Mombasa Bir Walk

The walk was in the south quarry of Haller park where there are lots of very nice ponds. However as usual no banks with wading space have been created and as the water is very deep due to recent rain there were no migrant waders, we saw only one Common Sandpiper flying by. Strangely there were no Barn Swallows although lots of African Palm and Little Swifts. Lots of dudus. Large number of Pied Kingfishers catching plenty of small fishes. A couple of Malachite Kingfishers in the usual spot. Grey, Black Headed, Green Backed herons and a lone Little Egret. Numbers of water birds were very much down on what we have seen here before. No Yellow Billed Egrets which are usually fairly numerous. Also missing were the usual large numbers of Water Thicknees! Golden Palm and Village Weavers were nesting in profusion and the reeds had lots of beautiful Grosbeak nests obviously in use. A few White Throated Bee-eaters flew over and a couple of Wolly-necked Storks flapped around the quarry which is still being worked. The last bird seen was the best of the day! A beautiful Long Crested Eagle flew up from the ground onto a fence post for us all to see before flying off into the trees no doubt seeking a roosting site. Join us if you are in Mombasa - every 3rd Sat of the month. Usually meeting at Ratna square at 4 p.m. but sometimes earlier if we go further afield so please check! Contact 0720 949195 (Marlene Reid - Mombasa)