KENYA: Samburu Serena

The avian paparazzi were out in full force taking shots of Red-billed Hornbills, Rufous Chatterers and Dodson’s Bulbul as they ventured close to the dining area during lunch.

As thunder echoed in the distance and the skies darkened we took an after-lunch walk along the pathway leading to the western end of the Serena lodge. It was very productive with Black-bellied Sunbird, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Abyssinian White-eyes, African Yellow White-eye, both Greater and Lesser Honeyguide, Red-faced Crombec, Grey-headed and Sulphur-breasted Bush-shrike, Golden Palm Weavers, Black Cuckoo-shrike and Red-chested Cuckoo. While following a fast moving flock of White-crested Helmet-shrike, we paused to locate the tapping on a tree. It turned out to be a Nubian Woodpecker. While watching the woodpecker and a Northern Black Flycatcher sallying from the top of sprinkler, a Northern Puffback caught our attention. The male was displaying to a nearby female, puffing up his grey back feathers – hence his name – doing everything he could to entice her.