Back on the river again, and HOPEFULLY we’ll be able to stay put here for a couple of weeks at least, before we have to rush off again…work is just so hectic at the moment, and we are finding ourselves spending far too much time away from both home and desk!

The Ground Squirrels have found the bird table (above). You may think this is no major feat but in fact it’s quite cunning of them, for in order to get there, the squirrels have to make their way up the ramp that leads from the garden, through our front door and out to our balcony (on the first floor), and then circumnavigate the lounge…all in pursuit of the odd tasty morsel intended for the birds (but not begrudged by us, I have to admit, for we like having the squirrels there too.) There’s only one way in and one way out for the squirrels, and so they are still quite nervous while they’re at the bird table…this one even looks rather guilty as it hurriedly gnaws on a peanut:

The ensemble of maize, peanuts, millet and sunflower seeds that I put down outside the kitchen for the doves et al, is attracting quite a crowd. There were six Ground Squirrels there today, plus a few Tree Squirrels, dozens of Sparrows, Doves of varying descriptions, and the Dikdiks too, timid and alert in the late evening (above).

Does anyone else find it surprising that the Red-billed Hornbills like maize (or corn, as it would be known in the States)? Since when were they seed-eating birds? (Obviously longer than I have known about it!) I've noticed that even the Glossy Starlings are feeding on the maize, which I also find surprising.

Our Green-backed Heron (below) is making his presence felt again, after a period of reticence. I can’t quite decide whether he is more comical than handsome, or vice versa, but he has a good stab at both, I think!

The Spur-winged Plovers are never content, are they? Today they were bickering amongst themselves, chasing each other up and down the river…but they do make a pretty picture in flight…

The Quelea are starting to come to the river in bigger and bigger flocks now, swooping down to drink on the wing. These weaverbirds congregate in flocks of several million each at certain times of the year. This evening it was late when they reached the river, but this silhouette shows just a tiny number that passed by in the fading light:

I’m afraid that our geese have another loss to report…this tale is rather a tough one to follow, for as we celebrate the growing up of the goslings, we also have to face the fact that not all of them are going to survive… First there were twelve, now there are ten (seen here with their parents and a Hadada Ibis.) The juvenile, but nonetheless huge, Martial Eagle was here today - I wouldn't mind betting it has accounted for one or both of the lost goslings, and if the survivors are not careful, it won't stop there...

For those of you who might be interested, I was recently interviewed by Expat Women, a website for...you guessed it...expat women. It's a site set up to help women living in different countries around the world, and each month they do several special features on interesting or successful women. While I'm not strictly speaking an expat here in Kenya, I have lived in a few countries as an expat and, I think you'll all agree, currently live an unusual life in an extraordinary place. Read my interview here...

I’ve been away more than I’ve been at home recently (more tales from my adventures shortly!), but thought while I have the chance, I’d check in quickly before disappearing from your screens again for a while.

The geese are faring fairly well, with eleven goslings still in tow (above). One casualty so far is sad but not bad going, considering how many contenders there are for gosling-guzzlers in this part of the world!

More new birds seem to be discovering our birdbath…including a Yellow Spotted Petronia, above (which is a type of sparrow, and is common in Tsavo) and the strange stub-tailed Northern Crombec which is now visiting our little acacia tree by the birdbath to forage for tiny insects along its branches (below).

Sandpipers are on the river again, back from their travels to Europe, the first of the migrants to return.

Remember Slim, the Black Tipped (aka Slender) Mongoose? Well, he’s still around and today I put out the remnants of a roast chicken for him.

To my surprise, the Ground Squirrels were the first to the carcass and started voraciously gnawing away at the bones (above).

What surprised me even more was that the squirrels seemed to enjoy eating fatty bits of flesh from the chicken too. Whatever next?

As soon as Slim appeared (below), he quickly made off with the whole carcass, obviously intent on having the feast all to himself. With so many squirrels about (I counted at least eight in the vicinity of the chicken today), who can blame him?

Part of the reason for the squirrel glut is that I’ve started putting out maize for whatever animals and birds want it – and it’s attracting dozens of squirrels as well as doves and francolin…even the sharp little dikdiks have found it and come each evening to have a free meal.

On a completely different note, the yellow Aloes in our balcony flowerbeds are flowering for the first time, which will probably bring in the sunbirds we see flitting around in the acacia trees around the house. I must try to remember to take a photo before I rush off on another trip again...