Kenya's Maasai Mara - Day 2

Nothing says 'Welcome to the Africa' as well as his highness here....

Another day in beautiful Kenya! Our tour group was up and out fairly early, loading onto the 2 vans around 7:00.

Kirk's Dik Dik

We were barely out the front gate of the Sarova Mara Game Farm gate when Voila! Walking along the  fenceline was a Kirk's Dik Dik. These tiniest of antelope are barely the size of a Cocker Spaniel, between 6 and 11 or so pounds and lovely 'Bambi' eyes. These little guys tend to stick to forested areas so I can see why the thick trees near the perimeter gate suited it's needs just fine

Tiniest of Antelopes

I could have stared at the tiny mite for hours but we were soon off in search of other game.

A couple of Masai Giraffes

Stoic looking Maribou

The bush/grasslands were plumb full of animals. There were at least a dozen Maribou Storks in one meadow clearing. They were just standing still, as if on a break. Maribou Storks are not the prettiest of birds, with their unfeathered naked headsd and drab 'funeral director' feathering. 

Break Time

Soon enough, there was a second super cool antelope to admire: a Steenbok. Steenbok are twice the size of the little Dik Dik we saw earlier. Steenbok are not as fussy in their habitat as are Dik Dik. Steenboks can be found from thickets and woodlands, in stone laiden savannahs all the way to near desert type locals.                                                                                

Steenbok

After viewing such dainty antelope, it was thrilling to view Africa's largest antelope, weighing in around 2K, the Common Eland.

Eland with its complement of Oxpecker birds

Had no luck getting any of the Elands below to pose (had no carrots on hand), so the one standing there licking it's own flank was the best I could manage. The Warthogs up front seem disappointed they weren't the center of attention. I mean, they were posing after all.                                                              

Oxpeckers were on board the Elands for clean-up duty. 

While we're on the topic of 'large', we ran across our first Ostriches! There were a few scattered females, which are brown, and one leggy male, with jet black and white. Everybody in the van shrieked with delight to see the huge creatures. Of course I too was yelling, when it suddenly hit me... "This HUMONGOUS animal is a... 'birdie'!"  Don't know why it took me so long to see the thing as a bird, but honestly it really gave the impression we were viewing a Velociraptor.

A BIG boy

And one more antelope - a beautiful Waterbuck

We got good looks at the bad boys of the grasslands, Hyaenas, Silver-backed Jackals. In the last few years Hyenas have had better PR. They are now known to normally hunt their own food - which often enough is stolen by lions or leopards - so they are not primarily scavengers as once believed. They also are quite the feminists, with any female Hyena being higher in the hierarchy than any male Hyena. Take THAT patriarchy!

Spotted Hyaena

The highlight of the predator viewing was a female Cheetah with four cubs. They marched across the grass, settling in for a sit down under a small tree. Never expected to see Cheetah cubs so that was yet another wonderful viewing. 

We watched the cheetah family for quite a pleasant while. The cubs stayed fairly close to Mama. I love the extra 'fuzz' Cheetah cubs have along the crest of their heads and backs. It's believed that makes them resemble African Badgers, which are tough S.O.B.s that no animal wants to mess with, so the cubs by imitating the nasty badgers, get a benefit from looking a little like badgers. Not sure if that's entirely true, but it's a cool thought. 

It was the kind of day where so many lions, elephants and giraffes were seen that all of us just relaxed and stared at the beauties, lost in our revery.  

Lost in some daydreams of its own

Late morning we were up on a ridge, looking down at a lazy river where hippos lounged... 

... and crocodiles lay peacefully on muddy shores.

As is now a typical day, around noon-ish, it was back to camp for a leisurely lunch, followed by hours of  free time. I wandered around the camp and discovered there was a small library near the
reservations desk. Look what I found, that made my afternoon. I do have phone apps that specialize in East African birds but it was nice having this guide to help me sort out a few of the trickier birds. 

Around 4PM, we took off for our final Masai Mara wildlife tour, and it was quite 'Birdy'. 

This nosey little Spurfowl came right up to the van to stare at it.

                                                                                          

Little Bee-Eater

Lilac-breasted Roller

African Wattle Lapwing

White-headed Buffalo Weaver

This beautiful Pied Kingfisher put on a great show, catching a fish

Red-Eyed Dove

Tawny Eagle

Helmeted Guinea Fowl

Grey-backed Fiscal

Red-necked Spurfowl

It was quite the day for beautiful sights and have I mentioned yet how the weather is absolutely perfect? It is nowhere near to being hot and it isn't cold either. I guess I'm the baby bear because the weather to me is just right. 

Here is a short video, perhaps 4 minutes, with the Ostrich, Cheetah, etc., all that I managed to to shoot today. Enjoy.