From: James Bradley <jalopyjamo@gmail.com>
Date: 2011-02-28 07:15
Subject: trip highlights Jan/Feb 2011
Hello Kenya Birders,

Below are some of the more interesting records from a recent birding trip in Kenya.  Location coordinates and elevations are taken from Google Earth.  Kenya is, as always, a fantastic place to bird!  Thanks to John Musina, Fleur Ngweno, Colin Jackson, Ibrahim Oingo and Jonathon Mwachongo for their help and advice.

Gwassi Hills, 625949E 9931600S, 19Jan2011, ~2200m, Atlas Square 60C:
Crowned Eagle (immature), Martial Eagle (2 adults), Peregrine (adult), Ross's Turaco (3-5), Emerald Cuckoo (1), Narina's Trogon (pair), Brown-throated Wattle-eye (pair), Black Saw-wing  (1), Yellow-whiskered Greenbul (3+), Cabanis's Greenbul (3), Grey Apalis (4+), White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher (6+), Yellow White-eye (8+), Northern Double-collared Sunbird (15+), Black-billed Weaver (4), Baglafecht Weaver (2).

South Nandi Escarpment, 715693E 9996626S, ~1450m, 20Jan, Atlas Square 60B:
Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater (pair), Chin-spot (pair) and Black-headed (1) Batises, Trilling Cisticola (pair - call recorded), Yellow-bellied Hyliota (pair - photographed), Green-capped Eremomela (pair - photographed), Familiar Chat (1), Long-billed Pipit (1).

Sultan Hamud Hills, 319199E 9773271S, ~1500m, 25Jan, Atlas Square 88A:
Martial Eagle (1), Purple-crested Turaco (4+), Emerald Cuckoo (1), Narina's Trogon (1), White-headed Saw-wing (10+), Yellow-bellied Greenbul (pair), Grey-olive Greenbul (4-5), Red-headed Weaver (1).

Other Locations:
Red-necked Spurfowl (1), Rufous-chested Swallow (1+) and Moustached Grass Warbler (6+) (Chemelil area, Nyando Valley-20Jan).

Crested Guineafowl, Cape Eagle Owl (1), Red-chested Owlet (3+), Yellow-spotted and Yellow-billed Barbets, Shelley's and Joyful Greenbuls, Mountain Illadopsis, Oriole Finch (adults and juvenile) (Mau Forest, square 61A - 21/22Jan).

Malindi Pipit (2) (Lake Chem Chem, Malindi - 29Jan).

African Pygmy Goose (15+), Water Thick-knee (6), Black-throated Wattle-eye (male), Rufous-backed Mannikin (4+), Golden Pipit (3) (Msambweni - 1-4Feb).

Fischer's Turaco (4+), Forest Batis (pair) (Kaya Kinondo, Galu Beach - 3Feb).

Pallid Honeyguide (4+), Fischer's Greenbul (2+) Little Yellow Flycatcher (2) (Diani Forest - 2Feb).

Ayre's Hawk Eagle (1), Lemon Dove (1), Grey-olive Greenbul (2) (Kibagare Valley, Nairobi - 5Feb).

Brown-hooded Kingfisher (1) (Spring Valley, Nairobi - 5Feb).


Reference material:
Bennun and Njoroge (1999) Important Bird Areas in Kenya
Lewis and Pomeroy (1989) A Bird Atlas of Kenya
Stevenson and Fanshawe (2002) Birds of East Africa
Zimmerman, Turner and Pearson (1999) Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania
Macaulay Library of Sound: http://macaulaylibrary.org/index.do
Xenocanto: http://www.xeno-canto.org/

If anyone would like any further information, please email me at: james_bradley AT ymail.com

Regards,

James



James Bradley
Prince George, BC
Canada