Gannets!!

 I don't often go out "birding" nowadays, without there being the potential for a "tick", but today was a little different, as Jayne and I headed over to RSPB Bempton Cliffs for our second time this year. The reason for today's visit was to see, and photograph, this year's juvenile birds (something we'd never done, despite saying we would every year!!).

Juvenile

The weather forecast was perfect, and, for once, it stayed perfect, with beautiful blue skies, little wind, and temperatures of 23 degrees. There were still lots of adult birds present, along with juveniles, in varying stages of development, and other, immature birds from previous years. The RSPB also have a great display showing how the birds develop, and change, as they mature.

Very young bird, covered in down

Preening out that pesky down!

3rd year birds?

Most of the other breeding birds had left, but we did spot a few Fulmars, 3 Razorbills (juveniles on the sea). Other birds seen were: Linnet, Goldfinch, Tree Sparrow, Jackdaw and a fantastic brood of 5 Swallows in a nest on the Visitor Centre.

Swallows

Maasai Mara Birds - Part 2

 In addition to the birds already listed, we managed to see many other species whilst in the Maasai Mara. Here are a list of them, with a few photos: Abyssinian Thrush, Pied Crow, Baglafecht Weaver (seen in the hotel grounds in Nairobi)  White-eyed Slatey Flycatcher, Streaky Seedeater, Cape Crow, Long-tailed Fiscal, Ruppel's Starling, Lesser-striped Swallow, Hildebrandt's Starling and Variable Sunbird (seen enroute, in the Rift Valley).

Ruppel's Starling

On arrival at the Sopa Lodge, Maasai Mara, we added a few more species: Cardinal Woodpecker, Red-eyed Dove, Little Swift (nesting) and a possible Amethyst Sunbird.

That evening's game drive added: Common Bulbul, Ring-necked Dove, Yellow-billed Oxpecker, Yellow-throated Longclaw, Little Bee-eater, Helmeted Guineafowl and Ostrich.

Little Bee eaters

Ostrich

The next day, we added: Tropical Boubou, Plain Martin, Grey-backed Fiscal, Yellow-throated Sandgrouse, Common/Fork-tailed Drongo, Red-necked Spurfowl, Wattled Starling, Village Weaver, Barn Swallow, Sooty Chat and African Pipit.

Red-necked Spurfowl

Yellow-throated Sandgrouse

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

Maasai Mara Birds - Part 1

Where do I begin? In the 2 days in the Maasai Mara, we saw 50+ species of bird, pretty much all of them lifers! I can't list them all here, but I've included a few photos of my favourite species.

One bird that I have to include is the Superb Starling. It's one of the most obvious, common and stunning birds that you see on a trip to Kenya. They're everywhere!! We saw them pretty much everyday, including just along the roads as we were driving. Very impressive birds.

Superb Starling

Another bird that must get a mention is the national bird of Kenya - the Grey Crowned Crane. We saw this species a few times on the Mara, including once when we saw a pair with a chick.

Grey Crowned Crane (adult and juvenile)

The bird with the best name must be the Bare-faced Go-away Bird! We were lucky enough to see one that landed right next to the jeep on our first drive.

Bare-faced Go-away Bird

Other species seen included: African Pied Wagtail, Lilac-breasted Roller and the superb White-browed Robin Chat (seen coming out of the toilet in a roadside services!!).

African Pied Wagtail

Lilac-breasted Roller

White-browed Robin Chat

The final bird for this post is the Marabou Stork. This is another iconic species of the African plains, and one we saw on all our drives in the Mara. Not the most attractive species (!), but one that plays an important role in keeping the environment clean and healthy.

Marabou Stork

Linacre WeBS and Ringing

 This week, I have been down to Linacre a couple of times to carry out this month's WeBS count and for a ringing session.

The WeBS count was as follows: Mallard (46), Tufted Duck (28 adults, no breeding again this year), Mandarin Duck (5), Coot (8; 5 adults and 3 juveniles), Moorhen (8; 5 adults and 3 juveniles),  Grey Wagtail (4), Cormorant (1), Grey Heron (1), Great-crested Grebe (4: 1 adult and 3 juveniles) and 1 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull. Other birds seen were: Goldfinch, Bullfinch (heard), Robin, Dunnock, Chiffchaff, 1 Mistle Thrush, c.8 House Martins and c.20 Swallows.

The ringing session, held on 23rd, was the best one so far this year, with 80 birds ringed. Totals were (new/retrap): Chiffchaff (19/0 - all juveniles), Willow Warbler (5/0 - 4 juveniles), Blackcap (14/1 - the retrap being a juvenile first ringed here in July), Blackbird (1/0 - an adult), Blue Tit (20/1 - the retrap being a bird ringed in box c.26 on 18th May 2025), Great Tit (6/0 - all juveniles), Long-tailed Tit (1/1 - the retrap being a bird first ringed here in November 2024), Robin (2/0 - both juveniles), Wren (2/0 - 1 juvenile), Goldfinch (1/0 - 1 juvenile), Dunnock (1 juvenile) and Goldcrest (5/0 - 4 juveniles).

Other birds seen were: House Martin (c.17), Swallow (2 over) and Crossbill (10 over).

5 butterflies (3 Red Admirals, 1 Speckled Wood and 1 Painted Lady) were also seen.