by David Clarke | Jun 30, 2012 | All, Kenya, Places
The sun rising out of the Indian Ocean at the beginning of the rainy season is breathtakingly beautiful. Over a twenty minute period before the sun appears, the sky is a subtle and ever-changing display of greys and silver, tinged with increasingly dramatic hues of red, orange and blue as the growing light plays on the clouds. Then the sun itself moves dramatically into view, adding its own brilliance to the scene.
This shot was taken at 6.28 a.m. on 21 March 2010 at Mtwapa beach, near Mombasa, Kenya.
Canon EOS 40D with Canon 10-22mm EFS lens at 22mm; ISO 200 f10 1/100
by David Clarke | Jun 23, 2012 | African Birds, All, Kenya
The Social-Weavers (Genus Pseudonigrita) are a different genus from True Weavers (Genus Ploceus), but apart from their colouring – true weavers are mainly predominantly yellow – the social-weavers seem to exhibit similar behaviour. According to Stevenson & Fanshawe’s excellent book, Birds of East Africa, the Social-Weavers are small birds (4.5″ – 5″) which occur in large flocks, often feeding together on the ground. Their nests are tightly woven balls of grass which hang from the very ends of the the thinnest branches of large trees, often hundreds of pairs breeding together. The sexes are alike.
The Black-capped Social-Weaver (Pseudonigrita cabanisi) is a ‘small attractive weaver with a black cap and tail contrasting with a brown back and wings, a white bill with a greenish tinge, and red eyes. White below with black streaks on flanks and belly. Flocks inhabit drier country than the Grey-capped Social-Weaver from 200-1300m, including quite arid areas if large trees are present for breeding.‘
I spotted this fellow on a trip to Buffalo Springs Game Reserve, Samburu, Kenya. He was one of many busily constructing their nests in a tree that was overflowing with nests. The shot shows him leaving the nest with some sort of grassy or flowery stem in his beak. Having arrived with it and considered it, he flew away with it again. Presumably, it didn’t match the decor.
Canon EOS 1DMkII with Canon 300mm f2.8L IS lens, ISO 200 f4.5 1/2500
