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@Yan Van Dainne
Photo@Joseph Aengwo
Photo@Jurg Hosang
Green-backed or Striated Heron as it is sometimes known is a small,short-legged heron with characteristic of a hunched posture.Adult bird appear dark greyish above with greenish-black erectile crown feathers;grey below with white throat and with a broad chestnut-buff line down foreneck.Legs and feet yellow(orange or red-orange when breeding;bill rather short,blackish with greenish-yellow base and yellow eyes.
Generally Striated heron is a shy and solitary bird, and likes creeping low a long waterside three or roots, and it is mainly diurnal.Well distributed and common in wetlands.
Woodland Kingfisher (Halcyon s. senegalensis)
Photo@Yan Van Danne
Rufous-crowned or Purple Roller has it is sometimes referred to is a very uncommon compared to other species of Rollers, with exception of Abyssinian Roller.It feed on big insect and it can be observed from one spot for some time as it scanned and goes for his prey and returning to the same location .
The bird is generally purple as the name suggest with violet tailed and a little spot on the wing shoulder.It is the biggest roller we have in East Africa, therefore identifying this bird should never be a problem at all.
It is very common in areas around Lake Baringo, Lake Bogoria, Kerio Valley, Kapedo, Samburu National reserve and Meru National Park.
Photo@Yan Von Danne
This rare norrow-winged, Kestrel-sized falcon typically associated with Palm tree.It can easily be identified from its Red-rufous crown that extend all the way to the scapular. This beautiful raptor has a white face, chin and the upper breast, with broad pale rufoous band across upper breast.Pale blue-grey above with fine black barring;primaries and primary covert darker. The wings are pretty short compared to typical falcons like Peregrine.
Uncommon in low open country, especially with palms and acacia of Galana river, Meru and Samburu national park, Lake Turkana and the coastal part of Kenya.This photo was taken by a friend of mine in Samburu National Reserve.
Kenya Birding 