Tons of Birds - Kenya **lot's of images**

[mjdmike]

Not much of a story here, just lot's of birds. A person could spend their entire safari doing nothing but chasing birds. At times, I wish I'd had a 500mm or 600mm, but it would have been tough to handle in the Cruiser. The 100-400 served me well for when we'd happen upon a feathered friend up close.

The one thing I would caution those that might go someday, is that if you want to do some serious birding, be choosy who you ride with on the game runs if you have a choice. Most people go to see the big game animals, and for those folks, stopping for a little yellow bird is a waste of time. I do understand that, for to each, his own. BUT c'mon non-birders, how often do you get to see an Eagle sitting in a tree not 50 feet away?!?

I was like a kid in a candy store... "BIRD!!! -- Bush, 11 o'clock!!!" The group thought I was wacko.

On a game run in the Samburu Reserve, I had to laugh out loud when I spotted an eagle, and burst out with; "Stop stop stop -- eagle eagle eagle!!" -- when I heard a mutter from the back of the Cruiser; "Oh great, another eagle....how lame....let's go see something without feathers..."

There are hundreds of bird species in Kenya, and so many are unusual and beautiful in color. It was a very rewarding part of the trip for me to see some of them.

If anyone can ID some of these, please let me know what they are (or if I got it wrong)

All shot with the 100-400, ISO400

Bee Eater
F9, ISO400, 1/320, 400mm, Av


Long-Tailed Shrike - 'Butcher Bird'
F9, ISO400, 1/1250, 400mm, Av


Crowned Crane
F9, ISO400, 1/1600, 400mm, -.67 EC, Av


Tawny Eagle
F9, ISO400, 1/500, 400mm, Av


Gray-headed Kingfisher
F9, ISO400, 1/2000, 400mm, -.33 EC, Av


Hawk Eagle with Snake
F9, ISO400, 1/400, 400mm, Av


Hawk Eagle in Flight
F9, ISO400, 1/1250, 400mm, Av


Gray-headed Kingfisher
F9, ISO400, 1/2000, 400mm, -.67 EC, Av


Lilac-breasted Roller - When he leaves a perch, he does a roll out like an airplane, hence the name. His under wings are incredibly striking in color. I couldn't get the group to sit long enough to wait for one to fly off...
F5.6, ISO400, 1/1600, 400mm, +1 EC, Av


Pied Kingfisher
F5.6, ISO400, -.67 EC, 1.1600, 400mm, Av


Secretary Bird - This guy walks all over the place stomping his feet and looking at the ground for whatever he stirs up. Once he flushes a mouse or snake, he traps it with one foot, and stomps the living crap out of it with the other. A funny and very interesting bird to watch. They never stop walking, covering many miles in a day. This is the only shot I got of one actually NOT looking at the ground.
F11, ISO400, 1/500, 400mm, -.33 EC, Av


Stork - Can Anyone ID? ** Patti ID'd as a Saddle Bill Stork**
F14, ISO400, 1.200, -.67 EC, 400mm, Av


A Little Yellow Waste of Time Bird
F5.6, ISO400, 1/160, 400mm, Av


Superb Starling -- Beautiful colors, and all over the place. Very common, much like our Starling.
F11, ISO400, 1/60, 400mm, Av


Red-billed Hornbill
F8, ISO400, 1/800, 400mm, Av


Goshawk on Fresh Kill
F6.3, ISO400, 1/1250, 400mm, Av

[Patti Edens]

Incredible shots Mike!

I think the stork is a Saddle Bill. See this site: http://www.birds-photos.com/main/gal...spx?name_id=39

[mjdmike]

Originally Posted by Patti Edens

Incredible shots Mike!

I think the stork is a Saddle Bill. See this site: http://www.birds-photos.com/main/gal...spx?name_id=39

Yes it is, thank you Patti!!

I also added a few more images. I'd better stop, too many birds to show.

[Tim T]

Awsome shots of some incredible looking birds Mike. Well done. I would not have guessed that you would have seen so many birds over there. I can see most of the people complaining about stopping for birds. Well worth the effort though. Based on your pictures so far, Anahuac will be a little lame compared to this. Looks like your practice over the past few months with the 100-400 paid off big time.

[jagphoto]

Mike these are beautiful! I am a non-birder, but even I would have loved to stop and look. I mean c'mon, how often are you in Kenya??

[labmansid]

Wow, what a great variety! That must have been so frustrating being rushed like that. Some people can be so narrow minded, huh. Those are some excellent shots, difficult to pick a favorite.

[ttusa]

Wow very unusual birds-very cool!

[ebhawley]

Fabulous shots. Thanks for posting.

[jeffkohn]

Nice series, incredible variety. And impressive shots with "only" 400mm reach.

[Boomer]

Like everyone else, I have really enjoyed all your shots from Kenya. Haven't commented on any b/c everyone else has said it all. What an amazing trip and you've done an excellent job describing it all - bringing all your photos to life.

Your bird shots are exceptional and I know how frustrating it can be to be shooting w/folks who aren't birders. But you captured 'em all beautifully. I am sooooo jealous!

[Jim Victory]

Fantastic series Mike!

The many variety of birds in Africa is more interesting to me than the mammals. You can see most of them in zoos, even though seeing them in the wild is preferred, but you can't see birds like these in most zoos and certainly not in Texas.

[Chimper]

Nice series. I'm guessing that your eagle is a Tawny Eagle. Tough to say with that pose and it looks like it's molting with no tail feathers. The crane is a Crowned Crane.

I didn't take my 600mm lens with me on my last African trip and I still regret it for this very reason... birds. Typical advice when going on safari is that the animals are close to the vehicle and you don't need long glass. If you want the bird shots you'll need the big lens. Plus, something that no one ever mentions is that the animals are far away from the vehicle too. When you shoot something near the vehicle you are shooting down at them which is not the best angle. With a big lens shooting further away, you lessen that angle and get better results.

[mjdmike]

Thanks everyone.

Greg, thanks for the Eagle ID, and correction on the crane.

[GonzoBernelli]

Outstaning, Mike! Just "bloody marvelous"! (What movie?)

[FrankA]

All great. Especially love the starling. Frank