Birds of Masai Mara - Grassland and Open Areas

One have to really keep in focus of what they really want when out on a photography trip. especially in Masai Mara. There are so many interesting thing to shoot. From landscape, cultural, and the most famous Big Five!

While shooting animals, I'm also always on the look out for other feathers friend that are nearby. I shall start with birds of grassland and open areas.

I saw this Southern ground hornbill fly pass  overhead while I'm busy shooting a cheetah. However, this hornbill prefer to have our full attention and willing to wait for us to finish with the cheetah! She make sure we have good photo of her before she fly away. What a good way to start by African birds collection!

 I'm so excited when I first saw this  Pied Crow. All the crow in Singapore are black in colour.

I have seen this Helmeted Guineafowl many times. But this is also my first time seeing one in their natural habitats.

Unmistakable,  Ostrich  is the fastest running birds in the world. The only animal that fast enough to catch them is cheetah.

 Another very common bird in Masai Mara is Anteater Chat. I see them almost every day.

African pipit is another new bird for me. So far all the birds that I spotted are new to me! Going at this rate, seeing 30 or 40 new birds for this trip is not a problem at all.

Temminck’s Courser have a rather short tail compare to the body size. May be that is the reason they prefer to run from any threat rather than take flight...

Yellow-throated Longclaw have a very distinctive yellow throat that set them apart from pipit.

 Black-bellied Bustard is also a new bird for me.

Kori bustard is one of the largest bird that can fly. Although Ostrich is much larger but they have lost the ability to fly.

Very First Trip to Masai Mara, Kenya, Africa

I can’t remember when, but ever since I first came across the documentary that featured the rich wilderness of Africa. I told myself one day, I want to visit this place and see it with my own eyes. Watching the movie Born free further fueled my desire to wanted to visit this wonderful place on earth.

Thanks to my friend Ling, I finally get to visit this wonderful place in October 2018. We started our preparation way back in February, and all the trouble is worth it.

There is no direct flight from Singapore to Kenya and we have our transit in Bangkok, Thailand. After crossing the Indian Ocean, we finally arrived at Kenya! My very first visit to Africa continent.

 It was a dream come true for me to set foot on this continent!

 As soon as I am out of airport, I was greeted by this Superb starling! What a great way to start my trip.

 Yes. I want to see the huge African elephants! So far I have seen the pygmy elephants of Borneo, elephants of Thailand and never seen a African elephant yet.

 Once we are out of the city of Nairobi, I have a first glimpse of  the African savanna.

 The place that we are going, Masai Mara, sits right in the middle of the Great Rift Valley.

Will Africa be split into 2? There are lots of debates going on and my take is it will happen one day. Not if, but when. Our earth is moving and changing everyday just that it happen so slow that we didn't notice it...

Just a few months ago, a mysterious crack happens in Kenya. Not sure if it is related but it just add to the ongoing debates of the Africa splitting into 2 theories...

 Masai people with their cattle.

We stay in Talek for one night, a small village on the outside of the Masai Mara entrance. Feeling excited, I woke up at 3am and took this photo of the African night sky with the 4WD that we will be using to explore Masai Mara for the next few days.

The gate is not even open when we arrive. Can't wait to get into Masai Mara.... to be continued

Oriental Pied Hornbill Picky About Snail

While on my way to Hide 1D from the Main Bridge of SBWR, spotted this Oriental Pied Hornbill caught an african snail. Like other hornbill, as their bill is much longer than other birds they can't manipulate their food with their tounge. So they have to toss the food caught directly to their throat.

Seeing an Oriental Pied Hornbilll on the ground is uncommon and getting to see this male hornbill catch the prey on the ground is even epic.

After the 1st toss, the hornbill manage to move the snail to the middle of his bill.

The hornbill continue to jerk his head and move the snail further in.

The hornbill crushed the shell of the snail in the process. Not sure if this is by purpose to de-shell it or accidentally.

The hornbill repeat the tossing process with the half 'naked' snail.

The hornbill miss the snail and fell off it's grip.

The hornbill pick it up again and I didn't realise is the different snail until I take a closer look while processing the photos.

This time round, the hornbill decided to go somewhere else to enjoy his meal lead me one big question unanswered. Is the hornbill dropped the half 'naked' snail by purpose or accidentally. Could it be the hornbill become picky when the food is abundant?