Weekend for the Birds

Last weekend was mid-term break so we decided to head northwest and cross the equator. Our goal was Lake Baringo and Lake Bogoria. The former is known for good bird watching but we soon felt like we were the ones being watched when this Superb Starling came to within ten inches of our dinner table.

En route our driver, Benson, pointed out this Yellow-billed Stork and we immediately knew it was going to be a good weekend.

Lake Baringo is a fresh water lake and home to many birds and fish. Benson soon had us out on the lake and couldn't wait to show us the fish eagle swooping for fish.

We bought the necessary fish from these two fisherman who spend their day sitting in these small home-made "canoes" fishing to feed both birds and man.

The eagle waited from a high tree until he heard the whistle of the boat driver and saw the fish flying through the air. He quickly came near our boat and snatched the fish and took it back to his perch to devour.

Soon they were sailing us around several of the seven
islands in the middle of the lake. We were so thrilled
to see this Water Thick-knee, a nocturnal bird
that we never would have spotted ourselves.

You can hardly see it, but high on
this island are sheep running along
the horizon.















We were then honored with the sight of this
Pied Kingfisher pair.














This little guy
is a Malachite
Kingfisher.

As we came back toward shore, a crocodile slithered into the water and an Egyptian goose with her babies scampered away.

Lake Baringo is very important to the people of the area. To many people nearby, it is their only source of water. Here you see women gathering and carrying water back to their homes or using the lake to wash their clothes.

Once back to shore, Benson, our driver, and our bird guide,
Elijah, took us to find more nocturnal birds. You
may have trouble seeing the Heuglin's Courser. We did
and never would have found it without Elijah. The
Africans we've encountered on these trips seem to
have unbelievable eyesight. They would spot things
with the naked eye and identify them when we could
hardly do so with our binoculars!

Below is a spotted Eagle-Owl.

While we were watching birds, we were being watched. These little fellows stayed nearby and were so happy to see their picture on the digital camera.

They took us by "the cliffs" where we saw Fan-tailed Ravens and a mammal, a Hyrax, but were not close enough to get good pictures.

Off to Lake Bogoria, an alkaline lake.
An ostrich came near the road and these Grant's gazelles
were not to be outdone by the birds.

As we entered Lake Bogoria, we felt
like we were entering Yellowstone National
Park in the US but the sight of thousands
of Flamingos made us realize otherwise.
































Soon we were at the
boiling pots and
realized we weren't
the only people
there to watch
birds!










Gibson and
Elijah set
to work
boiling us
eggs and
potatoes
for an
afternoon
snack.

Our appetites satisfied, we drove farther down into the park where there were thousands and thousands of Flamingos. Gibson asked us if we wanted to go closer. We thought we said, "no," but soon we were where we didn't want to be.




We were
stuck in
the local
clay soil!







Several
Africans
stopped by
to help
including
this lady
dressed in
her Sunday
best!

Things went from bad to worse. As the sun was quickly setting, we wondered if we were going to be spending the night with the Flamingos.

But eventually another vehicle arrived. With two jacks, many stones under the tires, people pushing from the rear and the vehicle pulling from the front, we were free!

Let me add that this area is very proud of its honey production. They cut a log in half, carve it out, and put it back together. It is hung in a tree and the bees do the rest. They were happy to point out the "modern" way of doing it with the yellow boxes hung in the tree. Honey was for sale all along the roadways in the area.

We could not fly away home the next day but these Go-away birds could have. With thirty-six new
birds for Vic's life list, we are grateful to have had this weekend that was or was not for the
birds, depending on your perspective!