276 : Purple-crested Turaco

Purple-crested Turaco - Tauraco porphyreolophus

I'll start the week with a posting of a trophy bird. Despite being the one of most raucous creatures I've come across this bafoon really doesn't want to make the headlines by giving up a decent picture of his poor behaviour. If you have ever seen that delightful Pixar film Up then this gobby over coloured individual has to be some sort of relative to the prehistoric creature in that film. You cannot make out the colours here so well in this early morning shot but he is clothed in a combination of olive greens, salmon pink, violet and blue with an imperial purple crest. To cap it all the eye is detailed in striking red - this seasons Bozo the Clown of the bird world.

In every shot beak wide open - *wide* open to take over rather than simply contribute to the dawn chorus. I was doing some research and found a link to a cage bird society called the International Turaco Society. All I can say is that those people cannot have neighbours.

He's made his home in these shots in a Sausage Tree - you can see the big gourds or fruits hanging down.

So perhaps I am exaggerating as in this shot he has his bill closed. These are a characterful bird though, larger than life - really just ridiculous. They are related to the Bare Faced Go Away Bird which is always a favourite because of its name and looks.

Finally as its safari an animal encounter from the same game drive. Here some elephants that were hoovering up some nuts or large fruit stones that were raining down from a group of baboons feeding in a tree. We really had to be still and quiet as we were in an open sided vehicle and surrounded by a small elephant family. The noise of the snuffling and munching, low rumbles, tearing of young plants, cracking of whole branches is a strange symphony - but relaxing.

Your breath and heart catches in your mouth when you are this close. You are always just on the edge of an elephant getting a bit annoyed or thats how I felt at times. These were relaxed in our company - if the ears start going and the trunk shortens then they are agitated. I really have no desire to be charged by an elephant - I don't think you'd stand a chance - so its time to be quiet and respectful around these beasts and to delight in the skill with which they hoover up the world.

I didn't manage to capture this on film so well but this is a young palm. Each elephant has different favourite foods and a menu or spread of items that they learn to tackle from their mother. This elephant had clearly learn't a neat trick. She would warp the young leaves around her trunk and then scheer the young plant off at its base with a slice from the side of the foot - deft, precise, a gourmand in action. I think we sat for half an hour watching these goliath's feeding - a fascinating little tableaux that will stay with me. Safari is a series of pictures, sounds and smells that contribute to a mood and perhaps just a small new piece of understanding. All the little parts of the jigsaw just laid out on the table and one by one coming together to the whole. Even dust on safari is just part of the picture or the quality of the light. Its good for the soul.

Purple-crested Turaco, Turaco porhpyreolophis
Ruaha National Park, Tanzania
July 2014