Mombasa Bird Walk

For the first time we saw a small flock of migrant waders, Greenshank with a couple of Common Sand pipers and a large number of very varied Yellow Wagtails but nothing else from the migrant world. No Barn Swallows as yet.

Local birds were plentiful giving us a list of 37 species including Spurwing Plovers, group of 14 Open-billed Storks, one splendid male Namaqua Dove, Scarlet Chested Sunbird which we hardly see these days, White Faced Whistling Ducks, Yellow-billed Stork, Black Crake and Black-headed Heron were some of the other water birds. We'd hoped to see the Pelicans but they seem to have moved on. A juvenile African Harrier Hawk was the only bird of prey on the list.

Previous week I was at Vipingo beach where I only saw a couple of Greenshanks, a pair of Common Sandpipers, one or two Whimbrels and a few scattered Grey Plovers plus a single Ringed Plover. This beach used to be covered in waders. The food chain may have something to do with it as there are literally dozens of people all collecting small things off the reef, all walking away with a half-filled bag. This is just on the outside of the Kurawitu restricted area where I am told that the controlled fishing has led to resurgence of fish stocks.

In Tudor I have not yet seen or heard any Eurasian Golden Orioles but did have a sub-adult Osprey whizzing past my verandah twice last week.

I heard from Vipingo Ridge that there are lots of migrants up there so our Nov. bird walk will be there. We live in hope!