Romeo

African lion (Panthera leo massaicus)
Marsh/Bila Shaka pride male, Musiara, Masai Mara (Kenya)
September 2007

Vultures: nature's garbage collectors

I realise that vultures do not rate as one of the most popular African bird species. Consider this, whether you like them or not, without them the African plains would be an awfully messy place.

The brown-coloured African White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus) has a dark brown head and neck with a white ruff at the base. The bill and eyes are black. The rump, back and forewing are white, well visible in flight.



The brown Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus) is a small vulture. The facial skin is pink with white-grey down in the hindneck. Distinctive is the slender bill.

The White-headed Vulture (Trigonoceps occipitalis) has a distinctive angular white head, hence the name. The face and the legs are pink. The reddish bill has a blue base. Females have a patch of white in the secondary flight feathers.

The Rüppell’s Vulture (Gyps rueppellii) is similar to the African White-backed Vulture. It is also brown but has a grey head and neck. The face is blue-grey. The bill is ivory-coloured with a touch of pink. The eyes are orange-yellow. On either side of the crop there are blue-grey bare patches. The feather edges are creamy white. In flight there are three white bars visible on the underwing.

The Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotus) is the largest African vulture with very distinctive pink-coloured bare skin on the head and the neck. The brownish bill is massive. Flank feathers are white.

Sleeping Beauty

African lion (Panthera leo massaicus)
Paradise pride lioness, Paradise plain, Masai Mara (Kenya)
September 2007

Big Bull

African Savanna Elephant (Loxodonta africana africana)
Musiara, Masai Mara (Kenya)
September 2007

Taking measure

African Savanna Elephant (Loxodonta africana africana)
Musiara, Masai Mara (Kenya)
September 2005

When 2 bull elephants of equal size meet, they literally 'size each other up' by coming together with their heads until the bases of their trunks and tusks are engaged.
Trying to be taller than the other, they press down on each other. The winner is the one that shows the most stamina, managing to hold his head higher than the other.

In this case neither of the 2 bulls showed real aggression, resulting in a 'friendly sparring match'.

Leucistic Plains Zebra

Plains Zebra (Equus burchelli)
Mara Triangle, Masai Mara (Kenya)
September 2005

The stripes in this Plains Zebra are much lighter than normal.
It is caused by a condition called leucism. The pigmentation cells in an animal/bird fail to develop as they should, resulting in white patches, a paler colouring or completely white individuals. It is not the same as albinism. In albinism the entire animal is affected and the eyes are usually red. It is an unusual condition but occasionally animals/birds like these are seen.

By comparison, a normally coloured Plains Zebra.

Masai Mara 2009

Upcoming trip to the Masai Mara.
I will be back in the Masai Mara in September 2009. My itinerary is not yet set but it looks like my time will be divided between a stay at Little Governors' Camp in the Musiara area and Rekero Camp (Jackson Looseyia's office) and, possibly Naibor Camp, both near the Mara and Talek river confluence.
I can't wait to catch up with old friends again (both human and feline) and meet new ones...

Duma

Cheetah (Acinony jubatus raineyi)
Paradise plain, Masai Mara (Kenya)
September 2005

Duma is a female cheetah born in 2004.
Her mother is Sita a.k.a. Shakira (BBC Big Cat Live 2008).

Zawadi a.k.a. Shadow

Leopard (Panthera pardus pardus)
Double Gorge, Masai Mara (Kenya)
September 2005

Zawadi (a.k.a. Shadow of BBC Big Cat Diary) is the daughter of Half-Tail. She can easily be identified by a row of five spots under her right eye.

Peaceful scene at Bila Shaka

African Lion (Panthera leo massaicus)
Marsh/Bila Shaka pride, Musiara, Masai Mara (Kenya)
September 2005

Top Notch

Lion (Panthera leo massaicus)
Marsh/Bila Shaka pride, Musiara, Masai Mara (Kenya)
September 2005

Notch (BBC Big Cat Week) was the Marsh/Bila Shaka pride male until he was deposed by a coalition of 3 males.

Mama Duma

Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus raineyi)
Paradise plain, Masai Mara (Kenya)
September 2007

The sleek frame of a female cheetah.

Hello there...

I'm Xavier Van der Veken. I was born in 1961 in Belgium.

From an early age I was inspired by nature, astronomy and photography. This combination worked well for me. Since then astronomy has taken a bit of a backseat but I still enjoy my occasional spot of stargazing.

So, this blog is all about nature photography which I enjoy, a lot. I hope you can tell from my work.

Xavier