Raptors identified by visiting birder!

During the week we had a very special visitor from Dar Es Salaam. Jess, who has his own catering company, came to visit so that he could tender to do the Guest House catering. Over the past 18 months, I've run the Guest House. (for love, not money, grrr) On the first visit made by our General Manager, Johnny, Grant asked him if the company could remunerate me in any way. Even though Grant and I are both Tanzanian residents, he has a work permit and I don't. So therefore I cannot be rewarded in any manner, way or form for my labors! Ironically the reason why the company doesn't have outsourced catering, is that it's frightfully expensive. Nevertheless, Grant and Johnny contacted several catering companies and over the past six-eight weeks, these have visited the site and submitted their tenders. Jess was the last one to arrive. 

Although I have no idea whom the company will appoint, (I'm more certain that in September next year I'll be posting that we're still waiting to hear which company, if any,  was successful in getting the tender! ) it was really great to meet Jess. He, who's lived in Tanzania since 1998,  is our age, he's Irish and full of bounce and humor. To top it all he's a seasoned Tanzanian birder! While he stayed in the little cottage behind our house, he spotted and pointed out no less than three different birds which I'd never noticed! (And there I was priding myself on my observant nature!) He also identified the two raptors which I didn't post on Wednesday, because I hadn't had positive id's!  

As raptors are very difficult for both me and Grant to identify, Jess not only named the birds, but showed me the distinguishing features which makes it easier to identify them! 

Immature Dark Chanting Goshawk

Shortly after seeing the Goshawk, we spotted this pair of eagles in a tree quite near to the road. 

A pair of eagles identified as...

... Steppe eagles

 

 Steppe Eagles

I hope you're all having a wonderful weekend.