Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu

Male Red-cheeked Cordon-blue (Uraeginthus bengalus) photographed in Timau, Laikipia, Kenya. The male is the same as the female except that the female has no red cheek patch.

One of four races of this bird, this one occurs throughout Kenya and other parts of East Africa from sea level to 2300m. More shots in the Gallery.

Canon 90D with Canon EF-S IS STM 55-250mm lens at 250mm ISO 800 1/500 at f9.

Pacific reef egret

One of many Pacific reef egrets cruising the low-tide shallows just south of Kamala Beach. The sea and rock pools were full of huge shoals of minnow-size lunch for these sea birds. Spoilt for choice!.

Canon 100D with Canon EF-S 55-250mm at 172mm ISO 400 1/1600 at f8

Little egrets

All things are relative and I suppose these quite large birds are called ‘little’ because the great egret is so much larger. These were some of many patrolling the rocks and coral at low tide on the headland just south of Kamala beach, Phuket, a couple of mornings ago. I had a great vantage point from the terrace of the house of some friends. From there I was able to look down on the view which gave me the relatively unusual treat of capturing birds in flight from above rather than from below. The birds were particularly interested in the shoals of tens of thousands of minnow-like fish swirling in the waves among the rock pools exposed at low tide, the minnows themselves feeding on algae etc, while above them, sea birds swooped and feasted, thinking all their birthdays had come at once.

Look out for more of these shots over the next few days.

Canon 100D with Canon 55-250mm EF-S IS STM zoom at 149mm. ISO 400 1/800 at f8