From: Shailesh Kumar Patel <honeyguide_sk@yahoo.com>
Date: 2007-07-30 21:33
Subject: 21 Days Birding.
Greeting Birders.
 
Just finished a 21 days birding tour around Kenya. We did birding from coastal forest to montane forest. We had visited 12 IBA’s areas for birding.
 
Here are some of the special birds we saw at:-
1. Ngangoa Forest: - The big 3 T’s of Taita Hills, Taita Thrush-1, Taita Apalis-2 (sub-species of Bar-throated Apalis) and Taita White-eyes appx-10 (sub-species of Montane White-eye).
 
2. Tsavo East N.P:- Somali Corser-5, Chestnut-headed Sparrow-Lark appx-50.
 
3. Arabuko Sokoke Forest: - Out of the big 6 of ASF, we saw 5 which were Sokoke Pipit-1, Sokoke Scops Owl-1, Spotted Ground Thrush-1, East Coast Akalat-1 and Amani Sunbird-1.
 
4. Upper Imenti Forest: - White-eared Barbet-1, Yellow-bellied Greenbul-1, A flock of Violet-backed Starlings, Kenrick’s Starlings and Sharpe’s Starling- 4.
 
5. Mountain Rock (Bantu Lodge):- Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon-2, Sharpe’s Starling-3, Red-capped Robin chat-1.
 
6. Mweiga: - African Grass Owl-1.
 
7. L.Nakuru N.P:- African Cuckoo-1, Broad-billed Roller-3, Grey-crested Helmet-shrike, African Thrush-1.
 
8. L.Baringo:- The water level was high because of heavy rainfall coming from the hills. Here we saw Lesser Moorhen-1, Allen’s Gallinule-5, Great Spotted Cuckoo-1 and Madagascar Bee-eaters-5.
 
9. Masai Mara N.R:- Rufous-bellied Heron-1, African Marsh Harrier-1.
 
10. Nairobi N.P:- African Black Duck-2 seen at Hippo Pool, Marsh Owl-2.
 
Beside birds we had a very good view of a very rare mammal in Samburu “Caracal-1” and Flap-necked Chameleon-1 in Tsavo West N.P.
 
In bold are lifers for me and where you see the numbers like1 or 4 are what I count for such uncommon or rare species. My special thanks to the local guides David Ngala from ASF, Ben from Kakamega, Francis from L.Baringo and Paul the Owl Man.
 
Happy Birding,
 
Shailesh.

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