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Field Guides Tour Report
East Africa Highlights: Kenya & Tanzania I 2018
Jan 13, 2018 to Feb 2, 2018
Terry Stevenson


This Blue-headed Bee-eater was one of the highlights of our time in Kakamega Forest in Kenya. We were able to watch as it prepared to eat small butterfly. Photo by participant Craig Caldwell.

Our January 2018 East Africa Highlights tour was a tour of great contrasts - Tanzania was receiving good rains, with lush grass and flowering trees throughout much of the region. The Wildebeest had arrived in the Serengeti in huge numbers, which together with other plains game attracted the big cat predators - lion, leopard and cheetah were all seen. Due to the presence of dangerous mammals much of the Tanzania portion of our tour was done from a specially adapted Safari Landcruiser. Kenya by contrast was dry as a bone, with lakes and small water bodies attracting both waterbirds and passerines. To add to the overall number of habitats, in Kenya we largely kept away from the big game areas, instead concentrating on Rift Valley lakes, the famous Kakamega Forest, and Mt. Kenya. It was indeed a pleasure to be out walking, where picking up flighty warblers, or undergrowth skulkers, is far easier than from vehicles. Overall it was a very successful tour, with 465 species of birds and almost 50 large mammals.

Not far from our Nairobi hotel we spent the first afternoon in the Nairobi National Park where birds included Common Ostrich, Helmeted Guineafowl, Secretarybird, Black Crake, Blacksmith, Spur-winged and Long-toed lapwings, Speckled Mousebird, Little Bee-eater, Long-tailed Fiscal, Common Bulbul, the endemic Northern Pied-Babbler, Superb Starling, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, and a very tame Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu. While mammals included Black-faced Vervet Monkey and Bushbuck in the more wooded areas, and Burchell's Zebra, Common Giraffe, African Buffalo and a whole array of antelopes and gazelles on the plains. Best of all though was a rare Black Rhino, which we watched as it ambled along through dry grasslands interspersed with small acacia bushes.

The following morning we flew to Kilimanjaro International Airport and then drove to the delightful Gibb's Farm on the slopes of the Crater Highlands. It was largely a travel day, but we were now in place for some excellent forest birding and only two hours away from the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater. Birds seen in the forest included Ayres's Hawk-Eagle, Klaas's Cuckoo, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Tropical Boubou, Gray Cuckooshrike, African Paradise-Flycatcher, White-tailed Blue-Flycatcher, Brown-headed Apalis, Gray-capped Warbler, African Hill Babbler and Variable Sunbird. We finished our stay here with a delicious lunch - Gibb's is a working farm and many of the fruits, vegetables, and even their own brand of coffee is grown right on site in the garden.

Then, we were soon on our way to Ngorongoro Crater and a two night stay at our lodge perfectly placed at the upper edge of the rim. For many, a full day in the Crater is a highlight of the tour and we were not disappointed as we drove the tracks in our open-top Landcruiser watching and photographing Black-backed and Common jackals, Spotted Hyaena (some looking rather fat after a good nights feast), at least 14 Lion, some big bull Elephants, several thousand Burchell's Zebra, Blue Wildebeest and Thomson's Gazelle, plus lesser numbers of Warthog, Hippo, Common Eland and Grant's Gazelles. The birding was also excellent as we came across Hildebrandt's Francolin (right by the track), Abdim's Stork (about 2000 together with a few White Storks), Tawny Eagle, Kori and Black-bellied bustards, Yellow-throated Sandgrouse, Woodland Kingfisher, several hundred migrating Eurasian Kestrels, Fischer's Sparrow-Lark, Red-capped Lark, Banded Martin, Winding Cisticola, Red-backed Scrub-Robin, Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush, Capped Wheatear, Wattled Starling (some in strange breeding plumage), Hildebrandt's Starling, both Red-billed and Yellow-billed oxpeckers, striking Rosy-throated Longclaws, and the endemic Rufous-tailed Weaver - sole member of the genus 'Histurgops'.

From Ngorongoro we continued west to the vast plains of the Serengeti, but not without two short stops along the way. First at a Masai Village, where we were able to hear a little about their way of life and see inside one of their flat-roofed cow dung houses. And then, only a short drive away, see 'The Cradle of Mankind' - Oldupai Gorge. This is this site made famous by the Leakey family and we spent our time here listening to a short explanatory talk and then visiting the newly opened museum.

We spent three nights in the Serengeti ecosystem, two in the Serengeti itself and then one on the border with the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. It was a wonderful experience as huge herds of the Wildebeest come here at this time of year to give birth. Driving off road (yes, you can do this in this area) we meandered through hundreds of thousands of these strange looking creatures, grazing along side yet more thousands of zebra, Thomson's gazelles and other antelopes. Spotted Hyaena were plentiful (and always on the lookout for a weakened animal, or someone else's kill). Our largest big-maned Lion of the tour was found in this region, as were two close Cheetah feeding on a half grown Wildebeest they'd just taken down. Birds varied from Common Ostrich, Secretarybird, White-bellied Bustard, Double-banded Courser and Southern Ground-hornbill on the plains, to Gray-breasted Francolin, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Pearl-spotted Owlet, Red-fronted Tinkerbird, Fischer's Lovebird, Magpie Shrike, Red-throated Tit, Silverbird, Cut-throat and Gray-headed Silverbill in the woodlands. Bateleur, Martial Eagle, and migrating kestrels crossed the open skies. We even found five species of vultures (several of them now critically endangered) at a single carcass.

The final part of our Tanzania tour was further east to Tarangire National Park - here amongst a mix of marshland, grassland, palm trees, acacias and giant Baobabs, we found many new birds, with just a few highlights being Yellow-necked and Red-necked francolins, Saddle-billed Stork, Brown Snake-Eagle, Green Woodhoopoe, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Red-and-yellow Barbet (gorgeous), Greater Honeyguide, Yellow-collared Lovebird (endemic) and Ashy Starling (another Tanzanian endemic). While mammal highlights included our only Bat-eared Fox and Common Waterbuck of the tour, and great looks again at lions, elephants, warthogs, buffalos, dikdik, impala, and Grant's gazelles.

Our flight back to Kenya went smoothly, before we spent another night at our hotel overlooking Nairobi National Park and then drove north and into the Great Rift Valley for a one night stay at the alkaline Lake Nakuru. The exceptionally dry conditions meant many birds had gathered at the south end of the lake (where a fresh water inlet also attracted mammals for drinking). A very pleasant few hours here allowed us a chance to get out of our vehicle, set up a scope, and just watch the comings and goings of all the life around us. Most memorable was just the endless motion of feeding, flying, and calling birds; seven species of waterfowl were seen, a flock of Lesser Flamingo, storks, cormorants, pelicans, herons and egrets, ibis spoonbills, migrant shorebirds, gulls and terns. While landbirds included Common Scimitarbill, White-fronted Bee-eater, White-headed Barbet, White-bellied Tit, Little Rock-Thrush and Mocking Cliffchat to name but a few. We saw many mammals that were now familiar, and good looks at introduced White Rhino were enjoyed, however most spectacular was watching three lions stalking a Defassa Waterbuck, and then taking down her young one, which none of us had even noticed until a blur of motion and a cloud of rising dust.

Changing the pace we then headed west to Kakamega Forest and based ourselves at the delightful Rondo Retreat. During three nights here virtually all the birding was done on foot, and with the habitat so totally different, almost every bird was new; Crowned Eagle, Great Blue Turaco, Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill, Blue-headed Bee-eater, Gray-throated, Yellow-billed, Yellow-spotted and Hairy-breasted barbets, Golden-crowned Woodpecker, Luehder's Bushshrike, Joyful, Ansorge's and Yellow-whiskered greenbuls, Dusky Tit, Green Hylia, Black-faced Rufous-Warbler, Banded Prinia, Gray-chested Babbler, Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat, White-tailed Ant-Thrush, Red-headed Malimbe and White-breasted Nigrita - these were just some of the wonderful new species we saw.

Leaving Kakamega behind we then drove east and back to the Great Rift Valley, but this time to the north of Nakuru in the Baringo-Bogoria area. Along the way we stopped for lunch and added Double-toothed Barbet and Black-headed Gonolek - both striking in their black and scarlet plumages. But now in the lowlands new species came thick and fast, and even better, with the help of our local guide we added several staked-out nocturnal species, these included Three-banded Courser, African Scops-Owl, Northern White-faced Owl, Grayish and Verreaux's eagle-owls, and Slender-tailed Nightjar. Other birds we particularly enjoyed in this area were African Fish-Eagle, White-bellied Go-away-bird, Blue-naped Mousebird, Jackson's Hornbill, Giant Kingfisher, Northern Carmine Bee-eater, Somali Tit, Northern Crombec, Red-fronted Warbler, Brown-tailed Chat, Bristle-crowned Starling, Kenya Violet-backed and Beautiful sunbirds, White-billed Buffalo-Weaver, Northern Masked-Weaver, and Green-winged Pytilia.

The final part of our tour was to Mountain Lodge in the highland forest on the south-west flank of Mt. Kenya. Again in contrast to the places we'd visited so far, Mountain Lodge has a flat viewing roof over-looking a flood-lit waterhole and salt-lick. Mammals here included Sykes's Monkey, and for some a Suni (tiny antelope) by day, and Spotted Hyaenas, Bushbuck and Defassa Waterbuck by night. While new birds included Delegorgue's Pigeon (together with some spectacular African Green-Pigeons), Abyssinian Nightjar (for one of the group who stayed up late), Alpine and Scarce swifts, a large flock of huge Silvery-cheeked Hornbills, Red-fronted Parrot, Mosque Swallow, Black-throated, Gray, and Chestnut-throated apalises, Rueppell's Robin-Chat and Abyssinian Thrush.

We returned to Nairobi and the luxury of private day rooms before a farewell dinner and transfer to the airport for our flights home. All in all a wonderful tour, witnessing both the dry and wet seasons in just over two weeks, and an amazing variety of East Africa's most spectacular birds and mammals.

Our next East Africa Highlights tour runs March 2-22, 2019.


KEYS FOR THIS LIST
One of the following keys may be shown in brackets for individual species as appropriate: * = heard only, I = introduced, E = endemic, N = nesting, a = austral migrant, b = boreal migrant


BIRDS
Struthionidae (Ostriches)
COMMON OSTRICH (Struthio camelus massaicus) – Common in open grasslands like Nairobi NP, Ngorongoro and the Serengeti, and also 5 near Bogoria; in all we saw about 220.


The unusual Hamerkop is a quintessentially African bird. We saw about a dozen at various points on the tour. Photo by participant Craig Caldwell.

Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl)
WHITE-FACED WHISTLING-DUCK (Dendrocygna viduata) – About 20 at Tarangire.
COMB DUCK (OLD WORLD) (Sarkidiornis melanotos melanotos) – Four (including a nice adult male) at Tarangire, and 2 at Baringo.
EGYPTIAN GOOSE (Alopochen aegyptiaca) – Common at wetlands throughout the tour.
SPUR-WINGED GOOSE (Plectropterus gambensis) – A flying bird was seen in Ngorongoro Crater.
GARGANEY (Spatula querquedula) – Two at Nakuru.
HOTTENTOT TEAL (Spatula hottentota) – About 40 at Ngorongoro, and 30 at Nakuru.
NORTHERN SHOVELER (Spatula clypeata) – About 60 at Ngorongoro, and 50 at Nakuru.
YELLOW-BILLED DUCK (Anas undulata) – Ten at Nakuru.
CAPE TEAL (Anas capensis) – Six at Nakuru.
RED-BILLED DUCK (Anas erythrorhyncha) – Small numbers at Ngorongoro, the Serengeti, and Tarangire.
NORTHERN PINTAIL (Anas acuta) – About 20 at Nakuru.
Numididae (Guineafowl)
HELMETED GUINEAFOWL (Numida meleagris) – Common in a variety of bush country and grasslands throughout the tour.
Phasianidae (Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies)
SCALY FRANCOLIN (Pternistis squamatus) – Heard at Mountain Lodge. [*]
HILDEBRANDT'S FRANCOLIN (Pternistis hildebrandti) – Eight at Ngorongoro.
YELLOW-NECKED FRANCOLIN (Pternistis leucoscepus) – At least 50 at Tarangire.
GRAY-BREASTED FRANCOLIN (Pternistis rufopictus) – Nice looks at this localized endemic in the Seronera to Ndutu area. [E]
RED-NECKED FRANCOLIN (Pternistis afer) – Thirty at Tarangire.
CRESTED FRANCOLIN (Dendroperdix sephaena) – Six at Tarangire.
COQUI FRANCOLIN (Peliperdix coqui) – One in the Serengeti, 2 at Tarangire, and 4 at Nakuru.
Podicipedidae (Grebes)
LITTLE GREBE (Tachybaptus ruficollis) – One at Ngorongoro, and 20+ at Nakuru.
Phoenicopteridae (Flamingos)
GREATER FLAMINGO (Phoenicopterus roseus) – Several thousand were seen distantly at Lake Manyara, and about 100 at Lake Ndutu.
LESSER FLAMINGO (Phoeniconaias minor) – About 200 at Lake Nakuru included both adults and immatures.


Participant Craig Caldwell got this lovely close-up of one of the Verreaux's Eagle-owls we saw at Baringo.

Ciconiidae (Storks)
AFRICAN OPENBILL (Anastomus lamelligerus) – About 200 in the Serengeti, and 2 at Nakuru.
BLACK STORK (Ciconia nigra) – One at Nakuru.
ABDIM'S STORK (Ciconia abdimii) – Many thousands in the open grasslands of Tanzania, including Ngorongoro, Serengeti and the Tarangire area.
WHITE STORK (Ciconia ciconia) – Small numbers at Ngorongoro, Serengeti, and Nakuru, and several thousand along the edge of Silale Swamp in Tarangire.
SADDLE-BILLED STORK (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis) – One at Tarangire, and 1 at Nakuru.
MARABOU STORK (Leptoptilos crumenifer) – Common throughout the tour; in all we saw about 400.
YELLOW-BILLED STORK (Mycteria ibis) – Two singles at Nakuru, and 1 at Baringo.
Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags)
LONG-TAILED CORMORANT (Microcarbo africanus) – Three at Baringo.
GREAT CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax carbo) – Close looks at about 50 at Nakuru (and hundreds of distant birds), and then 6 at Baringo.
Anhingidae (Anhingas)
AFRICAN DARTER (Anhinga rufa rufa) – Very uncommon in Kenya these days, so we were lucky to see about 10 at Baringo.
Pelecanidae (Pelicans)
GREAT WHITE PELICAN (Pelecanus onocrotalus) – Three at Ngorongoro, and 30 at Nakuru.
PINK-BACKED PELICAN (Pelecanus rufescens) – Some of the group saw 15 at Kilimanjaro International Airport, and then everyone saw 5 at Nakuru.
Scopidae (Hamerkop)
HAMERKOP (Scopus umbretta) – Small numbers at a variety of widespread wetlands; in total we saw about a dozen.
Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
GRAY HERON (Ardea cinerea) – Small numbers were seen at a variety of wetlands throughout the tour.
BLACK-HEADED HERON (Ardea melanocephala) – Not so reliant on wetlands as the previous species; they were widespread with a total of about 30.
GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba) – Four at Nairobi NP, 6 at Nakuru, and 1 at Baringo.
INTERMEDIATE EGRET (Ardea intermedia) – Singles at Nairobi and Ngorongoro.
LITTLE EGRET (Egretta garzetta) – One near Gibb's Farm, 3 at Nakuru, and 6 at Baringo.
CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis) – Common and widespread.
SQUACCO HERON (Ardeola ralloides) – Eight at wetlands in Ngorongoro Crater, and 3 at Baringo.
STRIATED HERON (Butorides striata) – Six at Baringo.
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax) – Ten at a marshy pool in Ngorongoro Crater, and 1 at Baringo.
Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)
GLOSSY IBIS (Plegadis falcinellus) – Small numbers at Limuru Pond, Ngorongoro, and at Nakuru.
SACRED IBIS (Threskiornis aethiopicus) – Fairly common and widespread around wetland areas; in all we saw about 120.
HADADA IBIS (Bostrychia hagedash) – Normally a common and widespread bird that somehow we managed to miss right until Nakuru, after that though we had daily sightings across the western and central highlands.
AFRICAN SPOONBILL (Platalea alba) – One at Ngorongoro, and 5 at Nakuru.


Vitelline Masked-Weaver was seen in Tanzania. Photo by participant Craig Caldwell.

Sagittariidae (Secretarybird)
SECRETARYBIRD (Sagittarius serpentarius) – Ten in the Serengeti were the most for one area, but we also saw others at Nairobi NP, Ngorongoro, Tarangire and Nakuru.
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE (Elanus caeruleus) – One in the Serengeti.
AFRICAN HARRIER-HAWK (Polyboroides typus) – Nice looks at a single bird at Oldupai Gorge.
EGYPTIAN VULTURE (Neophron percnopterus) – Extremely uncommon these days so we were very lucky to see 1 together with 4 other species of vulture on the Serengeti plains.
WHITE-HEADED VULTURE (Trigonoceps occipitalis) – Three in the Serengeti.
LAPPET-FACED VULTURE (Torgos tracheliotos) – We saw these huge vultures at Ngorongoro, the Serengeti, and Tarangire; with a total of 19.
HOODED VULTURE (Necrosyrtes monachus) – Two, together with other vultures on the Serengeti plains.
WHITE-BACKED VULTURE (Gyps africanus) – By far the most common and widespread vulture; in all we saw about 180.
RŸUEPPELL'S GRIFFON (Gyps rueppelli) – Eight at a kill on the Serengeti plains.
BATELEUR (Terathopius ecaudatus) – Great looks at flying birds at Serengeti and Tarangire.
BLACK-BREASTED SNAKE-EAGLE (Circaetus pectoralis) – Single adults at Ngorongoro and Serengeti.
BROWN SNAKE-EAGLE (Circaetus cinereus) – One at Tarangire.
CROWNED EAGLE (Stephanoaetus coronatus) – Fabulous scope views of a close perched bird at Kakamega.
MARTIAL EAGLE (Polemaetus bellicosus) – A flying adult at Serengeti, and then a close perched sub-adult at Tarangire.
LONG-CRESTED EAGLE (Lophaetus occipitalis) – One near Ndutu, and 1 near Mt. Kenya.
AYRES'S HAWK-EAGLE (Hieraaetus ayresii) – One circling over the forest near Gibb's Farm.
TAWNY EAGLE (Aquila rapax) – Widespread in open country; in all we saw about 40.
STEPPE EAGLE (Aquila nipalensis) – Nice looks at 2 in the Serengeti (where several other 'possibles' were seen more distantly).
DARK CHANTING-GOSHAWK (Melierax metabates) – Two singles at Serengeti.
GABAR GOSHAWK (Micronisus gabar) – One for some of the group at Nakuru.
EURASIAN MARSH-HARRIER (Circus aeruginosus) – Singles at Nairobi and Nakuru, and at least 3 at Serengeti.
PALLID HARRIER (Circus macrourus) – One at Ngorongoro, and 6 in the Serengeti.
MONTAGU'S HARRIER (Circus pygargus) – At least 20 over the Serengeti plains, and a few others in open country elsewhere.
AFRICAN GOSHAWK (Accipiter tachiro) – One at Kakamega.
BLACK KITE (Milvus migrans) – Common and widespread; in all we saw about 100.
AFRICAN FISH-EAGLE (Haliaeetus vocifer) – One at Nairobi NP, 2 at Nakuru, and 2 at Baringo (including 1 on a nest).
COMMON BUZZARD (STEPPE) (Buteo buteo vulpinus) – Eight over Gibb's Farm, and 1 near Eldoret.
AUGUR BUZZARD (Buteo augur) – Widespread in small numbers.


Secretarybird was one of the first birds we saw on the tour. We found them at Nairobi National Park, as well as in the Serengeti, Ngorongoro and elsewhere. Photo by participant Craig Caldwell.

Otididae (Bustards)
KORI BUSTARD (Ardeotis kori) – Great close looks this tour included some huge displaying males; in all we saw about 40.
WHITE-BELLIED BUSTARD (Eupodotis senegalensis) – Two near Ndutu.
BLACK-BELLIED BUSTARD (Lissotis melanogaster) – Eight at Ngorongoro, and 2 in the Serengeti.
Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
BLACK CRAKE (Zapornia flavirostra) – Always great to see these attractive and often rather tame rails; we saw a total of 18 at Nairobi, Ngorongoro, and in the Serengeti.
EURASIAN MOORHEN (Gallinula chloropus) – Small numbers at a variety of scattered wetlands.
RED-KNOBBED COOT (Fulica cristata) – One at a small pool in Ngorongoro Crater, and some very distant birds at Nakuru.
Sarothruridae (Flufftails)
WHITE-SPOTTED FLUFFTAIL (Sarothrura pulchra) – Two close birds were calling at Kakamega, but only one of our group saw 1 run across the trail.
BUFF-SPOTTED FLUFFTAIL (Sarothrura elegans) – Heard at Kakamega Forest. [*]
Gruidae (Cranes)
GRAY CROWNED-CRANE (Balearica regulorum) – Common and widespread with great looks many times; in total we saw about 80.
Burhinidae (Thick-knees)
SPOTTED THICK-KNEE (Burhinus capensis) – One at Ndutu, and 2 at Tarangire.
Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets)
BLACK-WINGED STILT (Himantopus himantopus) – Small numbers were widespread on a variety of wetlands.
PIED AVOCET (Recurvirostra avosetta) – About 60 at Nakuru.
Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)
LONG-TOED LAPWING (Vanellus crassirostris) – Four at Nairobi NP, and 4 at Ngorongoro.
BLACKSMITH LAPWING (Vanellus armatus) – Common and widespread at wetlands throughout the tour.
SPUR-WINGED LAPWING (Vanellus spinosus) – Widespread in small numbers.
BLACK-WINGED LAPWING (Vanellus melanopterus) – Two at Ngorongoro, and 2 at Nakuru.
CROWNED LAPWING (Vanellus coronatus) – Common on dry grasslands with a total of about 100.
KITTLITZ'S PLOVER (Charadrius pecuarius) – Nice scope views of 1 at Nakuru.
COMMON RINGED PLOVER (Charadrius hiaticula) – Two at Nakuru.
LITTLE RINGED PLOVER (Charadrius dubius) – One at Nakuru.
THREE-BANDED PLOVER (Charadrius tricollaris) – Six at Nairobi NP.
Rostratulidae (Painted-Snipes)
GREATER PAINTED-SNIPE (Rostratula benghalensis) – A bit hidden, but still fabulous looks at 2 gorgeous females at Nakuru.
Jacanidae (Jacanas)
AFRICAN JACANA (Actophilornis africanus) – Singes at Nairobi and Baringo, and 4 at Tarangire.


Some of our group birding along the shore at Lake Baringo where the dead trees provide perches for Northern Carmine Bee-eater - like the one pictured below. Photo by participant Phoebe Fowler.

Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
RUFF (Calidris pugnax) – Several small flocks at Ngorongoro, Serengeti, and Nakuru.
TEMMINCK'S STINT (Calidris temminckii) – A few of the group saw 1 at Nakuru.
LITTLE STINT (Calidris minuta) – About 1000 were at Nakuru, and a few others elsewhere.
COMMON SNIPE (Gallinago gallinago) – Singles at Ngorongoro and in the Serengeti.
COMMON SANDPIPER (Actitis hypoleucos) – Widespread in small numbers.
GREEN SANDPIPER (Tringa ochropus) – Widespread in small numbers.
COMMON GREENSHANK (Tringa nebularia) – Singles at Tarangire and Baringo, and 4 at Nakuru.
MARSH SANDPIPER (Tringa stagnatilis) – Small numbers were widespread at a variety of wetlands (mainly in Tanzania), and 4 at Nakuru.
WOOD SANDPIPER (Tringa glareola) – Widespread in small numbers; in all we saw about 80.
Glareolidae (Pratincoles and Coursers)
DOUBLE-BANDED COURSER (Smutsornis africanus) – Twelve in the Serengeti, and 2 at Tarangire.
THREE-BANDED COURSER (Rhinoptilus cinctus) – Thanks to our local guide we had great looks at a pair at Baringo.
Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
GRAY-HOODED GULL (Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus) – About 40 at Nakuru.
BLACK-HEADED GULL (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) – One at Nakuru.
GULL-BILLED TERN (Gelochelidon nilotica) – At least 150 were on the Serengeti plains, and then about a dozen at Nakuru.
WHITE-WINGED TERN (Chlidonias leucopterus) – Hundreds were feeding in low flight over Lake Nakuru.
WHISKERED TERN (Chlidonias hybrida) – We saw a total of 16 which included birds in breeding plumage at Tarangire.
Pteroclidae (Sandgrouse)
YELLOW-THROATED SANDGROUSE (Pterocles gutturalis) – Thirty at Ngorongoro, and then 7 really close birds in the Serengeti.
BLACK-FACED SANDGROUSE (Pterocles decoratus) – Good looks at a male in the Serengeti, and then a pair at Tarangire.
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) – Small numbers at Karatu and Karatina towns.
SPECKLED PIGEON (Columba guinea) – Common and widespread.
DELEGORGUE'S PIGEON (Columba delegorguei) – Good looks at about 20 from the roof of Mountain Lodge.
DUSKY TURTLE-DOVE (Streptopelia lugens) – Two at the Ole Sereni Hotel, Nairobi.
MOURNING COLLARED-DOVE (Streptopelia decipiens) – About a dozen at Naabi Hill, and 100+ at Baringo.
RED-EYED DOVE (Streptopelia semitorquata) – Common and widespread away from the driest areas.
RING-NECKED DOVE (Streptopelia capicola) – Very common and widespread away from forest.
LAUGHING DOVE (Streptopelia senegalensis) – Common and widespread.
EMERALD-SPOTTED WOOD-DOVE (Turtur chalcospilos) – Small numbers at Ngorongoro, Serengeti, and Baringo.
TAMBOURINE DOVE (Turtur tympanistria) – Great close looks at a bird on a track at Kakamega.
NAMAQUA DOVE (Oena capensis) – One in Nairobi NP, and about 10 in the Baringo-Bogoria area.
AFRICAN GREEN-PIGEON (Treron calvus) – Two at Kakamega, and 8 feeding at the Mountain Lodge salt-lick.
Musophagidae (Turacos)
GREAT BLUE TURACO (Corythaeola cristata) – Great scope looks at one in the garden of Rondo Retreat, Kakamega.
HARTLAUB'S TURACO (Tauraco hartlaubi) – Heard calling from within the forest at Mountain Lodge. [E*]
BARE-FACED GO-AWAY-BIRD (BLACK-FACED) (Corythaixoides personatus leopoldi) – Some authorities have recently split this form from 'brown-faced' Ethiopian birds. We saw about a dozen in the Serengeti and 4 at Tarangire.
WHITE-BELLIED GO-AWAY-BIRD (Corythaixoides leucogaster) – We saw this dry country turaco on the way to Gibb's Farm, at Tarangire, and at Baringo.


This beautiful little Pygmy Falcon posed nicely for us in the Serengeti. Photo by participant Craig Caldwell.

Cuculidae (Cuckoos)
WHITE-BROWED COUCAL (Centropus superciliosus) – Small numbers at Serengeti, Tarangire, and Baringo.
GREAT SPOTTED CUCKOO (Clamator glandarius) – Two near Ndutu, and 1 at Tarangire.
DIDERIC CUCKOO (Chrysococcyx caprius) – Two in the Serengeti, and 1 at Tarangire.
KLAAS'S CUCKOO (Chrysococcyx klaas) – Good looks at a male near Gibb's Farm.
AFRICAN EMERALD CUCKOO (Chrysococcyx cupreus) – Heard in three different forests, but not a glimpse to be had. [*]
RED-CHESTED CUCKOO (Cuculus solitarius) – One at Gibb's Farm.
COMMON CUCKOO (Cuculus canorus) – One in the Serengeti.
Strigidae (Owls)
AFRICAN SCOPS-OWL (Otus senegalensis) – Just one of four species of owls we saw at Baringo - super close too!
NORTHERN WHITE-FACED OWL (Ptilopsis leucotis) – Extremely well camouflaged and often difficult to find - we had great views at Baringo.
CAPE EAGLE-OWL (NORTHERN) (Bubo capensis mackinderi) – Thanks to another of our local contacts we saw a well hidden bird near Kiawara.
GRAYISH EAGLE-OWL (Bubo cinerascens) – One right in the open at Baringo - mid-morning too!
VERREAUX'S EAGLE-OWL (Bubo lacteus) – We saw a roosting pair in the acacia's near the shore at Baringo.
PEARL-SPOTTED OWLET (Glaucidium perlatum) – One at Ndutu.
RED-CHESTED OWLET (Glaucidium tephronotum) – Very frustrating as we tried to track down a calling bird in the high canopy at Kakamega. [*]
Caprimulgidae (Nightjars and Allies)
ABYSSINIAN NIGHTJAR (Caprimulgus poliocephalus) – One of our group saw 1 from her room at Mountain Lodge.
SLENDER-TAILED NIGHTJAR (Caprimulgus clarus) – Good looks at 2 roosting birds at Baringo.
Apodidae (Swifts)
SCARCE SWIFT (Schoutedenapus myoptilus) – About 10 along the rim of Ngorongoro Crater, and then about 20 at Mountain Lodge.
ALPINE SWIFT (Apus melba) – Four at Mountain Lodge.
COMMON SWIFT (Apus apus) – One over the Serengeti.
LITTLE SWIFT (Apus affinis) – Common and widespread near cliffs, buildings, and bridges.
HORUS SWIFT (Apus horus) – One at Nakuru.
WHITE-RUMPED SWIFT (Apus caffer) – About 10 at Nairobi, and 16 in the Serengeti.
AFRICAN PALM-SWIFT (Cypsiurus parvus) – A few on the way to Gibb's Farm.
Coliidae (Mousebirds)
SPECKLED MOUSEBIRD (Colius striatus) – Common and widespread.
BLUE-NAPED MOUSEBIRD (Urocolius macrourus) – About 40 in the Baringo-Bogoria area.


We didn't expect to see the Northern Carmine Bee-eater on this tour, but we had a great view as this one gulped down a large dragonfly at Lake Baringo. Photo by participant Craig Caldwell.

Trogonidae (Trogons)
BAR-TAILED TROGON (Apaloderma vittatum) – Heard calling from an inaccessible part of Kakamega Forest. [*]
Upupidae (Hoopoes)
EURASIAN HOOPOE (AFRICAN) (Upupa epops africana) – Eight at Nakuru were the most for one location, but we also saw a few others elsewhere.
Phoeniculidae (Woodhoopoes and Scimitarbills)
GREEN WOODHOOPOE (Phoeniculus purpureus) – Three at Tarangire, and 6 between the Kerio Valley and Baringo.
WHITE-HEADED WOODHOOPOE (Phoeniculus bollei) – Four at Kakamega.
COMMON SCIMITARBILL (Rhinopomastus cyanomelas) – Some of the group saw 1 at Nakuru.
ABYSSINIAN SCIMITARBILL (Rhinopomastus minor) – Two in the Serengeti, and 1 at Nakuru for one of our group.
Bucorvidae (Ground-Hornbills)
SOUTHERN GROUND-HORNBILL (Bucorvus leadbeateri) – Great looks this tour, with 2 in the Serengeti, 3 at Tarangire, and 2 at Nakuru.
Bucerotidae (Hornbills)
AFRICAN GRAY HORNBILL (Lophoceros nasutus) – Small numbers in open woodland; in all we saw about a dozen.
JACKSON'S HORNBILL (Tockus jacksoni) – Eight at Baringo.
VON DER DECKEN'S HORNBILL (Tockus deckeni) – About 20 in the Serengeti, and 4 at Tarangire.
TANZANIAN RED-BILLED HORNBILL (Tockus ruahae) – Nice looks at 3 near our lodge in the Serengeti. [E]
NORTHERN RED-BILLED HORNBILL (Tockus erythrorhynchus) – About 15 at Tarangire, and 20 in the Kerio Valley to Bogoria area.
SILVERY-CHEEKED HORNBILL (Bycanistes brevis) – About 30 along the road near Chaka were a splendid sight.
BLACK-AND-WHITE-CASQUED HORNBILL (Bycanistes subcylindricus) – We saw about 10 of the huge noisy hornbills at Kakamega.
Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)
MALACHITE KINGFISHER (Corythornis cristatus) – Singles at Nairobi NP, Ngorongoro, and Kakamega.
GRAY-HEADED KINGFISHER (Halcyon leucocephala) – One at Nairobi NP, and 2 singles at Nakuru.
WOODLAND KINGFISHER (Halcyon senegalensis) – One in Ngorongoro Crater, 4 in the Serengeti, and 1 at Baringo.
STRIPED KINGFISHER (Halcyon chelicuti) – Two singles in the Serengeti.
GIANT KINGFISHER (Megaceryle maxima) – Fabulous looks at a close tame bird near Bogoria.
PIED KINGFISHER (Ceryle rudis) – Two at Nakuru, and about 8 at Baringo.
Meropidae (Bee-eaters)
BLUE-HEADED BEE-EATER (Merops muelleri) – One of the best birds of the tour, with great close looks in Kakamega Forest.
WHITE-FRONTED BEE-EATER (Merops bullockoides) – Ten at Nakuru, and 3 in the Kerio Valley.
LITTLE BEE-EATER (Merops pusillus) – Small numbers in a variety of widespread open country.
CINNAMON-CHESTED BEE-EATER (Merops oreobates) – Replaces the similar looking previous species in more forested areas; in all we saw about 45.
BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATER (Merops persicus) – Good looks along the shore of the marsh at Tarangire.
EUROPEAN BEE-EATER (Merops apiaster) – One at Baringo.
NORTHERN CARMINE BEE-EATER (Merops nubicus) – Not really expected at all on this tour, so we were very excited to see a beautiful adult at Baringo.
Coraciidae (Rollers)
EUROPEAN ROLLER (Coracias garrulus) – About 70 in the Serengeti-Ndutu area.
LILAC-BREASTED ROLLER (Coracias caudatus) – These gorgeous birds were common in open woodland and bush country.
RUFOUS-CROWNED ROLLER (Coracias naevius) – Two in the Serengeti.
Lybiidae (African Barbets)
YELLOW-BILLED BARBET (Trachyphonus purpuratus) – Great looks our first afternoon at Kakamega.
RED-AND-YELLOW BARBET (Trachyphonus erythrocephalus) – Another fabulous looking barbet; we saw 2 singles at Tarangire and Baringo.
D'ARNAUD'S BARBET (Trachyphonus darnaudii) – Some authorities are splitting this 'species' in to two, or even three, separate species. We saw the nominate form (with no black on the crown and a pinkish bill) in the Baringo-Bogoria area. A pair at Tarangire (with black on the crown and breast) and showed characteristics of both races 'boehmi' and 'emini', the latter is sometimes split as Emin's Barbet.


This sub-adult Martial Eagle was a nice find at Tarangire. Photo by participant Craig Caldwell.

D'ARNAUD'S BARBET (USAMBIRO) (Trachyphonus darnaudii usambiro) – Most authorities now split this form from D'Arnaud's Barbet as Usambiro Barbet; we saw about 20 in the Serengeti.
GRAY-THROATED BARBET (Gymnobucco bonapartei) – Interesting with the little 'rhino horns'; we saw about 30 at Kakamega.
MOUSTACHED TINKERBIRD (Pogoniulus leucomystax) – Heard at Mountain Lodge. [*]
YELLOW-RUMPED TINKERBIRD (Pogoniulus bilineatus bilineatus) – Two seen well (and many others heard) at Kakamega.
RED-FRONTED TINKERBIRD (Pogoniulus pusillus) – Three at our lodge in the Serengeti.
YELLOW-SPOTTED BARBET (Buccanodon duchaillui) – Two in the canopy at Kakamega.
HAIRY-BREASTED BARBET (Tricholaema hirsuta) – Good scope views at this rather rare bird of the Kakamega canopy.
RED-FRONTED BARBET (Tricholaema diademata) – Heard at Serengeti and Nakuru. [*]
BLACK-THROATED BARBET (Tricholaema melanocephala) – About 6 in the lowlands before Gibb's Farm.
WHITE-HEADED BARBET (Lybius leucocephalus) – One at Nakuru.
DOUBLE-TOOTHED BARBET (Lybius bidentatus) – Five of the striking barbets were in the fig trees in the Kerio Valley.
Indicatoridae (Honeyguides)
LEAST HONEYGUIDE (Indicator exilis) – One at Kakamega.
SCALY-THROATED HONEYGUIDE (Indicator variegatus) – One at Kakamega.
GREATER HONEYGUIDE (Indicator indicator) – Some of the group saw an adult at Tarangire, and then everyone saw an close immature bird at Nakuru.
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
NUBIAN WOODPECKER (Campethera nubica) – Small numbers at Serengeti, Tarangire, and Nakuru.
BROWN-EARED WOODPECKER (Campethera caroli) – One at Kakamega.
CARDINAL WOODPECKER (Dendropicos fuscescens) – Two at Kakamega, and 2 at Baringo.
BEARDED WOODPECKER (Dendropicos namaquus) – A few of the group saw 1 at Tarangire.
GOLDEN-CROWNED WOODPECKER (Dendropicos xantholophus) – Can be difficult, but we were lucky this tour and saw at least 6 at Kakamega.
AFRICAN GRAY WOODPECKER (GRAY) (Dendropicos goertae goertae) – A complex situation with several different authorities splitting and lumping different races in different ways. This nominate race is the bird we saw at Baringo.
MOUNTAIN GRAY WOODPECKER (Dendropicos spodocephalus rhodeogaster) – A complex situation with several different authorities splitting and lumping different races in different ways. Clements currently calls this form Mountain Gray Woodpecker as it is mainly in high country, but down to Tarangire in north Tanzania where we saw 1.
Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
PYGMY FALCON (Polihierax semitorquatus) – Super looks at 2 in the Serengeti, and 3 at Tarangire.
LESSER KESTREL (Falco naumanni) – Four in the Serengeti.
EURASIAN KESTREL (Falco tinnunculus) – Many hundreds feeding over Ngorongoro and the Serengeti, and a few others elsewhere, including Tarangire and Nairobi NP.
GREATER KESTREL (Falco rupicoloides) – At least 4 in the Serengeti.


Yellow-collared Lovebirds were common in Tarangire, where participant Craig Caldwell got this nice portrait.

GRAY KESTREL (Falco ardosiaceus) – One in the Serengeti, and 3 at Tarangire.
RED-NECKED FALCON (Falco chicquera) – We saw a single immature bird by a waterhole in the Serengeti.
LANNER FALCON (Falco biarmicus) – Nice looks at 1 along the cliffs at Baringo.
Psittaculidae (Old World Parrots)
FISCHER'S LOVEBIRD (Agapornis fischeri) – Small flocks totaling about 60 were seen in the Serengeti. [E]
YELLOW-COLLARED LOVEBIRD (Agapornis personatus) – These attractive lovebirds (aren't they all) were common at Tarangire; in all we saw about 100. [E]
Psittacidae (New World and African Parrots)
RED-FRONTED PARROT (Poicephalus gulielmi) – Two in flight from the roof of Mountain Lodge.
MEYER'S PARROT (Poicephalus meyeri) – Pairs at Serengeti and Tarangire.
RED-BELLIED PARROT (Poicephalus rufiventris) – Also known as African Orange-bellied Parrot, we saw a total of 8 at Tarangire.
Calyptomenidae (African and Green Broadbills)
AFRICAN BROADBILL (Smithornis capensis) – Heard in the forest above Gibb's Farm. [*]
Platysteiridae (Wattle-eyes and Batises)
BROWN-THROATED WATTLE-EYE (Platysteira cyanea) – Heard at Kakamega. [*]
JAMESON'S WATTLE-EYE (Platysteira jamesoni) – Heard at Kakamega. [*]
CHINSPOT BATIS (Batis molitor) – We saw about 4 pairs at several different widespread sites.
PYGMY BATIS (Batis perkeo) – Heard by all, and seen by one of the group at Baringo.
Malaconotidae (Bushshrikes and Allies)
BRUBRU (Nilaus afer) – Small numbers were widespread in acacia bush country.
NORTHERN PUFFBACK (Dryoscopus gambensis) – Some of the group saw 1 in the Kerio Valley.
BLACK-BACKED PUFFBACK (Dryoscopus cubla) – About 8 in the Gibb's Farm area.
PINK-FOOTED PUFFBACK (Dryoscopus angolensis) – We saw a single male at Kakamega.
BROWN-CROWNED TCHAGRA (Tchagra australis) – One near Gibb's Farm.
LŸUEHDER'S BUSHSHRIKE (Laniarius luehderi) – Nice looks at this attractive bushshrike in the Kakamega undergrowth.
TROPICAL BOUBOU (Laniarius major) – Fairly widespread with about 20 seen and many others heard.
BLACK-HEADED GONOLEK (Laniarius erythrogaster) – We saw these striking bushshrikes in the Kerio Valley.
SLATE-COLORED BOUBOU (Laniarius funebris) – Mainly seen in acacia country, we saw 6 in five widespread areas.
ROSY-PATCHED BUSHSHRIKE (Rhodophoneus cruentus) – One of the group saw one in the low country on the way to Gibb's Farm.
GRAY-GREEN BUSHSHRIKE (Telophorus bocagei) – One seen and many heard at Kakamega.
Campephagidae (Cuckooshrikes)
GRAY CUCKOOSHRIKE (Coracina caesia) – Two in the forest above Gibb's Farm.


Checking out the extensive herb and vegetable garden at Gibb’s Farm - one of our favourite lodges - Gibb’s prides itself on its homegrown organic produce. Photo by participant Phoebe Fowler.

Laniidae (Shrikes)
RED-BACKED SHRIKE (Lanius collurio) – We saw a single male in the Serengeti.
ISABELLINE SHRIKE (Lanius isabellinus) – About a dozen in Nairobi NP.
GRAY-BACKED FISCAL (Lanius excubitoroides) – Twenty in the Serengeti, and 4 in the Baringo-Bogoria area.
LONG-TAILED FISCAL (Lanius cabanisi) – Five in Nairobi NP, and 6 at Tarangire.
MACKINNON'S SHRIKE (Lanius mackinnoni) – Four at Kakamega.
NORTHERN FISCAL (Lanius humeralis) – Common and widespread away from the low dry hot country.
MAGPIE SHRIKE (Corvinella melanoleuca) – Common in the Serengeti and at Tarangire; in all we saw about 100.
WHITE-RUMPED SHRIKE (Eurocephalus ruppelli) – Another common shrike of the Serengeti and Tarangire, and also a few near Baringo; in total we saw about 140.
Oriolidae (Old World Orioles)
EURASIAN GOLDEN ORIOLE (Oriolus oriolus) – One in flight at Baringo.
WESTERN BLACK-HEADED ORIOLE (Oriolus brachyrynchus) – Heard at Kakamega. [*]
Dicruridae (Drongos)
SQUARE-TAILED DRONGO (Dicrurus ludwigii) – We saw about 16 in the interior of Kakamega Forest.
FORK-TAILED DRONGO (Dicrurus adsimilis) – Fairly common and widespread.
Monarchidae (Monarch Flycatchers)
AFRICAN PARADISE-FLYCATCHER (Terpsiphone viridis) – First seen at Gibb's Farm (4), and then another 10 between Kakamega, Baringo and Mt. Kenya.
Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
CAPE CROW (Corvus capensis) – About a dozen in the Ngorongoro-Serengeti area, and then another 15 around Nakuru.
PIED CROW (Corvus albus) – Common and widespread.
FAN-TAILED RAVEN (Corvus rhipidurus) – Three in the Kerio Valley, and 2 near Baringo.
WHITE-NECKED RAVEN (Corvus albicollis) – One near Gibb's Farm, and 3 in the Serengeti.
Alaudidae (Larks)
FISCHER'S SPARROW-LARK (Eremopterix leucopareia) – At least 300 in the Serengeti-Ngorongoro area.
PINK-BREASTED LARK (Calendulauda poecilosterna) – Good looks at a tee'd up bird at Baringo.
FOXY LARK (Calendulauda alopex intercedens) – One on the way to Gibb's Farm, and 1 at Tarangire.
RUFOUS-NAPED LARK (Mirafra africana) – Common at Ngorongoro and in the Serengeti.
RED-CAPPED LARK (Calandrella cinerea) – Six in Ngorongoro Crater.
Hirundinidae (Swallows)
PLAIN MARTIN (Riparia paludicola) – About a dozen over Limuru Pond.
BANDED MARTIN (Riparia cincta) – Two in Ngorongoro Crater.
ROCK MARTIN (Ptyonoprogne fuligula) – Widespread around cliffs, buildings and villages.
BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica) – Very common throughout the tour.
WIRE-TAILED SWALLOW (Hirundo smithii) – Four at Naabi Hill, and 4 in the Baringo-Bogoria area.
RED-RUMPED SWALLOW (Cecropis daurica) – Widespread in small numbers, but also about 60 in the Ngorongoro-Serengeti area.
LESSER STRIPED-SWALLOW (Cecropis abyssinica) – We saw about 30 of these very attractive swallows at Nairobi, Serengeti, and Tarangire.
MOSQUE SWALLOW (Cecropis senegalensis) – Some of the group saw 1 at Mountain Lodge.
COMMON HOUSE-MARTIN (Delichon urbicum) – About 30 (together with Barn Swallows) at Nakuru.
WHITE-HEADED SAWWING (Psalidoprocne albiceps) – Two males were together with other sawwings at Kakamega.
BLACK SAWWING (Psalidoprocne pristoptera) – Twelve at Gibb's Farm, about 20 at Kakamega, and 40+ at Mountain Lodge.
Stenostiridae (Fairy Flycatchers)
AFRICAN BLUE FLYCATCHER (Elminia longicauda) – Now in a new family 'Stenostiridae', we saw about 6 of these lovely 'Fairy Flycatchers 'at Kakamega.
WHITE-TAILED BLUE FLYCATCHER (Elminia albicauda) – Two at Gibb's Farm.


Oxpeckers were common in areas with big game; these two Yellow-billed Oxpeckers are hitching a ride on a giraffe. Photo by participant Craig Caldwell.

Paridae (Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice)
WHITE-BELLIED TIT (Melaniparus albiventris) – Four at Nakuru, 1 at Kakamega, and 1 in the Kerio Valley.
DUSKY TIT (Melaniparus funereus) – Six at Kakamega.
SOMALI TIT (Melaniparus thruppi) – We saw a pair along the cliffs at Baringo.
RED-THROATED TIT (Melaniparus fringillinus) – Nice looks at this EA endemic in the acacia scrub at Serengeti. [E]
Pycnonotidae (Bulbuls)
SLENDER-BILLED GREENBUL (Stelgidillas gracilirostris) – Singles at Gibb's Farm and Mountain Lodge.
RED-TAILED BRISTLEBILL (Bleda syndactylus) – Several were heard at Kakamega. [*]
SHELLEY'S GREENBUL (KAKAMEGA) (Arizelocichla masukuensis kakamegae) – This form is often split as Kakamega Greenbul; we saw 2 in the middle-levels of the forest there.
EASTERN MOUNTAIN-GREENBUL (MOUNTAIN) (Arizelocichla nigriceps nigriceps) – One at Gibb's Farm.
JOYFUL GREENBUL (Chlorocichla laetissima) – About 20 at Kakamega.
ANSORGE'S GREENBUL (Eurillas ansorgei) – We saw 2 of these very localized greenbuls in the mid-levels of Kakamega Forest.
PLAIN GREENBUL (Eurillas curvirostris) – One at Kakamega.
YELLOW-WHISKERED GREENBUL (Eurillas latirostris) – Common at Kakamega (although far more were heard than seen).
LITTLE GREENBUL (Eurillas virens) – Heard in the dense secondary growth at Kakamega. [*]
CABANIS'S GREENBUL (Phyllastrephus cabanisi) – One seen (and several heard) in the Kakamega undergrowth.
COMMON BULBUL (DARK-CAPPED) (Pycnonotus barbatus tricolor) – Common and widespread throughout the tour.
Macrosphenidae (African Warblers)
WHITE-BROWED CROMBEC (Sylvietta leucophrys) – One at Kakamega was rather unexpected.
NORTHERN CROMBEC (Sylvietta brachyura) – Three along the cliffs at Baringo.
GREEN HYLIA (Hylia prasina) – We struggled with this one, but eventually got nice looks in the interior of Kakamega Forest.
Phylloscopidae (Leaf Warblers)
UGANDA WOODLAND-WARBLER (Phylloscopus budongoensis) – One seen well, and many heard at Kakamega.
WILLOW WARBLER (Phylloscopus trochilus) – Six around Gibb's Farm, and 1 at Kakamega.
Acrocephalidae (Reed Warblers and Allies)
UPCHER'S WARBLER (Hippolais languida) – One in the Bogoria-Baringo area.
ICTERINE WARBLER (Hippolais icterina) – One came to mob a Pearl-spotted Owlet at Ndutu Lodge.
EURASIAN REED WARBLER (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) – One at Ngorongoro.
LESSER SWAMP WARBLER (Acrocephalus gracilirostris) – One in a roadside marsh near Eldoret.


One of the specialties of Kakamega Forest is the Great Blue Turaco; we had a wonderful view of this one in the garden at Rondo Retreat. Photo by participant Craig Caldwell.

Cisticolidae (Cisticolas and Allies)
BLACK-COLLARED APALIS (Apalis pulchra) – We saw 2 of these attractive apalises in the Kakamega undergrowth.
BLACK-THROATED APALIS (Apalis jacksoni) – Good looks at a pair from the roof of Mountain Lodge.
YELLOW-BREASTED APALIS (Apalis flavida) – Two at Gibb's Farm, and 4 in the Serengeti.
YELLOW-BREASTED APALIS (BROWN-TAILED) (Apalis flavida viridiceps) – Sometimes split from the previous form due to a different call, tail markings and preference for lower altitudes; we saw 1 at Baringo.
BUFF-THROATED APALIS (Apalis rufogularis) – A pair at Kakamega.
CHESTNUT-THROATED APALIS (Apalis porphyrolaema) – One was seen calling from a high exposed perch at Mountain Lodge.
GRAY APALIS (Apalis cinerea) – Two at Mountain Lodge.
BROWN-HEADED APALIS (Apalis alticola) – We saw a pair in the forest above Gibb's Farm.
GREEN-BACKED CAMAROPTERA (GRAY-BACKED) (Camaroptera brachyura brevicaudata) – Common and widespread.
OLIVE-GREEN CAMAROPTERA (Camaroptera chloronota) – Two singles at Kakamega.
RED-FRONTED WARBLER (Urorhipis rufifrons) – Four in the low acacia bush at Baringo.
GRAY WREN-WARBLER (Calamonastes simplex) – Three at Baringo.
WHITE-CHINNED PRINIA (Schistolais leucopogon) – Four along the forest edge at Kakamega.
RED-FACED CISTICOLA (Cisticola erythrops) – One at Gibb's Farm.
CHUBB'S CISTICOLA (Cisticola chubbi) – About 10 at Kakamega.
HUNTER'S CISTICOLA (Cisticola hunteri) – Four at Limuru Pond, and heard at Mountain Lodge. [E]
RATTLING CISTICOLA (Cisticola chiniana) – Small numbers were widespread in bush country; in all we saw about 40.
WINDING CISTICOLA (Cisticola galactotes) – Three in the bottom of Ngorongoro Crater.
CROAKING CISTICOLA (Cisticola natalensis) – One in the Serengeti.
SIFFLING CISTICOLA (Cisticola brachypterus) – Two in Nairobi NP.
PECTORAL-PATCH CISTICOLA (Cisticola brunnescens) – About 20 in Ngorongoro and the Serengeti.
GRAY-CAPPED WARBLER (Eminia lepida) – One seen at Gibb's Farm, and a few others heard at Ngorongoro and Kakamega.
BLACK-FACED RUFOUS-WARBLER (Bathmocercus rufus) – We saw 3 in the dense undergrowth at Kakamega.
BUFF-BELLIED WARBLER (Phyllolais pulchella) – Four in the lowlands on the way to Gibb's Farm, and 2 at Nakuru.
TAWNY-FLANKED PRINIA (Prinia subflava) – Two at Kakamega.
PALE PRINIA (Prinia somalica) – Three at Baringo.
BANDED PRINIA (BLACK-FACED) (Prinia bairdii melanops) – Good looks at a bird building a nest at Kakamega.
Sylviidae (Sylviid Warblers)
AFRICAN HILL BABBLER (Sylvia abyssinica) – One in the forest above Gibb's Farm.
EURASIAN BLACKCAP (Sylvia atricapilla) – We saw a female at Gibb's Farm.
GARDEN WARBLER (Sylvia borin) – One at Gibb's Farm.
BANDED WARBLER (Sylvia boehmi) – Four in the Serengeti.
BROWN WARBLER (Sylvia lugens) – One of the group saw 1 at Nakuru.
Zosteropidae (White-eyes, Yuhinas, and Allies)
AFRICAN YELLOW WHITE-EYE (Zosterops senegalensis) – About 10 at Kakamega.
BROAD-RINGED WHITE-EYE (Zosterops poliogastrus) – Six at Gibb's Farm, and about 20 around Mountain Lodge.
Pellorneidae (Ground Babblers and Allies)
SCALY-BREASTED ILLADOPSIS (Illadopsis albipectus) – Heard at Kakamega, and then seen darting across a track there.
Leiothrichidae (Laughingthrushes and Allies)
RUFOUS CHATTERER (Turdoides rubiginosa) – About 10 in the Baringo-Bogoria area.
BLACK-LORED BABBLER (Turdoides sharpei) – Two at Naabi Hill.
NORTHERN PIED-BABBLER (Turdoides hypoleuca) – Three in Nairobi NP. [E]
BROWN BABBLER (Turdoides plebejus) – Good looks at 5 on the bird feeder at Baringo.
ARROW-MARKED BABBLER (Turdoides jardineii) – About 10 at Gibb's Farm.


We saw Eastern Double-collared Sunbird on several occasions; these were one of 10 sunbird species that we found on the tour. Photo by participant Craig Caldwell.

Modulatricidae (Dapple-throat and Allies)
GRAY-CHESTED BABBLER (Kakamega poliothorax) – Previously known as Gray-chested Illadopsis, but now called Gray-chested Babbler and placed in a new 3 species family 'Modulatricidae'. We all heard, and most of us saw one of these super skulkers in the Kakamega undergrowth.
Muscicapidae (Old World Flycatchers)
DUSKY-BROWN FLYCATCHER (Muscicapa adusta) – Six around Gibb's Farm, and 1 at Mountain Lodge.
SPOTTED FLYCATCHER (Muscicapa striata) – One at Baringo.
SWAMP FLYCATCHER (Muscicapa aquatica) – Four along the edge of a marsh near Eldoret.
GRAYISH FLYCATCHER (Bradornis microrhynchus) – Eight in the Ngorongoro area, and 4 at Baringo.
PALE FLYCATCHER (Agricola pallidus) – Two near Chaka to the south-west of Mt. Kenya.
GRAY TIT-FLYCATCHER (Fraseria plumbea) – Two in the Kerio Valley.
SILVERBIRD (Melaenornis semipartitus) – About 10 in the Serengeti, and 2 at Tarangire.
NORTHERN BLACK-FLYCATCHER (Melaenornis edolioides) – One at Kakamega, and 2 in the Kerio Valley.
WHITE-EYED SLATY-FLYCATCHER (Melaenornis fischeri) – Fairly common in wooded highland areas; in all we saw about 40.
RED-BACKED SCRUB-ROBIN (Cercotrichas leucophrys) – Small numbers near Lake Manyara, Serengeti, and Baringo; with a total of 14.
CAPE ROBIN-CHAT (Cossypha caffra) – Two near Gibb's Farm, and 2 at Ngorongoro.
BLUE-SHOULDERED ROBIN-CHAT (Cossypha cyanocampter) – Heard in the dense undergrowth at Kakamega. [*]
RŸUEPPELL'S ROBIN-CHAT (Cossypha semirufa) – One at Mountain Lodge.
WHITE-BROWED ROBIN-CHAT (Cossypha heuglini) – Two at Gibb's Farm, 1 at Ngorongoro, and 8 at Nakuru.
SNOWY-CROWNED ROBIN-CHAT (Cossypha niveicapilla) – Excellent long looks at a bird gathering nesting material along a track at Kakamega - often shy, but not this one!
SPOTTED MORNING-THRUSH (Cichladusa guttata) – Three at Baringo.
BROWN-CHESTED ALETHE (Pseudalethe poliocephala) – Three singles at Kakamega.
EQUATORIAL AKALAT (Sheppardia aequatorialis) – One at Kakamega.
WHITE-THROATED ROBIN (Irania gutturalis) – We saw a single male in the low dry bush country on the way to Gibb's Farm.
COMMON NIGHTINGALE (Luscinia megarhynchos) – One heard in Nairobi NP. [*]
LITTLE ROCK-THRUSH (Monticola rufocinereus) – Nice looks at a female at Nakuru.
RUFOUS-TAILED ROCK-THRUSH (Monticola saxatilis) – Four at Ngorongoro-Serengeti, and 1 at Baringo.


We had some nice views of Blue-cheeked Bee-eater in Tarangire National Park in Tanzania. Photo by participant Craig Caldwell.

AFRICAN STONECHAT (Saxicola torquatus) – Four in the Kakamega and Eldoret areas.
NORTHERN ANTEATER-CHAT (Myrmecocichla aethiops) – Six at Ngorongoro, and about 40 at Nakuru.
MOCKING CLIFF-CHAT (Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris) – Good looks at a pair at Lake Nakuru Lodge.
BROWN-TAILED CHAT (Cercomela scotocerca) – Two singles at Baringo.
NORTHERN WHEATEAR (Oenanthe oenanthe) – About 16 in the Ngorongoro-Serengeti area, and 1 at Baringo.
ABYSSINIAN WHEATEAR (Oenanthe lugubris schalowi) – Sometimes split as Schalow's Wheatear, we saw 8 along the descent road in Ngorongoro Crater.
PIED WHEATEAR (Oenanthe pleschanka) – One male in the Serengeti.
CAPPED WHEATEAR (Oenanthe pileata) – Fairly common in Ngorongoro Crater.
ISABELLINE WHEATEAR (Oenanthe isabellina) – Four at Ngorongoro.
Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)
WHITE-TAILED ANT-THRUSH (Neocossyphus poensis) – Two were feeding along the road at Kakamega.
ABYSSINIAN THRUSH (ABYSSINIAN) (Turdus abyssinicus abyssinicus) – One at Nairobi, and 8 around Mountain Lodge.
AFRICAN THRUSH (Turdus pelios) – Two at Nakuru.
Sturnidae (Starlings)
WATTLED STARLING (Creatophora cinerea) – We saw a total of about 350 between Ngorongoro, the Serengeti, and Tarangire.
RED-WINGED STARLING (Onychognathus morio) – Widespread in small numbers with a total of about 30.
BRISTLE-CROWNED STARLING (Onychognathus salvadorii) – Three along the shore at Lake Baringo.
STUHLMANN'S STARLING (Poeoptera stuhlmanni) – About 10 at Kakamega.
HILDEBRANDT'S STARLING (Lamprotornis hildebrandti) – Common from Ngorongoro to Serengeti and Tarangire, and then 1 at Baringo. [E]
RŸUEPPELL'S STARLING (Lamprotornis purpuroptera) – Common at Serengeti (100), Nakuru (12), and Baringo (30).
ASHY STARLING (Lamprotornis unicolor) – About 60 at Tarangire. [E]
SUPERB STARLING (Lamprotornis superbus) – Very common and widespread.
GREATER BLUE-EARED STARLING (Lamprotornis chalybaeus) – About 12 at Nakuru.
Buphagidae (Oxpeckers)
RED-BILLED OXPECKER (Buphagus erythrorhynchus) – Widespread in areas with big game; we saw a total of about 120.
YELLOW-BILLED OXPECKER (Buphagus africanus) – Eight at Ngorongoro, and 50+ in the Serengeti.
Nectariniidae (Sunbirds and Spiderhunters)
KENYA VIOLET-BACKED SUNBIRD (Anthreptes orientalis) – Three at Baringo.
COLLARED SUNBIRD (Hedydipna collaris) – Six at Gibb's Farm, 2 at Kakamega, and 1 at Mountain Lodge.
GREEN-HEADED SUNBIRD (Cyanomitra verticalis) – One at Kakamega.
SCARLET-CHESTED SUNBIRD (Chalcomitra senegalensis) – One at Nairobi NP, and 6 at Nakuru.
BRONZE SUNBIRD (Nectarinia kilimensis) – Fairly common in the highlands with a total of about 40.
NORTHERN DOUBLE-COLLARED SUNBIRD (Cinnyris reichenowi) – Good looks at a male at Kakamega.
EASTERN DOUBLE-COLLARED SUNBIRD (Cinnyris mediocris) – One at Limuru Pond, 4 at Ngorongoro, and 2 at Mountain Lodge. [E]
BEAUTIFUL SUNBIRD (Cinnyris pulchellus) – These really are 'beautiful sunbirds', we saw them at 4 different widespread bush country sites.
MARIQUA SUNBIRD (Cinnyris mariquensis) – Another stunning sunbird; we saw about a dozen of these in the Serengeti.
VARIABLE SUNBIRD (Cinnyris venustus) – Four in the Gibb's Farm area.
Motacillidae (Wagtails and Pipits)
WESTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL (Motacilla flava) – Common and widespread in grasslands and along lake shores.
CAPE WAGTAIL (Motacilla capensis) – One near Eldoret, and 3 in the Mountain Lodge area.
AFRICAN PIED WAGTAIL (Motacilla aguimp) – Common and widespread.
AFRICAN PIPIT (Anthus cinnamomeus) – Fairly common in the open grassland at Nairobi NP, Ngorongoro, and Serengeti.
PLAIN-BACKED PIPIT (Anthus leucophrys) – Four at Serengeti, and 1 at Nakuru.
ROSY-THROATED LONGCLAW (Macronyx ameliae) – Six in Ngorongoro included a couple of spectacular males.


While some starling species are very common, we only saw 12 of the Greater Blue-eared Starling at Nakuru. Photo by participant Craig Caldwell.

Emberizidae (Old World Buntings)
CINNAMON-BREASTED BUNTING (Emberiza tahapisi) – One at Serengeti.
GOLDEN-BREASTED BUNTING (Emberiza flaviventris) – One at Ngorongoro.
Fringillidae (Finches, Euphonias, and Allies)
SOUTHERN CITRIL (Crithagra hyposticta) – Four in the farmlands at the edge of Kakamega Forest.
REICHENOW'S SEEDEATER (Crithagra reichenowi) – Three in the Kerio Valley.
WHITE-BELLIED CANARY (Crithagra dorsostriata) – About a dozen in the Ngorongoro-Serengeti area.
SOUTHERN GROSBEAK-CANARY (Crithagra buchanani) – Two at the bottom of the Crater Highlands.
STREAKY SEEDEATER (Crithagra striolata) – Four in the Nairobi area, 8 at Gibb's Farm, and 6 at Mountain Lodge.
THICK-BILLED SEEDEATER (Crithagra burtoni) – Two at Gibb's Farm.
Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)
HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus) – Small numbers around Nairobi and Naabi Hill.
KENYA RUFOUS SPARROW (Passer rufocinctus) – About 80 in the Ngorongoro-Serengeti area, and 20 at Nakuru.
NORTHERN GRAY-HEADED SPARROW (Passer griseus) – Two at Kakamega.
SWAHILI SPARROW (Passer suahelicus) – Common in the Serengeti, and at Tarangire.
YELLOW-SPOTTED PETRONIA (Petronia pyrgita) – Four in the Serengeti.
Ploceidae (Weavers and Allies)
WHITE-BILLED BUFFALO-WEAVER (Bubalornis albirostris) – Four at the bird feeder at Baringo.
RED-BILLED BUFFALO-WEAVER (Bubalornis niger) – At least 200 at Tarangire were the most for any single area, but we also saw about 40 in the Serengeti.
WHITE-HEADED BUFFALO-WEAVER (Dinemellia dinemelli) – Scattered across acacia bush areas of Ngorongoro, the Serengeti and Baringo; we saw a total of about 100.
SPECKLE-FRONTED WEAVER (Sporopipes frontalis) – Two on the way to Gibb's Farm, and 30 in the Serengeti.
WHITE-BROWED SPARROW-WEAVER (Plocepasser mahali) – About 50 from the Kerio Valley to Bogoria and on to Baringo.
RUFOUS-TAILED WEAVER (Histurgops ruficauda) – We saw a total of about 350 between Ngorongoro, the Serengeti and Tarangire. [E]
GRAY-HEADED SOCIAL-WEAVER (Pseudonigrita arnaudi) – Two near the Seronera Serengeti park head-quarters.


Red-cheeked Cordonbleu is a very pretty little finch! Photo by participant Craig Caldwell.

RED-HEADED MALIMBE (Malimbus rubricollis) – One at Kakamega.
RED-HEADED WEAVER (Anaplectes rubriceps) – One near Arusha, and 2 in the Serengeti.
BAGLAFECHT WEAVER (Ploceus baglafecht) – Common and widespread.
LITTLE WEAVER (Ploceus luteolus) – One in the Kerio Valley, and 3 at Baringo.
BLACK-NECKED WEAVER (Ploceus nigricollis) – Four at Kakamega.
HOLUB'S GOLDEN-WEAVER (Ploceus xanthops) – Two at Ngorongoro, and 1 near Eldoret.
NORTHERN MASKED-WEAVER (Ploceus taeniopterus) – We saw 4 males in breeding plumage at Baringo - the only site to see this species in Kenya.
LESSER MASKED-WEAVER (Ploceus intermedius) – About 40 were breeding at our lodge in the Serengeti.
VITELLINE MASKED-WEAVER (Ploceus vitellinus) – Six at Oldupai Gorge, and 4 in the Serengeti.
SPEKE'S WEAVER (Ploceus spekei) – Forty in the Nairobi area were mostly in non-breeding plumage, but we then saw some splendid males at Ngorongoro Crater.
VIEILLOT'S WEAVER (Ploceus nigerrimus) – About 30 at the Rondo Retreat, Kakamega.
VILLAGE WEAVER (Ploceus cucullatus) – Fifty at Serengeti, and a similar number at Baringo.
BLACK-HEADED WEAVER (Ploceus melanocephalus) – Two at a marsh near Eldoret.
GOLDEN-BACKED WEAVER (Ploceus jacksoni) – We saw a single breeding male near Gibb's Farm.
FOREST WEAVER (Ploceus bicolor) – About a dozen at Kakamega.
BROWN-CAPPED WEAVER (Ploceus insignis) – Four at Kakamega.
RED-BILLED QUELEA (Quelea quelea) – About 100 in an overgrown farm field near Bogoria.
NORTHERN RED BISHOP (Euplectes franciscanus) – One female near Bogoria.
BLACK BISHOP (Euplectes gierowii friederichseni) – Two at Oldupai Gorge.
YELLOW BISHOP (Euplectes capensis) – Four (including males in breeding plumage) at Ngorongoro Crater.
WHITE-WINGED WIDOWBIRD (Euplectes albonotatus) – Several hundred with many breeding males near the Serengeti Serena Lodge.
RED-COLLARED WIDOWBIRD (Euplectes ardens) – One near our lodge along the rim of Ngorongoro Crater.
FAN-TAILED WIDOWBIRD (Euplectes axillaris) – About 10 in Ngorongoro Crater.
GROSBEAK WEAVER (Amblyospiza albifrons) – Four males were nest building at Gibb's Farm.
Estrildidae (Waxbills and Allies)
GRAY-HEADED NIGRITA (Nigrita canicapillus) – One at Kakamega.
WHITE-BREASTED NIGRITA (Nigrita fusconotus) – One at Kakamega.
YELLOW-BELLIED WAXBILL (Coccopygia quartinia) – One at the Ngorongoro view point.
CRIMSON-RUMPED WAXBILL (Estrilda rhodopyga) – Five in the farmlands near Bogoria.
COMMON WAXBILL (Estrilda astrild) – One near Eldoret.
RED-HEADED BLUEBILL (Spermophaga ruficapilla) – Some of the group saw 1 along a track at Kakamega.
RED-CHEEKED CORDONBLEU (Uraeginthus bengalus) – One at Nairobi, and about 30 at Nakuru.
BLUE-CAPPED CORDONBLEU (Uraeginthus cyanocephalus) – Two at Serengeti, and 3 at Tarangire - a gorgeous little waxbill!
PURPLE GRENADIER (Granatina ianthinogaster) – Another gorgeous waxbill; we saw these in the lowlands before Gibb's Farm, and in the Serengeti.
GREEN-WINGED PYTILIA (Pytilia melba) – Nice looks at a male at Baringo.
RED-BILLED FIREFINCH (Lagonosticta senegala) – One at Ngorongoro, and 4 at Nakuru.
BLACK-BELLIED FIREFINCH (Lagonosticta rara) – One at the edge of Kakamega Forest.
CUT-THROAT (Amadina fasciata) – We saw a single flock of 10 in the Serengeti.
GRAY-HEADED SILVERBILL (Odontospiza griseicapilla) – Eight in the Serengeti included several young birds.


We found a few Black-bellied Bustards on the plains in Ngorongoro and the Serengeti. Photo by participant Craig Caldwell.

BRONZE MANNIKIN (Spermestes cucullata) – About 15 at the edge of Kakamega Forest.
Viduidae (Indigobirds)
PIN-TAILED WHYDAH (Vidua macroura) – Single males at Limuru Pond and in the Serengeti.
STEEL-BLUE WHYDAH (Vidua hypocherina) – Nice looks at a male in full breeding plumage in the Seronera area of Serengeti.
STRAW-TAILED WHYDAH (Vidua fischeri) – Another whydah we saw in breeding plumage in the Serengeti; we had 2 males and 1 female.

MAMMALS
WAHLBERG'S EPAULETTED FRUIT BAT (Epomophorus wahlbergi) – About 100 at the entrance to Nairobi NP.
SENEGAL BUSHBABY (Galago senegalensis) – Two roosting on top of an unidentified birds nest at Tarangire.
BROWN GREATER GALAGO (Otolemur crassicaudatus) – Two came to a feeding platform at Gibb's Farm.
BLUE MONKEY (Cercopithecus mitis) – About 60 at Kakamega.
SYKES MONKEY (Cercopithecus albogularis) – About 15 at Mountain Lodge.
BLACK-FACED VERVET MONKEY (Cercopithecus aethiops) – Very common and widespread with a total of about 350.
OLIVE BABOON (Papio anubis) – Very common and widespread with a total of about 900.
MANTLED GUEREZA (Colobus guereza) – Also known as Black-and-white Colobus; we saw about 80 of these striking monkeys at Kakamega.
UNSTRIPED GROUND SQUIRREL (Xerus rutilus) – One on the way to Gibb's Farm, and 3 at Tarangire.
OCHRE BUSH SQUIRREL (Paraxerus ochraceus) – Ten around our lodge at Tarangire, and 1 in the Kerio Valley.
RED-LEGGED SUN SQUIRREL (Heliosciurus rufobrachium) – Three at Kakamega.
BLACK-BACKED JACKAL (Canis mesomelas) – One at Ngorongoro, about a dozen in the Serengeti, and 6 at Nakuru.
COMMON JACKAL (Canis aureus) – Four in Ngorongoro Crater, and 1 in the Serengeti.
BAT-EARED FOX (Otocyon megalotis) – One at Tarangire.
COMMON (SMALL-SPOTTED) GENET (Genetta genetta) – Two at Ndutu Safari Lodge.
SLENDER MONGOOSE (Herpestes sanguineus) – Some of the group saw 1 cross the road at Ngorongoro.


The attractive Hildebrandt's Starling was rather common in Tanzania. Photo by participant Craig Caldwell.

BANDED MONGOOSE (Mungos mungo) – Several groups, with of totals about 30 in the Serengeti, and 50 at Tarangire.
EASTERN DWARF MONGOOSE (Helogale hirtula) – Ten in the Serengeti, and 10 at Tarangire.
SPOTTED HYAENA (Crocuta crocuta) – Many great and close encounters, with about 30 at Ngorongoro, 60 in the Serengeti, 4 at Nakuru, and 8 at Mountain Lodge.
LEOPARD (Panthera pardus) – One along the main road as we headed towards the Seronera area of the Serengeti. It was very shy at first, but then climbed a large rock and posed nicely before climbing down and slinking away - a memorable sighting!
LION (Panthera leo) – Fourteen in Ngorongoro Crater, surprisingly only 1 in the Serengeti, 3 at Tarangire, and 3 at Nakuru which hunted down and killed a young Waterbuck.
CHEETAH (Acinonyx jubatus) – Wow! Fabulous close looks at 2 brothers which had just killed and were eating a half grown Wildebeest.
AFRICAN ELEPHANT (Loxodonta africana) – Our first was on the main paved road near Mto wa Mbo, and then we saw many including family herds, small babies and large bulls; in all we saw about 400.
ROCK HYRAX (Procavia capensis) – Small numbers in the Serengeti and Baringo.
BUSH (YELLOW-SPOTTED) HYRAX (Heterohyrax brucei) – Very common around our lodge at Tarangire.
TREE HYRAX (Dendrohyrax arboreus) – Two at Tarangire, and 1 at Nakuru.
BURCHELL'S ZEBRA (Equus burchelli) – Many thousands at Ngorongoro and in the Serengeti, about 400 at Nakuru, and smaller numbers elsewhere.
BLACK RHINOCEROS (Diceros bicornis) – Singles in Nairobi NP and Ngorongoro Crater.
WHITE RHINOCEROS (Ceratotherium simum) – Three at Nakuru. [I]
BUSH-PIG (Potamochoerus larvatus) – Amazing to see these usually nocturnal pigs feeding in the open at midday by the A&K Ngorongoro workshop.
WARTHOG (Phacochoerus aethiopicus) – Common and widespread, in all we saw about 350.
HIPPOPOTAMUS (Hippopotamus amphibius) – Fifteen in Nairobi NP, 50+ at a small pool in Ngorongoro Crater, and 40 in the Serengeti.
COMMON GIRAFFE (Giraffa camelopardalis) – We saw a total of about 120 in Nairobi NP and the Ngorongoro-Serengeti area.
ROTHSCHILD'S GIRAFFE (Giraffa rothschildi) – We scoped a very distant one at Nakuru.
BUSHBUCK (Tragelaphus scriptus) – Two in Nairobi NP, and about 20 at Mountain Lodge.
COMMON ELAND (Taurotragus oryx) – Four in Nairobi NP, 15 at Ngorongoro, and a dozen in the Serengeti.
AFRICAN BUFFALO (Syncerus caffer) – Several thousand at both Ngorongoro and Nakuru, perhaps about 1000 in the Serengeti, and 20 at Nairobi NP.
COMMON WATERBUCK (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) – Forty at Tarangire.
DEFASSA WATERBUCK (Kobus defassa) – About 150 at Nakuru, and 1 at Mountain Lodge.
BOHOR REEDBUCK (Redunca redunca) – Four in Nairobi NP, 6 in the Serengeti, and 4 at Tarangire.
TOPI (Damaliscus lunatus) – About 45 in the Serengeti.
HARTEBEEST (KONGONI) (Alcelaphus buselaphus) – The form we saw is often split as Coke's Hartebeest; we saw 60 in Nairobi NP, 1 at Ngorongoro, and 50+ in the Serengeti.
BLUE WILDEBEEST (Connochaetes taurinus) – Amazing to drive right amongst herds of hundreds of thousands in the Serengeti - but also wonderful to see thousands more in Ngorongoro Crater, and others in Nairobi NP and at Tarangire.
SUNI (Neotragus moschatus) – Some of the group saw 1 at Mountain Lodge.
KIRK'S DIK-DIK (Modoqua kirki) – About 30 in the Serengeti, and 50 at Tarangire.
IMPALA (Aepyceros malampus) – At least 600 at Tarangire were the most for any single area, but we also saw good numbers in the Serengeti, at Nakuru, and in Nairobi NP.
THOMSON'S GAZELLE (Gazella thomsoni) – Many thousands in the Ngorongoro-Serengeti area, and far smaller numbers at Nairobi NP and Nakuru.
GRANT'S GAZELLE (Gazella granti) – Most common in the Ngorongoro-Serengeti area, but also at Tarangire, Nairobi and Nakuru; in all we saw about 1400.


ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Reptiles seen on the tour included;

Nile Crocodile; 2 in Nairobi NP,

Leopard Tortoise; 2 at Tarangire,

Mwanza Rock Agama; several in rocky areas of the Serengeti.

Red-headed Rock Agama; about 6 at Tarangire, and 4 at Baringo.


Totals for the tour: 465 bird taxa and 48 mammal taxa