Mombasa Bird Walk

Can't believe how cold it is here in Mombasa! Even the birds are feeling it. On our walk round the South Quarry at Haller Park only the water birds seemed to be unaffected. Fantastic Herons, especially the Grey with several sub-adults. Several Yellow Billed Egrets and a crowd of Yellow Billed Storks which we haven't seen for ages. Woolly necks, Palm Nut Vulture, Mangrove Kingfisher, a sole Common Sandpiper and a sole Three Banded Plover. Weavers nests recently built seemed to be abandoned but lots of Village Weavers in the trees. Maybe they have decided it is too cold for breeding? A side trip into Haller Park to see if the Giant Kingfisher, seen by Terer the previous day, was still around turned out to be disappointing in that we didn't catch up with the Giant K. but we did see several Black Crowned Night Herons includig one sub-adult busily preening and one quite young and very fluffy speciman. A fine Fish Eagle at the main lake and several Green Backed Herons. A Malachite Kingfisher barely discerned in the gloom and heavy rain which sent us all running back to the cars. A rather wet end to a great walk. (Marlene Reid - Mombasa)