tdgraves big year 2022 - here's hoping it's (all) better!

[Tdgraves]

Meru National Park, Kenya, 14/9/22

 

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 800, f7.1, 1/1250

 

J19A8490a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 800, f7.1, 1/1000

 

J19A8494a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

310) Black-faced sandgrouse

[Tdgraves]

Meru National Park, Kenya, 14/9/22

 

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 800, f7.1, 1/800

 

J19A8497a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

311) Black-headed lapwing (can't seem to find a better shot...)

[Tdgraves]

Meru National Park, Kenya, 14/9/22

 

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 1000, f6.3, 1/1250

 

J19A8500a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

J19A8513a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

312) Yellow-necked spurfowl

[Tdgraves]

Neither of us managed a good shot of this, although at least the OH spotted it in the first place...

 

Meru National Park, Kenya, 15/9/22

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 200-400 f/4L, ISO 800, f74, 1/1000

 

7T4A2314 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

From the OH, Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 400, f7.1, 1/400

 

J19A8621a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

313) Golden palm weaver

[Tdgraves]

Meru National Park, Kenya, 15/9/22

 

From the OH, Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 400, f7.1, 1/800

 

J19A8624a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

314) Somali ostrich

[Tdgraves]

Meru National Park, Kenya, 16/9/22

 

Female, Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 800, f6.3, 1/2500

 

J19A8930 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

J19A8920 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

315) Chestnut weaver

[Tdgraves]

Meru National Park, Kenya, 16/9/22

 

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 1250, f7.1, 1/800, EV +1

 

J19A8741 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

316) Grant's (violet) woodhoopoe

[Tdgraves]

Meru National Park, Kenya, 16/9/22

 

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 1600, f7.1, 1/1600, EV +2/3

 

J19A8969 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

317) Northern brownbul (not Rufous chatterer)

Edited October 28, 2022 by Tdgraves
Wrong ID

[Tdgraves]

Meru National Park, Kenya, 16/9/22

 

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 1250, f5.6, 1/5000

 

J19A9053 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

J19A9052 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

318) Scissor-tailed kite

[Tdgraves]

Meru National Park, Kenya, 16/9/22

 

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 1250, f5.6, 1/1000

 

J19A9078 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

319) Blue-naped mousebird

[Tdgraves]

Meru National Park, Kenya, 16/9/22

 

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 800, f7.1, 1/12500, EV +2/3

 

J19A8940 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

320) Eastern chanting-goshawk

[Tdgraves]

Meru National Park, Kenya, 16/9/22

 

Female, Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 800, f7.1, 1/12500, EV +1 1/3

 

J19A9005 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

Male, Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 400, f7.1, 1/12500

 

J19A9016 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

321) Golden pipit

[Dave Williams]

The Black Cuckooshrike the only one seen in SA so far! Some interesting birds for sure.

 

As an aside, where did you park for Snettisham? Did you go to the hide? I'm contemplating a visit! TIA.

Edited October 26, 2022 by Dave Williams

[Tdgraves]

1 hour ago, Dave Williams said:

The Black Cuckooshrike the only one seen in SA so far! Some interesting birds for sure.

 

As an aside, where did you park for Snettisham? Did you go to the hide? I'm contemplating a visit! TIA.

That’s why I mentioned you!

i parked in the rspb car park, which is pay & display. The hide was where the close-ups were from (egret, redshank etc). Brand new and fully glazed. It Has low level slots to poke the camera through, but the movement/noise seems to disturb the birds a bit

[Galana]

More excellent photos. You had me diving for my field guide for Grants Wood Hoopoe as this was one I had never heard of. I shall have eyes peeled for it in August.

I am unhappy with your Rufous Chatterer. Not sure what it is but don't think it is a Chatterer. Bill and eye colour wrong and it looks too 'dainty'.

[Tdgraves]

Rufous chatter was ID’d by the guide @Galana, so I didn’t bother checking, but you are correct. some other angles for an alternative ID please!

 

 

 

Edited October 27, 2022 by Tdgraves
Photo

[Galana]

2 hours ago, Tdgraves said:

some other angles for an alternative ID please!

It's a real puzzle. That longish bill in the rear view puts me in mind of a Sunbird but the tail is too long. Having poured through Stevenson and Fanshawe from about plate 130 to the end there are a few 'suspects' but nothing definite.. Brown Parisoma, Gray Wren Warbler and even, dare I mention them, Cisticolas offer up some similarities.

I wonder if any other team players have better ideas?

[Tdgraves]

I’d say it was bigger than a cisticola. More like a warbler or even thrush sized…

[Tdgraves]

@Galana Merlin bird ID suggests Northern brownbul, what do you think?

 

[Galana]

1 hour ago, Tdgraves said:

Merlin bird ID suggests Northern brownbul, what do you think?

Well the bill fits as does the slight eye ring. Contra indications are size and location.

[Tdgraves]

12 hours ago, Galana said:

Well the bill fits as does the slight eye ring. Contra indications are size and location.

Not sure whether you mean the bush or Meru, but just looked on eBird and found lots of photos on bushes and map covers Meru, so have changed ID. Still a lifer for us…

[Galana]

2 hours ago, Tdgraves said:

Not sure whether you mean the bush or Meru,

I was thinking altitude. my book mentions Coastal lowlands and inland below 1000m.

The white belly also worries me as your excellent shots of that area do show a purer white.

But, hey, lets not be too picky. It might have been a Cisticola.

[Zim Girl]

Congratulations on reaching 300, and a lovely start to your Kenya birds.

The numbers of birds at Snettisham was really quite something - great pictures!

[Tdgraves]

1 hour ago, Galana said:

I was thinking altitude. my book mentions Coastal lowlands and inland below 1000m.

The white belly also worries me as your excellent shots of that area do show a purer white.

But, hey, lets not be too picky. It might have been a Cisticola.

The photos I’ve seen online have a white belly….I still feel it was too big for a cisticola 

[Tdgraves]

Thanks @Zim Girlit was certainly spectacular!