Mombasa Bird Walk

Sat. 21st June - the walk was around the periphery of Nguuni, outside their fence, through the tree nursery and over the grassland into what used to be the shale quarries but which is now becoming a good wetland area due to some damming of runoff water further up the hill. Plenty of bird activity in this area, Village, Grosbeak and Golden Palm Weavers in a frenzy of nest building, stripping all the palms they could find. Big numbers of Zanzibar Red Bishops and Northern Brownbuls (heard rather than seen). Specialities of the day Pangani Longclaw, Flappet Lark, Lizard Buzzard busy hunting, African Jacana on the wetland, these have been absent for ages, White Faced Whistling Ducks (one of our favourites), 2 Woolly necked Storks, Long Tailed Cormorant, and quite rare for us 2 Pied Crows. In less than 2 hours we had a list of 33 species. Once the wetland really gets established we hope to see lots of migrant waders there. This is going to be a very good birding area. Wishing you all enjoyable and happy birding - Marlene Reid (Mombasa)