The double-jointed ankles of the African Harrier Hawk
It’s the tiny head which first strikes me; and then the bare face with the orange skin. It’s an African Harrier-Hawk and it’s close enough to enjoy for a while, perched in a nearby tree.
Non-breeding adults have yellow faces, but breeding adults have faces which flush pink or red with excitement. This must be an adult.
African Harrier-Hawks have very long tails and broad wings. They also have specially adapted ankles, which are double-jointed and can therefore reach inside the woven nests of Weaver birds and the tree-hole nests of Wood Hoopoes.
The intense, fine barring of their breast contrasts with the smoothness of their head and back.
I’ve never seen anything like them.
What a treat!
More adventures on safari in Kenya
A Common Hoopoe appears I've seen a Common Hoopoe before, in Italy. It's not a bird I'm expecting to see in Kenya, yet there… read more
Old hairy-ears, the Waterbuck We've happened up on a small group of Waterbuck, Kobus ellipsiprymnus, here in the Masai Mara. They are large grassland… read more
Spotting a Brown Parrot There's a Brown Parrot, Poicephalus meyeri saturatus, at the top of the tree. They always look such friendly birds, as… read more
Why Elephants love a dust bath Elephants love a dust bath. I'm sorry, but please don't scroll past the photograph above without giving that baby Elephant… read more
Lyre-shaped horns The Impala is an African Antelope with lyre-shaped horns. The slight problem I have is that I'm so close to… read more
Lion cub playing Here in the Masai Mara, the Lioness is playing with one of her cubs. She's very patient and forgiving at… read more
The marvellous Green Woodhoopoe My safari guide Johnson has spotted the nest of a Green Woodhoopoe in a hole in a tree. I love… read more
An African Spoonbill I've seen Spoonbills in Somerset and in Italy but they were the Eurasian Spoonbill, Platalea leucorodia. I'm in Kenya now… read more
My new favourite bird is the… ... Green Woodhoopoe! What a bird! My guide, Johnson, is curious and patient with my need to stay waiting for… read more
The Hammerhead There's a Hamerkop flying towards me with something huge and fishy in its beak. Hamerkops look like ducks or weird… read more
Spotting a Little Bee-Eater There's a beautifully coloured bird with vibrant yellow cheeks flitting from perch to perch. It's a Little Bee-Eater, Merops pusillus.… read more
Is this Hornbill small or is that caterpillar huge? There's an African Grey Hornbill flying past our 4x4 in the Masai Mara. It's come from behind and is flying… read more