Mombasa Birding

First bird was African Fish Eagle flying overhead but the quarry was pretty quiet. The ponds seem to be somewhat polluted and water birds were few. In fact a tidal puddle was more interesting with Three banded Plovers, Ringed Plover (unusual away from the beach), Little Stints and African Pied Wagtails. The only other migrant wader was a solitary Common Sandpiper at one of the ponds; a splendid Malachite Kingfisher did give us all a very good view. Purple Heron taking off was just a brief glimpse. As there was so little about and as we were being harassed by a very determined male Giraffe, tact seemed to be the better part of valour and so we adjourned to Haller Park. There we saw another 15 species which included Black Capped Night Heron, African Harrier Hawk, two more African Fish Eagles (one may have been the one seen earlier) Giant Kingfisher, another common Sand and an amazing 4 Black Herons who very obligingly did their umbrella fishing together right in the eye of Doris's camera. A total of 34 species in all.

Last week spending 5 days at Tiwi Beach was very happy to see for the first time in ages a good number of migrant waders. They all seemed to be in species groups: 60-70 Grey Plovers, 18 Whimbrels, large group of Great with a few Lesser Sand Plovers, a couple of Little Stints and 2 or 3 Ruddy Turnstones. Latter 2 groups I just saw once and then in ones and twos but the Plovers stayed together all the time and moved up and down the beach together; maybe they are preparing to migrate? Lots of large shoals of small fish jumping so a delight to watch the Lesser Creaster Terns feeding. Best birding I have had at the beach for ages.

Have heard there has been a sighting of an Albatross around Likoni and just got a text from a Shanzu resident that it has been seen there. He was IDing it as a 'Wandering" but according to book that seems unlikely. Anyone on Birdsnet at the Coast - please keep an eye open and a bino ready.