One of the most uniquely named bird. Its common name is popularly thought to derive from the crest of long quill-like feathers, lending the bird the appearance of a secretary with quill pens tucked behind his or her ear, as was once common practice. Had managed to spot this bird quite a few times, but only once did we manage to see them in a pose which kind of justifies its name. Its not a very good image but the name justifying pose made me share this.

Lake Nakuru, Kenya

This eagle gave us so many chances to photograph. Unfortunately getting late in the day.

Close up of a heron taken in the Masai Mara.

Clean background makes the bird stand out

Taken in lovely light in Mara North Conservancy

Grey Crowned Cranes skitter away as we drive by.

Lake Nakuru National Park

Kenya

20 March 2010

© Marlene C. Francia 2010

A Grey-Crowned Crane strut its stuff in Amboseli National Park

Kenya, Samburu National Park

A Hadeda Ibis (Bostrychia hagedash) looking at me from the rooftop.

The relatively common but oh so beautiful Grey Crowned Cranes in Masai Mara.

Preening

A Collared Sunbird basks in the late afternoon sunshine in Karen, Nairobi, Kenya

Uganda, Entebbe Botanical Garden

Taken at the Marsh in the Mara

Lake Naivasha, Kenya

Kenya, Road from Mount Kenya to Thompson Falls

Kenya, filds along road from Samburu National Park to Mount Kenya

Abundant bird in the Mara area

@Lamu, Kenya

Just caught sight of next meal

Kenya, Mount Kenya National Park

Distant shot. I liked the dead tree trunk. Taken in Mara North Conservancy.

Taken with Canon 20D and 300f4 lens with 1.4 extender. Haller Park, Kenya.

The Marabou Stork (Leptoptilos crumeniferus) sometimes called the "Undertaker Bird" due to its shape from behind.

Kenya, Samburu National Park

Kenya, Kakamega forest

We were having lunch in Masai Mara, taking a break from '000s of photos of recent lion kill at Masai Mara when I spotted a pair of these starlings perching in a distance. Quickly grabbed the camera and fired away a few shots. Though I would have loved to photograph these under overcast situation, but I think strong midday sun is still helping bring out the glossy colour!

Lovely bird. Numerous in the Mara area.

Bamburi Mombasa

...the bird flies away. A little fish or worm is all it eats for a meal?

Singing in the bush in the Masai Mara

No colour in the sky, but does make the bird stand out

Superb colours. Taken in the Masai Mara.

Kenya, Lake Baringo, Roberts' Camp

A male Red-cheeked Cordon Bleu sits pensively on a branch in Karen, Nairobi, Kenya.

By the side of our track, quite obliging. Taken in the Masai Mara.

Not the prettiest bird I have ever seen

Masai Mara, Kenya

Crater Lake, Kenya