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Thursday, July 14, 2011

White-bellied Storks, a Grey Crowned Crane and a lifer!

On Tuesday after market, Sue wanted me to show her where we'd found the Red-chested Juvenile the night before. As we rode along the mine road towards the top dam, we had to pass the first dam which I've posted about on many occasions. We stopped to watch a flock of Yellow-billed Storks and a solitary Grey Crowned Crane.

Yellow-billed Storks

 Grey Crowned Crane

It's such a beautiful bird, I took many photos to share with you

I loved the reflection in this photo

Finally we decided we had enough photos and drove to the top dam. We didn't see the Red-chested Cuckoo Juvenile, although I spotted the White-browed Robin-chat fly down into the thicket where I suspect she has her nest. Driving back, we had a bird flying along the road in front of the vehicle. It sat on a tree near the road, we got out and took photos. For me this was a lifer: a Silverbird! (sounds like a car!)

Silverbird


The Silverbird is an unmistakable bird. The upperparts are silvery grey and the underparts are rufous in colour. It's locally common but generally uncommon. They are usually found in pairs (although we only spotted this one) in dry bush and acadia woodlands where they sit in the open on the tops of bushes or telephone wires. They hawk for insects in the air and the call is a sweet, thrush-like song. Now you know why I had another bird post today. To share this very beautiful bird with you.

As this post is aired, I'll be on my way to Eldoret. Sue and I are going to do shopping for the Guest House.

Have a wonderful day, everyone!

8 comments:

  1. Beautiful, Jo--especially the Silverbird and that gorgeous Crane... WOW!!!! Thanks for sharing.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  2. Fabulous for you, Jo. The silverbird is lovely and so is the crane.
    — K

    Kay, Alberta, Canada
    An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

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  3. Lovely photos of all the birds. I have photos of the Grey crowned crane. I didn't know the name of it so I'm glad I read your post today! Safe journey.

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  4. Thanks, Jo, for the great information. Between you and Betsy of Tennessee, I'm learning more about birds. I always loved watching the Crested Crane, Uganda's national bird.

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  5. Wonderful pictures, Jo! How lucky you are to have all these glorious birds right on your doorstep to enjoy as often as you wish! Hope your shopping trip went well and you enjoyed the outing :)

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  6. My, oh my, that crane is superb and so proud of hairdo the way he is looking admiringly at his reflections.

    Sorry I haven't been around much Jo. Things are not very pleasant here at the moment. I am getting less and less fond of the disrupting Mr.Alzheimer. Sometimes I hardly get a minute to myself.

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  7. I love the golden crown on the gray crane--stunning!

    Now I know where babies come from--all those storks in Kenya!

    Beautiful birds, JO

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Thank you for visiting my blog and taking the time to leave a comment. I appreciate your feedback. Jo