I'm still sorting through my Kenya photos from the October safari.
I have so many and will eventually need to transfer them to my
portable drive to free up more storage here on the MacBook.
Today I'm sharing some of my favorite bird photos, all taken with my
bridge Canon Power Shot SX530 HS point and shoot (the one which was just
repaired after the Thanksgiving gravy spill!). I did not carry the heavy DSLR
on the trip, and had not yet purchased the Sony Cyber-shot DSC HX400V
which I'm now using and enjoying immensely.
As well as capturing shots of the mostly beautiful birds captured here, I love
viewing their resting places and seeing how well some are camouflaged on
the ground. Vegetation in the Masai Mara area of Kenya is much different from
what we're used to, especially the often painful looking thorny branches many
birds seem to pick for preening, mating, singing a song, or searching for the next meal.
Rüppell's Vulture
Bataleur Eagle Pair
African Fish Eagle
Lilac-breasted Roller
Long-tailed Fiscal
Little Bee-eater
Yellow-billed Stork family
Secretarybird
Sharpe's Longclaw
Black-winged Kite
Tawny Eagle
Rüppell's Vulture
Marabou Stork
Although on the ground here, these huge 5 foot tall, 20 pound birds are often
perched motionless on tree tops, silhouetted against the sky. Prevalent in
the city of Nairobi, and nicknamed the 'undertaker bird', they appear quite
terrifying on rooftops. They are scavengers and known to live off human
garbage and will devour anything from waste tips and slum areas.
They are called "one of the ugliest creatures of the world".
All I can say is that I'm glad they're not in my garden.
Black-and-White Casqued Hornbill
Due to the wide variety of habitats, there are said to be an amazing 470 bird species
in the Masai Mara Game Reserve - perhaps I need to go back and find a lot more!
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My goodness, Mary, these are fabulous. Magazine-worthy. Love the little bee-eater. :)
ReplyDeleteYour bird pictures are just amazing. I think you must use a very special way of editing them to make them really stand out. They are gorgeous. It would be a life long dream to see so many unusual and amazing birds as you have seen. I think you should do some sort of picture book just of the birds you have seen, even if it is only one book for yourself. It would be gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteWhat an incredible array of birds, and your photos are absolutely wonderful. I think I like the little Bee-eater best - what a pretty little thing. Some of the others do look most intimidating, which seems fitting for Africa.
ReplyDeletePS Thank you for visiting my blog.
Beautiful photos, Mary of the Kenyan birds! Bravo Sony Cyber Shot, too! I am still using my 16 year old Sony Cyber Shot, although I need to upgrade to a bigger Memory Stick - if they have one for such an old model. I have always been intrigued by birds, ever since my first report on them in grade school and your gorgeous pictures enliven my lifelong interest in them. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeletePoppy
Dear Mary, These are fabulous shots. You really know how to capture wildlife.
ReplyDeleteSpectacular photos ... just wonderful !
ReplyDeleteJust getting back to a regular blogging routine and catching up. Oy! So lovely to see you here and find out how you're doing. :)
ReplyDeleteNOTE:I wanted to let you know that my new blog address is http://www.alexandramacvean.blogspot.com. Please make sure to update your newsfeed so we can stay in touch! :)
Absolutely stunning - each photo I thought was my favorite until the next one came along - I've never seen such magnificent birds. The photos are stunningly amazing. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeletewhat wonderful collection of marvelous birdy photos.
ReplyDeletei thoroughly enjoyed specially bee eater is so cute
All that I can say Mary is .... AMAZING, AMAZING, AMAZING !!! The most beautiful photographs .... EVER !!! XXXX
ReplyDeleteI was just thinking how many you captured here but you;ve only scratched the surface apparently. Wow. And they are all so amazing. I love the Lilac-breasted Roller--so beautiful and those eagles, incredible
ReplyDelete