Koos Baas and Herbert Minter Families Birding Safari to Kenya and Northern Tanzania on March 2014.
On 10th March 2014 at 10:30am, I meet Lies and Herbert at Hotel-Troy in Karen, one of the suburbs of Nairobi. These two were part of a five member client who were set to for a 20 days birding trip to Kenya and Northern Tanzania. After a brief introduction over a cup of steaming cappuccino, we discussed the possible expectation of the trip, before I moved Lies and Herbert into their new hotel in Karen, which will be their home for the next three days. Mean while we were expecting Margo, Joke and Koos to arrive later that afternoon from South Sudan and New Zealand respectively.
After checking them in at the Country-House Inn, Karen , I proceeded to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to pick-up Margo who was arriving at 2:00 pm , Joke and Koos were expected at 2:50 pm, before we were notified of 1 hour delay In their arrival. After hanging around the International arrival terminal for more than one and half hours, I managed pick out Margo who was seated in coffee lounge inside the arrival terminal; thanks to Koos for forwarding me that family photo!. After introducing myelf to Margo, we waited patiently for Joke and Koos to appear from the arrival terminal, which they did after 30 minute wait. It was a great family reunion for Margo and her parents.
We were lucky enough with the traffic which was smoothly moving. On arriving at the Country House Inn, we were met by Lies and Herbert who were extremely delighted to meet the rest of the team. Now that the team was complete, we had a talk over a drink and it was indeed my pleasure to welcome them to Kenya. After distributing checklist copies of the birds and mammals of East Africa, we agreed that we are going to start our first day birding at the nearby Nairobi National Park at 6:30am the next day.
The morning of 11th March 2014 was a great day for my clients. Being their first day to a typical African Savannah birding was enchanting!!They had more to expect on this day. Dafton Katini and I ensured that our guests were comfortably seated inside the 4WD Toyota Landcruiser and off we went. At 7:00am, we were at Kenya Wildlife Service’s registration centre. After we were cleared to entre, we started birding just as we entered the park gate!!
We had started picking out species like Yellow-billed Kite, Augur Buzzard, Tawny Eagle, Bronze Manikin, Red-fronted Tinkerbird, Spot-flanked Barbet, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Singing Cisticola , Purple Grenadier and African Dusky Flycatcher before we were interrupted by a troop of Olive Baboons who thought it wise to do a paired grooming right in the middle of the road.
They seemed so relaxed and so much into what they were doing that even our low toned murmuring didn’t really disrupted them. After a while, they considered that since we have played by the rules of the game all along, it was only fair that they allowed us to pass by moving to the side of the road and continuing with their grooming.
Nairobi National park presents two main birding habitats, the montane forest on the western part of the park and grassland savanna which dominate the remaining part. As we exiting the forest into the savanna, a Buffalo that was pushing its way through the bushes attracted our attention. Once we were on the grassland areas we recorded species like Zitting and Pectrol-parched Cisticola, Jackson’s , Collared and White-winged Widowbird, juvenile Martial Eagle and Little Bee-Eater. From a distance, we also observed Masai Giraffe, Impalas, Eland Antelope and Coke’s Heartbeest. On the aquatic habitat area we recorded waders like Wood and Green Sandpiper, Three-banded Plover, Common Greenshank, Intermediate and cattle Egret, Baglafecht’s and Speke Weaver.
We had our packed lunch and proceeded to Mokoyet river trail where we saw White-browed sparrow weaver, Grey-headed Sparrow, Ruppel’s Griffon and white-backed Vulture, Gabar Goshawk, Rufous-naped Lark, and Fisher’s Lovebird. After the whole day birding we excited the park at 5:00pm satisfied and looking forward to the next day.
On the morning of 12th March 2014, we drove south-west of Nairobi to Ngong Hills, down the Great Rift Valley all the way to Lake Magadi, an alkaline lake located on southern floor of the Rift Valley. Our brief stops along the way produced species including; Grassland Pipit, Variable, Hunter, Bronze Sunbird and Beautiful Sunbird, Little Rock Thrush, White-browed scrub Robin, Red and Yellow and Black-throated Barbet, Yellow-bellied Eromomela, Black-necked, Red-headed, and Vitalline masked weaver among others. We also had brief stop at Olergersailes Pre-historic site where we recorded Fisher’s Sparrow Lark, Grey-headed Silverbill, Grey-capped Social Weaver, Ashy Cisticola, Cardinal Woodpecker, cut-throat Finch, Grey-wren Warbler, African Grey Flycatcher and Green winged Pytilia, among others.
The temperatures were starting to heat up so we decided to jump into the car and proceeded to Lake Magadi, enjoying a cool breeze as the car cruise through the heated ground.
At around 1pm, we arrived at the lake, the industrial process of Lake Magadi Soda, a company busy mining sodium Carbonate, a chemical used to manufacture glass was ongoing.
With Help of our telescope, we scanned the lake and picked species like Lesser and Greater Flamingo, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Ruff, Wood and Common Sandpiper, Black-winged Stilt, Avocet, White-Pelican, Yellow-billed Stork before we picked-up our main target of going there! The localized Chesnut-banded Plover. We stopped at the staff canteen to enjoy their cool shade as we had our packed lunch and sipped ice-cold coca cola from the well stocked bar.
After cooling off a bit under the shade, we started our returned journey back to Nairobi enjoying the impressive scenery along the way.
13th March 2014. Today we started off, first by visiting Limuru Oxygenated pond, but our ultimate destination was Masai Mara, the northern extension of the Greater Serengeti Ecosystem. This brief stopped at this high altitude wetland proofed to be very rewarding for aquatic birds, we recorded Little Grebe, White-backed, Fulvous and White-faced Whistling Duck, Glossy, Hadada, and Sacred Ibis,Grey-headed and Black-headed Heron, Little, Intermediate and Cattle Egret, Hottentot and Red-billed Teal, Yellow-billed Duck, Red-knob Coot, Common Moorhen and Purple Swamphen.
We then descended the valley arriving at Narok town at 11:30 pm, being the last town of civilization, we fueled the car and the clients had a chance to exchange some currency into Kenya Shillings.
We finally arrived at our Masai Mara Bush Camp, located at the edge of Mara River. We were treated to a sumptuous lunch which was really filling, and hence an afternoon siester was in order. At 4pm, we started our late afternoon game drive on the extensive grassland savanna. On this game drive we recorded species like; Temminck’s Courser, Caspian Plover,Wahlberg’s Eagle, Schalow’s and Pied Wheatear, Yellow-throated Longclaw, African Fish Eagle, Black-chested Snake Eagle, Rufous Naped Lark, Rattling and winding Cisticola, White, Saddle-billed and Black Stork, Lilac-breasted Roller and Grey-crowned Crane.
We also managed to spend some time with the Mash Pride of Lions, famous in the popular nature documentary series, THE BIG CAT DIARY. Other than the big cat family, we also saw Elephants, Buffalos, Banded Mongoose, Eland Antelope and Silver-backed Jackal.
14th March 2014. We embark on a morning game drive after breakfast. Last night it rained so much. So Dafton and I knew that it was going to be a rough drive in Musiara swamp which has black cotton soil. The park was flooded and water was everywhere. This however did interfere with our birding as we continue listing species like Bateleur, Imperial Eagle,Western Banded Snake-eagle, Rufous-bellied Heron, Woolly-necked Stork, Saddle-billed Stork,White-backed, Ruppel’s Griffon, Lappet-faced, White-headed and Hooded Vulture, Secretary Bird, African Wattled Lapwing and Rossy-Breasted Longclaw.
We drove though Musiara swamp, over the Rhino ridge and through the Paradise plain all the way to Serena Main Crossing point. Upon our arrival at the main crossing point at the Mara river, we saw huge concentration of Common Zebra who were keen to crossing the river to the Mara Triangle conservation Area .
However, as we kept observing them for a while, they certainly become frightened as they approached the river bank. We all thought something was wrong there and our curiosity revealed two female lionesses laying on inside of some tall grasses next to the river!!In the African Savanna, it is always wise to keep your eyes wide open!! you just never know!!, those lionesses were well camouflaged.
At 10:30am, we treated our self to a delicious breakfast which was packed for us at the hotel in the morning. Nothing is as refreshing as a cup of warm coffee!!The view of the extensive grassland savanna was impressive. On our way back to the camp, we were informed by a colleague of mine who was with some French wildlife photographers of a solitary Cheetah. We quickly rushed and we were lucky enough to have cool 10 minute watch of this elegant and graceful cat who happen to be the fastest animal living on the planet earth-it can speed s to up to 70 miles per hour.
The Cheetah is built for speed. It has long, slim, muscular legs, a small, rounded head set on a long neck, a flexible spine, a deep chest, non-retractable claws, special pads on its feet for traction and long tail for balancing. Although fast, the Cheetah cannot run at full speed for a long distance (100 yards is about a limit) because it may overheat.
Cheetahs also have distinctive black “tear stripe” that connect from the inside corner of each eye to the mouth that may serve as an antiglare device for day hunting.
This wonderful time was sadly interrupted by unprofessional driver-guide who drove straight through the vegetation to where the Cheetah was resting .We were so bothered by this guide misbehavior that we decided to leave.
It rained the all afternoon, and when we started off at 4:00pm we saw so many Spotted Hyena. Spotted Hyena is the most numerous of the four species found within Africa. Whereas the other three species deserve their reputation as scavengers and are more ordinary mammals, the spotted hyena differs significantly. Spotted hyena live in clans of up to eighty composed of four or five matriarchal lines where females are unequivocally dominant. There is a dominance hierarchy among females, and a similar one on males, but the lowest ranking female ranks above the highest ranking male.
Female did not achieve this state of affairs peacefully it seems, for they possess fierce tempers: leading all hunts, fighting among themselves to the blood, and if they get a chance killing members of the rival clans. Males are mainly followers who fine tune their social skills in the clans to reduce the continuous harassment and abuse they suffer from females.
There is a strong incentive to learn quickly: If a male squabbles with a female, all the females quickly rally to her help and give the offender a painful lesson he is unlikely to forget. The only respite from this vulnerable life occurs when females are in heat, a time at which they become uncharacteristically gentle. As expected, high ranking female tend to court high ranking male. This seems to be the principle value of being a high ranking male. The female hierarchy is quite rigid and positions are generally inherited from mother to daughter.
The male hierarchy is comparatively more fluid, with the development of social skills being the relevant factor. In a sense, whoever is better able to befriend the females becomes higher ranking. Female cubs stay in the clan after reaching puberty, whereas male cubs tend to drift to other clans. That is interesting the Hyena world is!
15th March 2014. Most of this day was spend inside the Masai Mara National Park, on our morning drive we managed spot several species like Greater Blue-eared Starling, Peregrine Falcon, Black-chested Snake-eagle, Winding, Zitting and Stout Cisticola, Sooty Chat, Kori Bustard and Plain-backed Pipit.
There were plenty of aquatic birds in the musiara swamp and Vulture were all resting on top of the Elephant Papper tree growing along the edge of the Mara River. At mid-day, we went back to the lodge of lunch and some rest. After Lunch we then agreed that we should do a one hour birding in the hotel compound before we embark on our final game drive at Masai Mara.
At 3pm Joke , Herbert, Koos and Margo started birding and we were lucky with species like Tawny-flanked Prinia, Arrow-Marked Babbler, Black-headed and Spectacled Weaver, African Blue Flycatcher, Black-backed Puffback and Schalow’s Turaco.
Later in the evening we spent most of our time in the huge forest by the Governor’s Camp were we lucky to record; Grey-headed Bush-shrike, Tropical Boubou, Woodland and Malachite Kingfisher, Green-wood Hoopoe, Lilac-breasted Roller, Forked-tailed Drongo,Fan-tailed Widowbird, Black-headed Oriole, Bearded and Cardinal Woodpecker. Weended-up our three days birding with a super birthday party for Lies!!The staff of Mara Bush Camp and us danced the night away as we sung the happy birth day to you!!happy birthdaaaaa..ay !!.
16th March 2014. Today we left Masai Mara for Kakamega forest, on the western part of Kenya. This forest is the only remnant tropical rain forest in Kenya. Just as we were leaving Masai Mara, we saw a White-bellied Bustard. This was happily added to our list as Koos Baars was always interested in Bustards .
After driving for two and half hours, we stopped briefly at Kericho for a cup of black tea. Kericho is main area in Kenya where tea is growned in huge plantation. We were impressed by this flat-toped extensive tea faming which dominated the scenery all the way from Kaplong to Kericho.
After our shot break we proceed toward Kisumu, Lake Victoria before we had to turn right at Awasi junction as we ascended the Nandi Hills Escarpment. We finally arrived at Rondo Retreat Centre in Kakamega Forest at 2:30 pm.
After lunch and a quick rest, we started birding around the hotel beautiful garden and we picked species like Northern Black Flycatcher, African Blue Flycatcher, Black and White Mannikin, Brown-capped and Vieillot’s Weaver, Green-headed and Bronze Sunbird, Dusky-crested Flycatcher, Grey-winged Robin-Chat and Mackinnon’s Fiscal.Other than the birds we also had view of primate including Blue monkey and Red-tailed Guenon and Red-legged sun squirrel. 
17th March 2014.Today, we had an early breakfast as we wanted to do a full exploration of the forest before we exit the forest for our next destination later in the day. Birding in the forest is not that easy as Lies will later comment. The standing and keep your eye looking upward was too much for her and she decided it was better to take walk as she enjoys viewing the 300 years old trees and Butterfly.
For those of us who kept going we were lucky enough to have good views of species including; Brown-chested Alethe, Black-faced Rufous Warbler, Equatorial Akalat, Bar-tailed Trogon, Dark-backed and Black-necked Weaver,Grey-headed and White-breasted Negrofinch,Black-crowned Waxbill, Banded and white-chinned Prinia, Black-collared Apalis, Luhder’s Bush-shrike, Stuhlmann’s Starling and Yellow-billed Barbet.
We moved back to the Rondo Retreat Centre for a cup of coffee and a little rest before we resume our birding. As we were having coffee on the beautiful garden, a huge bird flew to the nearby 30 meters tall tree!!And that made our day! It was the much sort after Great Blue Turaco. We had a cool five minute view before the Turaco vanished into the nearby tree foliage. Our birding afterwards produced species as well as Brown-eared Woodpecker, White-headed Saw-wing,Joyful Greenbul, Grey-throated Barbet, Lesser Honeyguide,Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill and Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater.
Satisfied of our achievement inside this interesting forest habitat, we ate a delicious lunch and checked-out of Rondo for Kerio View Lodge, just at the western escarpment of Kerio Valley. Upon arrival at Kerio View, we were welcomed by small group of high profile runners practicing for the upcoming London Marathon!!I guess. In the hotel restaurant, there were reservation on the table that read like (German Team, Poland Team, Qatar Team and off course our very own team SILENT FLIERS SAFARIS TEAM . Koos, Margo, Joke, Lies and Herbert had a lengthy discussion with two times Olympic champion Abel Kirui .
18th March 2014. Our morning was very rainy and the valley below was completely filled up with fog and the visibility was zero. We had our breakfast and check-out of Kerio View at 8 am. As we were cruising through the town of Iten, we come across a big board written “THANK YOU FOR VISITING THE HOME OF CHAMPION”.
We descended the escarpment and as we were approaching the bottom of the valley, we stopped at a nearby view point to enjoy the view of the valley below which was clearly visible now and I knew this was a good birding spot for spotting our main target species in this locality. After a short search, were had a great view of a singing Boran Cisticola and just below it was a tree with two pair of White-crested Turaco. 
Other than those, we also saw Violet-backed Starling .We continued with our drive down the valley which was getting very warm now!!, it amazing how temperature change that fast. Once, we reached Kabarnet, a town located on top of Tugen hill, it started to drizzle all way to Lake Baringo.
We were received by our host at Tumbili Cliff Lodge and after checking-in, we were treated to a great lunch in their raised restaurant which gave us a super panoramic view of Lake Baringo. After a short rest, we started our birding again at around 4pm.
We decided to use the services of a local guide, Wilson to locate some of our target species for us. Our first stop was at Lake Baringo Club compound, off course due to the ongoing rains, the lake has increased tremendously in size, and virtually, the whole hotel has been submerged!!Nothing like what we used to know before. With the help of our telescope, we saw a well camouflaged tiny African Scops Owl and Pearl-spotted Owlet in the nearby tree. Our birding that afternoon also yielded species like; Spotted Thick-knee, Heuglin’s courser,Slender-tailed Nightjar, Northern White-faced Scops Owl, Greyish Eagle Owl.
From a distance we also spotted Hare (African Wild Rabbit) with it extensively huge ears. Hares are usually larger than rabbits, with long ears, a short wooly tail and long, slender limbs. The hide legs are especially long and well-adopted for running and jumping. Most Hares are yellowish-gray, and many of them have a white spot on the forehead and black on the tips of the ears.
Perhaps what is even interesting about this being is that Hares are capable of superfetation, which means a pregnant female can mate again soon before the litter is born, and start a second pregnancy. Under adverse conditions she can also reabsorb embryos and terminate a pregnancy.
19th March 2014. Our day started by going on a 2 hour boat excursion inside the Lake which was amazingly teaming with aquatic birds. The lake water was surprisingly dark blue!!Which was quite different from my past experience when the water of the lake was mucky brown? Along the western shore we saw Long-tailed Commorant, African Darter, Common Sandpiper, Pied, Malachite and Giant Kingfisher, Squacco and Green-backed Heron, Little and Intermedaite Egret, Purple, Grey and Goliath Heron, Barn Swallow, Sand Martin, Eurasian Mash Harrier, Blue-cheeked, White-throated and Little Bee-eater, Lesser-masked, Northern Masked and Jackson’s Golden-backed Weaver and Verreaux’s Eagle Owl.
We also saw Hippos and Crocodiles with more species like African Jacana, Black Crake, Hemprich’s Hornbill and Black tern. We came back to the hotel for a much earned breakfast.
We started off again at 4 pm, this time round doing the semi-arid bushland next to the hotel. Though it was still pretty warm, we saw species like African Grey Flycatcher, Northern Brownbul, Woodland and African Pygmy Kingfisher, Rufous Chatterer,Red-billed Firefinch, Little Weaver, African Paradise Flycatcher, Crested Francolin, Helmented Guinea-Fowl, Pin-tailed whydah, Village Indigobird, Spotted Morning Thrush, Yellow-Bellied Eromomela, White-bellied Canary, Bristle-Crowned Starling, Magpie Starling, Yellow-spotted Petronia, Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird, Sedge Warbler and Jackson Hornbill. Having pocketed all those species, it become difficult for us to resist an urge for a cold tusker at the hotel bar!!
20th March 2014. Today, our destination was Lake Nakuru National Park. But we still had some little time for birding, we decided to pass though the trachyte Cliff wall and try and look for a pair of nesting Verreaux’s Eagle, lucky enough, when we just arrive, we saw the pair gliding on the sky.
We arrived at Lake Nakuru Ntational Park at around 10:30am, we entered the park using Nderit Gate located in the southern part of the Park. Once inside the park we recorded Northern Ant-eater Chat, Common Kestrel, Little and Black-necked Grebe, Great and Reed Commorant, White and Pinked-backed Pelican, Lesser and Greater Flamingo, Fulvous Whistling Duck, Common and Red-billed Teal, Common and Augur Buzzard, Little-ringed Plover and Black-winged Stilt , Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit, Mash and Green Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, White-winged ,Black and Whiskered Tern.
On the same area of the park we also saw around 10 white Rhinos, Large concentration of Buffalos, Deffassa Waterbuck, Impalas, Grant and Thomson Gazelle, Common Zebra and Warthogs. We checked-in at Flamingo-hill camp for lunch and some rest before our afternoon session start again.
During afternoon game drive, we drove slowly to Baboon cliff, which really give a good view of the Lake especially when the sun is behind you, the lighting was perfect. On our way up there, we two Silver-backed Jackal, Black Rhino, Olive Baboon and Rock Hyrax. Among our observation was a Large flock of Grey-headed Gull, African Trush, Grassland pipit and Willow warbler. We also managed to see Rock Martin, Little and Horus Swift from the top of Baboon Cliff.
At the Baboon cliff we saw a Rock Hyrax which was sleeping in the nearby rock. The Hyrax is so unlike other animals that it is placed in a separate order (Hyrocoidea) by itself. It is said to be the elephant’s nearest living relative.While this is true to certain extent, it is also misleading since the relationship stems from a remote ancestor common to hyraxs, sea cows (dugongs and manatees) and elephants.
These three are unlike other mammals, but they share various if disaproportionate physiological similarities in teeth, legs and foot bones,testes but that do not descend into scrotum and other more obsecure details. However, fossil remains indicate there were once hyraxes the sizes of Oxen. This may explain its gestation period of 7 or 8 months, usually long for an animal of its size.
21th March 2014.Today, we were schedule to travel all the way to Mt.Kenya, so we knew that we had a long drive. We however made some quick stop on Subukia escarpment for view of the Rift Valley and Thomson Fall ‘s Nyahururu for the search of Golden-winged Sunbird and Slender-billed Starling, which we uncharacteristically missed!!.
As we drove from Nyahururu to Nyeri, we stopped at localized spot where we were lucky enough to spot the Makinder’s Eagle Owl, we had a big debate among ourselves, whether we saw one or two birds!!Some saw two, some saw one!!!This discussion was never resolved and it is still on!!!.
We arrived at Castle Forest Lodge at 2pm, and Jackson, the manager helped us to our room and we were treated to a testy vegetarian lasagna lunch. At 4pm, we started birding in this montane forest habitat and some of our highlight species included; Hartlaub’s Turaco,Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater,Black Saw-winged, Grey Cuckoo-Shrike,Common Stonechat,Hunter’s Cisticola,Black-headed and Grey Apalis, White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher,Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher,Tacazze and Eastern-double Collared Sunbird, Montane White-eye and Waller’s Starling.
Just before we ended our day, we decided to admire the view all the three peaks of Mt.Kenya which clearly visible.
22nd March 2014. Our all day was spend birding in the forest and we managed to pick out Montane Oriole, Streaky Seed-eater,Dark-backed Weaver, Brimstone Canary, Grey-headed Negrofinch, Kenya Rufous Sparrow, Black-fronted Bush-shrike, Black-throated Apalis, Brown-woodland Warbler,Slender-billed Greenbul, Mosque Swallow, Alpine Swift, African Black Swift, Silvery-Cheeked Hornbill, Eurasian Hobby , Mountain Wagtail and Mountain Buzzard.
23rd March 2014. This day we had our breakfast early as we knew quite well that we had approximately 400km to cover from Mt.Kenya to Arusha, Tanzania. After checking out, we started off , it was rainy morning and we made a brief stop at Mwea Rice plantation scheme and we spotted Yellow and Fan-tailed Widowbird, Yellow-crowned Bishop, Sand Martin, Great Egret, Little Swift and Black-headed Heron. We arrived at Nairobi at 11:30 and we had lunch at Java house, opposite Nairobi hospital.
The food was excellent, but it was very noisy because of the power generator which was running. After lunch, Dafton transfer us to Silver Spring hotel where we had book a shuttle-bus drive to Arusha.
At 2pm, we were off and we arrive at Namanga border at 4:30 pm. The border clearance was a little process. The border officials were very welcoming and helpful on both sides (Kenya and Tanzania).After our Shuttle driver confirmed that everybody was on board, we resume out journey and we arrived at Arusha town at 7:30 PM.
We were worn out when we checked into our hotel, Impala Hotel. Just as my clients were getting themselves freshen up, I was meeting our new Driver-guide, Charles who has been waiting us for the last 1 hour. We agreed that we will start off tomorrow at 8:30am, so as to give my clients enough time to rest. After dinner, we retired peacefully and outside the thunderstorm was heating hard !!!
24th March 2014. We wake-up early and excited about what Tanzania had in store for us. After breakfast, we met Charles at the car park with his clean Land Cruiser. With our entire luggage well packed, we set off for Tarangire National Park.
We made a quick stop-over at Forexs bureau to change money. We arrived at the entrance gate at 10:30am, We started birding at the gate area while Charles was clearing with the park authority. Taragire National Park is indeed one of the best birding park in Northern Tanzania. It can only be compared to Samburu National Reserve, located in northern part of Mt.Kenya. 
Once inside the park, birding was extremely productive!!we pocketed species such as; Common Ostrich, Lappet-faced Vulture, Brown Snake-eagle, Bateleur, Pallid Harrier, Tawny Eagle, Pygmy Falcon, Crested Francolin, Yellow-necked Spurfowl, Grey-breasted Spurfowl, Double-banded Courser, Senegal Lapwing, Chestnut-bellied and Black-faced Sandgrouse, Yellow-collared Lovebird, Jacobins, African and Common Cuckoo, Woodland Kingfisher, African Hoopoe, Southern Ground Hornbill, Von der Decken’s Hornbill, Grey and Bearded Woodpecker, Fisher’s Sparrow Lark, Red-faced Crombec, Common White-throat, Banded Parisoma, Rattling Cisticola, Pale Prinia, Silverbird, Spotted Flycatcher, Long-tailed Fiscal, Red-backed Shrike, Magpie Shrike, Red-billed Buffalo Weaver and Blue-capped Cordon-Blue.
While we were still thrilled by the stunning bird life of this beautiful park, our attention was drawn by gymnastic activities of a large family of Dwarf mongoose that were busy making their territory on big termite hill nearby. It appeared that everyone in the group was delighted to be part of that strange observable fact.
Dwarf mongoose is the smallest of the African species. It is stocky and has a fairly short muzzle. It is usually speckled brown or reddish in color. This species pack of 12 to 15 individual covers a range of approximately 75 acres that overlaps with the ranges of other packs. A range usually contain 20 or more termite mounds, which are used as den site, lookout post and source of food.
Mongoose are nomadic, and packs seem to be constantly on the move about their range, seldom using a den site for more than few days at a time.Although the Dwarf mongoose is a small, inconspicuous carnivore, it is a good example of how group cooperation improves a species’ chances of survival.Of great interest also was the huge Baobab tree dominating the park, Elephants and Giraffes.
After spending the all day in the park, we retired at our nearby Roika Tented Camp. The staff at that camp were really interesting!!Including the manager.
25th March 2014. Today, we had plan a walking safari with two Masai warriors who will be our guide and security officers. They were armed to the tooth!! .We just thought that after all driving, we need to stretch a bit, before we move to our next destination which was nearby Ngorongoro Conservation Area. On this walk we recorded African Green Pigeon, African mourning Dove, White-browed Coucal, Blue-naped Mousebird, African Grey Hornbill, Nubian Woodpecker, Lesser-striped and Wire-tailed Swallow, Bared-eyed Thrush, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Arrow-marked Babbler, Brown-crowned Tchagra, Hildebrandt’s Starling, Holub Golden Weaver, Black-winged Bishop and Straw-tailed Whydah. 
Perhaps what impressed us even more is the Dung Beetle. These creatures are worshipped and admired for millennia, will be familiar to anyone who has spent time near any large herbivore. Grazing and browsing mammals, ruminants especially, have to consume large quantities of herbage in order to extract sufficient nutrition.
As most of this plant material is fibrous and coarse, it passes through them producing a lot of dung. Dung Beetles, rolling and burrowing, find this dung irresistible. And many a life cycle stems indirectly from the efforts of these beetles. To most people, the toiling dung beetle sedulously rolling its ball of dung across the path, struggling over rocks, and through clumps of grass, represents a very hardworking insect to be admired for its “protestant” work ethic. 
Among Dung Beetles, the male makes and rolls the dung balls, which become a courtship ball, attracting a female, which perches on the ball and lays an egg in a specially sculpted brood ball. The larva then develops and pupates within the dung ball. The Dung Beetles will then take their ball to a specially excavated burrow, where the business of egg-laying and brood rearing will take place.
The burying of dung does more than simply provide food to secure new generation of dung beetles, however. In habitats frequented by numerous large herbivores, the dung-were it not removed from the ground’s services-would rapidly accumulate to unhealthy levels. And buried dung breaks down faster than that on the services, as any composing gardener will know.
For instance, where large hoofed mammals have been, such as cattle to Australia, the problem of accumulating dung has threatened both the quality of pasture and the health of livestock. Native Australian dung beetles, adapted to the fibrous dung of Marsupials, simply could not handle the sudden deluge of cowpats! The solution was to import dung beetles from Europe and Africa, which quickly dealt with the piles of cow dung.
Within a few years, the pasture were free of excessive dung and the ranchers were happy. So happy that, in one small new South Wales town, Cootaburra, they erected a six-storey-high monument to the dung beetle. Made of ferro-cement and fiberglass, the Cootaburra Dung Beetle is even floodlit at night. The monument, perhaps the only one of its kind on earth to an insect, reflects the gratitude of Australian people.
More than just cleaning up dung and restoring pasture, the actions of the dung beetles significantly reduced the number of breeding sites available to biting and diseases-carrying fliers that, before the dung beetle’s coming, had reached plague proportions. That is how important Dung Beetles are to the Ecosystem.
After lunch at Roika Tented Camp, we checked-out and proceeded to Endoro Lodge, located at the outside Ngorongroro Conservation Area. We however, stopped briefly for the magnificent view of Lake Manyara from the top of the escarpment.
At the lodge we had a nice cock-tailed party that evening which was followed by a nice dinner before Charles and I visited a small village nearby to get some Airtime and at least a cheaply sold Kilimanjaro Lager before we got the bad news from Mohammed, an employee of the hotel that Koos has fallen inside her room and dislodged his arm.
Seif, my Tanzanian colleague was kind and helpful enough to rush Koos and the entire team to FAME Hospital which was 14 km away in the town of Karatu. And that was where I had the privileged to meet Dr. Frank, an American guy running the facility. We had some small chat with him about his experience in Africa while Koos was being attended to in the theater room.
26th March 2014. Today, Koos wake up and said he was ready to drive with us to Ngorongoro Crater, I had suggested that perhaps he can take it easy for this day! But he won’t buy to that idea. Charles made sure we had enough lunch boxes and off we descended the crater! Before that, while we were at the rim of the crater , the forest habitat provides species Long-crested Eagle, Golden-winged Sunbird, and Streaky Seed-eater. The view of the cater was breath taking, the lake seasonal lake at the bottom of the crater was full of water and we could see using our telescope tiny but thousands of Flamingos.
Once we were inside the crater, it was filled with wildlife! Gnus, Zebras, Warthog, Elephants, Lions, around six Black Rhinos, Bat-eared Fox and Golden Jackal.Birdlife wise, we lucky with species like; Brimstone Canary, Reichenow’s Seedeater, Fan-tailed and Red-collared Widowbird, Tropical Boubou, Variable Sunbird, Capped, Schalow’s and Black-eared Weather, Red-and-Yellow Barbet, Fisher’s Sparrow Lark, Common Fiscal, Mourning Dove and Pectrol-patched Cisticola. In the late afternoon, it started to drizzle and Charles recommend that we should close the pop-up roof and we ascended the crater and back to Endoro Lodge. 
27th March 2014. This was our day to visit Lake Manyara national park, Herbert and I had our Telescope ready, since we were visiting a wetland, and telescope comes handy in such birding habitat. We passed Karatu and drove toward Kibaoni, a small settlement on top of the escarpment before we rolled down to the main gate of Lake Manyara ! all along, we were preoccupied with beautiful ever changing scenery this regions enjoys.
While Charles was handling the park entry procedures, we decided that we should make use of good toilet facilities the Tanzania national park have!!Super clean toilets!!This service was absolutely missing on the Kenyan side where the toilets were mostly long-drop and not cleaned at all!! Absolute contrast as was once commented by Joke!
While we waiting for Charles to finish, I observed that Herbert was shivering, and just as we were starting, Lies informed me that Herbert was sick, but he was willing to continue with the game drive at Lake Manyara. We drove through the forest part of the park which produced little other than a European Roller.
We stopped briefly at a bird tower, raised at the edge of the Lake. Bird were plenty here and with the help of our telescope, we picked one species after another, including Bateleur, Palm-nut Vulture, Osprey, Collared Pratincole, Blacksmith, Spur-winged and Long-toed Lapwing, White-faced Whistling and Fulvous Whistling Duck, Ruff, Saddle-billed Stork, Little, Intermediate and Great Egret among others.
In a midst all this excitement with our observation, we realized that Herbert was still seated in the car sleeping!!Now that’s when we realized that he was really serious and we decided to take him back to Lake Manyara Wildlife Lodge were we had booked our stay. So that becomes the end of our birding in Lake Manyara National Park. We arrived at Lake Manyara Wildlife lodge at 1:30.
We suggested that Herbert should get some small rest in his room, while the rest of us enjoyed our picnic boxes at the hotel balcony.After a while, Margo, Joke and Koos went to check on him, they came back and said his temperature was really high, 40 degrees centigrade. We unanimously agreed that we need to take him to hospital.
Charles suggested that Kirurumu Health centre was our only bet. So off we went. Herbert was received and some test on Malaria was undertaken and he was found negative. He was given some anti-biotic for some little infection which I cannot remember exactly what it was. We drove back to the hotel.
28th March 2014. In the mid-morning, I meet Herbert seated in the hotel balcony and he informed me that he was doing much better and he was into birding again. After an early lunch at Lake Manyara Wildlife Lodge we departed for Arusha National Park. We arrived at Arusha park at around 4 pm, once Charles finished the park entry procedures, we were allowed into the park.
This park is totally different from all the other park we’ve been in Northern Tanzania. Montane forest dominate the habitat and scenery is incredible. Mt. Meru which is above 4300m high was clearly visible. We drove a cross park to an alkaline called The Big Momella Lake . It had hundreds of both Lesser and Greater Flamingo and other waders including Ruff, Three-banded plover, Little Stint, Black-winged stilt and a soaring Eurasian Mash Harrier.
This was the only place in the entire trip that we had a great view of Flamingoes. We were in Lake Nakuru, but it was flooded and Lake Magadi was super warm and the sun rays hindered our view .It was getting late and we exited the at round six o’clock and we checked in at Mt. Meru View Lodge for the overnight stay.
29th March 2014. With picnic lunch, we again revisited Arusha National Park for the entire morning; we wanted to explore this park more since we had less time yesterday. Once inside the we recorded species like Common Waxbill, Red-billed Firefinch, Streaky seedeater, Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk. In the midst of the forest stands, we came across the spectacular Ngurdoto Crater, whose steep, rocky cliffs enclose a wide marshy floor dotted with herds of buffalo and warthog. We heard on several occasion the beautiful call of African Emerald Cuckoo, but our effort to locate it was all in vain. We however, had a good observation of the inquisitive Blue monkeys and the acrobatic Black-and-White colobus monkey and the colourful Hartlaub’s Turaco. On a quick stop on a view point overlooking another spectacular crater, we saw flying Martial Eagle, Collared Widowbird and Grey-headed Kingfisher and the impressive White-eared Barbet. After that fun filled morning, we had our Lunch at an old Museum right inside the park and we drove to Arusha Town for our shuttle bus drive to Nairobi.
Once more, it was heard saying good bye to Charles!!but again I guess we had no choice!. Our Drive back to Nairobi was long and tiresome, and the situation was not made better by the traffic jam in Kitengela, a settlement close to Nairobi. We arrived at Silver Spring Hotel at 8pm and I said bye to Margo,Lies, Joke , Herbert and Koos. It was great birding with them and they had a taxi ready to drive them to Wildebeest Eco Camp, which was located in the suburb of Karen. That was it, another successful birding trip. I picked-up mine and headed to the nearby public service vehicle commonly referred to as MATATU in Kenya.
Species of Birds seen during the March Kenya and Northern Tanzania Birding Tour
NO Common Names Scientific Names
1 Common Ostrich Struthio camelus
2 Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus
3 Pink-backed Pelican Pelecanus rufescens
4 Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
5 Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis
6 Long-tailed Cormorant Phalacrocorax africanus
7 Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
8 African Darter Anhinga rufa
9 Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
10 Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides
11 Rufous-bellied Heron Ardeola rufiventris
12 Little Egret Egretta garzetta
13 Intermediate Egret Mesophoyx intermedia
14 Great Egret Casmerodius albus
15 Black-headed Heron Ardea melacocephala
16 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
17 Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
18 Hammerkop Scopus umbretta
19 Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis
20 White Stork Ciconia ciconia
21 Black Stork Ciconia nigra
22 Abdim’s Stork Ciconia abdimii
23 Striated Heron Butorides striata
24 Goliath Heron Ardea goliath
25 Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus
26 Saddle-billed Stork Ephippiorhynchus senegalensisi
27 Marabou Strok Leptoptilos crumeniferus
28 Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
29 Hadada Ibis Bostrychia hagedash
30 Sacred Iblis Threskiornis aethiopicus
31 Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor
32 Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber
33 African Spoonbill Platalea alba
34 Egyptian Goose Alopchen aegyptiaca
35 Spur-winged Goose Plectropterus gambensis
36 Hottentot Teal Anas hottentota
37 Red-billed Teal Anas erythrorhyncha
38 Cape Teal Anas capensis
39 White-backed Duck Thalassornis leuconotus
40 Yellow-billed Duck Anas undulata
41 White-faced Whistling Duck Dendrocygna viduata
42 Fulvous Whistling Duck Dendrocygna bicolor
43 Black Kite Milvus migrans
44 Black-shouldred Kite Elanus caeruleus
45 African Fish Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer
46 White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus
47 Ruppell’s Griffon Vulture Gyps rueppelli
48 Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotus
49 White-headed Vulture Trigonoceps occipitalis
50 Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus
51 Osprey Pandion haliaetus
52 Brown Snake Eagle Circaetus cinereus
53 Black-chested Snake Eagle Circaetus pectoralis
54 Western-banded Snake Eagle Circaetus cinerascens
55 African Fish Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer
56 Palm-nut Vulture Gypohierax angolensis
57 African Mash Harrier Circus ranivorus
58 Eurasian Mash-Harrier Circus aeruginosus
59 Bateleur Terathopius ecaudatus
60 Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus
61 Gabar Goshawk Micronisus gabar
62 Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk Accipiter rufiventris
63 Mountain Buzzard Buteo oreophilus
64 Augur Buzzard Buteo augur
65 Steppe Buzzard Buteo buteo vulpinus
66 Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax
67 Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis
68 Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca
69 Wahlberg,s Eagle Aquila wahlbergi
70 Martial Eagle Polemaetus bellicosus
71 Long-crested Eagle Lophaetus occipitalis
72 Verreaux’s Eagle Aquila verreauxii
73 Secretary Bird Sagittarius serpentarius
74 Pygmy Falcon Polihierax semitorquatus
75 Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
76 Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo
77 Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus
78 Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
79 Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris
80 Crested Francolin Francolinus sephaena
81 Scaly Francolin Francolinus squamatus
82 Yellow-necked Spurfowl Francolinus leucoscepus
83 Red-necked Spurfowl Francolinus afer
84 Grey-breasted Spurfowl Francolinus rufopictus
85 Black Crake Amaurornis flavirostra
86 Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio
87 Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata
88 Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
89 African Jacana Actophilornis africanus
90 Grey-crowned Crane Balearica regulorum
91 Black-bellied Bustard Eupodotis melanogaster
92 Kori Bustard Ardeotis kori
93 White-bellied Bustard Eupodotis senegalensis
94 Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
95 Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta
96 Spotted Thick-knee Burhinus capensis
97 Temminck’s Courser Cursorius temminckii
98 Two-banded Courser Rhinoptilus africanus
99 Heuglin’s Courser Rhinoptilus cinctus
100 Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola
101 Blacksmith Lapwing Vanellus armatus
102 Crowned Lapwing Vanellus coronatus
103 Long-toed Lapwing Vanellus crassirostris
104 African Wattled Lapwing Vanellus senegallus
105 Senegal Lapwing Vanellus lugubris
106 Kittlitz’s Plover Charadrius pecuarius
107 Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula
108 Three-banded Plover Charadrius tricollaris
109 Chestnut-banded Plover Charadrius pallidus
110 Caspian Plover Charadrius asiaticus
111 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
112 Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola
113 Mash Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis
114 Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus
115 Little Stint Calidris minuta
116 Ruff Philomachus pugnax
117 Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa
118 Grey-headed Gull Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus
119 Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida
120 Black Tern Chlidonias niger
121 White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus
122 Black-faced Sandgrouse Pterocles decoratus
123 Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles exustus
124 African Green Pigeon Treron calvus
125 Speckled Pigion Pigeon Columba guinea
126 Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata
127 Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis
128 Ringed-necked Dove streptopelia capicola
129 Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove Turtur chalcospilos
130 Blue-spotted Wood-Dove Turtur afer
131 African Mourning Dove Streptopelia decioiens
132 Brown Parrot Poicephalus meyeri
133 Fischer’s Lovebird Agapornis fischeri
134 Yellow-collared Lovebird Agapornis personatus
135 Great Blue Turaco Corythaeola cristata
136 Schalow’s Turaco Tauraco schalowi
137 Hartlaub’s Turaco Tauraco hartlaubi
138 White-crested Turaco Tauraco leucolophus
139 White-bellied Go-Away Bird Corythaixoides leucogaster
140 African Cuckoo Cuculus gularis
141 Black Cuckoo Cuculus clamosus
142 Dideric Cuckoo Chrysococcyx cuprius
143 Klaa’s Cuckoo Chrysococcyx klaa’s
144 Black-and-white Cuckoo Oxylophus jacobinus
145 Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus
146 White-browed Coucal Centropus superciliosus
147 African Scops Owl Otus senegalensis
148 Northern White-faced Scops Owl Ptilopsis leucotis
149 Greyish Eagle Owl Bubo cinerascens
150 Mackinder’s Eaglw Owl Bubo makinderi
151 Verreaux’s Eagle Owl Bubo lecteus
152 Pearl-spotted Owlet Glaucidium perlatum
153 Slender-tailed Nigtjar Caprimulgus clarus
154 Scarce Swift Schoutedenapusmyoptilus
155 Nyanza Swift Apus niansae
156 Little Swift Apus affinis
157 Horus Swift Apus Horus
158 White-rumped Swift Apus caffer
159 African Palm Swift Apus parvus
160 Mottled Swift Tachymarptis aequatorialis
161 Speckled Mousebird Colius striatus
162 Blue-naped Mousebird Urocolius macrourus
163 Bar-tailed Trogon Apaloderma vittatum
164 Malachite Kingfisher Corythornis cristatus
165 African Pygmy-kingfisher Ispidina picta
166 Grey-headed Kingfisher Halcyon leucocephala
167 Woodland Kingfisher Halcyon senegalensis
168 Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis
169 Giant Kingfisher Megaceryle maxima
170 Little Bee-eater Merops pusillus
171 Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater Merops oeobates
172 White-throated Bee-eater Merops albicollis
173 Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops persicus
174 Madagascar Bee-eater Merops superciliosus
175 European Bee-eater Merops apiaster
176 European Roller Coracias garrulus
177 Lilac-breasted Roller Coracias caudatus
178 African Hoopoe Upupa africana
179 Green Woodhoopoe Phoeniculus purpureus
180 Southern Ground Horbill Bucorvus leadbeateri
181 Northern Red-billed Hornbill Tockus erythrorhynchus
182 Von der Decken’s Hornbill Tockus deckeni
183 Crowned Hornbill Tockus alboterminatus
184 African Grey Hornbill Tockus nasutus
185 Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill Tockus flavirostris
186 Jackson’s Hornbill Tockus jacksoni
187 Hemprich’s Horbill Tockus hemprichii
188 Silvery-cheeked Hornbill Bycanistes brevis
189 Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill Bycanistes subcylindricus
190 Grey-throated Barbet Gymnobucco bonapartei
191 Red-and-Yellow Barbet Trachyphonus erythrocephalus
192 D’Arnaud’s Barbet Trachyphonus darnaudii
193 White-eared Barbet stactolaema leucotis
194 Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird pogoniulus bilineatus
195 Red-fronted Tinkerbird pogoniulus pusillus
196 Red-fronted Barbet Tricholaema diademata
197 Spot-flanked Barbet Tricholaema lacrymosa
198 Black-throated Barbet Tricholaema melanocephala
199 Hairy-breasted Barbet Tricholaema hirsuta
200 Yellow-billed Barbet Trachyphonus purpuratus
201 Lesser Honeyguide Indicator minor
202 Nubian Woodpecker Campethera nubica
203 Cardinal Woodpecker Dendropicus fuscescens
204 Bearded Woodpecker Dendropicus namaquus
205 Grey Woodpecker Dendropicus goertae
206 Brown-eared Woodpecker Campethera caroli
207 Rufouse-naped Lark Mirafra africana
208 White-tailed Lark Mirafra albicauda
209 Fisher’s Sparrow-Lark Eremopterix leucopareia
210 Arthi Short-toed Lark Calandrella somolica athensis
211 Plain Martin Riparia paludicola
212 Common Sand Martin Riparia riparia
213 Banded Martin Riparia cincta
214 Rock Martin Ptyonoprogne fuligulia
215 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
216 Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii
217 Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica
218 Lesser-striped Swallow Cecropis abyssinica
219 Black Saw-wing Psalidoprocne pristoptera
220 White-headed Saw-wing Psalidoprocne albiceps
221 Mosque Swallow Cecropis senegalensis
222 Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava
223 Mountain Wagtail Motacilla Clara
224 African Pied Wagtail Motacilla aguimp
225 African Pipit Anthus cinnamomeus
226 Plain-backed Pipit Anthus leucophrys
227 Yellow-throated Longclaw Macronyx croceus
228 Rosy-throated Longclaw Macronyx ameliae
229 Grey Cuckoo-Shrike Coracina caesia
230 Slender-billed Greenbul Andropadus gracilirostris
231 Joyful Greenbul Chlorocichla laetissima
232 Common Bulbul Pycnonotus barbatus tricolor
233 Equatorial Akalat Sheppardia aequatorialis
234 White-browed Robin-Chat Cossypha heuglini
235 Snowy-corwened Robin-Chat Cossypha niveicapilla
236 Spotted Palm-Thrush Cichladusa arquata
237 White-browed Scrub-Robin Cercotrichas leucophrys
238 Common Stonechat Saxacola torquatus
239 Norhtern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe
240 Mourning Wheatear Oenanthe schalowi
241 Pied Wheatear Oenanthe pleschanka
242 Capped Weathear Oenanthe pileata
243 Isabelline Weathear Oenanthe isabellina
244 Sooty Chat Myrmecocichla nigra
245 Northern Anteater Chat Myrmeccichla aethiops
246 Little Rock Thrush Monticola rufocinereus
247 Brown-chested Alethe Alethe poliocephala
248 Olive Thrush Turdus abyssinicus
249 African Thrush Turdus pelios
250 African Bare-eyed Thrush Turdus tephronotus
251 Black-faced Rufous Warbler Bathmocercus rufus
252 Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
253 Yellow-bellied Eromomela Eromomela icteropygialis
254 Northern Crombec Sylvietta brachyura
255 Red-faced Crombec Sylvietta whytii
256 Brown Woodland Warbler Phylloscopus umbrovirens
257 Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis
258 Banded Parisoma Parisoma boehmi
259 Rattling Cisticola Cisticola chiniana
260 Winding Cisticola Cisticola galactotes
261 Stout Cisticola Cisticola robustus
262 Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis
263 Pectral-patched Cisticola Cisticola brunnescens
264 Hunter’s Cisticola Cisticola hunteri
265 Boran Cisticola Cisticola bodessa
266 Ashy Cisticola Cisticola cinereolus
267 Tawny-flanked Prinia Prinia subflava
268 Pale Prinia Prinia somalica
269 Banded Prinia Prinia Bairdii
270 White-chinned Prinia Schistolais leucopogon
271 Black-collared Apalis Apalis Pulchra
272 Yellow-breasted Apalis Apalis flavida
273 Black-throated Apalis Apalis jacksoni
274 Black-headed Apalis Apalis melanocephala
275 Grey Apalis Apalis cinerea
276 Grey-backed Camaroptera Camaroptera brachyura
277 Grey-wren Warbler calamonastes simplex
278 Northern Black Flycatcher Melaenornis fischeri
279 White-eyed slaty Flycatcher Melaenornis fischeri
280 Southern Black Flycatcher Melaenornis pammelaina
281 Spotted Flycatcher Musciapa striata
282 African Grey Flycatcher Bradornis microrhynchus
283 African Dusky Flycatcher Muscicapa adusta
284 African Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis
285 African Blue Flycatcher Elminia longicauda
286 Silverbird Empidornis semipartitus
287 Dusky Crested Flycatcher Elminia nigromitrata
288 Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher Trochocercus cyanomelas
289 Brown-throated Wattle-eye Platysteira cyanea
290 Arrow-marked Babbler Turdoides jardineii
291 Rufous Chatterer Turdoides rubiginosa
292 Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird Anthreptes orientalis
293 Collared Sunbird Hedydipna collaris
294 Amathyst Sunbird chalcomitra amethystina
295 Scarlet-chested Sunbird Chalcomitra senegalensis
296 Hunter’s Sunbird Chalcomitra hunteri
297 Bronze Sunbird Nectarinia kilimensis
298 Beautiful Sunbird Cinnyris pulchellus
299 Variable Sunbird Cinnyris venustus
300 Tacazze Sunbird Nectarina tacazze
301 Green-headed Sunbird Cyanomitra verticalis
302 Nothern Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris reichenowi
303 Eastern Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris mediocris
304 Golden-winged Sunbird Drepanorhynchus reichnowi
305 Montane White-eye Zosterops poliogastrus
306 Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio
307 Red-tailed Shrike Lanius isabellinus
308 Long-tailed Fiscal Lanius cabanisi
309 Taita Fiscal Lanius dorsalis
310 Common Fiscal Lanius collaris
311 Mackinnon’s Fiscal Lanius mackinnoni
312 Tropical Boubou Laniarius aethopicus
313 Slate-cloured Boubou Laniarius funebris
314 Bruburu Nilaus afer
315 Northern White-crowned Shrike Eurocephalus reuppelli
316 MagpieShrike Urolestes melanoleucus
317 Grey-headed Bush-shrike Malaconotus blanchoti
318 Black-fronted Bush-shirke Telophorus nigrifrons
319 Brown-crowned Tchagra Tchagra australis
320 Black-backed Puffback Dryoscopus culba
321 Luhder’s Bush-shrike Laniarius luehderi
322 Mountain Oriole Oriolus percivali
323 Eastern Black-headed Oriole Oriolus larvatus
324 Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis
325 Pied Crow Corvus albus
326 Cape Rook Corvus capensis
327 Stuhlmann’s Starling Poeoptera stuhlmanni
328 Waller’s Starling Onychognathus morio
329 Ashy Starling Cosmopsarus unicolor
330 Bristle-crowned Starling Onychognathus salvadorii
331 Greater-Blue-eared Starling Lamprotornis chalybaeus
332 Ruppell’s Glossy Starling Lamprotornis purpuroptera
333 Superb Starling Lamprotornis superbus
334 Hilderbrandt’s Starling Lamprotornis hilderbrandti
335 Violet-backed Starling Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
336 Magpie Starling Speculipastor bicolor
337 Red-billed Oxpecker Buphagus erythrorhynchus
338 Yellwo-billed Oxpecker Buphagus africanus
339 Norhtern Grey-headed Sparrow Passer griseus
340 Swainson’s Sparrow Passer swainsonii
341 Parrot-billed Sparrow Passer gongonensis
342 Kenya Rufous Sparrow Passer rufocinctus
343 House Sparrow Passer domesticus
344 Yellow-spotted Petronia Petronia pyrgita
345 Red-billed Buffalo Weaver Bubalornis niger
346 White-headed Buffalo Weaver Dinemellia dinemelli
347 White-billed Buffalo Weaver Bubalornis albirostris
348 White-browed Sparrow Weaver Plocepasser mahali
349 Grey-capped Social Weaver Pseudonigrita arnaudi
350 Baglafecht Weaver Ploceus baglafecht
351 Black-necked Weaver Ploceus nigricollis
352 Spectacled Weaver Ploceus ocularis
353 Lesser-masked Weaver Ploceus intermedius
354 Vittaline-masked Weaver Ploceus vitellinus
355 Black-headed Weaver Ploceus cucullatus
356 Little Weaver Ploceus luteolus
357 Black-billed Weaver Ploceus melanogaster
358 Holub’s Weaver Ploceus xanthops
359 Speke’s Weaver Ploceus spekei
360 Vieillot’s Black Weaver Ploceus nigerrimus
361 Dark-backed Weaver Ploceus bicolor
362 Brown-capped Weaver Ploceus insignis
363 Red-billed Quelea Quelea erythrops
364 Black-winged Bishop Euplectes hordeaceus
365 Yellow-crowned Bishop Euplectes afer
366 Yellow Bishp Euplectes capensis
367 White-winged Widowbird Euplectes albanotatus
368 Yellow-shouldred Widowbird Euplectes macroura
369 Red-collared Widowbird Euplectus ardens
370 Jackson’s Widowbird Euplectus jacksoni
371 Fan-tailed Widowbird Euplectes axillaris
372 Grey-heaed Negrofinch Nigrita canicapillus
373 White-breasted Negrofinch Nigrita fusconotus
374 Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild
375 Black-headed Waxbill Estrilda atricapilla
376 Yellow-bellied Waxbill Coccopygia quartinia
377 Red-cheeked Cordon-Bleu Uraeginthus bengalus
378 Blue-capped Cordon-Bleu Uraeginthus cyanocephalus
379 Purple Grenadier Granatina ianthinogaster
380 Green-winged Pytilia Pytilia melba
381 Red-billed Firefinch Lagonosticta senegala
382 Bronze Mannikin Lonchura cucullata
383 Black-and-White Mannikin Lonchura bicolor
384 Parasitic Weaver Anomalospiza imberbis
385 Pin-tailed Whydah Vidua macroura
386 Eastern Paradise Whydah Vidua paradisaea
387 Village Indigobird Vidua chalybeata
388 Yellow-fronted Canary Serinus mozambicus
389 African Citril Serinus citrinelloids
390 Brimestone Canary Serinus sulphuratus
391 White-bellied Canary Serinus dorsostriatus
392 Southern Grosbeak Canary Serinus buchanani
393 Streaky Seedeater Serinus striolatus
394 Yellow-rumped Seedeater Serinus reichenowi
395 Thick-billed Seedeater Serinus burtoni
396 Somali Golden-breasted Bunting Emberiza poliopleura
NO Animals and Reptiles Seen During the Trip
1 Olive Baboon Papio anubis
2 Vervet Monkey Cercopithecus aethiops
3 Blue Monkey Cercopithecus mitis
4 Red-tailed Monkey Cercopithecus ascanius schmidti
5 Black and White Colobus Colobus guereza
6 Common Zebra Equus burchellii
7 Common Hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius
8 Common Warthog Phacochoerus africanus
9 Maasai Giraffe Giraffa c. tippelskirchi
10 Savanna Buffalo Syncerus caffer
11 Common Eland Tragelaphus oryx
12 Deffasa Waterbuck Kobus deffasai
13 Common Waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus
14 Bohor Reedbuck Redunca redunca
15 Coke Hartbeest Alcelaphus buselaphus cokei
16 Grant’s Gazelle Gazella granti
17 Thomson’s Gazelle Gazella thomsoni
18 Brindled Gnu (Wilderbeest) Connochaetes t. taurinus
19 Kirk’s Dik-Dik Madoqua kirki
20 African Elephants Lexodonta africana
21 Banded Mongoose Mungos mungo
22 Dwarf Mongoose Helogale parvula
23 Cheetah Acynonyx jubatus
24 Lion Panthera leo
25 Rock Hyraxes Procavia capensis
26 Cape Hare Lepus capensis
27 Plain Ground Squirrels Xerus rutilus
28 Red-legged Sun-squirrel Helioscriurus rufobrachium
29 Giant Forest Squirrel Protoxerus stangari
30 Impala Aepyceros melampus
31 Common Wilderbeest Cinnochaetes taurinus
32 Nile Crocodile Crocodylus niloticus
33 Nile Monitor Varannus niloticus
34 Topi Damaliscus korrigum
35 White Rhino Ceratotherium simum
36 Black Rhino Diceros bicornis
37 Bat-eared Fox Otocyon megalotis
38 Spotted Hyaena Crocuta crocuta
39 Silver-backed Jackal Canis mesomelas
40 Golden Jackal Canis aureus
41 Leopard Tortoise Testudo pardalis
42 Mash or Helmeted Terrapin Lepus capensis
43 Red-headed Agama Agama agama
Kenya Birding 