Mara North - October 2023 - Day1 continued (1 Viewer)

[AndyS56]

A few more from my first full day in the Mara.
By image reference, my best efforts are:
0456: A variety of Lark;
0531: ?
0570: Crested Lark;
0778: Francolin of some sort?
0852: Shrike? but which species?
0863: Red-necked Spurfowl.

TIA

Andy

 

[Butty]

0456: Not a variety of lark; note bill.
0531: A pipit
0570: A lark
0778: Red-necked spurfowl
0852: (Common?) fiscal shrike
0863: Red-necked spurfowl

 

[Val35]

I guess the lark is a Red Capped...Not sure at all about the pipits (African maybe ?).

 

[THE_FERN]

531 suggest African pipit (pink legs, white outer tail feathers)
852 yes common fiscal

 

[Harrybongo]

Hi. Pic, 0456, maybe, Plain-backed pipit?

 

[MacNara]

0456: Rufous-naped Lark. Butty's eyes must be playing up. The bill is fine.

 

[THE_FERN]

0456: Rufous-naped Lark. Butty's eyes must be playing up. The bill is fine.

View attachment 1544627

Admit it it looks more like a slightly weird pipit to me... Certainly not what is associate with a "standard" lark in the Mara

 

[MacNara]

Admit it it looks more like a slightly weird pipit to me... Certainly not what is associate with a "standard" lark in the Mara

The face and markings are perfect for Rufous-naped. The bill may be a little on the thin side, but it's not a pipit bill. And pipits don't often perch on the top of a bush, do they?

And incidentally, 570 could just be a Rufous-naped with its crest up. It doesn't look like Red-capped to me.

 

[Val35]

The face and markings are perfect for Rufous-naped. The bill may be a little on the thin side, but it's not a pipit bill. And pipits don't often perch on the top of a bush, do they?

And incidentally, 570 could just be a Rufous-naped with its crest up. It doesn't look like Red-capped to me.

For me bill looks really too thin for a lark. Besides African and Plain Backed Pipit (which I guess are the two possibilities here if we exclude the possibility of a lark) are rather thick billed for pipits...

About 570, I think there's too much rufous on the sides of the chest and dark bill fits Red Capped more than Rufous Naped...Overall appearance is more Calandrella than Mirafra like to me.

 

[Grahame Walbridge]

The face and markings are perfect for Rufous-naped. The bill may be a little on the thin side, but it's not a pipit bill. And pipits don't often perch on the top of a bush, do they?

And incidentally, 570 could just be a Rufous-naped with its crest up. It doesn't look like Red-capped to me.

0456 Don't be silly, it's not a Mirafra with that bill and long tail now is it? No-one has mentioned the bill is deformed, mandibles are crossed at the tip. Anyway, It's quite clearly a pipit, possibly Plain-backed
0570 Red-capped Lark as already suggested. Since when did Rufous-naped have a complete rufous cap, rufous pectorals, black bill and long tail etc?

Sorry, my post crossed with Vals.

Grahame

 

[Butty]

Butty's eyes must be playing up.

Time to throw physical insults at other people too?

 

[THE_FERN]

Time to throw physical insults at other people too?

Don't think it was physical? Or does he know where you live? Also not an insult

 

[AndyS56]

Thanks for the help everyone. I wasn't expecting such a fiery discussion!
Doubtless further threads will follow as I edited the 4000 or so photos.

Andy

 

[Butty]

not an insult

Your opinion on that wouldn't be a 'global truth' though - obviously... even though presented as one

 

[MacNara]

I'm straight off to Specsavers. And I'll retake Birding 101!