Shimba Hills Birding

The advent of Birdwatch month got off to a good start at the coast with Shimba Support Group organising a week-end of birding in the park, incorporating Birdwatch and an ongoing listing of birds in the area. Mombasa birders joined the group on Sun arriving at the main gate at around 8.20 (ferry working well for a change) just in time to catch a bird feeding party eating lots of small moths. Retz's Red Bill Shrikes, Yellowbill, Dark Backed Weavers, Crowned Hornbill, Brown Hooded Kingfisher (behaving like a Bee-Eater), Yellow Bellied Greenbul, Black Backed Puffback, Green Barbet, Bronze Mannikin, Tropical Boubou, Drongo, Palm and Little Swifts flying low to join the feast, Fischers Turaco not actually in the party but honking in the background and a Common Bulbul. Fifteen species before setting foot inside the park proper was an encouraging sign especially when we heard the Sat. watch had turned up only 10 birds all day due to heavy rain. As we had a game warden with us we were able to walk in the park in some areas. Another feeding party in the forest below Sable Bandas turned up Little Yellow Flycatcher, Grey Headed Bushshrike, Green Pigeon, White Earred Barbet, Fischers Greenbul calling, Cameroptera, and Black Headed Oriole. Dodging the rain for the rest of day as best we could, sheltering at the look out point and in the banda at Makadara picnic site we manged to have a list of 40 birds which is not bad for one day in Shimba Hills. It included 3 White Headed Vultures (not seen by me before in this park), Silvery Cheeked, Trumpeter and Crowned Hornbills, Palm Nut Vulture, Bataleur Eagle, Red Billed Oxpeckers on Buffaloes. Hardly any migrants, one very wet Red Backed Shrike, several Barn Swallows. A foray down to Marere Dam at the end of the day turned up Brown Headed Parrots, Black Saw Wing Swallows, and Greater Blue Earred Starlings. Unfortunately the Bee-Eaters "got away" while we were struggling to park the car on the erroded and slippery road. A good if wet start to Birdwatch for us coasties even if I am still picking off the pepper ticks. Have a great Birdwatch. Marlene Reid - Mombasa