Dear all:

Here is a very quick birding brief. Please note that the records were only from a public bus (right-hand side window views).

I left Nairobi at 08h00. An early afternoon arrival at 13h00 was reached, my final destination being the Taita Hills. A road raptor count between Lukenya Hills and Voi town had the following species (numbers given in parenthesis) - Tawny Eagle (4), Martial Eagle (3) and the Black Kite (2).

Some of the mammals seen along the same stretch included: the Maasai Giraffes, Kongoni, Grant Gazelles and a pair of the Silver-backed Jackal, an elephant and a hippopotamus.

Between Voi and Mwatate (the turn-off junction to Wundanyi) yielded Common Kestrel (1), a breeding male of the Eastern Paradise Whydah, immature Superb Starling, and a Golden-breasted Starling.

The countryside was lovely, lush green vegetation and the partially misty-covered hillsides. Several Acacia sp., as well as the white-flowered Ipomea sp., were in full blossoms. The Pieridae (Whites) butterflies family members were spreading through to the distant horizon. The Barn Swallows were congregating and swooping low, over the bushes and numerous water pools from the ongoing rains.

More updates to follow-up soon.

Happy birding always,

James.