Red-Tailed?

 

 

Just to prove that Red-Backed (K135) was around as well:

 

 

Not sure about this one:

 

 

Your input very welcome!

[michael-ibk]

389/K136) Grey-Backed Fiscal (Lanius excubitoroides) / Graumantelwürger

 

Massai Mara, 13/11/21. Also seen in Ol Kinyei but most common in the main reserve.

 

[michael-ibk]

390/K137) Long-Tailed Fiscal (Lanius cabanisi) / Langschwanzwürger

 

Nairobi NP, 10/11. Very common in this park, afterwards only one bird in the Mara.

 

[michael-ibk]

391/K138) Taita Fiscal (Lanius dorsalis) / Taitawürger

 

Ol Pejeta, 21/11/21. A few birds in this reserve.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

392/K139) Northern aka Common Fiscal (Lanius humeralis) / Nördlicher Fiskalwürger

 

Sandai Farm, 17/11/21. The default Shrike in the highlands.

 

[michael-ibk]

393/K140) White-Rumped aka Northern White-Crowned Shrike (Eurocephalus ruppelli) / Rüppelwürger

 

Ol Kinyei, 12/11/21. Huge numbers in the Mara conservancies.

 

[michael-ibk]

394/K141) Pied Crow (Corvus albus) / Schildrabe

 

Sandai Farm, 17/11/21. As always I mostly ignored them. Cape Crows were also around in force but I did not take pictures.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

395/K142) White-Bellied Tit (Melaniparus albiventris) / Weißbauch-Rußmeise

 

Ol Pejeta, 20/11/21. Such a familiiar and common bird familiy in Europe but not often seen in Africa.

 

[michael-ibk]

396/K143) Fischer‘s Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix leucopareia) / Braunscheitellerche

 

Ol Pejeta, 20/11/21. Whereever there‘s short grass this species will not be far.

 

[michael-ibk]

397/K144) Foxy Lark (Calendulauda alopex) / Fuchslerche

 

Ol Pejeta, 21/11/21. Split off from Fawn-Coloured Lark a few years ago.

 

[michael-ibk]

398/K145) Red-Winged Lark (Mirafra hypermetra) / Riesenlerche

 

Ol Pejeta, 22/11/21. Admittedly I could not tell from this photo it‘s not Rufous-Naped. Size is the only really reliable way to tell them apart. But the guide was sure it was a Red-Winged, specifically stopped for it - they do occur in Ol Pejeta.

 

[michael-ibk]

399/K146) Rufous-Naped Lark (Mirafra africana) / Kurzhaubenlerche

 

Nairobi NP, 10/11/21. The classic Lark of open Savannah.

 

 

[michael-ibk]

400/K147) White-Starred Robin (Pogonocichla stellata) / Sternrötel

 

Nairobi NP, 10/11/21. Absolutely out of taxonomic order but I don‘t want a Lark to be 400.  My „teaser“ - such a great bird to see, a lifer.

 

[Soukous]

Agreed, I won't have a Lark as my 400 either. 

[PeterHG]

Congratulations on an amazing score already! And a beautiful lifer for the magical number!

[pedro maia]

Congrats for the 400# Michael, are you going to reach 500?