Photo@Yan Van Dainne
Fish owls differ from other owls in that they have no feathers on their feet. Additionally, they lack the noiseless flight typical of owls, perhaps because their submerged prey is less able to hear their approach. Three species of fish owl occurs in Africa . Pel’s Fishing Owl snatch their prey while skimming the water surface. In Kenya it is found in Maasai Mara and Samburu national reserve along the the Mara rive and Ewaso Ngiro rivers.
Photo@Michael Sammut
Gabar Goshawk is smaller than other Goshawks. We can observe two morphs, one grey and one almost black. This melanistic form represents about 6 to 25 % of population. The photo shown above is of a juvenile bird.
In typical grey morph, adult has plain grey upperparts and white rump. Tail is grey, barred with black.Underparts are plain grey on chest. Belly is white, barred with grey. Vent is white. Flight feathers are sooty-grey with very pale grey bars. Tail is white with broad dark grey bars.
Head is grey. Bill is black, with red cere and gape. Eyes are deep dark red. Long bare legs and stocky toes are bright red.
Gabar Goshawk lives in savannahs and semi-arid scrub with scattered trees. It avoids too dense forests and driest deserts. It is rather found in drier thorn savannah, and also along watercourses.In Kenya it is commonly seen in Lake Baringo and Bogoria, Tsavo West and East National and Samburu National Reserve.
On the 8th June the birds were out in force with 57 different species recorded on the morning Birdwalk, some of the more notable ones being Lanner Falcon, Dark-chanting Goshawk, Common Kestrel, White-faced Scops Owl, Red-fronted Tinkerbird, Red-fronted Barbet, Lesser Honeyguide, Nubian Woodpecker, Brown-tailed Rock Chat, Pygmy Batis, Northern Crombec, Purple Grenadier, Red-headed Weaver and Yellow-spotted Petronia.
Early in the month, the water level in the Lake increased tremendously to an extent where of most us have never experienced it before in our days there (29 Years) . Goliath, Purple and Squacco Heron with their rich blue billls acquired when breeding are all gathered along the numerous floating Island frequently seen in several part of the lake.The Bee-eaters species of Blue-cheeked, Madagascar, Little and Somali are flying up and down to some of their unlucky prey, a most magnificent sight.
On another evening a Bat-hawk flew past the Lake Baringo Club, to God knows where !It was probably an ideal hunting time considering that most the Yellow-winged Bat were starting to be active, a surprise indeed!!.Toward the far end of our air strip, a woolly-necked Stork flew overhead and later eight ostriches were seen.Other interesting birds seen from around the air strip include; Pygmy Falcon, Heuglin’s Courser and Spotted Thicknee. The Thicknee’s must have had a nest in the rocks because on hearing us approach they would dart away from the rocks then stand frozen, out in the open, their luminous legs glowing like neons.
Three young Rufouse Chatterers come one evening to feed with the weavers and starlings. These charming youngsters had no fear and bravely waited their chance to snatch at the proffered crumbs regardless of the jostling competition surrounding them. Thereafter they were often seen around the garden and have grown rapidly since the fist sighting.
For several days the shoreline was the the meeting place for a small gathered Egyptian Geese.. Large flock of White-throated Bee-eaters fly in most evening at about 6:00p.m and feed quickly before roosting in the Prosopis trees for the night.
At last the Verreaux’s Eagle have returned to the cliff face.The first sighting was on 28 May when they were seen parched low on the rocks. The next day one was flying around, the other was on their old nest. A few days later a terrific clamour drew attention to the skies, the Eaglea were flying a long the cliffs being mobbed by a pair of Lanner Falcon and Common Kestrel.As the Lanner Falcon had used the Eagle nest whilst the Eagles were absent and they obviously regarded this area as their territory.
One evening the adult Verreaux’s Eagle Owl was parched on the branches of a dead tree, a wonderful opportunity for photographers. Then the young Owl, which had been hiding in the foliage of a nearby tree, swooped down, hopped a long the ground and pounced on a Hedgehog.
The long rains have slightly stopped and the lake is full and super green!!amazing view. Hopefully, the lake will stop to raising!!This I believe is the prayers of the guys who own and run Lake Baringo Club and Robert’s Camp, and obviously their employees are putting their fingers crossed!!!no big fun. White-faced Whistling Duck, African Jacana, Allen’s Gallinule and Winding Cisticolas have been recorded in the southern shore. Northern Red Bishop are coming into breeding plumage and these fiery little and black birds may be seen darting across the grasslands. A little more rain in July and maybe Lake Baringo will restore the bustling bird paradise, I wonder if the same will be said of the accommodation facilities located along the western shore of the lake!!Keep birding.
Joseph Aengwo
Resident Ornithologist
Photo@Yan Van Dainne
Martial Eagle is the one of the huge eagle we have in Kenya.It is a large eagle, growing to a length of 76-83 cm with a wingspan of 190-260 cm. The adult’s plumage has dark brown upperparts, head and upper chest. The body underparts are white streaked with black. The underwing coverts are brown, with pale flight feathers, also streaked with black. The female is usually larger and more streaked than the male. The immature is paler above and has white underparts. It reaches adult plumage in its seventh year.
The Martial Eagle can be found throughout Kenya, wherever food is abundant and the environment favourable. It is never common, but greater population densities exist in Nairobi, Samburu and Maasai Mara National Parks, these birds are more abundant in protected areas than unprotected. It avoids dense forests but needs trees to nest in. The territory can vary greatly in size from more than 1000 Km² to areas where nests are less than 10 km distant. This disparity is due to differences in food supply.
Kenya Birding 