Reflecting on flamingoes 27 October, 2009

Flight path

Shortly before leaving Kenya to begin our move to Cyprus, we spent a weekend in a cabin at the Pinklakeman’s resort in Lake Elementaita, a couple of hours drive north of Nairobi.

The lake is famous for its flamingoes, who enjoy eating the spirulina algae which thrive on the sulphurous hot spring water that feeds one end of the lake.

We wallowed in the hot pool that is formed by these springs, though it took care to avoid the debris left by local maasai women who wash clothes there. The mineral-rich water has an oily feel which, we hope, is good for the skin – though it makes it harder to get dry afterward.

Kira in the pink

Early morning alarm call 20 March, 2009

Giant Kingfisher, 18 March 2009, Hardy, Nairobi

We were woken up early this morning by a sharp rap-rapping on the concrete plinth over the pond, outside our bedroom window.

At first I thought it was the cat springing around, but it went on too long.  So I got up and peeked out, to discover our occasional visitor, the beady-eyed and fast-moving giant kingfisher, beating the brains out of a frog it held in its beak. The sharp sideways-snatched head butts to the concrete looked painful for both creatures, but the slow tenderising of the frog doubtless made it easier to swallow.

The kingfisher’s distinctive cry would make a great alarm call, but not with a bill full of amphibian.

At right, a picture I snatched of the kingfisher two mornings ago, through the tinted glass of the small office we have at home.

Here’s a link to an earlier post about him.

Heron’s getting (a bit) tamer 10 March, 2009

African grey heron on the path, March 2009

The African grey heron, much commented on in past posts, has become more familiar with us.

Heron here on a mission - breakfast

He doesn’t fly off every time he sees us now, and is completely disdainful of Electra the cat. He won’t let us come too near yet, but doesn’t seem to mind having his picture taken while he thieves our fish.

Once he brought a slightly non-descript, smaller, grey friend – we presume Mrs Heron.  We wonder if they have a nest somewhere, because after spending long hours in the pond – through to the afternoon if he’s not disturbed – he goes and sits in a high branch nearby where he can watch the pond. And, just possibly, his family. We hope so.