Birding in Kenya IV

Yes, I'm still sharing the wonderful birding we've done over the past two weeks, so I hope my regular (non-birding) readers will bear with me. This is my penultimate bird post this week!

While Grant watched the pretty little Lovebirds on the telephone pole, I wandered into the field next to the road where a movement had caught my eye. I quickly adjusted my camera settings as I'd been photographing the Lovebirds which was towards the sun.  I approached the spot of interest quietly and spotted another Jackson's Hornbill. It had just caught something in the long grass and flew to underneath a low bush. I managed a series of photos of this bird eating its dinner but no matter how closely I look, I cannot make out what the poor hapless creature is. Perhaps someone out there can identify the food in the hornbill's mouth.

A female Jackson' hornbill with the food in her mouth

Flicking her head back to get a better grip

Another toss of the head. Any ideas from readers, what this bird has in her beak will be welcome!

Almost down the hatch! I was interested in the two red "gashes" on the bird's neck and wondered if these are ears? My bird reference books don't give this type of information

 

 

We'd been out birding since 7.30 that Sunday morning. The sun was high in the sky and the day was becoming quite hot so we decided it was time to head for home. As we crossed the river below the mine offices, we stopped to allow a Sacred Ibis to cross in front of the vehicle.

The Sacred Ibis is mostly white with a contrasting naked black neck and head and a long decurved black bill. In breeding it grows long ornamental plumes over the tail (See above)

Another Sacred Ibis followed closely behind this one. This time it was an immature bird. 

 An immature Sacred Ibis has black and white mottled feathers over the head and neck

Another very rewarding day of birding in Keirio Valley.