African Hoopoe - Upupa epops africana Bright pinkish plumage with black and white bars on the upper parts, tail and wings. They have a long, black-tipped crest of feathers and their bills are long and point slightly downward. It has a butterfly-like flight pattern, slow and undulating. Live in bush country, savannah woodland and in stands of acacia. Ant-lion larvae are a staple in the hoopoe’s diet, as they feed largely on the ground. They make a low, penetrating sound that is similar to a dove’s call. Squacco Heron - Ardeola ralloides A short-legged heron with yellowish-tan upper parts and white wings. Its crown is also yellowish, but is covered by long black and white plumes. Non-breeding herons have darker plumage, typically olive-brown on the back with heavy streaking on the neck and breast. Squacco Herons prefer swamps, marshes and lakes, especially those that have a thick covering of water plants. Black-headed Heron - Ardea melanocephala A gray and white heron with a distinctive black crown and neck, dark legs, and a dark bill. In flight, it carries its head drawn back on the shoulders with its neck curved. This is different from the flight posture of cranes, storks and spoonbills, who fly with their necks extended. Black-headed Herons are common throughout Africa, frequenting pasture land in addition to inland and coastal waters. It preys on rodents and large insects. Plants Yellow-barked Acacia Tree - Acacia xanthophloea Identification: Elephants are known to strip bark from acacia trees for food—which can eventually kill the tree. However, the bark usually grows back in a gnarled fashion. The acacias in the Ngorongoro Crater's Lerai forest are a good example of this wear and tear. Yellow-barked acacias are common in many African forests. They are also known as fever trees due to their association with water, mosquitoes, and malarial fever. Wild Sisal - Sanseveria ehrenbergiana Identification: Sisal is characterized by yellow-green spearlike leaves which grow in clumps and bind the loose soil of arid areas. Like sisal, many desert plants have thorns, spikes, or toxic compounds to protect themselves and their water against animals. Wild sisal grows in abundance around Olduvai gorge, but can also be found at the base of kopjes and other rocky areas. A mis-translation of the local word for sisal, "oldupai," is responsible for Olduvai gorge's name. Wait-a-bit Thorn - Acacia mellifera Identification: The name "wait-a-bit thorn" will be beautifully illustrated if one happens to brush against its thorny branches. The recurved thorns, shaped like a cat's claws, are quite "catchy." The Wait-a-bit Thorn is often seen growing above clumps of sisal in spreading bushes.
Lion Tracks Outside My Tent - 156 - Jim Damico