Mombasa Bird Walk

July birdwalk, around Huseini car track, all very muddy, was hardly worth commenting on species wise although I now have a group of lively children, all from the same family, brought by their grandad who is a vet, and all very keen, so just looking at a big flock of Cattle Egrets and seeing a Black Headed heron at close quarters provided a lot of excitement. Lizard Buzzard flying low over our heads, made their day. All lifers for them.

Sept. we decided to explore an old haunt of mine, the Bamburi Shale quarries on the edge of Nguu Tatu, now being planted with trees to sustain some new venture by Lafarge to burn wood instead of coal! Anyway it provided some very good birding and made for very easy walking. The pond was a mass of nesting weavers, Village, Grosbeak, Golden Palm and one Golden Weaver with its orange eye. Zanzibar Bishops were numerous and in the middle of the pond a lovely Yellow Billed Egret. Diedrik Cukoo male singing, female hovering round the nest site awaiting her chance to deposit an egg no doubt. Further up the path a fabulous Mangrove Kingfisher, Paradise Flycatcher (brown phase), several Tropical Boubous, easily seen for a change, and lots of Pale Flycatchers. Scarlet Chested Sunbird, not seen for a long time on our walks, medium sized flock of Red Billed Quelea. As we came to the end of the walk, a last visit to the pond produced Allen's Gallinule, African Black Crake and flying over our heads a beautiful Purple Heron. Migrants were 3 Common Sandpipers flying off from the swamp. 35 species in all, not bad for 2 hours. Welcome Mombasa Bird Walk, every 3rd Sat in the month. Meet Ratna Square 4 p.m. sharp. - Marlene Reid.