I was targeting mainly the carnivorous animals, especially cheetah in Masai Mara. I think, most of the wildlife photographers are more interested photographing the predators. When I visited Masai Mara, I didn’t target birds much, but for my luck the place turned to be fantastic for birding. I got almost 35 species of birds and lot of record shots as well.
Our team didn’t had any photographers and they were more interested in big cats. So when ever I saw a bird, I used to request to the driver to stop. This was really annoying the other members in the vehicle. But they cooperated well and I could able to take lot of good snaps.
I got 4 types of vulture Lappet-faced, White-backed, Hooded and Ruppell’s Griffon Vultures, which was fantastic. When I photographed them, I couldn’t make out the difference and I thought they are the same. But while checking the species only I came to knew that they are different. Anyways lucky…
Another predator group – 2 types of eagle Marshall Eagle & Tawny Eagle
Ostrich – I don’t have any option to click this giant bird from India. I got male and female, both portrait and habitat shots.
The starlings and bee eaters are really beautiful to see. I got 3 types of starling and one bee eater. I love to photograph small colorful birds, you know…
The Lilac Roller – Another beauty
Lesser Striped Swallow / Yellow-fronted Canary / Yellow-billed Oxpecker – The yellow beauties. I got beautiful shots…
Chats / Larks / Sparrows – I got 8 different types. Fowls & Francolins – The angle of the snaps was bad, since they are ground birds. But manages to take decent shots
Hamerkop/Speckled Mousebird – I have not even heard about these species. Lucky to get shots of them
Egyptian Goose – Probably only the duck I got
Storks – I got 4 different types. Shrike / Drongo / Bulbul / Babblers -> All were decent shots…
I am happy that I got very good shots of all these birds. I couldn’t take a shot of the secretary bird which I was expecting. I could spot one; but didn’t get a shot. So target for next time…