Dear all,

After the great report we received from Brian's trip, Johan and I decided to explore Olbainita swamp.

We arrived on Saturday at 08,30 AM and we were really impressed. A big swamp full of water birds, really amazing.

It was impossible to count the bird but here are my estimates :

The biggest population was Black-faced Whistling Ducks with a population of more than 600 individuals

Fulvous Whistling Ducks with a population of approximatively 150 individuals

White-backed Ducks with a population of approximatively 100 individuals

Hottentot Teal with a population of approximatively 50 individuals

Red-billed Teal and Yellow-billed Duck with a population of approximatively 50 individuals

Red-knob Coot were uncountable

Southern Pochard with a population of approximatively 250 individuals

Purple Swamphen, lesser Moorhen, Common Moorhen, African Jacana and Little Grebe in good number.

Knob-billed Duck with a population of approximatively 40 individuals

Black-crowned Night-Heron with a population of approximatively 50 individuals

Almost all of these birds were with chicks

Now the most interesting views :

We saw 2 male Maccoa Duck but no sign of female

A single Spur-winged Goose

2 female Great Crested Grebe with each 2 chicks

2 male Baillon's Crake

Migrants :

A single Yellow Wagtail

A single Northern Wheatear

2 Willow Warbler

A single Eurasian Honey Buzzard

My view regarding the site :

This seasonal swamp should be included in IBA in Kenya.

We spoke with villagers around the swamp and it appears that in some villages people are hunting the ducks. It appears also that people from outside are coming to hunt the ducks with a KWS permit!!!!!!

I think it would be very nice to protect the area. I'm quite sure the swamp is a breeding area for a lot of water species.

With my best regards,

Patrick