From 2 to 13 December 2017, Dominic Kimani, Samuel Bakari and I were one of four teams carrying out a national census of Grey Crowned Crane (EN) in selected parts of Kenya. Our team covered the Naivasha and Naro Moru areas as well as sites in Nyandarua and Laikipia counties. The results of the survey will be published in due course – this is not a spoiler! To find out more about that, please contact Wamiti or Dominic direct.

There were of course other birds that we found with or near GCCs, and here are those records which may be of some wider interest –

White-backed Duck: a pair on Gichaka Dam (near Ol Joro Orok) on 2 December, and another pair on Aguthi Dam (near Naro Moru) on 7 December

Knob-billed Duck: a small flock on Lake Naivasha on 5 December, and several at Lolldaiga Hills Ranch (Valley Dam) on 11 December

Southern Pochard: a flock of 13 birds on Crater Lake on 5 December

Kori Bustard (NT): singles at Ol Pejeta Conservancy on 9 December, Lolldaiga Hills Ranch on 11 December and Lewa Wildlife Conservancy on 13 December

Red-knobbed Coot: two boat transects around the edge of Lake Naivasha, from Elsamere to Crescent Island on 3 December and from Elsamere to the Malewa delta on 5 December, turned up only two sizeable flocks (tens, not hundreds); a larger flock (>100) was on Lake Ol’ Bolossat on 6 December

Black-necked Grebe: a small flock on Lake Oloidien on 3 December

Black Stork: one at Ol Pejeta Conservancy on 9 December

White Stork: several hundred at Ol Pejeta Conservancy on 8 and 9 December, and thousands at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy on 13 December – a breathtaking sight

Saddle-billed Stork: one at Solio Ranch on 10 December

African Darter: one with cormorants at the edge of Lake Naivasha on 5 December

Goliath Heron: only two were found during two boat transects around the edge of Lake Naivasha on 3 and 5 December

Senegal Lapwing: a group of six birds at Solio Ranch on 10 December

Whiskered Tern: not many over Lake Naivasha on 3 and 5 December, and just a few over Lake Ol’ Bolossat on 6 December

White-backed Vulture (CR): around 100, most of them feeding on an elephant carcass, at Lolldaiga Hills Ranch (near Dam Fisi) on 11 December

Ruppell’s Vulture (CR): seven birds feeding on a buffalo carcass at Ol Pejeta Conservancy on 8 December

Bateleur (NT): two over Solio Ranch on 10 December

Martial Eagle (VU): one over Ol Pejeta Conservancy on 8 December

Steppe Eagle (EN): three at Magari Farm (North Kinangop) on 4 December

Pallid Harrier (NT): several over cultivated fields at Ol Pejeta Conservancy on 8 December

African Fish Eagle: pairs appeared at regular intervals along the shore of Lake Naivasha during two boat transects on 3 and 5 December

White-fronted Bee-eater: only one was found at the edge of Lake Naivasha, on 5 December

White-crested Helmetshrike: a small, wandering flock at Solio Ranch on 10 December

White-tailed Lark: widespread in grassland at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy on 13 December

Ethiopian Swallow: nest building at Ol Pejeta Conservancy on 8 and 9 December

Three kinds of displaying widowbirds: Long-tailed around Kinangop on 4 December, Red-collared around Naro Moru on 7 December and Jackson’s (NT) at Ol Pejeta Conservancy on 8 December

Speke’s Weaver: widespread, large breeding colonies

Sharpe’s Longclaw (EN): several at Magari Farm (North Kinangop) on 4 December

Rosy-throated Longclaw: a pair at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy on 13 December

Records of other Palaearctic species that I noted were –

Garganey: a distant flock on Lake Ol’ Bolossat on 6 December

Northern Shoveler: several on Simini’s Dam (South Kinangop) on 4 December

Waders: Wood Sandpiper was the most common and widespread species, followed by Common Sandpiper, Ruff and then Marsh Sandpiper; Green Sandpiper and Common Greenshank were fewer and farther between; Common Ringed Plover was only along the shore of Lake Ol’ Bolossat, and Temminck’s Stint was only at the edge of Simini’s Dam

Gull-billed Tern: a large flock over Crater Lake on 5 December

White-winged Tern: numerous over Lakes Naivasha and Oloidien on 3 and 5 December

Lesser Spotted Eagle: one at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy on 13 December

Montagu’s Harrier: several around Kinangop on 4 December

Western Marsh Harrier: a few quartering the shorelines of Lakes Naivasha and Ol’ Bolossat, and swamps at Ol Pejeta and Lewa Wildlife Conservancies

Common Buzzard: two over Lake Naivasha on 3 December

European Bee-eater: a pair at Ol Pejeta Conservancy on 9 December, and two pairs at Solio Ranch on 10 December

Common Kestrel: one at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy on 13 December

Red-backed Shrike: one at Ol Pejeta Conservancy on 8 December

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler: one at Ol Pejeta Conservancy on 8 December, and another there the following day

Sand Martin: a few over Lake Naivasha on 3 December

Barn Swallow: common and widespread

Common House Martin: a small flock near Naro Moru on 7 December

Willow Warbler: frequent and widespread

Common Rock Thrush: one at Solio Ranch on 10 December

Northern Wheatear: common on Solio plains on 10 December

Isabelline Wheatear: a few at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy on 13 December

Western Yellow Wagtail: frequent and widespread

Tree Pipit: one at Solio Ranch on 10 December

Red-throated Pipit: several at Magari Farm (North Kinangop) on 4 December

Dominic took photos of many of these birds. Please contact him direct if you would like to see any.

Best,

David Fox