Great bird indeed Darcy,
There is a bigger population currently in breeding plumage, at the Marsh right outside the Thika sewerage ponds; another flock frequently seen at the Eastern Bypass bus stop area. Yet another population frequently at the Kenyatta University referral hospital.
The species must be doing well along the route.
Kind regards,
Washington Wachira.
In the days since I first saw him, I've tried in vain to get a photograph. But happily I did see him again today, which ensures that he is still around, but it seems he hides himself by mid-morning when I have had my camera.Hi all,I'm re-posting and updating this as it seems my original email never arrived to Itai.
On 21 Jan, I was at least rewarded by seeing this bishop as I was leaving Thika heading to Juja. Incredibly sexy bird! Although it is apparently local around Thika, I've never seen it before, though the description of its habitat as 'inundated grasslands' is exactly where I saw it. Though the 'grassland' consisted of a small flooded patch just below the main (Garissa Road) flyover into Thika.
In case anyone is in Thika and interested to see him, the still flooded patch is on the southeast side of the flyover and you pass it on your right as you are leaving Thika to go south onto Thika Highway. You can pull over on your right next to a tree nursery.Or if you get stuck in our constant traffic jams, and are crawling over the flyover heading towards Thika town, just look off to your right towards the southern side of the flyover. If it's by 8-9am you'll surely spot his dazzling colours amongst the flooded vegetation.Cheers, Darcy
--Darcy Ogada | Assistant Director of Africa Programs
The Peregrine Fund | www.peregrinefund.orgP.O. Box 1629-00606, Nairobi, Kenya
+254-722-339366Conserving birds of prey worldwide