We spent a day at the wonderful Sagala Lodge
(just past Voi heading south to Mombasa from Nairobi, part of the Tsavo
ecosystem) this weekend past, and saw some amazing birds. The bushland
is very dry right now so the water holes are a magnet for birds and
mammals. Eastern Paradise Whydahs were out in force, we saw up to 80
males at one time clustered in the trees near the water hole with a few
straw-tails and a single steel-blue thrown in for good measure.
Thousands of Red-billed Quelea and Chestnut Weavers filled the bushes
and trees surrounding the pond, jostling for space and making one hell
of a racket. Once every 30-60 minutes the massed flock would get up the
courage to rush to the waters edge in a mad tangle of beaks and feathers
to take a few nervous gulps of liquid before fleeing back to cover.
Amongst the throngs of common birds Cut-throat Finches, Blue-capped
Cordonblues, Grey-Headed Silverbill, Yellow-spotted Petronia,
Black-faced sandgrouse, Little and Madagascar Bee-eaters and numerous
dove and swallow species took their chances too. All the commotion did
not go unnoticed by predators, a Lanner Falcon swooped by on several
occasions causing panic and Eastern-Pale Chanting Goshawk mopped up any
birds struggling or drowned in the water.
A short night drive to the waterhole revealed 10 elephant and
white-tailed mongoose, but the real highlight was the beautiful stars
and milkyway of the unpolluted moonless sky.
The Spotted-Eagle
Owl is still in residence in the Euphorbia tirucalli trees adjacent to
the car park and pearl-spotted owlets were also quite easy to come by.