KENYA – Samburu : Gamebirds

There is no lack of gamebirds in Samburu. Helmeted and Vulturine Guineafowls (above) can be found in flocks of hundreds roaming the landscape with those lagging behind always in a hurry to catch up. Each morning we would encounter large congregations by the bridge across the river as they would come down for their morning drink.

Yellow-necked Spurfowl (left) tend to stay in a smaller area and can be seen in small family groups. They enjoy rummaging for beetles amongst the elephant dung. The smaller Crested Francolin, a favorite food of raptors, stay close to the cover of vegetation and even in the shadows its distinctive cocked tail gives away who it is.

Black-faced Sandgrouse (right) on the other hand seem perfectly content to have you drive right up to them before they will even think about moving away, and then it is rarely more than an inconvenient short flight for them.

Bustards are usually solitary unless one is courting its potential mate. Buff-crested (left) are one of the smallest bustards and just melt into this landscape and it is only when you chance upon movement that you realize that one is there. We only came across a few individuals likely because at this time of year she may well be sitting on eggs.