Black-Headed Heron
There’s a Black-Headed Heron with what looks like a snake. I know they eat fish and amphibians, but I didn’t expect it to be trying to control and then swallow a snake whole.

African Black-Headed Herons are nearly as large as the Grey Heron I’m used to seeing in the UK.

It’s quite a struggle when your dinner coils quite as much as snake does.
Especially when it wraps itself around your jaws.

What a great thing to witness.
More on safari in Kenya
The street performer – a Bateleur Eagle with a rat We spotted a Bateleur Eagle as soon as we arrived in the Masai Mara. It was distant. All I could… read more
Plunge pools, Superb Starlings and sundowners Here at Mara Ngenche Safari Camp the luxury is embarrassing. A beautiful two-room tent with outside shower and private plunge… read more
A Striped Skink I expected to see many more reptiles in Africa. I thought there would be snakes and reptiles with four legs… read more
A White-Headed Saw-Wing There's an all-black Swallow-type bird next to our route, as we drive along the dusty compressed-earth tracks of the Masai… read more
Even-toes Animals with hooves are either odd-toed or even-toed. The odd-toed ones are horses, rhinos and tapirs. The even-toed ones are… read more
Hooded Vultures assemble There's a corpse in the long grass. We think it's the remains of a Buffalo. That means Hooded Vultures, Necrosyrtes… read more
A Yellow-Throated Longclaw There are many yellow birds here in Kenya. It's a brighter world. Red, orange and yellow pigments are ones which… read more
Cheetahs in the Masai Mara Gladys is driving us towards a pair of Cheetahs. "Oh yes! There". We're an excited group of four. A pair… read more
Naked armpits I've seen Sacred Ibis before. They're beautiful and fascinating. This one has something I've never seen before, though. As it… read more
The Village Weaver As we head back to camp, I can see birds bathing in the pools of water left by the ruts… read more
A gorgeous Three-Banded Plover and a Lilac-Breasted Roller We're in a four-wheel-drive vehicle. I think it's an indestructible Toyota Land Cruiser. Gladys is our local Kenyan guide for… read more
A Lilac-Breasted Roller perched and waiting Lilac-Breasted Rollers are chunky birds. They also have unusually large heads. I particularly like the long tail streamers which the… read more