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Friday, October 1, 2010

Animals and Birds sighted on this Trip

This is a synopsis of the Animals and Birds that we spotted (and were able to identify) during our trip to Africa. The list is impressive although nowhere near all that live in the areas we visited.

ANIMALS


Antelope Rohn

Rarely seen the body colour is overall fawn, with the lower parts of the legs dark brown to black. The distinctive black and white facial markings are characteristic features of this species




Antelope Sable
Both sexes have horns, which can reach 1.5 meters.  The male antelope weighs an average of 238 kg with a height of 116-142 cm. Females weigh 220 kg and are slightly shorter than males. The horns are massive and more curved in males reaching lengths of 81-165 cm, Most sable antelopes have white "eyebrows", a rostrum sectioned into cheek stripes, white belly and rump patch.




Baboon
The baboon, of all the primates in East Africa, most frequently interacts with people. Apart from humans, baboons are the most adaptable of the ground-dwelling primates and live in a wide variety of habitats. Intelligent and crafty, they can be agricultural pests, so they are treated as vermin rather than wildlife.




Buffalo

A large and powerful bovine, the African Buffalo reaches shoulder heights of up to 1.5 m and a mass of 750 kg. Both sexes have horns.







Bushbaby
Small, arboreal primates with attractive gray, brown, or reddish- or yellowish-brown soft wooly fur. They have large eyes and ears, long hind legs, and long tails. They pass the day in sleep but are active at night, feeding on fruits, insects, and small birds.





Bushpig

The Bush Pig is a strong, stocky pig with powerful forequarters. Its upper tusks are barely visible, but the lower tusks are razor sharp and grow to 7cm in length. It is very dangerous when surprised in the bush or wounded during hunting, it can inflict serious wounds with the sharp, protruding canines. An adult boar measures up 900mm at the shoulder and can weigh as much 60 Kgs.


Dassis Rock

A rock-dassie is a small very plump ball of fur that could easily be mistaken for a not very attractive pyjama case. While it may not win any beauty contests, the rock dassie is well suited to its rocky environment. They are, in spite of their bulk, extremely agile rock climbers. Their feet are covered with special pads of glandular tissue which keep the soles permanently moist to aid adhesion to rock surfaces.



Dog Wild
The Wild Dog is one of Africa's most endangered mammal species. This carnivore is a member of the dog family, and measures 750mm at the shoulders. Males are slightly larger than females 



Duiker Common

It grows to about 20 inches (50 cm) in height and generally weighs 12 to 25 kg; although females are generally larger and heavier than their male counterparts. The male bears horns which can grow to 4.25 inches (11 cm) long. The common duiker has a wide diet; beyond  leaves, flowers, fruits and tubers, they will also eat insects, frogs, small birds and mammals and even carrion.


Duiker Red

Red Forest Duikers are roughly 40 centimeters tall at the shoulder and weigh 15 kilograms on average. They have a chestnut coat, with dark patches on the face and back of the neck.Red Forest Duikers are on the IUCN red list of threatened species.








Eland


Primarily nocternal, Giant Elands are highlynomadic, with large home ranges and seasonal migration patterns. During the day, herds often rest in sheltered areas. A gregarious species,  There is no evidence of territoriality, and males rarely display aggression, even during the breeding season. Giant Eland are alert and wary, making them difficult to approach and observe. They move quickly, running at over 43 mph, and despite their size are exceptional jumpers, easily clearing heights of 4.9 ft.

Elephant
Elephants are the largest land animals now living.  At birth it is common for an elephant calf to weigh 260 lb. They typically live for 50 to 70 years, but the oldest recorded elephant lived for 82 years.] The largest elephant ever recorded was shot in 1956. This male weighed about 24,000 lb with a shoulder height of 13.0 ft,






Giraffe
The giraffe  is the tallest of all land-living animals and the largest rumanent. The average mass for an adult male giraffe is 2,600 lb. It is approximately 14 ft to 17 ft tall, although the tallest male recorded stood almost 20 ft. They will drink large quantities of water when available, which enables them to live for extended periods in dry, arid areas. The giraffe's fur also works as a chemical defence, and is full of antibiotics and parasite repellents which gives the animal a characteristic scent. Old males are sometimes nicknamed "stink bulls". There are at least eleven main smelly chemicals in the fur.

Grysbok Sharpe's

It is similar in size to the Gray Duiker, but has a stockier body and elongated fur over the hindquarters. It stands about 20" (45–60 cm) at the shoulders and weighs only 7–11.5 kg. Its coat is reddish-brown which is streaked with white; eye-rings, around mouth, throat and underside are off-white. The males have stubby horns, which are widely spaced. Sharpe's Grysbok has a short deep muzzle with large mouth and heavy molar (grinding) teeth. 


Hyena Spotted
Spotted hyenas are famed scavengers and often dine on the leftovers of other predators. But these hardy beasts are also skilled hunters that will take down wildebeest or antelope. They also kill and eat birds, lizards, snakes, and insects.





Hippopotamus

Hippos are the third-largest living land mammal, after elephants and white rhinos. A hippo’s foot has four webbed toes which splay out to distribute weight evenly and therefore adequately support it on land. The grayish body has very thick skin which is virtually hairless. The hippo has neither sweat nor sebaceous glands, relying on water or mud to keep cool. It does, however, secrete a viscous red fluid which protects the animal’s skin against the sun and is possibly a healing agent. The hippo’s flat, paddle-like tail is used to spread excrement, which marks territory borders and indicates status of an individu 

Impala

Impalas are among the dominant species in many savannas. They can adapt to different environments by being grazers in some areas and browsers in others. They graze when the grass is green and growing, and browse at other times. They will browse on shoots, seedpods and foliage. Impalas can thrive in areas where pure grazers cannot survive.
When frightened or startled, the whole herd starts leaping about to confuse their predator. They can jump distances more than 33 ft and 9 ft high. Impalas can reach running speeds of about 50 to 56 mph, to escape their predators. 
Jackal 
 A small to medium-sized preditor found in Africa.  An omnivorous predator of small to medium-sized animals, as well as scavengers when the need be. The jackal's long legs and curved canine teeth are adapted for hunting small mammels, birds and reptiles. Big feet and fused leg bones give them a physique for long-distance running, capable of maintaining speeds of 16 km/h (9.9 mph) for extended periods of time. Jackals are  most active at dawn and dusk.

Klipspringer
The Klipspringer  is a small African antelope reaching approximately 22 inches at the shoulder, Only the males have horns that are usually about 4–6 inches long.With a thick and dense speckled "salt and pepper" patterned coat of an almost olive shade, Klipspringers blend in well with the rock outcrops on which they can usually be found. Eating rock plants. They never need to drink, since thesucclents they subsist on provide them with enough water to survive.

Kudu
Both the greater kudu and its close cousin the lesser kudu have stripes and spots on the body, and most have a chevron of white hair between the eyes. Males have long, spiral horns. The greater kudu's horns are spectacular and can grow as long as 72 inches, making 2 1/2 graceful twists. Found in acacia and thornbush in arid savannas; they rely on thickets for security and are rarely found in open or scattered bush.


Leopard
he leopard is the  smallest of the four "big cats" the other three being the tiger, lion and jaguar. The species' success in the wild is in part due to its opportunistic hunting behavior, its adaptability to habitats, its ability to run at speeds approaching 36 miles per hour, its unequaled ability to climb trees even when carrying a heavy carcass, and its notorious ability for stealth. The leopard consumes virtually any animal it can hunt down and catch.

Lion
The lion is the second-largest living cat after the Tiger. Lions live for ten to fourteen years in the wild, while in captivity they can live longer than twenty years. In the wild, males seldom live longer than ten years, as injuries sustained from continual fighting with rival males greatly reduce their longevity. A pride of lions consists of related females and offspring and a small number of adult males. Groups of female lions typically hunt together, preying mostly on large herbavores. Lions are apex predators, although they scavenge as opportunity allows. While lions do not typically hunt humans, some have been known to do so.

Mongoose
A carnivorous mammal, having a slender agile body and a long tail and noted for the ability to seize and kill venomous snakes.





Monkey Vervet
This small, black-faced monkey is common in East Africa as it adapts easily to many environments and is widely distributed. The body is a greenish-olive or silvery-gray. The face, ears, hands, feet and tip of the tail are black, but a conspicuous white band on the forehead blends in with the short whiskers. The males are slightly larger than the females and easily recognized by a turquoise blue scrotum and red penis.




Rhinoceros Black

The Black Rhinoceros or Hook-lipped Rhinoceros  Although the Rhino is referred to as black, it is actually more of a grey/brown/white color in appearance. The name of the species was chosen to distinguish it from the White Rhinoceros. This is misleading, as those two species are not really distinguishable by color. The word white in the name "White Rhinoceros" is a mistranslation of the Dutch word wijd for wide, referring to its square upper lip, as opposed to the pointed or hooked lip of the Black Rhinoceros. They are now often referred to as the Square-lipped (for White) or Hook-lipped (for Black) Rhinoceros.

Rhinoceros White

The White Rhino is the third largest land mammal. Massive, stocky, and with a reputation of being not quite as aggressive as the Black Rhino








Springbok

The Springbok is a medium sized brown and whitegazelle that stands about 28 to 34 in high. They can reach running speeds of up to 50 to 56 mph, and can leap 3.50 m and can long jump of up to 15 m. When the male springbok is showing off his strength to attract a mate, or to ward off predators, he starts off in a stiff-legged trot, jumping up into the air with an arched back every few paces and lifting the flap along his back. Lifting the flap causes the long white hairs under the tail to stand up in a conspicuous fan shape, which in turn emits a strong floral scent of sweat.

Steenbok
Rufous brown to fawn coat with long, broad ears. Measures 520mm at the shoulders and weigh 11 Kg. Hind quarters and underparts are pure white...






Warthog
This is the most commonly seen wild pig of the African Bush. It is a dull grey colour and has a naked skin which is sparsely covered with a few tiny bristles along the back and flanks...




Waterbuck
The Waterbuck is a big antelope with a characteristic white circle around the tail and a collar of white hair around the neck. The colour of the rest of the body is grey-brown





Wildebeest Blue


The Blue Wildebeest is a large antelope. It grows to 115–145 cm shoulder height and attains a body mass of 168–274 kg. They range open plains and dry woodlands realizing a life span in excess of twenty years.




Zebra

Zebras are best known for their distinctive black and white stripes. Their stripes come in different patterns unique to each individual. They are generally social animals and can be seen in small harems to large herds. Unlike their closest relatives, horses and asses, zebras have never been truly domesticated. The unique stripes and behaviors of zebras make these among the animals most familiar to people. They can be found in a variety of habitats, such as grasslands, savannas, woodlands, mountains and coastal hills.


REPTILES

Black Mamba Snake

 The longest venomous snake in Africa, averaging around 8.2 ft, and sometimes growing up to 14 ft. Its name is derived from the black coloration inside the mouth; the actual color of the skin varies, from dull yellowish-green to a gun-metal gray. It is the fastest snake in the world, capable of moving at 10–12 mph.
Crocodile
the Nile crocodile can grow up to a length of six metres,  The animals have a strong tail to propel themselves forward in the water. On land they use their equally strong legs to move their massive bodies as fast as arrows through the mud of the riverbank. The crocodile usually goes hunting in the shelter of the evening twilight. While they are small, crocodiles live mainly on worms, beetles and crabs. Later they add fish, waterbirds and medium sized mammals to the list of their prey.


Monitor Lizard
Monitors are active lizards, that may be very hostile, lashing out with their tails upon the slightest provocation. Even a small monitor can produce a stinging lash with its tail. The claws of monitors are long and sharp. The jaws are very strong. Once they bite something it is very difficult to get them to let go. Monitors are carnivorous and will devour anything they are capable of dismembering and gulping down. Species which live in or near water will readily eat fish.


Striped Skaapsteker
 The Striped skaapsteker can be identified by the following features and behavior; it has a small head with a pointed snout, small eyes (with round pupils), stripes running lengthwise down its body and it is strictly diurnal. It grows to an average length of 65 cm but can reach up to 93 cm in length. It was believed that these snakes had the capacity to kill sheep as the commonly are found in the grass pastures where sheep are kept hence the name.







BIRDS 
(not including the 400+ at the game farm) 

African Fish Eagle
The African Fish Eagle is a large bird, and the female, at 7-8 lbs is larger than the male, at 4.4-5.5 lbs. Males usually have a wingspan of about 6 feet, while females have wingspans of 8 feet. . They are very distinctive in appearance with a mostly brown body and large, powerful, black wings. The head, breast, and tail of African Fish Eagles are snow white and the hook-shaped beak is mostly yellow with a black tip.

Black Chested Snake Eagle

The main identification character of this bird is its dark brown head and chest, to which it owes its name. In flight the dark head contrasts with the underparts and underwings, which are white apart from dark barring on the flight feathers and tail. The upperparts are dark brown, and the eye is yellow.As its name indicates, this bird feeds mostly on snakes, but will also prey on lizards, small mammals and frogs.
 




Blue Crane
 Blue Cranes are birds of the dry, grassy uplands which feed on seeds and insects and spend little time in wetlands. They are altitudinal migrants, generally nesting in the upper grasslands and moving down to lower altitudes for winter. Many occupy agricultural areas.
Of the 15 species of crane, the Blue Crane has the most restricted distribution of all.







Brown Snake Eagle
 Fairly common in bush and woodland, the Brown Snake Eagle has an almost owl-like appearance when seen head on. That and the yellow eyes make it fairly easy to distinguish from the other brown eagles found in Kenya. It mainly hunts from trees so isn't often seen in flight.




Cormorant 
Many species have areas of coloured skin on the face which can be bright blue, orange, red or yellow, typically becoming more brightly coloured in the breeding season. The bill is long, thin, and sharply hooked. Their feet have webbing between all four toes.They are coastal rather than oceanic birds, and some have colonised inland waters. All are fish-eaters, dining on small eels, fish, and even water snakes. They dive from the surface, . Under water they propel themselves with their feet. After fishing, cormorants go ashore, and are frequently seen holding their wings out in the sun.

 Crested Guineafowl


The species is monogamous with probable strong and long-lasting pair bonds.
They are brilliantly colored with cobalt blue chest, have red eyes, and a senna colored afro. The skin on their heads and neck are also blue.  They make cute little chirping noises like the lizards in the Jurassic Park movie, then when irritated or scared, have a high screeching sound.  They are very curious and will often come and eat their favorite treat, mealworms, out of your hand. 


Egyptian Geese 
 This is a largely terrestrial species, which will also perch readily on trees and buildings. It swims well, and in flight looks heavy, more like a goose than a duck.This species will nest in a large variety of situations, especially in holes in mature trees in parkland. Egyptian Geese usually pair for life.he sexes of this striking species are identical in plumage, though the males average slightly larger. There is a fair amount of variation in plumage tone, with some birds greyer and others browner, but this is not sex or age related. Egyptian geese typically eat seeds, leaves, grasses, and plant stems. Occasionally, they will eat locusts, worms, or other small animals. Egyptian geese were considered sacred by the ancient Egyptians, and appeared in much of their artwork.
 
Gannet 
 The gannets are large black and white birds, with long pointed wings and long bills. Gannets hunt fish by diving from a height into the sea and pursuing their prey underwater.Gannets can dive from a height of 30 m, achieving speeds of 100 km/h as they strike the water, enabling them to catch fish much deeper than most airborne birds.






Ground Hornbill 
 Ground-Hornbills are huge prehistoric appearing birds of open grasslands and savanna in sub-Saharan Africa. A large bird, at 36 to 51 in long and a weight of 4.8 to 13.6 lbs, with the male considerably larger than the female. It is characterized by black coloration and vivid red patches of bare skin on the face and throat. The beak is black and straight and presents a casque, more developed in males. They forage on the ground, where they feed on reptiles, frogs, snakes, insects and small mammels up to the size of hares. Juveniles are dependent on adults for 6 to 12 months.
Hadeda Ibis
The Hadeda Ibis is a heavy bodied brown bird with iridescent pink shoulder patches and a long de-curved bill. Hadeda Ibis move around in flocks numbering up to 20 birds or 100 out of breeding season.





Helmeted Guineafowl 
 Black with small white polka dots. They are two-thirds the size of chickens -- about 20 inches long.
The conspicuous horny "helmet" on top of their naked heads distinguishes helmeted Guinea fowl. The head region is brightly pigmented with blue, red and yellow. A band of downy feathers on the back of its head makes the Vulturine Guinea fowl look like a bald man. The birds' distinguishing characteristics are red eyes and a hackle of long, black and white striped feathers that partially cover a bright blue breast.

Kingfisher
 One of the most brilliantly coloured birds, and many have strident voices and dramatic courtship displays. Most species have some blue plumage, and many have red bills. Kingfishers perch in an upright stance, are large-headed, short-necked and have long, stout bills. In flight, kingfishers are speedy and direct, rarely flying above tree level. When hunting for fish, the Kingfisher plunge head first towards the water and return to a perch to kill and eat their prey.


Kori Bustard
 The Kori Bustard is mostly grey in color, with a black crest on its head and yellow legs. This is a large and heavy bird, and it avoids flying if possible. It spends most of its time on the ground, foraging for the seeds and lizards which make up most of its diet. The male Kori Bustard averages about 3.6 ft in length, stands2.0–3.0 ft tall and have a wingspan about 230-275 cm. An average male bird would weigh about 27 lb, but exceptional birds may weigh over 44 lb.

Lilac Breasted Roller
 The average size of the Lilac Breasted Roller is 14.5 inches. The washed green head is large, the neck is short, the greenish yellow legs are rather short and the feet are small. The beak is strong, arched and hooked-tipped. The tail is narrow and of medium length. The back and scapulars are brown. The shoulder of the wing, outer webs of the flight feathers and the rump are all violet. The bases of the primaries and their coverts are pale greenish blue and the outer tail feathers are elongated and blackish. The chin is whitish, shading to rich lilac of the breast. The underparts are greenish blue. The bill is black and the eyes are brown. It has large wings and strong flight.

Marabou Stork


A massive bird, large specimens are thought to reach a height of 60 in, a weight of over 20 lbs and have a wingspan of at least 10.5 ft. The Marabou is unmistakable due to its size, bare head and neck, black back, and white underparts. It has a huge bill, a pink gular sack at its throat, a neck ruff, and black legs and wings. The sexes are alike, but the young bird is browner and has a smaller bill. Full maturity is not reached for up to four years. It also resembles other storks in that it is not very vocal, but indulges in bill-rattling. This large and powerful bird eats mainly carrion, scraps and faeces, but will also take fish, frogs, insects, eggs, small mammals and reptiles such as crocodile hatchlings and eggs. It occasionally eats other birds including  pigeons, doves, pelican and cormorant chicks, and even flamingos. 
Masked Weaver

The Southern Masked Weaver is 11-14.5 cm long with a short, strong, conical bill and pinkish brown legs. The adult male in breeding plumage has a black face, throat and beak, red eye, bright yellow head and underparts, and a plain yellowish-green back, The female has a pinkish-brown bill, brown or red-brown eye and is dull greenish-yellow, streaked darker on the upper back. The throat is yellowish, fading to off-white on the belly.The call is a harsh swizzling, similar to other weavers. It also utters a sharp chuk alarm note.



Ostrich
distinctive in its appearance, with a long neck and legs and the ability to run at maximum speeds of about 45 mph, the top land speed of any bird. The Ostrich is the largest living species of bird and lays the largest egg of any living bird. The diet of the Ostrich mainly consists of plant matter, though it also eats insects. It lives in nomadic groups which contain between five and fifty birds. When threatened, the Ostrich will either hide itself by lying flat against the ground, or will run away. If cornered, it can attack with a kick from its powerful legs.





Penguin

 Because of their donkey-like braying call they were previously named Jackass Penguins. It is the only penguin species that breeds in Africa. African Penguins are black above and white below, with a black chin and face patch separated from the crown by a broad white band. They have a narrow black band across the chest and down the flanks towards its legs. Some birds show a double bar on the throat and chest, which is a diagnostic feature of Magellanic Penguins. Males tend to be larger with heavier bills, but these differences can usually only be seen when a pair is seen together.



Red Billed Hornbill
This conspicuous bird has mainly whitish underparts and head, and grey upperparts. It has a long tail and a long and curved red bill which lacks a casque. Sexes are similar, but the female has a smaller bill. It is a large bird, at 42 cm long, but is one of the smaller hornbills. It advertises its presence with its noisy accelerating tok-tok-tok-toktoktok call.






Verreaux's Eagle
Sometimes known as the Black Eagle, It is 30 to 37 in long. The average weight for males is 8.2 lb and for females is 9.9 lb. It has a wingspan of up to 7.2 ft. It is black with a distinct white V marking on its back.
It is highly territorial and can often be seen with another Verreaux's Eagle, with whom it mates for life. The pair will lay two cream-colored eggs, four days apart in autumn, and these will hatch approximately 45 days later.
It is a specialist hunter of dassies, guineafowl or mamels of similar size to dassies.

Vulture
 The Vulture has only down feathers on the head and neck, very broad wings and short tail feathers. It has a white neck ruff. The adult’s whitish back contrasts with the otherwise dark plumage. It is a scavenger, feeding mostly from carcasses of animals which it finds by soaring over savannah. It also takes scraps from human habitations. It often moves in flocks. It breeds in trees on the savannah of west and east Africa.

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