Hi all,

I’m reporting on some birding I did the past week or so at around my house in Gatuanyaga (15 km from Thika out Garissa Rd.) and also at Ol Donyo Sabuk NP with  Fleur Ng’weno on May 1^st. 

Apr 23^rd I had a minimum of 14 Hinde’s babblers in at least two groups around our extended compound.  I say a minimum because I counted 18 individuals in three groups, but I can’t be sure one group was not part of a group I spotted 20 mins later.  One interesting thing I’ve noticed is that at least one individual in each group has a sort of reddish cape that extends from one shoulder around the back to the other shoulder.  I’ve not noticed this in the small group of three that I occasionally see around the house throughout the year.  I thought maybe these were immatures, but I’ve yet to find any documentation supporting this.  The rains have really brought these babblers around our extended compound and I’ve seen at least part of a group almost daily for the past two weeks.  The most stunning bird I saw on that morning was a male Baglafecht’s weaver.  He was gorgeous!  I also spotted an immature red-tailed shrike in the garden and two groups of spur-winged geese flying overhead. 

On May 1^st Fleur Ng’weno and I headed to Ol Donyo Sabuk NP.  Before we got out of my compound we spotted a group of Hinde’s babblers and possibly a Pallid honeyguide, though we couldn’t confirm it, so I’m still looking.  We also saw an African golden weaver.  Of course this delayed our birding in the park and we didn’t reach the park gate until 11 am.  We decided to drive up at least as far as Fleur’s car could reach and at our first stop was, yes, Hinde’s babblers!!!  I think they’re just following me around.  We guessed by their calls there were at least 6 of them at ~ 1750 m in thick bush off the side of the road.  One of them was very yellow/orange in colour on the chest, but was calling so I had no doubt of its identification.  There seems to be some interesting colour morphs happening with this species.  We also managed to see two crowned eagles soaring overhead and the same for two martial eagles, which was rather exciting.  We saw Amethyst, collared, golden-winged and variable sunbirds.  Others were cinnamon-breasted bunting, red-fronted tinkerbird, yellow-whiskered and Zanzibar sombre greenbuls (heard only), pale flycatcher, chin-spot batis, tawny flanked-prinia, black saw-wing and barn swallow.  Just outside the park were a large 20+ group of white-winged widowbirds and a yellow bishop.  I used to see many more red-collared widowbirds, but of the last year or two they seem to have been replaced by white-winged’s around my house.  

Cheers,

Darcy Ogada