From: Fleur Ng'weno <fleur@africaonline.co.ke>
Date: 2013-06-17 11:16
Subject: Abbott's and Sharpe's Starlings at Gatamaiyu Forest
Abbott's and Sharpe's Starlings at Gatamaiyu Forest
Greetings birders
Unseasonal rain in Nairobi (loudly predicted by a Red-chested Cuckoo on Wednesday) made Nature Kenya's Sunday Birdwatch participants hesitate about our choice of destination, but a phone call by Peter Wairasho informed us it was not raining in Gatamaiyu Forest.
It was cool and misty, the light was poor and the tarmac road was potholed like a sieve, but the forest was alive with birds. There were termites and fruits for them to eat. We saw many of the characteristic forest birds, including both Abbott’s and Sharpe’s Starlings.
Abbott’s Starlings were seen twice, first near the old nesting tree, and then in a Polyscias tree a short distance further. There were both black and white Abbott’s Starlings and several brown ones with paler, streaked bellies.
In the poor light we were not sure whether the Polyscias tree had flowers or more likely ripening fruit, but it was absolutely dripping with birds – Abbott’s Starlings, Sharpe’s Starlings, Tullberg’s (Fine-banded) Woodpecker, Black-fronted Bush Shrike, Brown-capped Weaver and more.
Wishing you good birding rain or shine, Fleur