From: James Christian <jc@james-christian.com>
Date: 2007-10-14 07:56
Subject: Birds Notes from Laikipia

Birds Notes from Laikipia Hello All,
Just some of my notes on dates for arrivals and other observations from Laikipia (our place is opposite Mpala farm):

Sep13  Northern Whetears at Kimanjo
Sep20  Eurasian Bee-eaters arriving
Sep27  Diedricks cuckoos being spotted around the place
Oct.12  Isabaleine Whetear at our Boma

Oct. 13 The Euro bee-eaters are continuing to pass. On sep 23rd we had several steel blue whydahs with females near our offices and now I can’t seem to find them? (what is the deal with this species?)  Straw tailed Whydas in breeding dress.  We have had hundreds of Purple rollers around for the past several months (these are an inter african migrant no? Where do they come from?)  Oct. 3 Finfoot male on Ewaso.   Bare-faced Thrush not far from the Ewaso Nyiro River ( I find these guys on us very infrequently). Oct. 3 Red headed weaver building nest.  Green Wood Hoopoes nesting in Sycamore Fig by Ewaso.  Oct. 7 Swallow-tailed Kite over Ewaso – our first spotting of this species over Tumaren.  Oct. 7 Cinnamon Rock Buntings near Ewaso.

Non bird recent highlights include several caracal sightings as well as wild cat and lion.  Not long back kerry glen (wife) found a blue tree agama but we have not yet been able to refind him.  His range map for the north seems very spotty.

Cheers, James christian


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