The following is a four-part trip report following 4-days of full birding with my client Steve Williams.  The dates were 20^th and 21^st; 24^th and 27^th February, 2010. A per site totals were 120, 34 and 45 bird species respectively. The overall trip’s tally was 218 species represented in 55 bird families.

Due to time constrains and to reduce the reading time, I will only give trip highlights, breeding and any other interesting records only. For fuller report and trip-list records, please, do not hesitate to contact me directly.

On 20^th February, Nairobi National Park (NNP) was the place to be. Following overnight rains, the weather was cool and partially cloudy most of the day. Late afternoon sunny spells maximized the birding and game-viewing hours. Some of the mammals included: Buffaloes, Common Zebras, Bushbucks, Elands, Maasai Giraffes, Black-faced Vervet Monkeys, Olive Baboons, Black Rhinos, and a single Reedbuck. Serrated Terrapins, Nile Crocodiles and Hippopotamus added a flavour too.

NNP’s breeding records came from the Grey-crowned Crane (sitting on eggs near the Kingfisher picnic site), while, the White-browed Sparrow Weaver were collecting grass-materials and building nests. Immature of the following species were recorded - Augur Buzzard c.1, Emerald-spotted Wood Dove c.1, Rufous Sparrow, and the African White-backed Vulture c.20. The Cattle Egret and Wattled Starling were in full breeding dresses. A thrilling courtship display by a pair of the Kori Bustard and Grey-crowned Cranes was out-of-this world!

Other particular interesting records were the sightings of the Parasitic Weaver and the Levaillant's Cuckoo. The migrants from the northern hemisphere included: Common Rock Thrush, Northern and Pied Wheatears, Common and the Green Sandpiper, Barn Swallow, Red-tailed Shrike and the Eurasian Bee-eater. Diurnal raptors were: Lesser Kestrel c.1, Steppe Eagle c.1, Eurasian Marsh Harrier c.1 and the Common Kestrel c.25.

Other additional included the Marabou Stork c.200, Black Kite c.15, Tawny Eagle c.5, Chestnut Weaver, African Paradise Flycatcher, African Pygmy Kingfisher and the Quail-Finch.

Thanks to my son Castro Ndung'u (who was a good spotter) and George Ndung'u, a trainee-bird-guide from the Nyahururu Bird Club (NBC) who joined us during the expedition.

That’s all folks, be on the look-out for the next continous series!

Happy birding always,

James.