Hi All,

I have just spent 5 days between the Ragati Conservancy on Mount Kenya, the Aberdare Country Club, and the Aberdare Salient. I saw a few new species and Kenya-firsts during my time away as well as some of the more interesting regulars. These included:

At the Ragati I saw a Fine-banded Woodpecker, Brown Woodland Warblers, and some Brown-capped Weavers (that I have seen before).

In both the Ragati, Aberdares and on Mount Elgon now I have heard a bird calling that I have been unable to identify. It is clearly a skulking/ground favouring species so I am guessing that it is something in the Robin/Chat/Thrush family but I could be wrong. It favours dense forest undergrowth and emits a repetitive high pitched call that is very reminiscent of a cricket calling. Almost Bru-bru like. Any ideas on what this might be?

In the Podocarpus riverine forest along the Honi River abutting the northern edge of the Aberdare Country Club's land I saw two White-Eared Barbets. There were 5 of us and we all got a good look at the second one as it was sat on a power line in full view for a good 5 minutes with a very obvious white ear and rump. I have never seen these before and I note from the distribution maps in Birds of Kenya by Zimmerman et al that they are not known from here although they are found further north and east. 

In the Aberdare Salient I saw Brown-Chested Alethe on the road below Rhino Retreat. I also saw a Grey-Headed Negro Finch, a first for me in Kenya. I am also convinced that I saw a Common White Throat along the park boundary but the distribution would suggest that these are only found in dry acacia/commiphora woodland below 1200m which is well below the height of the Salient. Any thoughts on this? I didn't get the longest of looks at it but have seen them enough times in the UK to be able to recognise them. 

Best wishes

Patrick