Tour Summary
Tour Participants: Mauro Bailo,Franco Aceto,Giuseppe Citino,Alessio Pietro,Marco Felici and Giancarlo Marconi
Tour leader: Joseph Aengwo.
Photo acknowledgements: Giuseppe Citino.
Number of Bird Species seen: 511
Birds of the Trip: Sharpe’s Longclaw,Hinde’s Babbler,William’s Lark,Friedmann’s Lark,Grey-crested Helmet-shrike, Somali Ostrich, , African Crowned Eagle, Bat Hawk, Vulturine Guineafowl, Somali Courser, Somali Bee-eater,Golden Pipit,Golden-breasted Starling and Chestnut-headed Sparrow Lark,African Broadbill,Yellow-bellied and Jameson’s Wattled-eyes,Striped-breasted Seed-eater,Yellow-billed Shrike,Lyne’s Cisticola and Blue-headed Bee-eater just to mention a few!
Trip Report Compiled By: Joseph Aengwo.
Birding Sites Visited: Nairobi national park,Mt.Kenya South forest,Shaba and Buffalo Springs national reserves,Aberdare national park,Lake Nakuru national park,Lake Baringo and Bogoria,Kerio Valley,Kongolai Escarpment,Kakamega forest,Hell’s gate national park and Kinangop grassland.
22 June,2023: This was the day our clients were expected to land at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport aboard an Ethiopian airline. At around 2:00pm they exited the arrival terminal.It was a great reunion for me and Mauro,the leading tour leader since we guys had birded Kenya together in February 2012.After a brief exchange of pleasantries our excellent driver Moses arrived and we quickly packed our stuff and lorded our self in the jeep and we drove through Nairobi to our accommodation which was located in the outskirts of Karen .
After checking into the lodge, we decided to visit Nairobi Safari Walk where we picked-up some common species like;Yellow-whisked Greenbul,Hadada Ibis,Yellow-billed Egret,Variable,Scarlet-chested and Amethyst Sunbirds,Black-backed Puff-back,Ruppell’s Robin-Chat,Black-cuckoo Shrike,Yellow-breasted Apalis,Malachite and Pied Kingfisher,Black Saw-Wing,Red-fronted and Spot-flanked Barbet,Speckled Mousebird,White-browed Scrub-Robin and Buff-bellied Warbler.Nairobi Safari Walk being an animal sanctuary,we also Hippo,Rhino,Leopard and monkeys.
23 June,2023: Today we visited Nairobi national park.We spend some time at park entry point as we waited for our turn to be served by the Kenya Wildlife Service’s stuff.At the entry point area we pocked species like; White-headed Barbet race Senex, White-browed Sparrow-Weaver, and Baglafecht and Speke’s weavers,Speckled Mouse Bird,Yellow-billed Kite,Red-eyed Dove, and African Paradise-Flycatcher. https://ebird.org/checklist/S142426469
After being cleared by the park authorities,we entered the park were we recorded;Tropical Boubou,Variable Sunbird,Purple Grenadier,Red-billed Firefinch,Red-chested Cuckoo,White-backed and Ruppell’s Vultures,Kenya White-eye,Singing Cisticola,Sulphur-breasted Bush-Shrike,African Yellow Warbler,Grey-capped Warbler,Moustached Grass Warbler,Cardinal Quelea,Cape Robin-Chat,Little Flycatcher,Long-tailed Fiscal,Northern Pied Babbler,Yellow-throated Spurfowl,Red-Cowled,White-winged and Jackson’s Widowbird,Hartlaub’s Turaco,Kenya Rufous Sparrow,Martial Eagle,Pangani Longclaw,Dusky Turtle Dove,Reichenow’s Seedeater,Kori and White-bellied Bustard,Grey-crowned Crane and Grosbeak Weaver among others. In the late afternoon we were back to our lodge. https://ebird.org/checklist/S142445365
24 June,2023: This morning we had a target of birding three sites, a bushy habitat with Lantana camara near Sagana river,Mwea rice plantation and Mt.Kenya South forest.At our first stop we picked up species Southern Black Flycatcher,Golden-breasted Bunting,the endemic Hinde’s Babbler, D´Arnaud´s Barbet, Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu,Spotted Palm Thrush,Tawny-flanked Prinia and Slate-Coloured Boubou.
We then proceeded on to Mwea rice plantation where we got lucky with;Winding Cisticola,Yellow-crowned Bishop,Long-toed and Blacksmith Lapwing,Glossy Ibis,Hammerkop,African Grass Owl,African Openbill,Village Indigo Bird,Greater Painted-snipe,Black-headed Heron,Great and Yellow-billed Egret among others.
We then ascended to Mt.Kenya South forest,once inside the forest we birded our way up to our rustic mountain lodge and we got lucky with great views of;Cinnamon Chested Bee-eater,Slender-billed Greenbul,Tulberg’s Woodpecker,White-starred Robin,Cabanis Greenbul,Mountain Wagtail,Yellow-whiskered Greenbul,White-browed Crombec,Grey Apalis,Nothern Double-Coloured Sunbird,Grey-headed Nigrita,African Hill Babbler,Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird,Rupell’s Robin-Chat,Evergreen Forest Warbler,Black-fronted Bush-Shrike,Purple-throated Cuckoo-Shrike, Hartlaub’s Turaco,Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo,White-headed Woodhoopoe and Spectacled Weaver.We arrived at our lodge for lunch at around 1:00pm. We were served delicious vegetable curry with Chapati. https://ebird.org/checklist/S143020743
Our afternoon session yielded species like;displaying African Crowned Eagle, Mountain Buzzard, Black-collared Apalis, Eastern Double Coloured Sunbird,Hunter’s Cisticola,Black-throated Apalis,Eastern Mountain Greenbul,Black-tailed Oriole,Grey Cuckoo-Shrike,Crowned Hornbill,Abyssinian Ground-Thrush,Kandt’s Waxbill,Bar-tailed Trogon, Abyssinian Thrush, White-tailed Crested Flycatcher, Thick-billed Seed-eater, Kikuyu White-eye,Olive Sunbird, Red-backed Mannikin, Brown-capped Weaver, Tacazze Sunbird and Yellow-bellied Waxbill.
At the huge tree just above the lodge reception we had exceptional views of Red-fronted Parrot and saw six Olive Ibis flying above the tree line. It was getting dark really fast, so we had no choice but to visit the lodge bar for a cold beer and some dinner before we retired for the night. https://ebird.org/checklist/S143019767
25 June,2023: Today we moved further north of Mt.Kenya to the arid and bird bustling Buffalo Spring national reserve.We were based at Samburu Simba Lodge for the two nights we had scheduled to be there.At the park entry point, we saw hundreds Of both Little and Horus Swift,Pink-breasted lark,Blue-naped Mousebird,Fischer’s Sparrow-Lark,Northern Red-billed Hornbill,White-backed and Lappet-faced Vulture, Chestnut-bellied and Black-faced sandgrouse, Northern White-crowned Shrike, White-headed Buffalo-Weaver and Cut-throat Finch.
The lodge compound produced species like Hunter’s, Marico and Black-bellied sunbirds, Red-bellied Parrot,Red-headed Weaver,Grey Wren Warbler,Pearl-spotted Owlet, Northern Crombec, White-bellied Go-away-bird,Fan-tailed Raven and Crested Francolin.
On our the afternoon game drive we encountered species like;Donaldson-Smith’s Sparrow Weaver,Foxy Lark,Singing Bush-Lark,White-throated Bee-eater,Vitelline Masked Weaver,White-headed Mousebird,Brubru,Black-throated Barbet, Rosy-patched Bushshrike, Buff-crested bustards, Red-billed Oxpecker and Chestnut Weaver before Moses decided to take us on a wild goose chase of a leopard reported sighted by his colleague. Mammals were scattered almost everywhere, including those that are only found on this part of the trip, Grant’s Gazelle, Grevy’s Zebra, Reticulated Giraffe, Desert Warthog, Greater Kudu, Beisa Oryx and Gerenuk. https://ebird.org/checklist/S143021993
26 June, 2023: Today,we visited Shaba national reserve and our main target here was the endemic William’s Lark.We arrived at the lava rock field at around 7:30am and from the recent rains the lava flat land was transformed into grassland ,you could hardly believe that was the rocky flat land were are used to during dry seasons.After some random search we managed to flash out three birds and the best sighting is of the birds flying and displaying.We were however lucky that one bird flew and landed on the rocks by the road side, giving us some pretty decent views.
Upon pocketing our main target, our effort of trying to see Masked Lark was not successful,however, we picked up Pale Prinia, Grant’s Woodhoopoe, Eastern Yellow-billed hornbills, Abyssinian Scimitarbill,Chestnut Sparrow,Yellow-vented Eremomela,Somali Short-toed Lark,Somali Courser,Bristle-crowned Starling,Golden-Breasted Starling, Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird,Friedmann’s Lark,Eastern Chanting Goshawk,White-headed Vulture,Brown-snake Eagle,Chestnut-headed Sparrow-Lark,Golden Pipit,Rosy-patched Bush-Shrike,Yellow-spotted Bush-Sparrow,Chestnut-headed Sparrow-Lark and Gabar Goshawk. https://ebird.org/checklist/S143044478
Our afternoon game drive produced Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark,White-bellied Bustard,Somali Courser,Somali Ostrich,Golden Palm Weaver,Bearded Woodpecker,Fischer’s Lovebird,Bateleur,Tawny Eagle,Striated Heron,Red-billed Buffalo Weaver,Secretary Bird, Helmeted and Vulturine Guineafowl.We returned to the lodge and saw some gliding Slender-tailed Nightjar.
27 June,2023: Today morning we decided to bird the compound of Samburu Simba Lodge again and we picked up Black-bellied,Hunter’s and Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird,Pearl-spotted Owlet,Grey Wren Warbler,Brubru,Black-throated Barbet,Red-fronted Tinkerbird,Spotted Palm Thrush,White-bellied Go-away-bird,Northern Crombec,Slate-coloured Boubou ,Pale Prinia and Red-headed Weaver.
After breakfast,we checked-out of the lodge and we continue birding en route to the exit gate.We were successful with Golden-breasted Starling,Crested Francolin,Buff-crested Bustard,Bearded and African Grey Woodpecker,Greater Honeyguide,African Silverbill,Banded Parisoma,Yellow-vented Eremomela,Goliath Heron,African Grey Flycatcher and Red-fronted Prinia.We exited the park and drove to Nanyuki town where we stopped for lunch which took longer than expected.
28 June,2023: Our destination today is Aberdare national park where a good road will lead us to the moorland which is 3200 meter above the sea level. We entered the park using Treetop gate and as Moses was doing the entry clearance we managed to enjoy great views of Bronze and Golden-winged Sunbird,Cape Robin-Chat,Holub’s Golden Weaver,Grey-capped Warbler and Streaky Seedeater.
As we ascended the mountain ranges,we enjoyed great views of Long-crested Eagle,Augur Buzzard,Cinnamon Bracken Warbler,Ruppell’s Robin-Chat,Thick-billed Seed-eater,Chin-spot Batis,a flock of Sharpe’s Starling,Silvery-cheeked Hornbill,African Emerald Cuckoo,Grey Cuckoo-shrike,Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird,Yellow-billed Duck,Red-throated Wryneck,Moustached Green Tinkerbird,Eastern Mountain Greenbul and Hartlaub’s Turaco.
As we entered into the bamboo zones we picked up White-starred Robin,Yellow-crowned Canary,Mountain Yellow Warbler,Kandt’s Waxbill,Eastern Double Coloured Sunbird,Common Stone Chat, and Plain Martin.When we reached the Moorland we were rewarded with species like; Moorland Chat,Aberdare Cisticola,Jackson’s Francolin and Black-shouldred Kite.We however missed the Elgon Francolin and Tufted Sunbird.We arrive in Lake Nakuru national park at around 5pm and we welcomed by thunderstorm that made our way to the next lodge very challenging ,though we made it safely there. https://ebird.org/checklist/S143137740
29 June,2023: We spent most of the day exploring Lake Nakuru national park,and the morning was very productive. Rattling Cisticola was calling from every bushes as we drove a long and so was Rufous-naped Lark,Grey-capped Warbler,White-fronted Bee-eater,Black-lored Babbler,Northern Ant-eater Chat,African and Plain-backed Pipit,Yellow-throated Longclaw,Pin-tailed Whydah,African and Red-billed Firefinch,Scarlet-chested and Bronze Sunbird,Common Waxbill,Scaly-throated Honeyguide,Red-chested Cuckoo and Long-crested Eagle and Verreaux’s Eagle Owl.
We made a long stop at the sewage treatment plant located just at the edge of the park and we treated to a spectacular views of;Lesser Swamp Warbler,Black-crowned Night-Heron,Little Rush Warbler(Highland Rush Warbler),African Swamphen,Black Crake,Grossbeak Weaver,White-eye Slaty and Northern Black Flycatcher,Arrow-marked Babbler,Little Rock Thrush,Bearded and Eastern Grey Woodpecker,Coqui Francolin and Red-fronted Barbet.African Fish Eagle and Augur Buzzard were literally in each and every tree. Those two species are doing very well in that park.
We stopped at the shores of the lake and we enjoyed spectacular views of Lesser Flamingo and Great White Pelican,Gull-billed Tern,Grey-hooded Gull,Kittlitz’s Plover, Hottentot and Red-billed Teal,Little Stint,Ruff,Black-winged Stilt and Great Cormorant.The park is also good for watching large wildlife, we had impressive views of both Black and White Rhinos,Buffalos,Lions,Zebras,Eland,both Thomson’s and Grant’s Gazelle,Impalas, and Rothchild’s Giraffe. https://ebird.org/checklist/S143139230
We drove to areas of the park that is dominated by Yellow Fever Acacia for the search of Grey-crested Helmet-Shrike,which we managed to see after some search,in the same locality we also saw Greater Honeyguide, Common Scimitarbill and Green Wood-hoopoe.We drove back to the lodge for lunch and we then proceeded on to Lake Baringo which was our next destination. En route there we managed to pick four Black-headed Lapwing.
30 June,2023: Today we spent the morning birding the cliffs located at the western side of the Lake and indeed it was quite something with birds there….though dry the bird were pretty active and we listed Black-throated Barbet,Somali Tit,Bristle-crowned Starling,Shining Sunbird,Mourning Collared Dove,Olive Bee-eater,Rufous-crowned Roller,Jackson’s and Hemprich’s Hornbill,Grey Tit-Flycatcher,Blue-capped Cordon-Blue,Brown-tailed Chat,Hunter’s Sunbird,Green-winged Pytilia,Grey Wren Warbler,Verreaux’s Eagle,Shikra,Brown Babbler,Vittaline’s Masked and Little Weaver,Northern Crombec,Mouse-coloured Penduline-Tit,Namaqua Dove and Nubian and Cardinal Woodpecker,Red-and-Yellow Barbet, and Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird.We drove further along the main road and we picked up the little Pygmy Falcon.It was getting a bit warmer now and we decided to returned to the lodge for some lunch and some rest time before we resume in the afternoon. https://ebird.org/checklist/S143303345
In afternoon we linked up with Wilson, our local guide who helped us pick-up species like;Slender-tailed Nightjar,Three-banded Courser,Spotted Thick-Knee,Northern White-faced Scops Owl,African Scops Owl,Greyish Eagle-Owl and Pearl-spotted Owlet.
1 July,2023: A boat excursion around the lake this morning produced species like;African Pied Kingfisher,Northern Masked Weaver,African Darter ,Striated Heron,Olive Bee-eater,Long-tailed Cormorant,Common Sandpiper,Yellow-billed Stork,Golden-backed Weaver,Osprey,Northern Red Bishop,Lesser Masked Weaver,African Jacana,Little Bittern,Hammerkop,White-faced Whistling Duck,African Swamphen,African Silverbill,Crimson-rumped Waxbill, and Squacco Heron. There was a small flyover flock of Openbill Storks and a pair of African Fish Eagles showed well as they slowly glided to pick up a fish. https://ebird.org/checklist/S143200563
In the Afternoon, we visited the nearby Lake Bogoria national reserve for the spectacular views of the high population of Lesser Flamingos.
2 July,2023: It was time to move on to our next destinations ;the Agricultural town of Kitale at the base Mt.Elgon where we had planned to spend two nights. We however made several birding stops along the way.At the base of Tugen hills we made a quick such for the elegant White-crested Turaco which showed well to our enchantment. Other than the Turaco we also saw Violet-backed Starling,Brown Babbler ,Yellow-breasted Apalis and Buff-bellied Warbler.Fast moving me made another stop at the just before we finished ascending the Tugen Hills and where we had excellent views of the magical Ross’s Turaco and Double-toothed Barbet. https://ebird.org/checklist/S143303345
We stopped for some tea at a lodge located at the edge of the Kerio Valley and this stop rewarded us with impressive close-up views of Hemprich’s Hornbill,Chestnut-crowned Sparrow Weaver and Boran Cisticola.We stopped at Kerio View Hotel for lunch.While we were waiting for our lunch to be ready we birded the compound of the lodge which also produced another pair of Ross’s Turaco,Northern Double-coloured and Variable Sunbirds,Grey Apalis,Lanner Falcon,Fan-tailed Raven,Crowned Hornbill,Hunter’s Cisticola,Mottled Swift,Thick-billed and Steaky Seed-eater.After lunch we drove to Kitale town, enjoying the views of huge maize plantation.
3 July,2023: Today we picked-up our local guide Maurice at Makutano Junction and we descended Kongalai Eascarment which was incredibly scenic .We stopped by the road side where we picked-up Lesser Blue-eared Starling,White-headed Barbet (Nominate race),Brown Babbler,Marico Sunbird,Golden-breasted Bunting ,Ruppell’s Long-tailed Starling,Red-fronted Barbet,African Harrier-Hawk and Crowned Hornbill.
Down the valley we recorded White-crested Turaco,Red-and-Yellow Barbet,Yellow-billed Shrike,African Grey Flycatcher,Black-headed Gonolek,Double-toothed Barbet,African Paradise Flycatcher,Slate-coloured Boubou,Striped-breasted Seedeater,Mottled and Alpine Swift,Black-cuckoo Shrike,Northern Puff-back and Northern Crombec. https://ebird.org/checklist/S143515339
In the afternoon visited a swamp where we picked-up a nesting Splendid Starling,Cape Wagtail,African Rail,Fan-tailed Widowbird,Black Sparrow-hawk,Amathyst’s Sunbird,Black-headed Weaver and Heuglin’s Masked Weaver. We then headed back to Kitale town for an overnight stay. https://ebird.org/checklist/S143515257
4 July,2023: Saiwa Swamp national park was our destination this morning,the smallest national park in Kenya measuring 3 sq.km.This fragile ecosystem is home to the critically endangered Sitatunga Antelope and DeBrazza Monkey.We managed to enjoy some great views of both of them.Our birds collection this morning included; Luhder’s Bush-shrike,Grey-winged Robin Chat,Black-throated Wattle-eye,Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat,Narina Trogon,Red-headed Bluebill,Yellow-billed Barbet,White-browed Crombec,Lesser Swamp Warbler,Blue-headed Coucal,Little Rush Warbler (Highland Rush Warbler),Cabanis Greenbul,African Emerald Cuckoo,Purple-throated Cuckoo-shrike,Fan-tailed Widowbird,White-eye Slaty-Flycatcher,White-bellied Tit,Ross’s Turaco,Yellow-whiskered Greenbul,Slender-billed Greenbul and Brown Woodland Warbler. https://ebird.org/checklist/S143515056
At around midday we started our road trip to Kakamega forest stopping in Kitale for lunch.We arrived at our lodge located in the middle of the forest at around 4pm.After checking in to our rooms,we did some birding around the lodge compound and we got views of Mackinnon’s Fiscal,Thick-billed Honeyguide,Green-headed Sunbird,Grey-headed Barbet,White-headed Saw-Wing,Bocage’s Bush-Shrike was calling from the canopy and we managed to get some OK views and lastly a bustling colony of Vieillot’s Black Weavers. We did the Pond’s trail and s we got impressive views of Snowy-crowned Robin Chat,Banded Prinia,White-tailed Ant-Thrish,Blue-shouldered Robin-Chat,Joyful Greenbul,Great Blue Turaco,Black-faced Rufous Warbler, Black-and-white Casqued Hornbill, and White-chinned Prinia before it started drizzling giving no choice but end the day early.We enjoyed a delicious dinner at Rondo restaurant before we retired for the night.
5 July,2023: Rondo Retreat centre is very flexible with birders and we requested them for an early breakfast which was served at 6:00am.By 6:30 am we were off to Ikuywa trails making a quick stop at the gate of the lodge and were we rewarded with nice views African Blue Flycatcher,Black-billed Weaver,Chubb’s Cisticola,White-chinned Prinia, Stuhlmann´s Starling and Joyful Greenbul.At Ikuywa trails the birding was very classic there. We got excellent views of Cinnamon-Chested Bee-eater,Brown-capped, Dark-backed, Black-necked, Black-billed as well as the salient Red-headed Bluebill. Winstone was pretty impressive in sorting out the greenbuls for us,we saw Kakamega , Yellow-whiskered, Ansorge’s, Joyful,Cabanis,and Little-grey Greenbul,Southern Hyliota,Buff-spotted Woodpecker,Yellow-spotted Barbet. Square-tailed Drongos perched on open mid-level branches while Yellow-billed Barbet, Pink-footed Puffback, African Blue Flycatcher, Bocage’s Bush-shrike, Petit’s Cuckoo-shrike and half a dozen White Wood-hoopoes all showed well. With the exception of a flock of Dusky Tits moving through the canopy, these small sized warblers – Brown-throated Wattle-eye, Black-faced Rufous Warbler, Uganda Woodland Warbler, Olive-green Camaroptera, and White-bellied Nigrita. https://ebird.org/checklist/S143624983
We then moved on to the forest station and on to Pump House trails which rewarded us with Blue-headed Bee-eater,Green Hylia,Jameson’s Wattle-eye,White-chinned Prinia,Equatorial Akalat,Stout Cisticola,Yellow-mantled Widowbird,Common Stone Chat and Angola Swallow.We returned to the lodge for lunch and an hour rest. https://ebird.org/checklist/S143624919
At 3pm we started with the Pond trails and our thinking was to look for White-spotted Flufftail. Immediately we reached the pond the bird started calling, but our effort of locating the bird proved to be more difficult than we thought ,however,we were all taken by surprise when a beautiful male emerged from the thick-undergrowth and stood in the middle of the trail for 5 seconds and that was it….
We back-tracked to another trail 400 meter from lodge, which rewarded us with Brown-Chested Alethe,Chestnut and Yellow-bellied Wattle-eye,Pale-breasted Illadopsis,African Broadbill ,Blue-shouldered Robin-Chat,Black-collared Apalis,Black-faced Rufous Warbler and Brown-eared Woodpecker.Red-tailed Bristlebill kept calling behind the scenes but never gave us views.It started raining again and we had drop-off our guide Winstone at the nearby village to avoid being rained on. https://ebird.org/checklist/S143712617
6 July,2023: Our plans today is spend the morning birding the forest once more because it such an excellent habitat,have early lunch and move on to Lake Naivasha where we will overnight.Our morning birding yielded us Buff-throated Apalis,Olive-green Camaroptera,Yellow-crested Woodpecker,Black-billed Turaco,Western Black-headed Oriole,Sharpes’s Drongo,Dusky Tit,Bocage’s Bush-shrike,Grey-throated Barbet,Pink-footed Puff-back,Petit’s Cuckoo-Shrike,Green Sunbird,White-chinned Prinia,Olive Sunbird,Green-throated Sunbird,Toro-olive Greenbul,Kakamega Greenbul,Hairy-breasted Barbet and White-headed Woodhoopoe.We returned to the lodge for our well earned lunch and we proceeded to Lake Naivasha Elsamere lodge where spend the night.https://ebird.org/checklist/S143712550
7 July, 2023: We started off after breakfast! The compound of Elsamere lodge produced species like Arrow-marked Babbler,White-browed Robin-Chat,Eastern Mountain Woodpecker,Red-billed Firefinch,Nubian Woodpecker and Giant Kingfisher.We briefly visited Hell’s gate national park where we satisfied with views of Brimstone and Yellow-fronted Canary,African Yellow White-eye,Kenya Rufous Sparrow,White-fronted Bee-eater, Secretary bird,White-bellied Bustard,Long-crested Eagle,Schalow’s Wheatear,Lyne’s Cisticola,African and Plain-backed Pipit,Yellow-throated Longclaw,Augur Buzzard and Rattling Cisticola.
Our last birding stop before the end of the trip was Kinangop grassland,when we got there it was drizzling and the tussock grass was full of water…within minutes of us walking through it our shores and trouser were wet…but we matched on after some searching we picked up our target bird,the endemic Sharp’s Longclow,Wing-snapping Cisticola,Levaillant’s Cisticola,Long-tailed and Jackson’s Widowbird,Yellow-crowned Canary,Common Stonechat,Mountain Buzzard,African Pipit and Rufous-naped Lark.We proceeded to Nairobi where our guest had ordered a day room use for freshening up before heading to the airport.Well like they say all good things gotta come to an end!.
“You see the light operation” come to an end with over 511 species in 16 days.I sincerely thank my guests for being dedicated and “silent” in the field,to our outstanding driver and exceptional ornithologist Moses, without your efforts we will have surely missed some species .Our local guides;Wilson,Winstone and Maurice,you guys were the best.
Other outstanding wildlife photos that we encountered during our trip!
Kenya Birding 