mvecht`s fifth BY

[Dave Williams]

I'm catching up! Again, another commiseration that the surgery didn't go as well as planned but fingers crossed your sight improves. When we were in Goa, fellow residents in the hotel were going for lens implants which all seemed successful. They were costing about £900 per eye. I'm not brave enough to go there, I'll stick with my glasses!

As for your birds, the standout for me is Crab Plover. The only place I have seen them is Mida Creek, many years ago. We were there when Somali terrorists  were kidnapping tourists and my guide took me to the Galana River mouth where he was very nervous of any approaching strangers. Our hotel in Malindi had an armed guard stationed on the beach. He was armed with a big stick! I have only just discovered it was the @Galana River too, having looked at the map. Fancy that Fred. Not knowing your origins!

As for being abandoned in the forest which is very unprofessional but not as bad as being abandoned at sea which has happened to a few scuba divers on guided trips! Thankfully you at least survived to tell the tale which some haven't.

[Galana]

1 hour ago, Dave Williams said:

Fancy that Fred. Not knowing your origins!

But surely the river mouth is the end not the origin?

My name comes from further upstream via one of my ex orphans who was no doubt named after the area she was rescued.

Here she is at about 8 years old in 2009.

Note the 'snot patch' on Lady G's shoe. The bigger lady is now a mum twice over. I have visiting rights and hope to meet up again later this year.

[mvecht]

@Dave WilliamsI had the lense replacements last year and that worked well. That was actually a pre requisite for having the recent surgery.

At least my R7 can focus for me most of the time

KE 86 White rumped Shrike

 

 

KE 87 Montague Harrier (kind ID by @Galana

 

 

Same but from Ol Kinyei

 

KE 88 Guineafowl were abundant at Ol Pejeta but quite shy. At Ol Kinyei it was the other way around.

[mvecht]

#100  KE 89 Martial Eagle at Ol Pejeta

 

 

 

 

KE 90 African Fish Eagle in the same tree.

[BRACQUENE]

Impressive Martial Eagle !

[Galana]

3 hours ago, BRACQUENE said:

Impressive Martial Eagle !

To which I will add "Very!" I love the way it appears to be looking down its 'nose' at the world below.
Always a favourite of mine and a worthy #100.

[PeterHG]

I agree with the previous posters. A beautifu and impressive #100!

[mvecht]

@BRACQUENE, @Galana, @PeterHGThank you. It was a great sighting with 3 Eagles all sitting in the same tree.

 

KE 91 African Hoopoe

 

 

KE 92 Hamerkop  Only a fleeting glimpse

 

KE 93 Van der Deckens Hornbill

 

KE 94 African Cuckoo

 

 

 

 

 

[mvecht]

Ol Kinyei conservancy

KE 95 Rufousnaped Lark

 

KE 96 Gray Hornbill

 

KE 97 Rednecked Spurfowl

 

KE 98 Silverbird

[mvecht]

Kingfishers Galore

KE 99

Malachite Kingfisher

 

 

 

KE 100 Striped Kingfisher

KE 101 Gray-headed Kingfisher imm

 

KE 101 Gray-headed Kingfisher

 

 

 

 

Edited April 8, 2023 by mvecht
typo

[Galana]

Epic flying shots of Cuckoo and Kingfisher.

Congratulations on your Century. I would mention that your 2nd Striped Kingfisher is actually an immature Grey-headed.

[BRACQUENE]

Congratulations on your century ! Some lovely birds to get there 

[Tdgraves]

Well done on your century 

[PeterHG]

Congrats on your century with a beautiful kingfisher set!

[xelas]

An excellent birding in Kenya, and many lovely photos!

[mvecht]

@Galana, @Tdgraves, @xelas, @BRACQUENE, @PeterHG

Thank you. Nice to travel again and get to see som other species of birds

Back home on the Island

Hare in the garden.

 

 

IOM 13 Pied Wagtail

 

KE 14 Yellowhammer

 

KE 15 Red Kite in bad light

 

KE 16 Black Redstart at home

 

It got the fly.

[michael-ibk]

Congrats on both your centuries. Beautiful photos, really nice to see so many familiar faces from East Africa.

[mvecht]

KE 102 Baglafecht Weaver (Ol Pejeta, Porini Rhino Camp)

 

 

KE 103 Village Weaver (Naboisho).

 

 

KE 104 Specklefronted Weaver.

 

 

KE 105 Common Ostrich

 

 

 

KE 106 Coqui Francolin.

 

 

KE 107 Bateleur Eagle. No luck with the light for this species that we only saw a few times.

 

 

 

KE 108 Black-chested Snakeeagle. Only sighting.

[mvecht]

KE 109

Gray-backed Fiscal.

 

 

KE 110 White-rumped Shrike aka Northern White-crowned Shrike.

 

 

 

KE 111 Long-tailed Starling.

 

KE 112 Slate-colored Boubou. This one seen on a drive. We had a pair in camp but they were very shy.

 

Edited April 10, 2023 by mvecht
typo

[Galana]

Keep them coming.

Your 'white-rumped' is a typo for Northern White-crowned Shrike? They do have White rumps though.

[mvecht]

@Galana

Fred, please double check as this is not a typo😎

white-crowned is very much a southern species. White-rumped (Ruppeli) is an Eastern Africa species

[mvecht]

@Galana
Those damned names. White-rumped = northern Whitecrowned. I should have used the scientific name😀

[Tdgraves]

It's Merlin up to it's old tricks again! Got me looking earlier. My East Africa app/book calls them Northern WC Shrike. Hilariously the entry on Merlin points out the white crown as a defining feature! Don't even get me started on the Red-backed nee White-browed scrub-robin posted by @shazdwn.....are they going to change the Latin names as well???

[mvecht]

KE 113 Kenya Rufuos Sparrow

 

 

 

 

KE 114 Swahili Sparrow

 

 

 

 

KE 115 Chestnut Sparrow

 

KE 116 Marabou Stork

 

 

KE 117 Wooly-necked Stork

 

KE 118 Grey Heron

 

 

KE 119 Capped Wheatear

 

[mvecht]

KE 120 Northern Wheatear

 

 

KE 121 Mountain Gray Woodpecker

 

 

 

KE 122 Nubian Woodpecker (Porini Cheetah Camp)

 

 

 

KE 123 Lesser Striped Swallow

 

KE 124 Wire-tailed Swallow