Thursday, June 30, 2011

BLue-Bottle Fly Macro- Kenya

Face-to-face with a Nairobi Bluebottle fly. Quite pretty when you take a close look.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Njemps Children- Lake Baringo Kenya

Njemps tribe children from Lake Baringo. The local school is almost entirely supported by tourism-derived income in association with Lake Baringo Island Camp.

Monday, June 27, 2011

Goliath Heron- Lake Baringo Kenya

Definitely the tallest bird at Lake Baringo (here), standing over 5 ft tall- the Goliath Heron. Solitary and strongly territorial from my observations.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Long-Tusked Tusker, Amboseli Kenya

This snaggle-toothed old tusker is a regular visitor to the Tawi Lodge water-hole, which is a veritable elephant spa, offering the best in mud-baths, fresh water and rubbing-trees.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Hadada Ibis- Nairobi Park, Kenya

Hadada Ibis are some of the loudest and most stridently vocal birds found in Kenya. Other than that, they are quite nice, no?

Click on the image for better resolution.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Mara Wildebeest Migration 2011- Kenya

A photo taken during the 2010 migration. I'm informed that wildebeest are tricking into the Masai Mara from the Serengeti early this year & that river crossings have begun as the animals traverse the grasslands in their usual fashion. The annual peak for migration activity and numbers is usually the month of August. Both Zebra and Wildebeest take part in this annual trek between two widely separated grazing areas.

Monday, June 20, 2011

Maasi Ostrich- Nairobi Park, Kenya

Its difficult to comprehend just how big these birds are until you get close to them. This big male from Nairobi Park likely weighs around 125kg... 275 lb!

Friday, June 17, 2011

Jackson's Chameleon, Nairobi Kenya

This ferocious predator creeps verrrrrry slooooooowly around my back yard here in Nairobi. There are hundreds per acre in this type of closed canopy Croton/Brown Olive climax forest.

I've even found chameleons above 10,000 feet altitude on a frosty morning in the Aberdare mountains. They are adaptable and hardy creatures.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Amboseli Elephant- Kenya

Amboseli swamp elephants have a well-scrubbed appearance.......

You can see the swamps clearly here.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Malachite Kingfisher- Nairobi Park, Kenya

A Malachite Kingfisher amongst papyrus reeds in Nairobi Park. This is one of the smaller Kingfishers- only 10 cm or so in tall (sitting).

Monday, June 13, 2011

Peri-urban Wildlife, Nairobi Park Kenya

The eastern side of Nairobi Park provides some interesting contrasts. This park is large enough (117 square km) to support pretty well all of Kenya's major wildlife species with the exception of elephant.
See details at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nairobi_National_Park

Friday, June 10, 2011

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Hyena Pup- Amboseli Kenya

A rather lean & hungry looking Hyena pup from the Amboseli "airstrip' den.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Thick-Knee on Nest. Masai Mara Kenya

This little Thick-Knee was determined not to leave her nest in the Mara. I approached to within 10 feet before retreating- fully intimidated by her steely gaze.....

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Warthog- Masai Mara, Kenya

A particularly well-tusked warthog from the Mara. Named Phacochoerus aethiopicus in fact.....

Monday, June 6, 2011

Back-yard Macro photo- Nairobi

Some flowers can retain beauty even after their petals fall off- like this unidentified flower from my back yard.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Ostrich- Nairobi Park

Taken earlier this week in Nairobi Park, this male allowed us to approach closer than usual for a portrait shot.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Caught on the Wing- Malachite Kingfisher- Nairobi Kenya

Caught this Little Malachite Kingfisher on the wing in Nairobi Park earlier this week. Lucky shot!

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Masai Mara Hyena- Kenya

Keeping cool on a warm afternoon in the Mara. Not uncommon to find hyena wallowing on warm days- it's an efficient method of regulating body temperature.