Mombasa Bird Walk

Sat Aug. 21st saw us going up to the Husein Dairy Land in Nguu Tatu to cover the right hand side of the road, the wetland, that used to be a pond and the surrounding grassland. Small pond on the way up had a pair of White Faced Whistling Ducks with about 10 very little ducklings. Hope they all survive the Crows and other predators especially the monitor lizards. A single Little Grebe ducked and dived, Golden Palm and Grosbeak Weavers busy nesting and one or two Barn Swallows flying around.

At the wetland, a couple of Madagascar Bee-Eaters, Superb and Greater Blue Earred Starlings, a Croaking Cisticola on the reeds and wonder of wonders a Hammerkop (hardly ever seen here) flying by. Large numbers of Red Billed Quelea and Cattle Egrets. Am immature Yellow throated Longclaw and on the oppostie side of the road a magnificent adult Pangani's. Namaqua Doves flashed past on their way to roost and a Black Shouldered Kite passed overhead. The best bird of the day was the Bat Hawk flying low over our heads, after a conversation about how we had not seen one for ages. Twenty Eight species in all. No Eurasian migrants except for the Barn Swallows although I have seen quite large flocks of waders flying past at the beach. Enjoy your birding! (Marlene Reid - Mombasa)

P.S. Just saw a Striped Kingfisher in the tall tree in the next garden - I haven't seen one literally for years, so quite exciting. At one time they seemed quite common but not these days. Crows being the cause I suppose! (MR)