Dominic Kimani, Samuel Bakari and I teamed up to count Grey Crowned Cranes (EN) as part of the countrywide census that took place between 26 February and 9 March 2019. A full report of this survey with our and other teams’ data will be published in due course.

Two less well watched sites that we visited – Sagana fish farm (with the kind permission of the National Aquaculture Research Development and Training Centre) on 27 February, and Nanyuki sewage ponds on 3 March – were very productive for waterbirds. Perhaps they could both be included in future waterbird counts?

At the fish farm, Dominic and I found a large mixed-duck flock of mostly White-faced Whistling Duck and Red-billed Teal (over 100 of each), small groups of Hottentot Teal and Yellow-billed Duck, at least 25 Garganey, several Northern Shoveler, and a smattering of Northern Pintail. (The entire flock, and a score of Common Snipe, took flight at the approach of an immature African Fish Eagle but later were untroubled by a quartering Western Marsh Harrier.)

At the sewage ponds, Bakari, Dominic and I found a solitary Fulvous Whistling Duck, a pair of Garganey and a small flock of Cape Teal among scores of Egyptian Goose and Red-billed Teal, around 100 each of Red-knobbed Coot and Little Grebe, and around 30 each of Hottentot Teal and Yellow-billed Duck. We also found a solitary Pink-backed Pelican and quite a diversity of waders around the edges of the ponds, the most numerous being Black-winged Stilt and Ruff.

Other Palaearctic species that we recorded at various sites during the 12-day GCC census period were as follows –

Common Cuckoo: one at Solio Conservancy on 7 March

Black Stork: one at Solio Conservancy on 7 March

White Stork: only one at Mwea paddies on 26 February, two in Meru National Park (Bwatherongi swamp) on 1 March, a flock of around 50 following a combine harvester in a wheat field on Wangu Embori farm, Timau, on 3 March, around 25 in flight over the same farm on 5 March, and small numbers in all of the Conservancies we visited

Common Ringed Plover: two in Mwea paddies on 26 February, another three at Nanyuki sewage ponds on 3 March and two more at Sangare Lake on 8 March

Ruff: common in Mwea paddies on 26 February, many at Nanyuki sewage ponds on 3 March and small numbers in most other wetlands we visited

Little Stint: widespread in small numbers

Common Sandpiper: common in irrigation and drainage channels in Mwea paddies on 26 February, and small numbers in most other wetlands we visited

Green Sandpiper: three in Meru National Park on 1 March, several more at Nanyuki sewage ponds on 3 March and two at Solio Conservancy on 7 March

Common Greenshank: one in Meru National Park on 1 March, another at Ol Pejeta Conservancy on 6 March and two at Sangare Lake on 8 March

Marsh Sandpiper: several in Mwea paddies on 26 February, seven at Sagana fish farm on 27 February and two more at Irua ria Aka, Sagana, on the same date

Wood Sandpiper: widespread in small to medium-sized numbers, the largest number being around 50 at Nanyuki sewage ponds on 3 March

Common Snipe: numerous in Mwea paddies on 26 February and small numbers in most other wetlands we visited, mostly foraging in plain sight

White-winged Tern: a flock of 24 at Nanyuki sewage ponds on 3 March

Steppe Eagle: three near Lolomarik farm, Timau, on 4 March

Pallid Harrier: several at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy on 5 March and at Ol Pejeta Conservancy on 6 March

Montagu's Harrier: several over farms around Timau on 4 March and at Sangare Conservancy on 8 March

Western Marsh Harrier: a few over wetlands in Mwea paddies on 26 February, three more in Meru National Park on 1 March, one at Nanyuki sewage ponds on 3 March and small numbers in each of the Conservancies we visited

Common or Steppe Buzzard: two at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy on 5 March and three more at Ol Pejeta Conservancy on 6 March

European Bee-eater: small flocks at Embu University on 28 February, Ol Pejeta Conservancy on 6 March and Solio Conservancy on 7 March

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater: two over Mwea paddies on 26 February and a few more in Meru National Park on 1 March

European Roller: common in Meru National Park on 1 March

Lesser Kestrel: six flying past outside Nanyuki on 6 March

Eurasian or Common Kestrel: one at Ol Pejeta Conservancy on 6 March

Red-tailed or Turkestan Shrike: three in Mwea paddies on 26 February, two at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy on 5 March and two more at Ol Pejeta Conservancy on 6 March

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler: two at Ol Pejeta Conservancy on 6 March

Sand Martin: widespread in small numbers

Barn Swallow: widespread and common, especially over paddies and fields of wheat, barley or canola

Common House Martin: numerous over Mwea paddies on 26 February and canola fields at Ol Pejeta Conservancy on 6 March

Willow Warbler: singles at Embu University on 28 February, Nkunga Sacred Lake on 2 March, Ol Pejeta Conservancy on 6 March, Solio Conservancy on 7 March and Sandai Guest Cottages on 8 March

Eurasian Blackcap: one at Nkunga Sacred Lake on 2 March and three more at Sandai Guest Cottages on 8 March

Spotted Flycatcher: one at Solio Conservancy on 7 March

White-throated Robin or Irania: a spring male at Sandai Guest Cottages on 8 March

Common Rock Thrush: one outside Naro Moru on 3 March and another at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy on 5 March

Whinchat: one at Ol Pejeta Conservancy, in a canola field, on 6 March

Northern Wheatear: small numbers on the Solio plains and at all the Conservancies we visited

Isabelline Wheatear: several in Meru National Park on 1 March

Pied Wheatear: two at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy on 5 March

Western Yellow Wagtail: widespread and especially common at Ol Pejeta Conservancy, in canola fields, on 6 March

Tree Pipit: one at Sangare Conservancy on 8 March

Here are some further records from the trip which may be of some wider interest –

Somali Ostrich (VU): good numbers in Meru National Park on 1 March, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy on 5 March and Ol Pejeta Conservancy on 6 March

White-faced Whistling Duck: a pair with five ducklings were more or less the only ducks we saw at Mwea paddies on 26 February (we saw no geese, either)

Spur-winged Goose: six at Irua ria Aka on 27 February

Knob-billed or African Comb Duck: two at Mukungi dam, Mwea, on 26 February

African Black Duck: a pair at Solio Conservancy (Engare Moyok swamp) on 7 March

African Olive Pigeon: a small group at Sangare Lake on 8 March

Black-bellied Bustard: a pair at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy on 5 March

Kori Bustard (NT): a pair at Lolomarik farm on 4 March, two more pairs at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy on 5 March and another pair at Ol Pejeta Conservancy on 6 March

Jacobin Cuckoo: one outside Meru National Park (Murera gate) on 1 March

African Swamphen: a pair and two subadults in a wetland at Mwea paddies on 26 February, and another pair at Irua ria Aka on 27 February

Abdim's Stork: a group of seven in Meru National Park on 1 March

Saddle-billed Stork: a pair at Ol Pejeta Conservancy on 6 March

African Openbill: good numbers in Mwea paddies on 26 February and a few more at Sagana fish farm on 27 February

Glossy Ibis: two separate, medium-sized flocks in Mwea paddies on 26 February

Great White Pelican: three at Sangare Lake on 8 March

African Great Egret: widespread in small numbers

Purple Heron: one at Mukungi dam on 26 February, another at Irua ria Aka on 27 February and a third at Burguret dam on 3 March

Senegal Lapwing: a small group at Solio Conservancy on 7 March

African Snipe: one in a moorland bog in Aberdare National Park on 9 March

Secretarybird (VU): one in Meru National Park on 1 March and another at Ol Pejeta Conservancy on 6 March

White-backed Vulture (CR): 14 over Marania farm, Timau, on 4 March and around 25 at Solio Conservancy on 7 March

Ruppell's Vulture (CR): 6 over Marania farm, with the White-backeds, on 4 March

Bateleur (NT): two, an adult and a juvenile, in Meru National Park on 1 March and another adult at Solio Conservancy on 7 March

Black-chested Snake Eagle: one at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy on 5 March

Martial Eagle (VU): two, both adults, in Meru National Park on 1 March

African Hawk-Eagle: a pair at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy on 5 March

Trumpeter Hornbill: a small flock in Meru National Park (rhino sanctuary) on 1 March

Somali Bee-eater: one in Meru National Park on 1 March

White-throated Bee-eater: common in Meru National Park on 1 March

Brown-hooded Kingfisher: several along irrigation and drainage channels in Mwea paddies on 26 February

Lanner Falcon: one over Mwea paddies on 26 February was the only raptor besides a few Western Marsh Harrier and Yellow-billed Kite that we saw there

Grey-backed Fiscal: one at Burguret dam near Naro Moru on 3 March, and two more at Ol Pejeta Conservancy on 6 March, were further east than I have previously seen this species

Ethiopian Swallow: several at Nanyuki sewage ponds on 3 March

Brown Parisoma: several at Sangare Conservancy on 8 March

Hinde’s Babbler (VU): a small group at Maragua ridge, Muranga, on 27 February

Spotted Palm or Morning Thrush: one at Irua ria Aka on 27 February was at a higher altitude than expected

Little Rock Thrush: a solitary male at Sandai Guest Cottages on 8 March

Capped Wheatear: several on the Solio plains on 7 March and at Sangare Conservancy on 8 March

Thick-billed or Grosbeak Weaver: several weaving nests at Nkunga Sacred Lake on 2 March

Red-billed Quelea: abundant in Mwea paddies on 26 February

Yellow-crowned Bishop: common in Mwea paddies on 26 February

Red-headed Weaver: a pair at Sandai Guest Cottages on 8 March

Cut-throat Finch: a pair drinking from a puddle by the road to Sandai Guest Cottages on 9 March were unexpected

Cape Wagtail: one at Irua ria Aka on 27 February, another at Solio Conservancy on 7 March and a third at Sangare Lake on 8 March

Dominic or Bakari took photos of many of these birds and would be happy to share these.

Best,

David Fox