fredtoo Loc: Houston

As previously mentioned, I am not a birder. But anyone would be impressed with the uniqueness and great variety of not-often-seen-in-these-here-parts birds of Africa. So by special request, here are a few more.

Not all great photos, but I hope you find them interesting.

Split Bill Stork: Pretty obvious how this guy got his name, but I have no idea what the purpose of this bill gap is. Obviously it drains well. (bonus bird in background not identified)

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Saddle Beak Stork: Another bill of strange architecture. Maybe the strangest I have ever seen. Shot near Victoria Falls.

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Carmine Bee Eater: This bird was seen many times in the Botswana area. A real beauty and everyone's favorite.

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Red Billed Francolin: This is a terrestrial (but not totally flightless) bird that you will hear more often than see. It has a very raucous call that often woke us in the mornings. It is about the size of a small chicken.

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Lilac Breasted Roller: This (and the next 2 shots of the same) is my favorite bird of all time. Yeah, perched on a twig, he doesn't seem to have much going for him. But just wait...

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When he opens up, he is an explosion of color...top, bottom, front, rear. WOW. This bird was my first posting in UHH a few years ago from a South Africa trip.

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What I didn't know back then is that this is not an African bird, but rather a European bird that winters in Africa. Its sighted often in the southern Africa areas, but its still very special to me.


African Uber Bird: This is the common mode of transportation in the plains of Africa, where roads are few. On one 30-min. flight we had 3 take-offs and landings. it is the camp guide's job to shoo any animals off the dirt runway before an arrival.

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cahale Loc: San Angelo, TX

But does number four taste like a chicken? Nice shots.

fredtoo Loc: Houston

hate to say it, but I also thought he looked a bit "edible". Don't know though.

thanks for commenting,
fwt

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

I disagree, Fred, these are "birder" shots.

NMGal Loc: NE NM

Really nice captures.

J-SPEIGHT Loc: Akron, Ohio

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

Thanks for these, Fred! You know I appreciate birds. The Bee Eaters and the Rollers are especially beautiful. They were on my list for Kenya but no such luck!

Properframe Loc: US Virginia

Split bill grabs things like snails in its beak. Somewhere I have some shots of one doing just that. One of the odder looking beaks as you noted.

PAR4DCR Loc: A Sunny Place

Wonderful bird images Fred.

Don

fredtoo Loc: Houston

well, I've certainly been called worse, and no doubt will be again!

thanks Mike,
fwt

fredtoo Loc: Houston

thank you kindly ma'am,
fwt

fredtoo Loc: Houston

Jack, many thanks for the upthumbs,
fwt

fredtoo Loc: Houston

Keith, Kenya was my first trip and didn't see them there either. Wasn't until South Africa that Bee Eaters, Rollers, and Hornbills showed up.

Gotta go again, man!
fwt

fredtoo Loc: Houston

Good to know! Every oddity in nature has a practical purpose. Its just not always readily apparent.
Thanks for commenting,
fwt

fredtoo Loc: Houston

Thanks Don, I really appreciate your comment,
fwt