Day 1, Sunday, December 29, 2024: Arport to Kiligolf
I had my friend Eirik visiting from Norway for a standard Usamabara trip. I Picked him up at the airport, drove him home and we had breakfast. We did some garden birding during the heat of the day. Here are some of the species we found in my garden: Blue-capped Cordon-bleu, Vitelline Masked Weaver, House Sparrow, Red-billed Firefinch, Village Indigobird, Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu, Crested Francolin, Rüppel´s Robin-Chat, Golden-backed Weaver, Chestnut Weaver, Yellow-spotted Bush Sparrow, Red-backed Mannikin, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Northern Grey-headed Sparrow, Speckled Mousebird, Variable Sunbird and Purple Grenadier. We had lunch and did an afternoon walk on Kiligolf. Here are some of the new species we found that afternoon: Steel-blue Whydah, African Paradise Flycatcher, Red-chested Cuckoo, African Pied Wagtail, Red-headed Weaver, Superb Starling, Lesser Striped Swallow, Bronze Mannikin, Rattling Cisticola, Spotted Palm Thrush, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Pin-tailed Whydah, Striated Heron, Black-headed Heron, Black-headed Oriole, Green Sandpiper, Purple Heron, Blacksmith Lapwing, Laughing Dove, White-bellied Go-away-bird, Red-faced and Winding Cisticola, Helmeted Guineafowl, Grey Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Long-tailed Fiscal, Diederik Cuckoo, Southern Citril, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Reichenow´s Seed-eater, Malachite Kingfisher, Buff-bellied Warbler, Red-eyed Dove, Yellow-breasted Apalis, African Grey Flycatcher and White-browed Coucal. We returned home, freshened up and had a nice meal prepared by my maid. We retired early to bed.
Some pictures from Day 1:
Two handsome Norwegians 🙂
Blue-capped Cordon-bleu, Uraeginthus cyanocephalus, Endemic to NE Africa
Yellow-spotted Bush Sparrow, Gymnoris pyrgita
Crested Francolin, Ortygornis sephaena, Race Grantii
Speckled Mousebird, Colius striatus
Syeel-blue Whydah, Vidua hypocherina, Endemic to NE Africa
Buff-bellied Warbler, Phyllolais pulchella
The Clubhouse at Kiligolf with Mount Meru in the background. My paradise on earth.
Day 2, Monday, December 30, 2024: Kiligolf – Lark Plains – Oldonyo Sambo – Lengijave – Kiligolf.
We had an early start and took of the main road around 07:15. On the road, we had added Western Cattle Egret, Augur Buzzard and Northern Fiscal. We started birding from the turn off. Here are some of the species we registered: Fawn-colored (Foxy) Lark, Capped Wheatear, Northern Wheatear, Fischer´s Sparrow-Lark, Crowned Lapwing, Isabelline Wheatear, Common Rock Thrush, Taita Fiscal, Chestnut Sparrow, Kori Bustard, Pied Wheatear, Greater Kestrel, Short-tailed Lark, African Pipit, Common Buzzard, Barn Swallow and Red-capped Lark. We parked the car and walked over to where the Masais were waiting to show us the Beesley´s Lark. My guide went in search of the Athi Short-toed Lark, but with no luck. We had quite a few Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouses flying over. We returned to the car and started to drive slowly towards the dry Acacia Forst. Here are some of the species we added: Southern Grosbeak Canary, Temminck´s Courser, Rosy-patched Bushshrike, White-headed Buffalo Weaver, Chinspot Batis and Red-fronted Prinia. We stopped and had breakfast under the shade of an Acacia tree. After breakfast we continued adding species: Grey-capped Social Weaver, White-headed Mousebird, Speckle-fronted Weaver, Cardinal Quelea, Von der Decken´s Hornbill, Kenya Sparrow, White-bellied Canary, Banded Parisoma, Red-fronted Barbet, White-backed Vulture, Red-and-yellow Barbet, Pied Wheatear, Red-throated Tit, Abyssinian Scimitarbill, Cardinal Woodpecker, Spotted Flycatcher, White-browed Scrub Robin, Grey Wren-Warbler, Gabar Goshawk, Brubru and Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird. We reached our car and started driving slowly out to the main road. Birds added included African Hoopoe, Hildebrandt´s Starling, Bearded Woodpecker, Pygmy Falcon and Northern Red-billed Hornbill. We made a short stop in Oldonyo Sambo and got our target bird, Little Rock Thrush in addition we added White-necked Raven to our list. We continued onwards to Lengijave. We took the dirt road up to our lunch destination and added: White-fronted Bee-eater, Singing Cisticola, Bagalafecht Weaver, Streaky Seedeater, Black-winged Kite, Yellow Bishop, Red-winged Starling, Schalow´s (Abyssinian) Wheatear, Arrow-marked Babbler, Red-throated Rock Martin, Lyne´s Cisticola, Yellow-crowned Canary and Long-billed Pipit. We had lunch and started driving down towards the main road again. Here are some of the birds we added: Tawny-flanked Prinia, African Stonechat, Bronze Sunbird, Black Bishop, Brown-crowned Tchagra, Dusky Turtle Dove and African Harrier-Hawk. We stopped at a seasonal wetland near Usa River and added Grey-crowned Crane and White Stork. I had a location for Speke´s Weaver, then we stopped in Leganga where we added: Village Weaver, Pangani Longclaw, Fan-tailed Widowbird and Wire-tailed Swallow. Our next stop were my site for Taveta Weaver. There we also added: Thick-billed Weaver, Broad-billed Roller, Violet-backed Starling, White-eared Barbet, African Green Pigeon, Little Sparrowhawk and Silvery-cheeked Hornbill. On our way home, we made two more stops. At the first stop, we got Southern Black Flycatcher and Golden-breasted Bunting. At the second stop, Brown-breasted Barbet. We drove home and added Tambourine Dove and Grey-olive Greenbul in my garden. We freshened up, had a nice dinner and retired early to bed.
Some pictures from Day 2:
Common Rock Thrush, Monticola saxatilis
Isabelline Wheatear, Oenanthe isabellina
Northern Wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe
Beesley´s Lark, Chersomanes beesleyi, Endemic to a small area north of Arusha, Tanzania
Temminck´s Courser, Cursorius temminckii
White-bellied Go-away-bird, Crinifer leucogaster, Endemic to NE Africa
Grey-capped Social Weaver, Pseudonigrita arnaudi, Endemic to NE Africa
Speckle-fronted Weaver, Sporopipes frontalis
Abyssinian Scimitarbill, Rhinopomastus minor, Endemic to NE Africa
Red-throated Tit, Melaniparus fringillinus, Endemic to N Tanzania and S Kenya
Singing Cisticola, Cisticola cantans
White-fronted Bee-eater, Merops bullockoides
Lyne´s Cisticola, Cisticola distinctus, Endemic to E Africa
Yellow-crowned Canary, Serinus flavivertex
Variable Sunbird (female), Cinnyris venustus
Schalow´s (Abyssinian) Wheatear, Oenanthe schalowii
Golden-breasted Bunting, Emberiza flaviventris
Day 3, Tuesday, December 31, 2024: Kiligolf – Arusha NP – Kiligolf
We were at the gate of Arusha National Park around 07:30. We started birding after passing the gates: On the way to the museum we picked up amongst others: Hamerkop, Red-billed Oxpecker, Black-backed Puffback, Grey-backed Camaroptera, Moustached Grass Warbler, Jacobin Cuckoo, Tropical Boubou, Little Bee-eater, Trilling Cisticola, White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher, Olive Sunbird, Placid Greenbul, Collared Sunbird and Black Cuckooshrike. The two forks around Ngurduto crater were very quiet and we only managed to register: Scaly Spurfowl, Golden-tailed Woodpecker, Green Malkoha, Crowned Eagle, Olive-headed (Stripe-faced) Greenbul, Tambourine Dove, African Dusky Flycatcher, Kenrick´s Starling and Grey-headed Nigrita. On the way from the museum to the Momella lakes, we stopped at a little wetland and managed African Jacana, Yellow-billed Egret, Spur-winged Goose, White-backed Duck and Little Grebe. On the way to and around the Momella lakes, we found: Red-cowled Widowbird, Short-winged Cisticola, Spot-flanked Barbet, Reed Cormorant, African Sacred Ibis, Greater Flamingo, Three-banded Plover, Willow Warbler, White-breasted Cormorant, Egyptian Goose, Pied Avocet, Little Stint, Ruff, Common Ringed Plover, Cape Teal and Lesser Flamingo. Then we headed for Mount Meru and picked up European Roller and Yellow-billed Stork on the way. It was quiet on the way up Mount Meru, but on the picnic site by the waterfall: White-starred Robin, Mountain Buzzard and White-necked Raven. We drove slowly down the mountain, it were very quiet, but we still managed to pick up a few species: Broad-ringed White-eye, Brown Woodland Warbler, Abyssinian Thrush, Abyssinian Crimsonwing, Hartlaub´s Turaco, Black-headed Mountain Greenbul and Black Stork. We drove towards the gate and at little Serengeti we added Great Egret and Saddle-billed Stork.
We exited the park around 18:00 and headed home, freshened up and had a nice dinner.
Some pictures from Day 3:
Moustached Grass Warbler, Melocichla mentalis
Jacobin Cuckoo, Clamator jacobinus
Tambourine Dove, Turtur tympanistra
White-backed Duck, Thalassornis leuconotus
Spot-flanked Barbet, Tricholaema lacrymosa, Endemic to E Africa
White-starred Robin, Pogonocichla stellata
African Dusky Flycatcher, Muscicapa adusta
White-necked Raven, Corvus albicollis
Black Stork, Ciconia nigra
Saddle-billed Stork, Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis
Day 4, Wednesday, January 1, 2025: Kiligolf – Tarangire National Park – Karatu
We were up early and made good progress until I spotted quite a few Abdim´s Stork´s on a field after Makuyuni. We took of from the main road and unfortunately the trees holding nesting colonies have all been cut down. Just before the gate we found a Great Spotted Cuckoo. I sent Eirik and my guide out birding near the gate while I paid the entrance fee. I was very surprised when they had gotten just a few birds. This is normally a very productive area. (The mystery will be revealed later). We mounted up and drove into the park. Before we reached our breakfast spot we saw amongst others these birds: Ashy Starling, Eastern Grey Woodpecker, Nubian Woodpecker, White-browed Sparrow-Weaver, Yellow-necked Spurfowl, Silverbird, Flappet Lark, Yellow-collared Lovebird, Northern White-crowned Shrike, Croaking Cisticola, White-bellied and Black-bellied Bustard, Magpie Shrike, D´Arnaud´s Barbet, Red-billed Buffalo Weaver, Fork-tailed Drongo, Swahili Sparrow, Bateleur, Wattled Starling, Double-banded Courser, Knob-billed Duck, White-faced Whistling Duck, Glossy Ibis, Common Sandpiper, Common Greenshank and Red-necked Spurfowl. We had breakfast at my normal spot and were soon on our way. Here are some of the birds we found on our way to our lunch spot. Lesser Masked Weaver, Blue-naped Mousebird, Collared Pratincole, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, African Palm Swift, Common Scimitarbill, Mourning Collared Dove, Grey Kestrel, Black-faced Sandgrouse, Red-and-yellow Barbet, White Stork and Tawny Eagle. We drove down towards Matete Picnic Site, but as usual, we decided to wait with lunch due to the big crowd. Instead we continued towards my Bustard Road. We added Southern Ground Hornbill, Common Ostrich and Rufous-tailed Weaver. We drove up the Bustard road and had Buff-crested Bustard, African Grey Hornbill and spotted Thick-knee. There had been a lot of rain, so the road were not passable, we turned around and took a left and ended up going through Randlien. The only new birds we added were Harlquin Quail and Zitting Cisticola. We had not checked out of the park, so we drove back to The Tarangire gate and had our lunch. I sent Eirik and my guide out to explore the entrance gate area again. I also went to check. It turned out that all the bird baths were empty. I spoke with a ranger and he said there were no need for water in the bird baths since there were so much water in the park. Believe it if you can :-). All in all quite a disappointing day in one of my favourite parks. We stopped for fuel in Makuyuni and I pointed out a Speckled Pigeon for Eirik. We continued up the Eastern Wall of the Great Rift Valley to Karatu. We checked in to our guest house, went across the road for some Njoma Choma and retired early to bed.
Some pictures from Day 4:
Great Spotted Cuckoo, Clamator glandarius
Silverbird, Empidornis semipartitus, Localised endemic to EC Africa
Croaking Cisticola, Cisticola natalensis
Black-faced Sandgrouse, Pterocles decoratus, Endemic to NE Africa
Red-and-yellow Barbet, Trachyphonus erythrocephalus, Endemic to NE Africa
White Stork, Ciconia ciconia
Collared Pratincole, Glareola pratincola
Common Ostrich, Struthio camelus
Zitting Cisticola, Cisticola juncidis
Day 5, Thursday, January 2, 2025: Karatu – Endoro Trail, Lake Eluanata – Kiligolf
It was a short distance from our guest house to the head of the Endoro Trail. We started birding and added the following species on the way up: Cape Robin-Chat, White-browed Robin-Chat, Mbulu White-eye, Thick-billed Seed-eater, Eastern Double-collared Sunbird, Schalow´s Turaco, White-tailed Blue Flycatcher, Grey-capped Warbler, Spectacled Weaver, Narina Trogon, White-starred Robin, Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher, Brown-headed Apalis, African Hill Babbler, Black-fronted Bushshrike, White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied Waxbill, Bar-throated Apalis and Sharpe´s Starling. On the way down it were getting hot and we only added Black-throated Wattle-eye and Amethyst Sunbird. We got in the car and stopped at the viewpoint overlooking Lake Manyara. Then we continued to Nanja and Lake Eluanata. I were very interested to see if the lake held any water, since the last time I were there it were empty. This time the southern part had a little bit of water. Here are some of the birds we registered: Red-tailed Shrike, Rosy-patched Bushshrike, Desert Cisticola, Winding Cisticola, Sentinel Lark, Red-billed Teal, Fulvous Whistling Duck, African Spoonbill, Whiskered Tern, African Marsh Harrier, Red-billed Quelea, Black-winged Stilt, Orange-breasted Waxbill and White-winged Tern. We drove home, freshened up and had a nice dinner.
Some pictures from Day 5:
African hill Babbler, Sylvia abyssinica
White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher, Melaenornis fischeri, Endemic to E and C Africa
White-tailed Blue Flycatcher, Elminia albicauda
Bar-throated Apalis, Apalis thoracica, Race Murina
Yellow-bellied Waxbill, Coccopygia quartinia
Rosy-patched Bushshrike, Telophorus cruentus, Endemic to NE Africa
Desert Cisticola, Cisticola aridulus
Hamerkop, Scopus umbretta
Winding Cisticola, Cisticola marginatus
Fulvous Whistling Duck, Dendrocygna bicolor
Whiskered Tern, Chlidonias hybrida
Day 6, Friday, January 3, 2025: Kiligolf – Masai Steppes via Mererani – Kiligolf
We had again an early start and were at the start of our birding spot at 07:30. We drove slowly towards our breakfast spot and started adding species: Hunter´s Sunbird, Northern Crombec, Black-necked Weaver, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Red-billed Oxpecker, African Grey Flycatcher, Lesse Masked Weaver, Common Waxbill, Bare-eyed Thrush, Pink-breasted Lark, Namaqua Dove, Northern Grey-headed Sparrow, Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird, Scaly Chatterer, Rufous Chatterer, Mouse-coloured Penduline Tit and Pygmy Batis. Eirik and my guide took a walk after breakfast and added Somali Bunting, Straw-tailed Whydah, Tsavo Sunbird and Pale Batis. We got back in the car and started driving towards our spot for the Black-capped Social Weaver. We picked up good birds on our way: Brown Snake Eagle, Golden-breasted Starling, Acacia Tit and Black-capped Social Weaver quite far from its nesting site. We turned around and added more birds towards the Shambalaya Dam: Crimson-rumped Waxbill, Slate-coloured Boubou and Pringle´s Puffback. We drove to the Shamballaya Dam. Unfortunately the water were to high to drive next to the dam, so we only managed to add a few species: Little Egret, Squacco Heron, African Openbill, Grey-headed Silverbill, Water Thick-knee and Spur-winged Lapwing. We returned home early and did some birding in the garden and on Kiligolf. After that, we freshened up and had dinner and as normal retired early to bed.
Some pictures from Day 6:
Red-billed Oxpecker, Buphagus erythrorynchus
Red-fronted Prinia, Prinia rufifrons
Northern Grey-headed Sparrow, Passer griseus
African Grey Flycatcher, Bradornis microrhynchus, Endemic to NE Africa
Brubru, Nilaus afer
Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird, Anthreptes orientalis, Endemic to NE Africa
Red-tailed Shrike, Lanius phoenicuroides
Scaly Chatterer, Argya aylmeri, Endemic to NE Africa
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Merops persicus
Pygmy Batis, Batis perkeo, Endemic to NE Africa
Lesser masked Weaver, Ploceus intermedius
Black-capped Social Weaver, Pseudonigrita cabanisi, Endemic to NE Africa
Day 7, Saturday, January 4, 2025: Kiligolf – Nyumba ya Mungu Dam – Same – South Pare Mountains – Same.
I had packed the car the day in advance and we were ready for the 7 day, 6 night Safari. Our first stop were Nyumba ya Mungu Dam. From the turn off to the dam, we found Long-tailed Paradise Whydah, Olive Bee-eater and Little Swift. At our breakfast spot, we added Gull-billed Tern and Western Yellow Wagtail. We drove on to reach our Skimmer spot. Amongst African Skimmers, we found: Kittlitz´s Plover, Curlew Sandpiper, Great White Pelican and Grey-headed Gull. We drove back to the main road and on our normal spot stopped for Pale Prinia and at the same stop we also saw a Northern Carmine Bee-eater. We continued to Elephant Motel in Same, checked in and had lunch. At 3 exactly, we set off for South Pare Mountains. We started birding when we reached our spot. Here are some of the birds we encountered: Evergreen Forest Warbler, Bar-throated Apalis, race pareensis, South Pare White-eye, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Black Saw-wing, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, African Stonechat, East Coast Boubou, Moustached Tinkerbird, Southern Citril, Red-throated Twinspot, African Yellow Warbler, Willow Warbler, Usambara Double-collared Sunbird and Trumpeter Hornbill. We drove down the mountain and ordered dinner at Elephant motel in Same. We freshened up, had dinner and retired early to bed.
Some pictures from Day 7:
African Skimmer, Rynchops flavirostris
Great White Pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus
Kittlitz´s Plover, Anarhynchus pecuarius
Little Egret, Egretta garzetta
Grey-headed Gull, Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus
Little Stint, Calidris minuta
White-winged Tern, Chlidonias leucopeterus
Pale Prinia, Prinia somalica, Endemic to NE Africa
Pin-tailed Whydah, Vidua macroura
Bar-throated Apalis, Apalis thoracica, Race Pareensis
Moustached Tinkerbird, Pogoniulus leucomystax
South Pare White-eye, Zosterops Winifredae, Endemic to Pare Mountains in Tanzania.
Red-throated Twinspot (Female), Hypargos niveoguttatus
Willow Warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus
Day 8, Sunday, January 5, 2025: Same – Soni – Magamba Forest, West Usambara
We were at our birding spot near Same just after 07:00. Here are some of the birds we observed: Fischer´s Starling, Zanzibar Red Bishop, Orange-breasted Bushshrike, Black-winged Red Bishop, White-winged Widowbird, Black-bellied Sunbird, D´Arnaud´s Barbet and Parrot-billed Sparrow. We drove to another spot and added Tiny Cisticola, White-crested Helmetshrike, Northern Red-fronted Tinkerbird, Eastern Black-headed Batis, Black Cuckooshrike, Lesser Honeyguide and Lanner Falcon. We returned to the Motel, had breakfast and were soon on our way. We stopped at our normal stop just before Soni and added Mocking Cliff Chat and Eastern Golden Weaver. We did some shopping in Soni before we continued to our camp in Magamba Forest. We quickly set up camp. I got the local chicken boiling and off we went birding: Usambara Thrush, White-tailed Crested Flycatcher, Red-capped Forest Warbler, Bar-throated Apalis, Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon, Cinnamon Bracken Warbler and Grey Wagtail were added to our list. With the help of my guide, I finished dinner and we had a lovely time eating by the bonfire. We retired early to our tents.
Some pictures from Day 8:
Camp in Magamba
D´Arnaud´s Barbet, Trachyphonus darnaudii, Endemic to NE Africa
Red-backed Shrike (Female), Lanius collurio
Straw-tailed Whydah (Female), Vidua fischeri, Endemic to NE Africa
Tiny Cisticola, Cisticola nana, Endemic to NE Africa
Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon, Columba delegorguei
Grey Wagtail, Motacilla cinerea
Day 9, Monday, January 6, 2025: Magamba Forest.
We had coffee as normal in camp at 06:45 and decided to go uphill again. Here are some of the birds we observed before breakfast: Usambara Weaver, Olive Woodpecker, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Grey Cuckooshrike, Evergreen Forest Warbler, Southern Yellow White-eye, Black-fronted Bushshrike, Placid Greenbul, African Hill Babbler, Shelley´s Greenbul, Spot-throat, Yellow-bellied Waxbill, Fülleborn´s Boubou, Red-faced Crimsonwing and Black-headed Apalis. We returned to camp and I made breakfast. After breakfast we took the route around the lake and spotted amongst others: Mottled Spinetail, Bar-tailed Trogon, Giant Kingfisher! (Never seen in Magamba before) and Olive-headed (Stripe-faced) Greenbul. We also had a Spot-throat reacting like a rocket to our call. We returned to camp, relaxed, had lunch and went downhill in the afternoon. We only added Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo and Yellow-throated Woodland Warbler to our list. It was quick to warm up dinner and again we ate by the bonfire. We retired early to bed.
Some pictures from Day 9:
Usambara Weaver, Ploceus nicolli, Endemic to Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania
Two happy Norwegians after having long distance views of the Usambara Weaver.
Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Merops oreobates, Endemic to E Africa
West Usambara Two-horned Chameleon, Kinyongia multiturbercolata, Endimic to West Usambara, Tanzania
Olive-headed (Stripe-faced) Greenbul, Arizelocichla striifacies, Endemic to S Kenya and Tanzania
Giant Kingfisher, Megaceryle maxima
Day 10, Tuesday, January 7, 2025: Magamba Forest West Usambara via Muheza to Amani Forest, East Usambara.
We started as normal with coffee at 06:45. We went uphill and finally got views of the Usambara Akalat. We managed pictures of a few of the birds we had seen the days before before we returned to camp, had breakfast and started our drive towards Amani Forest. On the way to Soni, we saw a Blue-spotted Wood Dove. We were soon down the mountain and passed Segera and Muheza. Just north of Muheza we made our normal stop. Here we got Lizard Bussard, Coastal Cisticola, Green Tinkerbird and Bare-eyed Thrush. We continued up to Amani Headquarters, met Robert and checked in. We birded the botanical garden in the afternoon. Here are some of the birds we registered: Green barbet, Red-tailed Ant Thrush, Lanner Falcon, White-eared Barbet, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Black-bellied Starling, African Plam Swift, Mottled Spinetail, Waller´s Starling, Southern Yellow White-eye, Red-throated Rock Martin, Little Swift, Olive Sunbird, Palm-nut Vulture and Black-and-white Shrike-Flycatcher. We returned to camp. freshened up and went to the restaurant and had dinner. Eirik went for a very succesful Chameleon walk after dinner. The highlight were an Usambara Viper. We retired early to bed.
Some pictures from Day 10:
Bar-throated Apalis, Apalis Thoracica, Race Griceiceps
Fülleborn´s Boubou, Laniarius fuelleborni, Endemic to Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania, N Malawi and NE Zambia
Usambara Thrush, Turdus roehli, Endemic to Usambara and Pare Mountains, Tanzania
Red-capped Forest Warbler, Artisornis metopias, Endemic to Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania and Mozambique
Yellow-throated Woodland Warbler, Phylloscopus ruficapilla
Green Barbet, Cryptolybia olivacea
Day 11, Wednesday, January 8, 2025: Amani Forest to Zigi Forest.
We were supposed to start this morning by going further up to our spot for some special birds. However: my guide found a pair of Red-headed Bluebill just around the camp. I had great views of them, but did not manage to get a picture. We started driving up and had Mountain Wagtail, Cabanis´s Bunting and Brown-hooded Kingfisher. We parked the car and took a walk. Here are some of the birds we recorded: Little Greenbul, Green-headed Oriole, Amani Sunbird, Uluguru Violet-backed Sunbird, Pale Batis, Garden Warbler, Kretschmer´s Longbill, Long-billed Forest Warbler, Dark-backed Weaver and Eurasian Blackcap. We had our packed Breakfast and continued to our next site: White-chested Alethe, Sharpe´s Akalat, Common Square-tailed Drongo, Yellow-streaked Greenbul, Green Twinspot and African Goshawk. We started driving towards camp and eventually spotted a Half-colared Kingfisher. We reached camp in time before lunch and did another go at the higher part of the Botanical Garden. We added African Harrier-Hawk, Uluguru Violet-backed Sunbird and Banded Green Sunbird. After lunch we took a drive to another spot and added Spectacled Weaver, Fischer´s Turaco, Lesser Swamp Warbler and Little Rush Warbler. Time were running out so we drove down to the guest house at the Zigi Gate and checked in, freshended up and had dinner.
Some pictures from Day 11:
Pale Batis, Batis soror, Endemic to SE Africa
Kretschmer´s Longbill, Macrosphenus kretschmeri, Endemic to Coastal SE Africa
Banded Green Sunbird, Anthreptes rubritorques, Endemic to Eastern Arc Mountains, Tanzania
Usambara Eyelash Viper, Atheris ceratophora, Endemic to Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania
Lesser Swamp Warbler, Acrocephalus gracilirostris
Little Rush Warbler, Bradypterus baboecala
Checking in to Zigi Guest House, Amani Forest
Day 12, Thursday, January 9, 2025: Zigi Forest
We got in the car and drove down to Zigi Forest. We walked up the path first and then down the road. Here are some of the birds we registered before it got to hot to bird: Red-tailed Ant Thrush, Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Eastern Nicator, Little Yellow Flycatcher, Plain-backed Sunbird, Forest Batis, Mombasa Woodpecker, Little Spotted Woodpecker, Wahlberg´s Eagle, Brown Snake Eagle, Boehm´s Spinetail, Retz´s and Chestnut-fronted Helmetshrike, Dark-backed Weaver, Common Square-tailed Drongo, Green-headed Oriole, Lowland Tiny Greenbul, African Emerald Cuckoo and Black Sparrowhawk. We went back to camp. relaxed a bit and had lunch. We were back down in the Forest at around 16:00. Here are some of the new birds we found that afternoon: Ashy Flycatcher and Red-capped Robin-Chat. We returned to camp and freshened up and had dinner.
Some pictures from Day 12:
Red-tailed Ant Thrush, Neocossyphus rufus
Fischer´s Turaco, Tauraco fischeri, Endemic to Coastal East Africa
Little Spotted Woodpecker, Campethera cailliautii
Palm-nut Vulture, Gypohierax angolensis
Day 13, Friday, January 10, 2025: Zigi Forest – Kiligolf
We packed up the car and drove down to Zigi Forest. We only added a few species: Fischer´s Greenbul, Tanzania Illadopsis and Grey Tit Flycatcher. Then we drove the long way home. We arrived in good time before dark relaxed a little, had dinner and the last night in my house for Eirik.
No Pictures from Day 13
Day 14, Saturday, January 11, 2025: Kiligolf – Airport
We did a bird walk on Kiligolf the last morning. Here are some of the species we registered before breakfast: Little Bittern, Levaillant´s Cuckoo, Thick-billed Weaver, Sedge Warbler, Black Crake, Crimson-rumped Waxbill, Purple Heron, Striated Heron, Malachite Kingfisher, Pied Kingfiser, Diederik Cuckoo, White-bellied Go-away-bird, African Grey Hornbill, African Emerald Cuckoo, Yellow-fronted Canary, Green Sandpiper, Klaas´s Cuckoo, Levaillant´s Cuckoo and Common Sandpiper. We returned back home for breakfast. After breakfast, we birded a little in the garden before it was time to take Eirik to the airport.
Some pictures from Day 14:
Klaas´s Cuckoo, Chrysococcyx klaas
Levaillant´s Cuckoo, Clamator levailantii
Time to say goodbye
Eirik only had time for 13 days full birding, but we still had a fantastic trip with 478 species recorded. After Eirik left on January 11th, I went to Uganda on January 15th and returned on February 5th. My next short trip Feb 14-20, then Feb 24- March 11, then March 14-29 before I again can have a little rest until end of April. It is a tough job to be retired in paradise 🙂