Zim Girl's 6th Big Year 2023

[Zim Girl]

1 hour ago, Galana said:

Nice. I like the way you got the Crowned Lapwing to take a bow so we got to see al the crown 'ring'. Not often seen like that.

 

Oh you know, I have a way with birds .  I like the ones that wear their names so prominently.

 

1 hour ago, Galana said:

As for your Somali/Taita puzzle. I think I am with you although we know birds don't map read all that well.

I would have thought that the white tipped secondaries would have been at least visible at that angle.

I agree.  The only reason I left it at Somali was that the guide went straight for that id and didn't consider Taita, but really not sure.  It doesn't affect count as I do not have another.

[Zim Girl]

That's it for Meru.  Next stop was Kitich Forest Camp in the Mathews Range.  Different habitats here with both mountain forest and dry country.

Birding in the forest was a lot of fun with the Samburu guides but very hard to get decent photos.

 

148.  KE34.  Northern Puffback

This was in the trees just outside our tent.  Female or juvenile possibly.

 

 

 

[Zim Girl]

149.  KE35.  Baglafecht Weaver

Male

I think this is a female.

 

 

[Zim Girl]

150. KE36.  Green-backed Camaroptera

I think this will actually be the Grey-backed version.  It wouldn't stay still and hopped off just as I took the shot.

 

[Zim Girl]

151. KE37.  Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater

I think this is a juvenile

 

[Zim Girl]

152. KE38.  White-eyed Slaty-Flycatcher

 

[Zim Girl]

153. KE39.  Greater Blue-eared Starling

 

[Zim Girl]

154. KE40.  Common Bulbul

[Zim Girl]

155. KE41.  Red-headed Weaver

The northern male has the black face patch.

[Zim Girl]

156. KE42.  Speckled Mousebird

 

[Zim Girl]

157. KE43.  Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike

Juvenile

 

[Zim Girl]

158. KE44.  African Black-headed Oriole

 

[Tdgraves]

On 12/1/2023 at 11:19 AM, Zim Girl said:

136.  KE20.  Red-winged Lark

So I like larks as much as I like pipits in the UK .  Our guide was pointing out the red wings when it flew, so I will take his word for it.

Meru NP

 

Our guide in Laikipia was just as emphatic. But the eBird reviewer pointed out that they were all rufous-naped. (Which also have red wings on flight). They have a very different song, if you can remember it….

[Peter Connan]

Some truly beautiful birds!

[michael-ibk]

Great birds from Kenya Angie, really enjoying them. Your male Puffback gave me pause, mostly because of the pale lower mandible - have you considered Pringle´s? (Really not sure if they around there myself).

[Galana]

1 hour ago, michael-ibk said:

have you considered Pringle´s? (Really not sure if they around there myself).

I too took a hard look at that Puffback especially as Angie suggested a female. Female Northerns are buff coloured so not an adult. Might just be showing buff colouring in the 2nd photo though.

The lighter build put me in mind of Pringles too and it could be young male. Don't think it would be in Matthews' though although I have never been there as habitat not arid and out of range..

[Kitsafari]

great additions from the African trip!

[Zim Girl]

On 12/2/2023 at 6:19 PM, Tdgraves said:

Our guide in Laikipia was just as emphatic. But the eBird reviewer pointed out that they were all rufous-naped. (Which also have red wings on flight). They have a very different song, if you can remember it….

I did look it up on eBird for range as it says the two generally do not overlap.  Rufous-naped does not show at all for Meru NP, but Red-winged definitely does.  But honestly that is all I can really put up for my case.

[Zim Girl]

On 12/3/2023 at 9:27 AM, michael-ibk said:

Great birds from Kenya Angie, really enjoying them. Your male Puffback gave me pause, mostly because of the pale lower mandible - have you considered Pringle´s? (Really not sure if they around there myself).

 

On 12/3/2023 at 11:28 AM, Galana said:

I too took a hard look at that Puffback especially as Angie suggested a female. Female Northerns are buff coloured so not an adult. Might just be showing buff colouring in the 2nd photo though.

The lighter build put me in mind of Pringles too and it could be young male. Don't think it would be in Matthews' though although I have never been there as habitat not arid and out of range..

Mmm, I suggested female because it didn't look anything like the male .  

Now, in the camp they had a small book, listing all the birds that have been located within the Mathews Range.  I took copies of some of the pages.  Northern Puffback is listed as a forest bird, no mention of Pringle's at all.

On eBird Pringles isn't in range for the Mathews but the Northern Puffback is.

Also, the light was really tricky and maybe the colour of the bill is deceiving.  

And that, your honour, concludes my defence! 

[Galana]

A hung Jury or in Scottish Law a verdict of 'not proven?'

[Zim Girl]

1 hour ago, Galana said:

A hung Jury or in Scottish Law a verdict of 'not proven?'

Sounds good to me.  Wait until the end, you can haggle over the ones I failed with.

 

On to safer ground - hopefully.

Final stop, Amboseli NP.

 

159. KE45.  Egyptian Goose

 

 

[Zim Girl]

160. KE46.  Spur-winged Lapwing

 

[Zim Girl]

161. KE47.  Cape Teal

 

[Zim Girl]

KE48.  Ruff  (already in total count for UK)

 

 

[Zim Girl]

162. KE49.  White-faced Whistling Duck