Bare-eyed Thrush has Brownish-grey above; blackish speckles on throat, pale grey breast and rufous belly. The orange-yellow patch of bare skin around the eye is diagnostic. It is widely spread in Arid lowlands, agricultural fields, dry savanna and dry shrubland of Eastern Kenya and monotypic. His behavior is Fairly inconspicuous, although locally common. The diet includes fruit.
A relatively large, handsome bird of prey, the steppe eagle closely resembles a number of related eagle species such as the tawny eagle, Aquila rapax, that occur within its extensive range . The plumage is mostly dark brown, with well-defined bars on the flight and tail feathers . The main distinguishing features are the reddish-brown patch on the nape of the neck, the oval nostrils, and the long, wide gape. There are two recognised subspecies of steppe eagle, Aquila nipalensis nipalensis and Aquila nipalensis orientalis, the latter being slightly smaller, with paler plumage. The juvenile steppe eagle resembles the adult but is paler brown, with a characteristic broad white band running along the underside of the wing.
Steppe Eagle exclusively breed in Eastern Europe and migrate annually to Africa
Check out my new trip report! It can be found under ‘Birding Trip Reports’
Joe
Somali Bee-eater is a small bee-eater, about seventeen centimetres long. It prefers arid country and desert areas where it may be locally common. It feeds on small flying insects which it catches in short dashes from a low perch. It is either solitary or found in pairs. It nests in the banks of road cuttings and in the sides of deep wells. In Kenya it breeds between March and June.
In Kenya it is found in areas like Samburu and Meru National Park, Lake Baringo and Tsavo East.
Photo@Yan Van Dainne
Goliath Heron
The Goliath heron is Africa largest heron, standing 53-to-55 inches tall, with a wingspan of six-to-seven feet. Male and female look similar, with an overall covering of slate gray and chestnut feathers. The head and its bushy crest, face, back and sides of the neck are chestnut. The chin, throat, foreneck and upper breast are white, with black streaks across the foreneck and upper breast. The lower breast and belly are buff with black streaks. The upper mandible is black and the lores and orbital areas are yellow with a greenish tinge. The eyes are yellow and legs and feet are black. Juveniles look similar to the adults, but are paler.
The Goliath heron is territorial, usually living alone near water. A diurnal and often rather inactive feeder, the heron hunts by standing in the shallows, or on floating vegetation, intently watching the water at its feet. As prey appears, the heron rapidly spears it with open mandibles.
Goliath heron nests are found in trees overhanging water, on the ground and in low bushes. Both sexes build the stick and reed platform nest, which measures three-to-four feet across. Both parents incubate two-to-four pale blue eggs for 29 days. The chicks are covered with long white down.
Birding in and around Lake Baringo
July was a stormy month with thunder rattling the very foundation of building and impressive fiery displays of sheet lighting illuminated the whole area whilst sizzling streaks of forked lightning hit the far hills of Tugen and Laikipia. Torrential rains had the lugga’s in full spate and subsequently the ever surging lake rose again swamping the shoreline grassland and acacias dominated lake shore.
Birds flocked back to Baringo. At first, while the grasses were still low, enthralling hours could be spent looking over this rewarding bird rich area for each day something new was sighted. African Jacana, Allen’s Gallinule, Little Bittern, Northern Red Bishop, Long-toed, Spur-winged and Blacksmith Lapwing; Squacco, Grey, Purple and Goliath Heron; Great white, Yellow-billed, little and Cattle Egret; Hamerkop, Sacred and Hadada Ibis; White-faced and Fulvous Duck. Egyptian Geese were plentiful and with them were often a few knob-billed Duck , and lastly the Red-knob coot was recorded swimming in the middle of the lake.
Pied Kingfishers were not uncommon and a malachite Kingfisher was seen perched on a long grass stalk. Wood and Common Sandpipers and Barn Swallow were sighted, either early arrivals from Europe or birds which over summered in Africa. One evening a large flock of Open-billed Storks flew in and overnighted here. All the above were seen but now the grasses are tall and the general shore flooded, most of the birdlife is hidden from view.
Birds wasted no time nesting and many fledglings are already trying their wings. A Grey-headed Bush Shrike killed a weaver, decapitated it and took the head for its young to feed on. The young bird wedged the head in a forked branch were it shredded and ate it. On other occasion a Gey-headed Bushshrike attempted to take eggs from sitting White-bellied Go-Away Bird but the Go-Away Birds flocked to the scene and averted the crime by chasing the Shrike off.
Cuckoo’s are searching for nests in which to lay their eggs. Great-Spotted Cuckoo’s particularly favour Bristle-crowned Starlings nests. Rufous Chatteres are host to Black & White Cuckoo’s and it was interesting to note that Brown Babblers got very agitated when a Black & White Cuckoo invaded their territory. Didric Cuckoo’s parasitise Weaver nests, Red-chested Cuckoo’s invariably leaves their young to be raised by the poor little Spotted Morning Thrush. When Cuckoo’s are around they are constantly being chased by their angry hosts.
The Fish Eagle appears to have one young on their nest in the top branches of the Kapok tree. As this is an early hatching it is hoped the young will survive the August storms.
One morning a pair of Pygmy Kingfisher and a pair of Red-fronted Tinkerbirds were darting around the bushes calling and courting. This caused a certain amount of dilemma for both species are so enchanting it was difficult to decide which pair to watch.
One evening the Verreaux’s Eagle Owls could be heard calling in the acacia woodland south of the Camp. The next day the pair was together. As no sighting had been had of the male for some time it was good to know he was still around. The not so young juvenile was then spied flying towards its parents and for several days the family stayed on an acacia in Robert’s Camp main house. Pearl Spotted Owlet was also spotted , it is so small it is difficult to find but its distinctive call can be heard in the early morning hours.
Enjoy your birding.
Joseph Aengwo,
Resident Ornithologist
Kenya Birding 