Dear all,

an Israeli Photographer, Eyal Bar-tov has recently came back from leading a tour in Kenya where he photographed on the 14/08/2011 at 09:50 between Keekorok and the Mara River the attached Roller photo.

When i saw the photo i remembered seeing strange pale looking Roller in the area between Sekenani and Talek, (not far from Simba Lodge) while guiding a general wildlife group back in Aug 2004. at the time i dismissed it as a probable Abyssinian, but never thought about Racket-tailed... 

This new bird looks very good for a Racquet-tailed Roller, though the closest record for the species is about 1300 km to the south (Neil please correct me if i'm wrong).

It will be great to have more records from others who might have strange looking Rollers at the Mara.

Itai

Here are comments from Don, Colin and Brian:

Hi Itai,

I am still on safari, but tonight on wi-fi. Your roller is absolutely

astounding. The bird looks small, the bill is slight, the extensive

white forehead and forecrown, broad white eye brow, the contrasting

black line from side of nape to and through eye, complete lack of

visible blue on wing, brown of back extending as same colour to back

of nape and neck, all blue underparts, I can see no reason why this is

not a blue form of Racquet-tailed Roller regardless of the lack of

racquets!

Exactly where was this? Are there any more images!

Best for now

Brian

Itai - a beautiful shot of a lovely bird - and as Don says, quite a mystery. I wonder if any other images of the bird from different angles would reveal any other features? The blue underparts certainly don't resemble Lilac-breasted - far too rich. A real beaut of a bird... Would be good to have it seen and photographed some more. You say you think you've seen birds like this before in Mara? In the same area that this bird was found? All very interesting...

Colin

An amazing image.    I don't think there is any Lilac-breasted R. in this bird.  Its odd that the wings appear not to show any violet or blue.    Head and underparts resemble the nominate form of Racquet-tailed, but not the upperparts  so there is clearly a mix, but of what ?

What date was this photo taken, and roughly where in the Mara.  Any other rollers nearby ?

In the past there have been a few odd-looking Abyssinian as far south as the Mara and northern Serengeti that have become lost individuals. If they did hybridize with Lilac-breasted would the underparts be as rich a blue as this bird ?

Total mystery, lets hope it gets donated to science.

Don

--