Most people go to the Mara Triangle to see mammals especially predators but in your travels looking for predators you will find there are birds everywhere. It can also be very productive just walking around the safari camp as there are many species of birds around the camp. I stayed in Wild Eye’s Enkushui safari camp which is located along the west bank of the Mara river in a large croton thicket. This post shows a small selection of the birds we saw while travelling around the Mara Triangle.

“Birds are the most popular group in the animal kingdom… And yet they inhabit a world which is really rather mysterious.” — David Attenborough

There are many Little bee-eaters along the banks of the Mara river. They use the overhanging branches of croton bushes to hawk insects.

Grey-headed kingfishers are regularly seen along the banks of the Mara river. This species of kingfisher is an insectivore. Other kingfisher that can be seen include the Malachite and Pied, which are both fish eaters as is the lesser seen Giant Kingfisher. I am told that there are Striped kingfishers along the Mara river but I have never seen one.

“Nature’s masterpiece in every feather. Where the whispers of nature meet the songs of the sky. A living canvas of vibrant hues.” ~ Unknown

A female and male Black-bellied bustard seen in the long grass close to the road. I have seen many more White-bellied bustards in the Triangle grasslands and the occasional Kori bustard. I am told the colourful Denham’s bustard can also be seen here but I have never seen one in the several trips I have had to the Masai Mara.

A female Northern Anteater chat perched on top of a rock protruding above the grasslands. The male of this species is black with white panels on its primary wing feathers. It looks very similar to a Sooty chat.

A Rufous-naped lark chirping away from an elevated patch of earth left over from the recent roadworks. This character puts on quite a display dancing and flapping from its perch with its crown feathers raised.

“There is an unreasonable joy to be had from the observation of small birds going about their bright, oblivious business”
~ Grant Hutchison

A Long crested eagle perched on a grassed earth mound. This species hunts mainly rodents but will go for birds and reptiles when available.

Sitting in a balanite not far off the Main road we found a lone Black chested snake-eagle. It was using the tree as a look point and had an excellent view of the surrounding area. We did not see it hunting and did not wait as they can spend hours just perched in the tree looking out. We also see Brown snake-eagles in the Triangle but I did not manage to photograph one this trip.

A female Wahlberg’s eagle incubating her eggs in a tree close to the bank of the Mara river. The nest comprises loose sticks locked together to provide a nesting platform with soft green leaves to soften the lining. This species usually breeds in southern Africa in the summer and is an inter-African migrant. Not all Wahlberg’s make the migratory journey because the climate offers even breeding conditions all year round.

“Where the whispers of nature meet the songs of the sky.”

At the Wild Eye Enkushui Safari camp a pair of White-browed robin-chats serenaded the guests every morning at around 5h30. This songster is immediately recognisable by its song and duet, and also by its bold white brow and rufous-orange underparts.

“Birds are, perhaps, the most eloquent expression of reality.” ~ Roger Tory Peterson

This pair were very active through the day making frequent appearances next to the media tent where photographers were downloading and editing their morning’s images.

There was also a pair of Slate-coloured boubous which were very busy foraging for insects around the main tents in the safari camp. They also have a distinctive duet.

“The art of patience, rewarded with wings.” ~ Unknown

Down at the south end where the Mara Triangle borders the Serengeti we usually find vultures mainly because of the continued movement of wildlife across the border and many lions and cheetahs in this open area. This was one of a pair of Lappet-faced vultures. This species plays a vital role in opening up a carcass if the lions and cheetahs have not already done so.

On our last morning drive on our way to the Serena airstrip for our flight back to Nairobi we saw an adult Martial eagle in the distance perched on an anthill and it was eating something. It looked to be eating either a guineafowl or a bustard but was disturbed and flew parallel to us passed a small breeding herd of elephants.

There have been over 470 bird species officially recorded in the Mara Triangle according to the Mara Conservancy Bird List. 

“Birds are the most accomplished aeronauts the world has ever seen. They fly high and low, at great speed, and very slowly. And always with extraordinary precision and control.” ~ David Attenborough

The short rains significantly affect bird movement in the Mara Triangle by triggering the arrival of thousands of Palearctic and Afro-tropical migratory birds such as Pallid harriers, Steppe eagles, European bee-eaters and many species of warblers. Falling between November and December, these brief afternoon showers transform the dry, dusty savannah into a lush green landscape. This sudden shift creates an abundance of food that serves as a primary catalyst for regional bird movement.

The start of the short rains coincides perfectly with the arrival of migratory birds fleeing the harsh winters of Europe and Northern Asia. These species travel thousands of miles to settle temporarily in the nutrient-rich grasses of the Mara Triangle.

“Through the lens, a world of feathers and flight unfolds.” ~ Unknown

The rain replenishes ephemeral ponds, marshlands, and small seasonal streams in the southern section of the Triangle. This moves storks, herons, and ibises away from the main Mara River banks out into the open plains

Explore, seek to understand, marvel at its interconnectedness and let it be.

Have fun, Mike