Mombasa Bird Walk

As the tide was at the right height we decided to go to the beach in Bamburi area to see how many waders were still around. Accessing the beach through Aga Khan Centre where we usually see a good variety of garden birds was very disappointing probably due to the crows and several cats wandering around. On the beach 3 Ethiopian Swallows resting on a boat, plenty of Sooty Gulls. Migrant waders on the exposed reef Whimbrels, Curlew Sandpipers, Ringed Plovers, Grey Plovers, Lesser and Greater Sand Plovers, Little Stints, and Ruddy Turnstones, none in large numbers, some coming into breeding dress. Non-migrants - Grey Herons, Little Egrets, one lovely Green Backed Heron and several Sacred Ibis catchng the setting sun on their wings as they flew back to wherever they roost.

Still lots of Eurasian Golden Orioles around Mombasa and at Vipingo Ridge on Sat 29th a male Common Rock Thrush in bright breeding colours. Keep on birding - Marlene Reid (Mombasa)