Lake Nakuru Mammals

 As well as all the amazing birds, during our time at Lake Nakuru, we continued to enjoy the mammals Kenya has to offer.

Some of the mammals seen had already been record in the Maasai Mara e.g. Cape Buffalo, Plains Zebra, Impala and Vervet Monkey, but we also saw 3 new ones.

Impala

Thompson's Gazelle

The first new species was White Rhinoceros. We saw these on the both drives at Lake Nakuru, and were very lucky indeed to see 6, made up of 5 adults and young one!

White Rhinoceros

Adult and youngster (calf)

The second new species was the Black Rhinoceros. This species is much rarer, and we only had one, quite distant, sighting of an adult. It is told apart from the White Rhino, by  a much more deeply arched back and a more delicate mouth, used for eating leaves.

Black Rhinoceros

The final mammal of note was Rothchild's Giraffe. Although not a species of its own (apparently its a ecotype of the Nubian Giraffe), it was great to see. They are rarer than the Maasai Giraffe we saw in Maasai Mara, with an estimated 1,300 adults in the wild, and can be told apart by much paler legs and coat colour.

Rothchild's Giraffe

Lake Nakuru Birds - 26th July 2024

 After our time in the Maasai Mara, Jayne and I drove across to Lake Nakuru National Park/Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge for an overnight stay. 

On arrival, we drove through the park, stopping off at the Lake for a short (1 hour) visit. The first birds we saw in the park were Yellow-collared Lovebirds, which we nesting in the entrance building!) Variable Sunbirds (male and female) were also seen in this area. Arriving at the lake we spotted Little, Cattle and Great Egret, African Openbill Stork, Black-winged Stilt, Lesser and Greater Flamingo (c.30), African Spoonbill, African Skimmer, Giant Kingfisher (a quick fly-past!), Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Cape Teal and, the best for me, Grey-headed Gull (3 adults and 1 juvenile).

Grey-headed Gull

Cape Teal

Arriving at the Lodge, we went to out accommodation, adding several new birds to the trip list: Hildebrandt's Francolin/Spurfowl, Eurasian Roller, Hoopoe (Eurasian or African), Red-winged Starling, African Paradise Flycatcher, Common Bulbul, Mosque Swallow, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher, Plain Martin, White-rumped Swift, Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu, Little Bee-eater and Speckled Pigeon.

Speckled Pigeon

After a short break, we went on an afternoon game drive seeing: Red-billed Oxpecker, Augur Buzzard, African Pied Wagtail, Crowned Lapwing, Spur-winged Plover, Blacksmith Plover, Lilac-breasted Roller, Grey-backed Fiscal, Hadada Ibis, Kittlitz's Plover, Great White Pelican, Egyptian Goose, Yellow-billed Stork, Grey Heron, Red-eyed Dove, Grey Crowned Crane, Helmeted Guineafowl, Abyssinian Wheatear and Greater Blue-eared Starling. 

Greater Blue-eared Starling

Next morning, we had a quick drive before moving on to Lake Naivasha. Additional species seen were: Brown-crested Eagle, Common Sandpiper, Hamerkop, Pied Crow, Superb and Hildebrandt's Starling, Black-headed Heron and Common (Fork-tailed) Drongo.

Hildebrandt's Starling

African Plovers, Thick-knees and Waders

 Over the course of our African holiday, Jayne and I managed to spot 12 species of plover, wader and Thick-knee. The majority, as expected, were around the areas of Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha, but some were by the side of the roads, and included 8 species we'd never seen before.

The most common bird seen was the Crowned Lapwing. They were seen across most of the Maasai Mara, as well as, along most of the roads in Kenya.

Crowned Lapwing

Spur-winged Plover was another common bird, the first one being seen on our first drive in the Mara. It appeared to be nesting on the side of a lake where we were watching our first wild Hippopotamuses.

Spur-winged Plover

Arriving at Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha saw an upturn in the numbers of wading birds (obviously!), with the following seen: Black-winged Stilt, Avocet, Common Sandpiper, and two new species, Kittlitz's Plover and Blacksmith Plover. 

Kittlitz's Plover

Blacksmith Plover

Also seen at Lake Naivasha were two other much sought after birds: African Jacana and Black Crake.

African Jacana

Black Crake

One new species was added in Amboseli; Long-toed Lapwing/Plover, with one spotted nesting behind our first Blue-billed Teal.

Long-toed Plover (and Blue-billed Teal)

The last 2 species of wader seen were spotted in our second week, on Zanzibar. The first species: Water Thick-knee, was heard (first) and later identified, from our balcony, in the grounds of our hotel! Related to "our" Stone Curlews, it has a very similar appearance, but, unfortunately, its nocturnal habits meant that I only managed poor views, and even poorer photos, which I won't bother you with!! Here's a link instead.

The final species seen, also on Zanzibar, was Whimbrel. One bird was spotted feeding in an estuary close to the hotel.

African Birds of Prey

 Birds of prey were numerous in Kenya, but, unfortunately, quite tricky to photograph! Over the course of the week we managed to see 12 species, including 3 vultures.

Birds of prey seen were (in order of being seen): Black Kite (over Nairobi), African Harrier Hawk and Bateleur (both seen on the  ride from Nairobi to Maasai Mara), Lappet-faced, White-backed and Ruppel's Vultures,

White-backed Vulture

White-backed Vultures

Ruppel's (Griffon) Vulture

Black-chested Snake Eagle (all seen in the Maasai Mara), Augur Buzzard (by the roadside between Maasai Mara and Lake Nakuru, also at Lake Nakuru), 

Augur Buzzard

African Fish Eagle (Lake Nakuru), 

African Fish Eagle

Tawny Eagle (roadside between Lake Naivasha and Amboseli), Eastern Chanting Goshawk (on roadside post in Amboseli) and African Black-shouldered Kite (on roadside, just outside Nairobi).

African Birds - Storks, Egrets, Ibises and Herons

Whilst in Kenya, Jayne and I managed to see many different storks and herons.

The first species we saw was the Saddle-billed Stork (seen on our first drive in the Maasai Mara). Hamerkop, Secretary Bird and Black Heron were also seen in the Maasai Mara.

Saddle-billed Stork

Yellow-billed Storks were first spotted nesting, en-route to Lake Nakuru.

Yellow-billed Stork

One of the most common birds were saw was the African Sacred Ibis, the first ones flying over the hotel in Nairobi! We also had many birds at Lake Naivasha.

African Sacred Ibis, Lake Naivasha

Two other species of Ibis were also seen: Hadada and Glossy.

Hadada Ibis

African Openbill and African Spoonbill were also seen at Lake Naivasha, along with Little, Squacco and Great (White) Egrets. Black-headed Heron was spotted at Lake Nakuru.

African Openbill, Grey Heron, Little Egret and Yellow-billed Stork

African Spoonbill

Cattle Egrets were plentiful, especially around the larger mammals, such as African Elephants and Cape Buffalo.

Cattle Egret at Amboseli