Reader Jente Ottenburghs, who studies biology in the Netherlands, sent some photos taken in Tanzania and a note:
In April I went to Tanzania for a two-week birding trip. Because it was low-season, it was very quiet on the savannah, in terms of jeeps. But it is the best time for bird watching. During the trip, I realized that most tourists don’t give a hoot about the birds, they are only interested in the big mammals. They don’t know what they are missing!
Black-faced sandgrouse, Pterocles decoratus [can you spot the grouse?]
Black-shouldered kite, Elanus caeruleus:
Two grey crowned cranes, Balearica regulorum:
Vultures on carcass (species not identified. Readers?):
Hamerkop (Scopus umbretta):
Here’s a picture of the hamerkop from Wikipedia, showing how it earned its name of “hammerhead”:
Great shots, Jente. Must say I don’t remember all that many birds from my trip in the 70s, except for the Corey bustard.
Small correction, Jerry. I am actually doing a PhD in the Netherlands (by the way, more info here: http://hybrid-geese.webnode.com/)
But I guess a PhD is still some kind of student 🙂
(And while I am on it: here is my blog: http://evolutionarystories.blogspot.nl/)
Yes, at least to Americans, you’re a student while getting any graduate degree. Thanks for the links!
Fabulous pix, Jente!
The black-shouldered kite has wonderful eyes: red with a black ‘comma’ above making them look huge. A beautiful raptor indeed.
Very interesting. I think it is a griffon vulture.
The carcass on the other hand is very hard to spot. Perhaps a mortuus inanus?
‘Dead empty’? I think there is a bit of zebra leg in the lower left corner.
Tanzania is outside the range of griffons. Ethiopia is about as far south as it gets.
These will be White-backed vultures, a close relative whose population has been sliding to the point that it is now Critically Endangered.
Great.
I too have been amazed by the birds in Africa, have posted two galleries of bird pics on Facebook: From Kenya, 2012, at https://www.facebook.com/Bill.Melchior.Jr/media_set?set=a.4615521505607.195847.1219659603&type=3; and from South Africa, Zambia, and Botswana, 2014, at https://www.facebook.com/Bill.Melchior.Jr/media_set?set=a.10204519547448243.1073741827.1219659603&type=3. (The latter includes a Hamerkop.)
Those vultures are White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus).
Actually, the back of the vulture on the bottom left corner of the picture with vultures is a Rüppell’s Vulture, while the others are White-backed Vultures…
It’s common to have several species gathered on a single carcass like this.
Those are some big eyes you have there, Black-shouldered kite!
I think hamerkop is in disguise. The beak looks strapped on. I think I can even see the strings holding it. 😉
He’d look cool riding a hammerhead shark ( probably not gonna happen in the Serengeti)
Thanks for the lovely birds. Really like the hamerkop silhouette.
Great photos! I love the sandgrouse. And very cool websites too; your research sounds quite exciting!