From: Bird Boy Karim <birds_are@yahoo.com>

Date: 2008-05-12 06:28

Subject: MaSqOn

Hello all,

 

Made a trip upto Kilifi on Saturday (3rd May), on the road side, before Vipingo Town, in the swamps formed by the rains was a Madagascar Squacco Heron (MaSqOn)..my first for the season..earlier than in the past 3 years..Since 2005, we have been noticing it appear in the ponds at Bamburi Cement Nature Trails from mid may onward..though not drastically off, just thought it was worth a note..

 

On another account, on 27th April, i had made a visit to Mt. Kasigau with a friend.. Beautiful mountain with an array of three distinct vegetation types, but most amazing is the lush tropical rain forest that drastically emerges at an elevation of about 1,000mts above sea level all the way to the summit (1,600mts asl).

On the way back down, still within the forest, the guide pointed out to us, amidst gasping for air and sloppily balancing on the slippery soil, a group of Montane White Eyes (Taita White-eye, sub sp. silvanus). And though some 15-20metres above us, foraging in the top canopy, and no binoculars to aid us, we could distinctly point out "white eyes" of these White-eye's.

 

Happy birding and bird merrily to all..

 

Karim.