KENYA: Buffalo Springs – There is water after all

By the Asnil Lodge, the Ewaso Nyiro (above) was reduced to narrow elongated pools that had attracted thirsty Grevy’s Zebra’s (below), Somali Ostrich, Warthogs, African Spoonbill, Woolly-necked and Yellow-billed Storks, Marabous, Wood and Common Sandpiper and Greenshank.

Along another stretch there was an immature Palm Nut Vulture in a riverside Doum Palm, and a gathering of vultures by the water that included African White-backed, Ruppell’s, Lappet-faced, and unexpectedly, an Egyptian Vulture. Nearby, a mother Elephant was in the shade protecting her one week old calf, still wobbly on its feet, from the baking sun.

There is a small narrow marsh (above) close to where the Isiolo River feeds into the Esawo Nyiro. Being wet, lush and green it attracts a great deal of wildlife as well as cattle! Common Waterbuck were at home here as were two hippos, a large Nile Crocodile and a Monitor Lizard. Black Crakes, African Spoonbill and Cattle Egrets were very active, while Striated Heron, Squacco Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron and Intermediate Egret exhibited far more patience as they all waited to feed.

On the other side of our track we had a Zitting Cisticola and a Three-banded Plover (above) fanning its tail for distraction. Looking around we found a nest with two well camouflaged eggs.