Paradise flycatcher!
Category: Ecology, Moths | Date: Mar 25 2009 | By: dududiaries
Hello - this morning I discovered a pair of mating hawkmoths sheltering on leaf in the garden. Just as I was photographing them, the female lifted the male, who is attached to her, into the air. As she flew clumsily (I guess he was rather heavy), I waited for them to land again so that I could continue photographing them. 
Suddenly a flash of angry red cut through the air. It seized the pair of moths and settled in a bush. Stunned, I moved forward to see what it was - a Paradise Flycatcher - one of the most voracious and beautiful birds in Kenya. The flycatcher seized the moths and gulped down the male first. The female managed to break free… 
But not for long… 
The bird pursued her swiftly up into the trees, grabbed her and then after beating her against a branch to remove some of the hairs covering her fat body, gulped her down whole! 
Hungry visitor…
Category: Ecology | Date: Mar 24 2009 | By: dududiaries
With the forest fires burning in different parts of Kenya and high winds blowing day and night, some unusual insects have been blown our way. This mantid arrived this evening and settled down near a light to feast on tiny moths and flies that were drawn there too!Thanks to everyone for the kinds comments! More soon… 
An overlooked marvel in miniature
Category: Uncategorized | Date: Mar 18 2009 | By: dududiaries
As I was working on a longer post about bees (which I can’t get to upload on the slow connection) I felt this little creature brushing against my leg. After slaking its thirst with a small amount of blood, it settled on the edge of my desk. I couldn’t help but admire its exquisite structure, even if it is something of a pest! 
A sign of rain?
Category: Bees, Ecology, Pollination | Date: Mar 16 2009 | By: dududiaries
Hello - many greetings and sorry for not posting more often - have been really busy and have limited access to the internet here. The plains grow hotter and dustier everyday and we hope that it rains soon. A few evenings ago I found a lovely shrub, the Maerua flowering at the edge of the Kiserian gorge. Some large, fat carpenter bees were swarming around the flowers as were some hawkmoths… Perhaps this is a sign that the rains will start soon and life will return to our dusty world here… 
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