From: Don Reid <donreid@africaonline.co.ke>
Date: 2015-10-29 17:24
Subject: Fw: Mombasa Bird Walk
Sorry this got sent by mistake to the Bird Map
email
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, October 19, 2015 3:53 PM
Subject: Mombasa Bird Walk
Dear Birders
We decided to find out how many migrant waders had
arrived. We went to Jumba La Mtwana Beach and although the tide was not at
the best for looking at waders we were able to position ourselves top of the
beach and wait for the birds to fly up to the still uncovered sand.
The largest number were Grey Plovers, those landing
and other large groups flying on past must have been about several
hundred. One still had quite a lot of its summer plumage. Groups of
mixed smaller waders also went zipping by but too far out for id. The ones
landing near us were mostly Grey Plovers, with a couple of Whimbrels, two
Sanderlings, Lesser and Greater Sand plovers, mostly lesser, one Little Stint,
about 6 Ringed Plovers, 2 Common Sandpipers and a single Curlew Sandpiper.
This beach used to be the best place to see Curlew Sandpipers there were
always so many but now there are so few. I had hoped we would
see a Terek Sandpiper but no luck maybe it was with the passing
birds. No other Eurasian migrants,not even a Barn Swallow!
Jumba Forest very quiet. Silvery-cheeked
Hornbills were absent and all the other birds on our list were 'heard'
only.
A special treat was the several turtles we saw
popping up their heads in the sea. Jumba is one of their breeding sites so
no doubt they would be waiting for the darkness to fall before coming out of the
sea. There is a community turtle watch scheme here to make sure eggs are
not predated or flooded.
Wishing you all happy birding!
Marlene Reid (Mombasa)