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
