Out of Africa
 

Something to warm you up :}

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4603/...538778b6_b.jpgRainbow Pond by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

A cracking photo Phil - well done :bowdown:.

Cliff

Very nice and well taken Phil, thank you for sharing :}

Incredible photo Phil, just look at all those rich warm vivid colours... :bowdown:

Double rainbow as well......great shot Phil:bowdown:

Well Phil what can I say,absolutely superb shot well captured showing Mother Nature at her very best,the kind of shot I am always striving to achieve,but with that one,know I have still got a long way to go.

Jan & I hope you are keeping as well as you can be, you are in our thought's Dear Friend,please pass on our love & very best wishes to Jessica,we are hoping to be able to meet up with you both somewhere during the course of the year.

Take care of yourselves.....Jan & John.

Thank you Cliff for the encouragement :}

Thank you Steve, its a pleasure :}

Thank you Wes, it was one of those photos when the light was fading and constantly changing.

Thank you Jeff, a chance photo with the rainbows appearing like that. Taken out in the bush in the Rift Valley, drought ridden and begging for the rains. The pond is man made and is part of a ranch house garden. The wild animals visit the pond during the night for their drinks :}

Thank you very much Jan and John for your very kind thoughts. Hopefully we will get to meet up in the year ahead when we are next in the UK and travelling your way.

Despite the rainbows, the rains did not come. The sky cleared and there was a full moon that night. I was tempted to go outside and set up some shots of the moon, but it was too dangerous. The house and its gardens are exposed to the like of lions and hyenas visiting the grounds at night looking for game or simply coming for a drink from the pond, which is at the back of the house.

A Grevy's Zebra photographed at sunset 25 Feb during a drive off road and shot through the car window.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4785/...72660314_b.jpgKenya a Grevy Zebra in Laikipia by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

Wow!!!
 

I`m speechless!!!
More, more, more https://www.befsa.com/forum/images/s...w/popcorn1.gif on Flickr!

Thank you Hristo, I have you to thank for getting me to start this thread. I had a look at your mates mountain and coastal photos, most impressive and delightful to see :bowdown:

He/she is giving you the 'stare'.........Great shot :bowdown:

The pleasure is mine, sir!
But patience I have no, Phil /as said Yoda/ :D

Ahh praise indeed from a master of Photography, appreciated Jeff :} :} I expect you know all the tricks to get a cat to cooperate for the ‘Golden Shot’. Any tips for wild animals?

Long lens, big distance between you and the subject and a good escape route :D

Hey, Phil - I just found a connection from here to you - Ciconia ciconia :D
Do you have taken a photo?
They are very common over here - we are awaiting them soon.

Your right Hristo, thank you for asking, common in Europe and migrating all the way to South Africa and back for the seasons :} A couple of different storks taken on my old Nikon in December 2010 in Amboseli National Reserve, Kenya. The photos were cropped and lost some detailing. Sorry about that!

Abdims Stork
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4771/...2e51358c_b.jpgAbdims Stork by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

Saddle Billed Stork
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4756/...dfefec60_b.jpgSaddle Billed Stork by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

Saddle Billed Stork
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4650/...b5b6dcec_z.jpgSaddle Billed Stork on display by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

A warming sunset out in the bush over Christmas with the family. Boys will be boys ..... climbing all over the Land Rover! :D


https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4792/...553cd6ec_b.jpgwarming sunset by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

Giraffe
 

Reticulated Giraffe.
A photo I took in 2010 with a 'point and shoot' Fujifilm SP-3000 camera at 3.2 megapixels, whilst on safari in the bush, Kenya :} The camera first came out in 2003.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4607/...60738a33_b.jpgA Giraffe by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

Is there an all you can eat Toby breakfast at the end of that Rainbow Phil :D

Got to laugh Phil, the Giraffe it reminds me of....... Oh never mind, cracking photo :D:D:D:D:D;)

Steve, what are you like? Hahahaha :D:D:D
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c4...0D4341E4FB.jpg

Common Bulbul a garden visitor, Laikipia, Kenya

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4621/...8e4e1080_z.jpgCommon Bulbul by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

A Lioness family with 5 cubs. One is slightly out of sight behind. I took this photo on 18 Dec 2011 with a Nikon D5000, 300mm lens. I was in a car at the time. The Lion family are basking in the afternoon sun, in the Massai Mara.
Don't they look cute!

2 photos. The first is the original and not edited. The second is slightly cropped and edited with a 'warm sunset' filter. I think I prefer the original.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4786/...be7d7f6c_b.jpgMara Safari 18 Dec 2011 by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4664/...0990339e_b.jpgLioness family by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

Me too, Phil :}

Here we have the Lion family. I am looking at them and they are looking at me :drool4:

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4780/...fa4f4eb5_z.jpgFamily Lion by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

Swizzle :D
Hahha - not the whole family, but...
The male/s are separately.
That's the nature of Lions when the cubs delivered.:D
And most of the cats.

That’s an interesting link Hristo, are you the cartoonist, the creator? :}

Lounch/forum:eek: brake.

No, I`m an Economist by education and a LovetheNaturalist by soul.;)

Hartebeest

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4789/...6ac92d23_c.jpgHartebeest by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

Loving these photos Phil.....keep 'em coming Sir :bowdown:

Overlooking the Sand River towards Tanzania on the horizon. It is along the banks of the river, we camp out in a tent.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4781/...e01fc82e_c.jpgMassai Mara, Kenya by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

African Buffalo and Gazelle

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4781/...16d22348_c.jpgAfrican Buffalo and Gazelle_edit by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

Love the heat haze in this one Phil:bowdown:......It will be a while before we get the same back here in Blighty me thinks :D

Excellent photo.
I see David Attenborough behind the rocks filming a Cheetah :D

Setting up the tent by the river in a hurry before darkness falls and the rains come. One tent is for food supplies and other is for us :}

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4776/...f9176675_c.jpgSetting up camp by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

Do they do tents that are 6 feet in the air so the snakes etc. can't get in, Phil ?:eek::eek::eek::eek:

Hi Will

Yes there are tents that can be set up on top of 4x4’s. It’s usual to keep the tent zipped up. I have found this stops our scent from being released into the wind for predators to pick up.

Where we camp, is not far from a closed border crossing. The crossing is manned by armed rangers. I pay them a small fee to keep an eye on us and to watch our tents when ever we go on a game drive. Because of its remote location, we take them medicines for malaria, allergies and baked beans as they love them. The rangers collect wood for our fire and warn us if a Lion has made a kill close to us. On one occasion, they said there was a Python living in the tree next to our tent, but when I checked, the Python had moved away :}
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c4...A7C2EE8850.jpg

Hi Phil!
You are definitely my kind of a person!

If you come over here /the Balkans/ - feel free to call. You are invited to whatever outdoor tent/caravan activities - when, where, how we decided!
http://planina.e-psylon.net/images/smiles/x_tent.gif

That is a compliment Hristo of the highest order, thank you very much :}:}:}
We sometimes like the comfort of a lodge, but for wildlife and other outdoor fun, there is much to explore and find out about......;)

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c4...4DED5489F5.jpg

Here is a film I shot called “The Water Hole”. The first few minutes is about driving along the highway, it can be scary but you learn to be defensive and aggressive when needed. It’s probably similar to driving the Balkans, so you can probably skip that bit.
https://vimeo.com/171106785
At 12 m 57s, 100+ African Buffalo charge into the water, desperate for a drink!

Hi, Phil!
Me either like sometimes comfort of a lodge, especially when on a hike/trip more than 2 days.
Thank you for sharing the video - the atmosphere in it is so calm. Over here the wild life is very coward, therefore quick and fast due to the poachers.
You should be aggressive and defensive on the roads over there - it`s a mess I saw - everyone drives on the wrong side of the road :D
As for the driving in the Balkans - I was crossing several times the peninsula - everywhere and everything is normal. You should be watched wrong movies/news.:shrug::D
Everything is normal over here - even in Albania and Bosnia. Personal experience.
But the thread is for Africa - I`m waiting for the next images!

Ah ha! Its reassuring to hear what exceptional roads you have Hristo in the Balkans. I think I have been watching the wrong channel on youtube. I must pay more attention :D

Elephants approach calmly

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4773/...ab4bda74_c.jpgelephants approach by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

Nile Crocodile one of the most aggressive and dangerous species of crocodiles in Africa. 11. 5 feet to 20 feet in length. An ambush predator who will lay in wait for hours, days or week to strike. I took this photo on the banks of Lake Baringo. The croc gave chase and I had to leg it (on video)

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c4...ector_edit.jpg

Agapanthus Blue Comes in shades of blue and purple, also white and pink.
Shot this afternoon in between the rains, in the garden.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4779/...b28f2f5d_c.jpgAgapanthus Blue - Nairobi by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

Cracking photo's Phil, thank you.

Just hear this song - very special memory from my teen`s and could not resist to share it here - it is connected to the Lions.
Please accept my genuine apologies for a bit stress insertion in this calm atmosphere around:

Red Bougainvillea After the rains

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/801/4...e2d88b0e_c.jpgRed Bougainvillea after the rain, a Nairobi garden by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

Lovely vibrant colours Phil......The rain really makes the picture 'pop' off the screen:}

Pink Bougainvillea Lightroom 4 and 'Noiseless'

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/792/3...8eac44e3_c.jpgPink Bougainvillea by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

The croc gave chase and I had to leg it (on video).........a bit like running for the breakfast queue at the Ugly Duckling :D
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c4...ector_edit.jpg[/QUOTE]

[/QUOTE]

Oh what are you like :D:D
Here is a memory from the Ugly Duckling last summer to warm up those nuts :D
https://vimeo.com/238234615

https://vimeo.com/260669239

Above is the last 3 minutes of a concert pianist playing RACHMANINOV Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini at the Kenya National Theatre today with the Nairobi Orchestra. I shot the clip on the phone, I can add Cordelia has been staying here all week ;)

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c4...a/Cordelia.jpg

What a wake up this morning!
I like Russian Classical music - Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, Borodin, Glinka, Rimsky Korsakov.
Greetings for you:

Headphones required or good speakers :}

Good morning Hristo, thanks for that and thank you for the links.

Yesterday, the orchestra played Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No 5 and Debussy’s Petite Suite. My wife was brought up on Elgar and Tchaikovsky. She said that when her dad got home from work, he would play it and all the children would fall sleep:}

I’m in another group outside the forum and when I offered them some culture from the classics, the only culture they wanted was good food, football and profanity ...A bunch of miscreants!
Hahahaha :D

Good Evening Phil!
Panem et circenses :D and left the genes - what more :shrug::D:D:D


The guests from Africa are here already:
http://www.kmeta.bg/uploads/image/fi...09e439f22a.jpg

Ciconia nigra:
http://sever.bg/pictures/1208014_651_367.jpg

[QUOTE=hrissim;2608788]Good Evening Phil!
Panem et circenses :D and left the genes - what more :shrug::D:D:D


The guests from Africa are here already:
http://www.kmeta.bg/uploads/image/fi...09e439f22a.jpg

Ciconia nigra:
http://sever.bg/pictures/1208014_651_367.jpg[/ thQUOTE]

Si musica ambrosiam amoris est, Cantate! :D

Hopefully a good sign Hristo for you that spring is on the way :} thank you for sharing the photos of such beautiful birds :}

Lovely photo's Phil, I suppose though when taking them you have to be alert to any unwelcome predators that may be lurking in the background. Snakes must be in abundance :eek:

Ah bless!
Good morning Steve and thank you:}

Relax, I won't be posting up any snake photos today, but now for something much more pleasant and peaceful. A photo I took yesterday of a delicate flower, not unlike myself :D

Pink and White Hibiscus
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/803/2...7709a268_c.jpgpink and white Hibiscus by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

Good morning Hristo, my apologies for overlooking your photos and the quality. I am guessing you have a nice camera and that you are at the top of the game - Photography :bowdown:

Old Lion Nairobi Game Park, Nikon 5000 in 2013
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4784/...1a929573_c.jpgOld Lion by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

Hi Phil - the snakes! I like them very much! Post some photos, please! Please!!!

Thank you - I used recently my mobile. These with the storks especially I took from the Internet - they are with the new arrivals over here. Fresh :D
The black storks are rare here and it is not easy to take a photo with them. I know where they are - in the valley surrounded by forest. Spotted them just ones - unfortunately flew away quickly.
I have not time to take my own of the white storks - driving/working.

When on a hike/long trip I use Sony Nex 3N - very satisfied with the quality. Compact ones, lightweight. Their successors like alpha 6000 so on are even better. Worth every penny for shure.


Post some snakes, please :D
Dendroaspis Polylepis???

Nice Puddy Tat Phil........did you stroke him:D;):getmecoat:

Lion sits on picnic table
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4773/...e950db2e_b.jpgLion sits on picnic table by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

I think he had a wet nose Jeff, but what a spoil sport sitting on the picnic table with his mouth open :}

Good evening Hristo, the only photos I have are of the Puff Adder. I know some of the members of this club are phobic of snakes, so I won't be posting any up on the forum. I can send you a pm with the photos if you want to them. I spend some time in South Africa on the family farm, a vineyard and seeing snakes on the farm is not uncommon. I hate snakes to be honest, but studying and seeing them gives me some protection. We get them here on our small holding, in the meadow and in the forest. They tend to come out at night or when the light is fading. The ones we have are the King Cobra, Python, harmless Brown snakes, Puff Adder and the Black Mamba. The Cobras like the stream and the meadow. They have been known to bite a grazing cow now and again.

I had a Cobra drop onto my lap from above. I kept perfectly still and summoned some help. A cold feeling came over me......It proceeded to slide behind me. When help came with.....a forked stick and a sack. I said "everyone ready"

I counted 1-2-3....jumped up... Hey! no Cobra :D

It had carried on its journey and no harm was done :} Something like that happening is fairly rare. The trick is not to panic ;)

Sony make lovely cameras, I nearly bought one last year but the price was out of my range. Rocket has a wonderful camera, top of the range :bowdown:

You are right about the Storks not being easy to photograph. I find Swallows are super fast., also difficult to snap. I suspect they are on their way back to Europe for the warmer weather, or already there. Amazingly, the temp in Nairobi has dropped in the past month by 10C and when that happens, Europe starts to warm up :}

What a majestic beast he looks Phil,the first one shows him to proudly hold the title King of the Jungle.

John.

Southern White Rhino We spotted these very rare Rhinos grazing on the shores of Lake Nakuru in Kenya, 18 March 2010. The Mother was killed by 2 poachers in March 2014. Armed rangers engaged them in a gun battle at 11pm, before the horns were cut off :mad:

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4786/...4f15c7d3_c.jpg18 March 2010 Southern White Rhino by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

Mother and Calf
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4773/...d364b2fa_c.jpgMother and Calf Southern White Rino Grazing by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

Sad but true - the World goes Blackened. :(
... And Justice for All is the only solution, but in doubt...

The only things I hate are the poachers and the politics, the last ones are also poachers :} At last over here. :D
This is the real naked World :shrug: The life goes on - evolution, natural selection. Sometimes I share Agent Smith`s words that we are viruses, but I`m an irrepressible optimist - in the border with the idealism. This helps me a lot to surviveve in the modern World.

Any way - beautiful photos again - what kind of rhinos are these - white or black?
I hope that they are not Northern White Rhino - it would be very sad, really...

I will have a look for the snake photos Hristo tomorrow and message them over to you. On the odd occasion, they come into the house when we leave the doors open. At night you have to check the bed before getting into it and check the shoes and under the toilet seat, for Scorpions and poisonous spiders.

I had a Scorpion on my pillow (photo), flicked it onto the floor and killed it.

The Rhinos in the photos are “Southern White Rhinos” and originated from South Africa. Poaching in Kenya is a serious offence and poachers are often shot dead :}

Post up some pictures of a spider Phil, everyone love's spiders, except a certain Flyer that is :eek:;):}

Oh bad luck Steve, I hate spiders and I am clean out of those photos :Do

Thank you!
In what a tragedy you are involved inadvertently - the Southern White Rhinos are going to extinction with no way back /naturally/- the last male was dead just yesterday - in Sudan.
What a pity :mad::mad::mad:

Waiting for other positive images :}

In 2017, there were 15,376 Elephants in Kenya. An increase by almost 1000 over 4 years. The numbers going up Hristo, is largely due to a decline in poaching with improved surveillance using drones, electronic tagging and tracking, plus executing the poachers and catching the ivory traders ...

A photo I took last year. Elephants in a private game reserve of 10,000 acres for the animals and wildlife.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c4...F463D367A4.jpg

Interesting - yesterday ends with a bad news, the new day starts with a good one :D

Meanwhile the Lord /Mother Nature/ delivers justice.

Ibis Spotted this beauty in the garden forest this afternoon, sitting on a branch up high. Unfortunately the Ibis moved, so not the clearest of photos.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c4...ar%202018.jpeg

He got his just rewards. No great loss as far as I am concerned, thank you Hristo for sharing.

Great enough - anyone attempted to count the feathers? :D:D:D

At your services, Sir :D

Your too Kind Hristo :bowdown:

I expect to have another crack at hopefully taking a better photo, as we have a family of Ibis living in the trees, in the garden and on the roof of the house. They make a hell of a noise when they are close, but I don't mind it one little bit :}
https://youtu.be/OBgesK-Oj6U
Described as the loudest bird in Africa.

Good shot!
Did you use IBIS on the Ibis Phil? :}

Ah ha! something I have not yet mastered :D

You might know the answer Paul. This evening I failed to upload via Flickr. A message kept saying 'timed out and reload'. I have had to use my phone as a hotspot to piggy back the laptop and photobucket as a last resort. Has Flickr ever done that to you? Heavy rains tonight. The internet is on 4G signal. Maybe that is the reason.

I had same problem Phil. i think it was just heavy usage. The weekends always seem slower.

Oh relief, a tech problem their end. Thank you Paul for getting back :}

Bronze Sunbird

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/880/4...ebd9af46_c.jpgBronze Sunbird Nairobi Garden by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

Wow, cracking photo Phil, is it a common species over there?

Good morning Steve, thank you very much. One of several varieties of common Sunbirds to be found across Kenya. They are quite dramatic and come in many bright colours. They are small birds and very fast. Not the easiest bird to take a photo of. There is one bird that likes our forest and it is fast and elusive with lots of orange and red feathers, it is called the Paradise Flycatcher I have seen it, but not been able to photograph it yet!

Greater Blue Eared Starling

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c4...16/rupells.jpg

They certainly make a change from the Sparrow's and Starling's we have here Phil.

African Bare-Eyed Thrush eating figs

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/901/4...e6c38961_c.jpgAfrican Bare eyed Thrush Nairobi Garden by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

Ostrich in shade Nairobi Game Park

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/863/4...5e1585d1_c.jpgOstrich in shade Nairobi Game Park by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

Love that image Phil:bowdown:

Zebra Laikipia plains, Kenya

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/804/4...2b756732_c.jpgZebra Laikipia Kenya by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

Bronze Sunbird
 

Bronze Sunbird on the Erythrina A beautiful scene. Unfortunately, I was too far away for a flash and could not pick up the feather details in the front of the bird. I tried to use the 'curve' in post edit to pick these details up without success ;)

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/817/3...38c0857c_c.jpgBronze Sunbird Nairobi Garden on the Erythrina by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

Sykes Monkey A predator of sorts, visited the garden today looking for its favourite fruit which we grow, Mango! It likes to eat shoots, vegetables and meat. It will eat a cat or a dog, if it is smaller. At present we have a troop of monkeys living in the forest. To be honest, we don't like having them around even though they are interesting to watch :}

The photo is not edited.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/902/2...8df30d77_c.jpgSykes Monkey Garden visitor, not edited by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

I watched on TV - everywhere almost all of Cercopithecidae are very annoying creatures ...
Even saw some further images and videos with them :D
But finally - WE are the guests in their lands!

Several years ago Hristo,we spent a few days out in the bush at a project called
Baboons R Us. I have a photo somewhere. The Baboons were living in an outcrop of rocks and ravines with a hierarchical structure within their own society. They had Homo Baboons engaging in relationships and sex. It was fascinating to witness. We had to follow a code:

No eye contact
Do not wear a baseball cap, as they will find it threatening and attack.
Avoid bodily contact, even when they come close and dance around your legs. Turn away from them, if they do this. They will lose interest

Yes - I saw plenty of documentaries with the monkeys.
No eye contact is a major rule, especially when the prime male is around:D
Their mimic muscles are more developed than ours. As they have no language to communicate this happened with an eye, mimic or/and body language and more rarely with a voice.
The wild life is simply great... an Universe...

Madam Secretary

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/892/4...0925ca69_z.jpgMadam Secretary by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

Yessss!
One of my favourite birds.
A predator

The forest at the bottom of the garden.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c4...DCD1CE701C.jpg

The forest drops down a steep ravine of dense trees and bushes over volcanic rock. At the bottom of the forest is a spring, a stream and a meadow. Even if I walk on my own, the dogs will come and look for me. How do they know I am on my own and where to look? ;)

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c4...DC88736090.jpg

Hadada Ibis Thank you for looking. Yesterday whilst walking in the forest, I came across this young Ibis high up on a branch in the trees. I have not edited the photo or cropped it. I did try to enhance the colours and the sheen, but it came out with a purple tinge, so I left it. I could have taken it out in Lightroom 4, but decided to leave everything in looking natural. More details and clarity to the feathers would have been nice, but it wasn't to be.

The forest floor was dark and with the sunbeams shining through the trees, made the light behind the Ibis look bright and surreal.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/895/4...abc26edf_b.jpgHadada Ibis by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

Good morning, Phil!
Thank you for the genuine photo! :}

Good morning Hristo. Appreciated ;) thank you. I also posted this photo this morning, on a photography site in the bird section and I know that I would be hung, drawn and quartered if the photo did not look real or authentic. A little bit too much saturation or vibrance would have made the Ibis stand out more, but it would have been picked on by the experts. I can get round this, if the photo is clearly artistic or creative and if I point it out, then everyone is happy :}:}:}

Weaver Photographed yesterday, a pretty little bird with brightly coloured feathers.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/869/3...d46b3896_b.jpgWeaver by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

Hi Phil!
Yes - Ploceidae!
Do you have a photo/s of their community "homes"?

Are the Indicatoridae present in your area?
If yes - share some experience with the wild-bee honey please :D

It’s all here Hristo, the birds and the bees. The nests of Weavers and I don’t have any bad experiences of the bees. We have 2 bee hives in our veg garden and 40 bee hives on the wine farm in South Africa. In 2011, they were all destroyed in a bush fire. We had to rebuild everything from scratch, the vines, the houses, the hives. They were hard times, we had to fight the Insurance company, the looters and I was in intensive care for one week in July 2011. Some bad memories from the fire. But it’s life! It’s Africa! It took us 3 years to rebuild. I will look for some photos later.

Oh, Phil - I`m so sorry for appearing some bad memories in you! :(
I`m glad that everything is OK now. :D
The life is going on - the major thing is to learn the life-lessons well...
I`m waiting for the next photos.
I didn`t understand about the wild bee-honey connected to Indicatoridae.
There is an amazing story behind the symbiosis with another creatures :D

Hristo, thank you :} Back to nature, wild life and some photos from today. I did take some of the Weaver Bird nests and the bee hives, they are for another day :}

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/785/2...d8056b64_c.jpg6 April 2018 the African Paradise Flycatcher by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/796/4...24f8cee5_b.jpgSkyes Money in the apple tree by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/872/4...7f5a6efb_c.jpgSykes Monkey eating our apples by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

Awesome photo, Philip. The Ibis looks like he's seen something scary down there lol. His eyes look wide open.

Thank you very much Mark, here is a shot of the Ibis, showing how to stand on one leg.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/813/4...2458fe32_c.jpgIbis stands on one leg by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

Amazing photo such from some digital move scene from another planet.
Can't believe is real place.
Regard for it.

Hi Phil
I’ve just spent the last half hour viewing your “gallery” and have enjoyed it immensely. I would have run out of thanks by page 3 so thanks collectively for posting.
I’m also a bit of a classic music fan but I simply pick something from a list then play it. I have a Sonus speaker system throughout the house and use Napster to download my music.
A couple of weeks ago I came across Andre Rieu in concert I think it was Berlin, anyway towards the end a lady wearing a ball gown came out and played Highland Cathedral, on the bagpipes. It was amazing, I wish I could post a link but worth listening to. The tempo was a little slower than I’ve usual heard with the piece but still wonderful to hear.

I still have my old 8 track tapes up in the loft with the classical stuff I used to play at full volume. Well I still like to crank the volume up with the Sonus when the missus is out :}

https://youtu.be/VlkTjvldNzA

Good morning Jim and here is an uplifting start to the day in the above link: Andre Rieu, Amazing Grace, bagpipes. Get your hanky out :}

Thank you for the compliments about the photos. I have not been able to take any photos over the past few days became of the weather, heavy rains and 100% humidity.

Jim, you have a beautiful music system, state of the art which must give you a great deal of pleasure :}

I took this photo this morning. It looks like more rain is on the way, but we need it, so no complaints here,

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c4...24421C7CE6.jpg

Thank you very much. It does look surreal your right. The park for the animals is 55 square miles big and it is south of Nairobi on the city edge.
Here is a landscape view overlooking one of its swamps from “Observation Hill”

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c4...4B0E0EFBC6.jpg

Good morning Phil!
Fight fire with fire - just jump in the pool :D

Thank you so much for the link, I haven’t quite mastered how to do these.

I’ve just found it using Napster. It’s on the “Live in Australia” album
So I’m playing it just now throughout the house.
Amazing Grace was one of my mother's favourites.
The Sonus system I have is split into three zones two Play 1’s in the conservatory, 1 Play 1 in the family room but I’m shortly going to be adding another Play 1 then in the TV room I have a Soundbar and a Sub woofer.
Family room and TV are actually the same room but for music sake spit into two zones.
With Sonus you can have up to 9 zones ( I think) with different music in each zone if you wanted and can stream music all day long. With Napster I can play practically all music and songs that were ever recorded for just £10 per month.

It’s just finding the spare time to sit down, relax and listen.
The sun’s just come out so I’m about to fire up my project 75 after the cam belt change so I hope everything goes well.

Forgot to say, the missus has booked us into The Gaiety Theatre in Ayr to listen to a live Andre’ Rieu concert later this summer.

Looking forward to it but would love to be at a live concert.

Good morning Jim, good morning all. Jim have a wonderful time at the concert with your good lady, what a treat :} I have been out in the garden and meadow this morning after the rains, looking for the colour red and spotted some Fire Lilies growing in the long grass, Wild Red Orchids to name a couple. Others you will know.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c4...031C63ADB3.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c4...B562052D7E.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c4...E8DE9A4D01.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c4...0D8E721C0A.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c4...B24B838720.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c4...DAEC85DFF3.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c4...12D5E3B4A5.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c4...91F21330FA.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c4...3D62751413.jpg

Hi Phil!
As I understand these flowers are wild-one, nit planted?
What a RED :eek: :D

Moonflower very pretty, but also very poisonous ....

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c4...F88250E695.jpg

Some of the plants and trees growing here are medicinal and some are highly poisonous. One of the them growing in the forest is called the Poisoned Arrow Tree. We had to stop our guards tipping their arrows with the poison as I didn’t want any animal or human being killed by accidentally being shot with a poisonous arrow. I will look around tomorrow for the medicinal plants we have.

In answer to your question Hristo, some of the reds grow wild and some have been planted :}

Lovely photos again Phil.

I appear to have made a mistake with the Andrei’ Rieu concert it being relayed to the Odeon Cinema in Kilmarnock not the Gaiety Theatre in Ayr. The concert itself is coming from Mastricht.
As long as we manage to get the date right we’ll be ok. Last year we arrived at the Gaiety and were seated then we realised we were a night early so had to leave. It was a totally different show that evening and it was only when the missus commented about the stage set up she realised her mistake.
We knew the lady who was guiding the patrons to their seats and she hadn’t actually checked our tickets as she was chatting to the the missus.

Good evening Jim and thank you :} That is how it goes sometimes, hopefully all will be good on the night this time round, I haven’t seen you since Gretna 2015, but didn’t get a chance to say hello. If I recall rightly, Big G was having a chat with you in the front seat of your Jaguar as I walked on by. It would have been rude of me to interrupt you both. I was admiring your caravan :} The Jag looked like the dogs danglies :drool4:

Yellow Pansy Butterfly I took this one a couple of days ago.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/901/4...8aa810f6_c.jpgYellow Pansy Butterfly by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

I’m sorry I missed the chance to meet you, yes I remember blethering to Graham about the Jag.
Sadly it is no more as it was written off just weeks after getting four new doors fitted.
After the trouble I had with both Jaguar and my local main dealer Parks Jaguar Ayr I moved to Mercedes and now run the CLS Shooting Brake.

The story on the XF can be found under a Google search on Jaguar XF door corrosion.

I hope to make Gretna again this year with my latest 75, the Zircon Silver Connoisseur SE I’ve been working on for the last six months.

Spotted Morning Thrush Taken today :}

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/842/2...67a30e2d_c.jpgSpotted Morning Thrush, Nairobi by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

African White with white veins. I had to reduce the EV by 0.3 as the sunlight was very bright this morning, but it was not enough, so exposure reduced in post editing and 'Noise' cut back via 'Noiseless'. Slightly cropped.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/805/4...79424975_c.jpgBeleonis creona African White, Nairobi by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

A young Ibis visited yesterday and today a Sunbird in silhouette

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/824/4...6b0c0cd3_c.jpgYoung Ibis Nairobi by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/787/4...dd5ab84a_c.jpgSunbird in Silhoette Nairobi by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

You get to photograph all the exotic birds Phil:D:bowdown:

Thanks Jeff for the encouragement :}:}:}

Masked Weaver a late afternoon photo, taken today.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/896/4...a5c7310a_c.jpgMasked Weaver Nairobi by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

Stunning colour, the yellow plumage is complimented beautifully by the diffused green background :bowdown:

Thanks Jeff, some advice please. On the front of the Weaver is some green colour. It is reflected from the green tree the bird was in. I tried various things in post edit to eliminate it, without damaging the image. In the end, I left it in. Does it look okay, or how would you manage it? I didn't want to use a flash, as I did not want to scare the bird away. Any thoughts please, when you have time? or perhaps Paul might know.

Hi Phil,

I would have thought that may well be the real colour of its under plumage perhaps ?
Wouldn't have thought that the feathers would have been that reflective in that light but could be wrong though.

I think it looks fine as it is and I'm not sure I would want to change it :}

Thanks Jeff, I will leave it and try to take another photo of the Weaver again to double check the colours. It was a chance photo. I was walking through the wood and looked up. There it was....click, click and in a moment it had flown away :}

Anthurium Xavia

Growing in a pot in our pergola, likes shade, but can be grown indoors. Poisonous from calcium oxalate crystals, the sap is an irritant to the eyes and skin. It has air purifying qualities and has an affect on formaldehyde, ammonia and volatile organic gases. Several of the these plants in a building, can reduce harmful substances by more than 50% in 24 hours.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/849/4...8f916ac7_c.jpgAnthurium Xavia Nairobi by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

Morning Glory This is a flowering vine which grows over the fence around the veg garden and its name is Morning Glory :}

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/893/4...4e19bda1_c.jpgMorning Glory Glow, Nairobi by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

Owl Moth Quite large with a wingspan of 10cm. Seen in the meadow.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/872/4...cd9ae793_c.jpgOwl Moth by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/951/2...dae28de2_c.jpgOwl Moth in meadow Nairobi by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

Those are amazing pictures Phil also the descriptions are interesting thanks.

Thank you Gordon for those encouraging words. Much appreciated. Today we had a break from the rains. Some of the butterflies came out and one of the dogs came along as well.

African White Butterfly

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/979/2...b0c875fa_c.jpgafrican white butterfly Nairobi by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/968/4...38342738_c.jpgafrican white butterfly meadow by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

Anchy - a Lady

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/909/3...60ff0e60_c.jpgAnchy in the meadow Nairobi by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

Female Carpenter Bee - Xylocopa Caffra ;) Visited the Lantana - Wild Sage in the forest today

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/866/4...ff1e79a8_c.jpgCarpenter Bee - Female Xylocopa Caffra, by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

Orange Clivia growing wild in the forest, a wet knee photo :}

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/827/4...c10ed1eb_c.jpgOrange Clivia in the Forest Garden, Nairobi by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/954/4...f0a0a0d1_c.jpgClivia by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

The forest takes me about 2 hours to explore if I take my time. Because of the long rains, it is now lush and thick with undergrowth and trees.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/868/4...1a906a40_c.jpgForest Floor Nairobi by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

Last weekend, I saw an Owl Moth again in the forest. I adjusted the exposure and increased the black point. This enables more details to be seen.

[https://farm1.staticflickr.com/908/2...00ba42dc_c.jpgOwl Moth in Forest Nairobi by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

Olive Thrush Large and plumage very wet. I shared this photo on another site to get the correct bird I.D, as it appeared to be much larger than the usual Olive Thrush. In response, I had varied opinions as to what it was, ranging from a Golden Weaver, to a wet Olive Thrush, to an illegal immigrant :}

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/909/4...a7ddd2ea_c.jpglarge wet Olive Thrush by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

Humanity in action 2 craftsmen at home today helping each other out to get the job done. The welder is sawing a rod and the other (wearing a Chelsea shirt) is holding onto it. We are building a steel footbridge over a passage way.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/959/4...4d83bf11_c.jpgHelping each other in the garden, Nairobi by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

Locust An uninvited visitor to the garden today, also known as Grasshopper.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/909/4...553725e2_c.jpgLocust in garden Nairobi by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

Keep em coming Phil, lovely shots.

Thanks Jim for the encouragement. I was cutting a hedge with a machete and didn’t have the heart to chop up the locust, so pulled the leaf off and put it to one side. The insect spent the rest of the day munching and sleeping on the leaf. This evening it had hopped off ...... hope your keeping well.

White Black Orange Monarch Butterfly, I used a monopod to get the shot - large with dramatic colours, did not stay around for very long because of the heat in the sun and neither did I ;)

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/968/4...6917bb61_c.jpgwhite black orange Monarch Butterfly by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

Billbergia vittata Domingos Martins Bromeliad Quite a mouthful!
Grows in the garden because of the climate and flowers in the rainy season, likes partial shade. Apparently much sought after in the U.S.A ;) mature size 8"x16" (Photo not cropped or edited).

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/864/4...aff96221_c.jpgBillbergia vittata Domingos Martins Bromeliad by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

Local market visit yesterday in between the rain

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/950/4...d367ab8e_b.jpgMarket scene Wangige Kenya by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

:eek:
In every chaos there is an order :D