From: Fleur Ng'weno <fleur@africaonline.co.ke>
Date: 2007-10-20 18:40
Subject: Shikra in Nairobi?
Shikra in Nairobi?
Greetings Birders
I had to eat my words this week. On an early morning birdwalk at Kasarani Sports Stadium during the BirdLife meeting, I was asked whether several goshawks seen soaring over the grounds the previous day could have been Shikra. “No Shikra in Nairobi,” I replied flatly, although we have seen them just outside the city boundary, at Brookside Dairies/Waunyomu Ranch further along the Thika Road. The Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Nairobi by Bill Harvey (1997) says “No records since 1972.”
Later as we were returning, we saw a small raptor harassing a flying Black Kite. It was small and compact, entirely pale grey above (no white rump) with darker wing tips, and generally pale below. I believe it was a Shikra.
Other interesting records this week:
Olivaceous Warbler at Kasarani Sport Stadium, 18 October
Red-backed Shrike at the Racecourse, 17 October
And several surprises in Nairobi National Park with Robert Gosford from Australia on 20 October:
About ten Tambourine Doves feeding on cracked Croton seeds on the tarmac
Yellow-spotted Petronia at the Ivory Burning Site
A group of Ostriches consisting of two families with young, one clutch about the size of turkeys, the others a little younger, plus one extra female
A mammal! A huge Ichneumon or Egyptian Mongoose with a tufted tail, where the road crosses a small wetland on the way to Kingfisher picnic site
But no Superb Starling until we were outside the East Gate
Wishing you good birding, Fleur