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An African adventure part 4: Lake Baringo to Lake Naivasha via Lake Bogoria


Red-headed Rock Agama
On Sunday the 6th of October we met up with Titus and Isaac after breakfast to look for a few local Baringo birds that we had so far missed prior to driving to another rift valley lake at Bogoria.

Mouse Coloured Penduline Tit
White-crested Helmet Shrike
Jackson's Hornbill
Malachite Kingfisher

Spur-winged Plover
Lake Bogoria is an alkaline lake that lies in a volcanic region south of lake Baringo. At certain times of the year Lake Bogoria is home to one of the worlds largest populations of lesser flamingos. On arrival the flamingos were a truly amazing spectacle! It was almost impossible to estimate how many birds were present but I suspect it must have come close to doubling the number of birds I have seen in my lifetime! There was a mixture of juvenile birds, which had yet to acquire their characteristic pink hue, and mature birds in their pink splendor. The mature birds were performing their bizarre synchronized dance where a group of twenty of thirty male birds strut around and around in a circle with their heads held high apparently in an attempt to impress the local females! 

A few Lesser Flamingo
Dancing Lesser Flaming
Somehow in those many thousands of birds Titus managed to find and show me two greater flamingos. There were also a number of European waders present who were just starting to arrive at their winter quarters. It seemed  really incongruous to see marsh sandpipers and little stints feeding in between the lesser flamingo legs.

After a most enjoyable picnic lunch we hit the road again to move on to our destination for the night, Loldia house on the shore of lake Naivasha.

On arrival it was sadly time to say goodbye to our new friends Titus and Isaac. 

The amazing Titus
Loldia house has an interesting history as Italian prisoners of war built the original part some seventy years ago.  We were housed in a luxurious more modern cottage overlooking the lake. The garden was host to a large flock of mousebirds feeding on fruit in the trees which kept me entertained with my camera for an hour or so. There were also at least 4 pairs of African Fish eagles in the trees on the shore providing further late afternoon photo opportunities.  We did a night-time local game drive and saw bush babies with their incredible reflective eyes and hippos out of the water feeding on the lush grass lands.



African Fish Eagle
Speckled Mousebird
After a very good dinner, much red wine and a very sound sleep we got up somewhat bleary-eyed for an early morning boat trip around the lake. We again saw a number of fish eagles, different species of kingfisher and great white pelicans. 

Giant Kingfisher
After yet another hearty breakfast we departed for the local airstrip for our short flight to our home for the next three nights; Kicheche bush camp in the Masai Mara.

To be continued …








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