Weekly Photo Challenge: H2O of Life

We are approaching the end of the dry season here and have the odd storm – but water still remains scarce away from the Lake. This summer we have had constructed a bird bath, comprising a wheel hub, pole and some metal prongs it resembles a hat stand but the bind lid sitting upon the prongs reveals it’s true purpose. It took several weeks to attract it’s first customers but is now in use by birds of all sizes including the Yellow-billed Black Kites which swoop in for a drink.

Other birds include house sparrows, yellow-vented bulbuls, african thrushes and red-billed fire finches, a grey-headed kingfisher- all seeking H2O

Weekly Photo Challenge: H2O (of Life)

We are approaching the end of the dry season here and have the odd storm – but water still remains scarce away from the Lake. This summer we have had constructed a bird bath, comprising a wheel hub, pole and some metal prongs it resembles a hat stand but the bin lid sitting upon the prongs reveals it’s true purpose. It took several weeks to attract it’s first customers but is now in use by birds of all sizes including the Yellow-billed Black Kites which swoop in for a drink.

Other birds include house sparrows, yellow-vented bulbuls, african thrushes and red-billed fire finches, a grey-headed kingfisher- all seeking H2O

A Bird a Day in June: Day 6 – Yellow-billed Black Kite

Day 6 of a series illustrating some of the fantastic birds we see here on Lake Victoria and across Tanzania. Many of these are seen in our garden like this regular visitor.

Yellow-billed Black Kite

Yellow-billed Black Kite

Catch up on  other days

• Day 1: Black-headed Gonolek
• Day 2: Green-winged Pytilia
• Day 3: Purple Grenadier
• Day 4: Eastern Grey Plantain Eater
• Day 5: Spotted Morning Thrush
• Day 6: Yellow-billed Black Kite
• Day 7: African Paradise Flycatcher
• Day 8: Variable Sunbird
• Day 9: White-browed Robin Chat
• Day 10: Red-cheeked Cordon Bleu
• Day 11: Grey-capped Warbler
• Day 12: Hadada Ibis
• Day 13: Red-chested Sunbird

Nesting Instinct

There’s been a change in behaviour in much of the bird life here in Mwanza. Everything from the tiny Red-billed Firefinch collecting grass stalks to the enormous Yellow-billed Black Kites collecting branches. All with one purpose to build a nest. The long rains are probably imminent if not upon us already. Nesting instinct is taking over. 

    
    
    
    
   

Serengeti Review: Birds of Prey

We returned last weekend from a fabulous three days in the Serengeti, including a great balloon trip.

This is the second of a series of posts outlining the creatures we encountered – this time birds of prey

Vultures

Last occasion we saw no vultures – so it was a real treat to see two species this time

Lappet-faced Vulture   
  

Rüppell’s Griffon Vulture  
    
    
 

Goshawks

We saw these birds in the Ngorogoro and Serengeti 

Eastern Chanting Goshawk  

Dark Chanting Goshawk

Kestrel

A Greater Kestrel at the entrance to the Serengeti  

Buzzard

This Steppe Buzzard aka Common Buzzard  

Eagles

 African Fish Eagle

We caught this bird drying it’s wings in the sun.

  
Martial Eagle 

Flying high in the sky above the rim of the Ngorogoro crater

  Tawny Eagle  

Batleur  

Kite

Black shouldered kites were common throughout the Seronera and this juvenile was seen in a tree 

  

Kite Flight

T Minus 49

Today as usual on the way home I viewed the kites sweeping majestically through the sky. These kites are not

the man made sort; all fabric and cord, but the feathered variety; Red Kites.