Ethiopia Budget Birding 26th November to 7th December 2018 (12 days) Trip Report

Ethiopian Wolf by Jan Pienaar

Trip report compiled by Tour Leader: Jan Pienaar

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Tour Summary

Ethiopia is a country that has a lot to offer its visitors – high mountains steeped in alpine moorland, dense woodlands and forests, Acacia woodland, semi-desert and lest we forget the Great Rift Valley with its associated lakes, woodland and cliffs. On our 12-day exploration of this marvellous country, we sampled a great cross-section of these habitats and came away with great sightings and even better memories.

We met on the first afternoon at our hotel in Addis Ababa, where the gardens offered the first taste of Ethiopian birding. Tacazze Sunbird, Brown-rumped and Streaky Seedeaters, Dusky Turtle Dove, scores of Hooded Vulture and Yellow-billed Kite, Abyssinian Slaty Flycatcher, Brown Parisoma and Wattled Ibis kept us entertained. After breakfast the next morning, we headed east of the capital towards the town of Debre Birhan. A few birding stops along the way bagged us Blue-winged Goose, African Black Duck, Black Stork, Bearded Vulture, a Lanner Falcon that literally flew between members of the group, unmistakeable Thick-billed Raven, near-endemic White-winged Cliff , Long-billed Pipit and Yellow-crowned Canary. Our main targets for the day, though, were a ways past Debre Birhan to an area called Gemesa Gedel. Here, on steep cliffs overlooking the Great Rift Valley, we had Ankober Serin (only described to science in 1976) and the impressive Gelada Baboon. Despite the cold and the driving wind, we nevertheless enjoyed good views of these. We then headed White-winged Cliff Chat by Jan back to Debre Birhan for the night. Pienaar

Early the next morning, still way before sunrise, we started our journey to the vast Jemma River Valley. We arrived just after sunrise at the top of the valley in order to locate Harwood’s Francolin, a very localised endemic. After many sightings of the more widespread Erckel’s Francolin, we finally managed to find a pair of Harwood’s – with the male displaying towards the female! Other gems we found here included Booted Eagle, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Nyanza Swift, Black-billed Barbet, Red-tailed Shrike, Lesser Whitethroat, White-billed Starling, Abyssinian , Rüppel’s Black and Mocking Cliff Chats and Speckle-fronted Weaver. We had lunch on the banks of the Jemma River and added African Pygmy, Pied, Giant and Half-collared Kingfishers, Senegal Thick- knee, Crimson-rumped Waxbill, Eurasian Wryneck and Bush Petronia. On the way back to Addis, a quick stop on the Sululta Plains revealed dozens of Black-winged Lapwing, hundreds of Western Yellow Wagtail, Northern Shoveler, Red-billed Teal, African Spoonbill, Northern Pintail, Hamerkop and Common Snipe. We arrived at our hotel in the early evening and settled Gelada Baboon by Jan Pienaar in for the night.

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After breakfast the next day, we struck out south from the capital as we headed down the western wall of the Great Rift Valley. En route to our accommodations in the town of Awassa, we visited a good selection of the Rift Valley lakes and came away with White-faced and Fulvous Whistling Ducks, Knob- billed Duck, Garganey, Hottentot Teal, Greater and Lesser Flamingoes, Glossy Ibis, Squacco Heron, Great White and Pink-backed Pelicans, African Darter, Western Marsh and Montagu’s Harriers, Black Kite, stately Common and Black-crowned Cranes, African Jacana, Black-tailed Godwit, Ruff, African Snipe, Marsh Sandpiper, Lesser Black-backed and Grey-headed Gulls, Gull-billed and White-winged Terns, Malachite Kingfisher, Blue-breasted and Northern Carmine Bee-eaters, Red-fronted Tinkerbird, Orange-breasted Bushshrike, Ethiopian Boubou, Northern Crombec, Rüppel’s Starling, African Thrush, Collared Sunbird and Rüppel’s Weaver.

A pre-breakfast stroll around our hotel was a great way to get the day started, as we had some great including African Pygmy African Spotted Creeper by Jan Pienaar Goose, Purple Heron, African Fish Eagle, Black Crake, Allen’s Gallinule, Blue-headed Coucal, Woodland Kingfisher, a large flock of Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Banded and Double-toothed Barbets, Nubian and Eastern Grey Woodpeckers, Western Black-headed Batis, Buff-bellied, Sedge and African Reed Warblers, White-rumped Babbler, African Spotted Creeper, White-browed Robin-Chat, Beautiful Sunbird and Little, Spectacled and Rüppel’s Weavers. Guereza Colobus and a few Grivet Monkeys kept us entertained, especially when they came to look for scraps around the breakfast tables!

Our base for the next two nights was in the town of Goba, which meant leaving Awassa and almost straight away starting to climb out of the Rift Valley as we headed further east. As we ascended the trees became sparser, and we drove through mixed areas of upland grassland and cultivation. Erlanger’s Lark and Red- throated Pipit were picked up before we reached the highest point of the day (at 3,600m above sea level), whilst the marshes at the top delivered our first Rouget’s Rail and African Stonechat and, nearer the town of Dinsho, we had cracking views of a Cape Eagle-Owl on the nest. At the Bale Mountains National Park’s headquarters, a stroll through the Hagenia-Juniper mixed woodlands produced African Wood and Abyssinian Owls (both were pairs on their day roosts), Abyssinian Catbird and White- backed Black Tit. The mammals in the area did not disappoint either, with good numbers of Mountain Nyala, and smaller numbers of Bohor Reedbuck, Bushbuck (an endemic sub- species, characterised by longer fur), Common Warthog and Common Duiker. A Serval seen just before the town was also a nice surprise, although not everyone got to see it. After a long but eventful day, we settled into our hotel in Goba, full of Rouget’s Rail by Jan Pienaar anticipation for the trek up to the Sanetti Plateau the next day.

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A day spent up on the Sanetti Plateau, ranging in elevation from around 2,800m to over 4,000m above sea level, is surely one of the major highlights of any trip to Ethiopia. One of the major drawcards is without doubt a sighting of the Ethiopian Wolf – the world’s rarest canid, with fewer than 500 individuals left. The Bale Mountains are the stronghold of this handsome predator, with more than half the population estimated to occur here. We were extremely fortunate to have excellent views of seven different individuals, including one that jogged past a mere three metres from our vehicles! It’s main prey, the Giant Mole Rat, was also much in evidence excavating their burrows. Whilst traversing this wonderland of Erica, Helicrysum and Giant Lobelias, we also happened upon specials such as Ruddy Shelduck, Chestnut- naped Francolin, a pair of Wattled Crane, good numbers of Spot- breasted Lapwing, Red-billed Chough, Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, Ethiopian Cisticola, Thekla’s Lark and large numbers of the handsome endemic Ethiopian Siskin, as well as multiple sightings of the endemic Ethiopian Highland (or Starck’s) Hare. Juniper woodlands just below the northern lip of the plateau produced Abyssinian Woodpecker, Martial Eagle, White- cheeked Turaco and Brown Woodland Warbler.

As we ventured further south, we crossed through the country’s largest extant patch of forest, known as the Harenna Forest. Spanning an altitudinal range of 1,500m, it has a lot to offer in terms of species diversity. Avian gems we picked up included Crowned and Long-crested Eagles, Mountain Buzzard, Tambourine Dove, Lesser Honeyguide, Ethiopian Oriole, Black Saw-wing, African Hill Babbler, Slender-billed Starling and Abyssinian Owl by Jan Pienaar Pin-tailed Whydah, whilst we were also treated to a sighting of the rare and little-known Bale Monkey.

Dropping in altitude even further after exiting the forest, the group moved through areas of Acacia savannah, interspersed with some gallery forest along larger rivers. This area produced a host of new species, including Blue-spotted Wood Dove, Bruce’s Green Pigeon, the enigmatic Ruspoli’s Turaco, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Violet-backed Starling, Red-throated Wryneck, Northern Black Flycatcher, Purple Roller and Yellow- fronted Canary. We checked into our accommodations in the town of Negele then, our base for two nights.

White-cheeked Turaco by Jan Pienaar An early start saw us again rising before dawn to head out to the Liben Plains, home to the rare Archer’s (or Liben) Lark. Whilst searching for this grassland denizen, we were entertained by sightings of Amur Falcon, Crowned Lapwing, Temminck’s Courser, Grey, Lesser and numerous Common Kestrels, Taita Fiscal, large numbers of Somali Short- toed Lark, Ethiopian Swallow, Pectoral-patch Cisticola, Wattled, Shelley’s and White-crowned

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Starlings, Shelley’s Sparrow and Plain-backed Pipit. A pair of Archer’s Lark showed very well indeed, and allowed scope views for everyone. More wooded areas further east held Coqui and Crested Francolins, Eastern Chanting Goshawk, Shikra, Kori and White-bellied Bustards, Lilac-breasted Roller, Isabelline Shrike, Black-headed Oriole, Somali Crow, Mouse-colored Penduline Tit, Northern and Red- faced Crombecs, Boran Cisticola, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Grey Wren-Warbler, Yellow-bellied Eremomela, Common Rock Thrush, Marico Sunbird, Yellow-spotted Petronia, Grey-capped Social and Chestnut Weavers, Cut-throat Finch, Purple Grenadier, Somali Bunting and Reichenow’s and the difficult Salvadori’s Seedeaters. At lunch back in Negele, we added African Harrier-Hawk, African Palm Swift, Northern Puffback, Grey-headed Kingfisher and Grey- headed Bushshrike, before venturing out on an afternoon excursion to the west of town. Slightly moister woodland awaited us here, and produced sightings of Slate-colored Boubou, Bare-eyed Thrush, African Grey Flycatcher, Red-billed and White-headed Buffalo Weavers and Crimson-rumped Waxbill. Stresemann’s Bushcrow by Jan Pienaar

We were off early again the next day, although we had to change our routing significantly due to security concerns near the border. This means that we had to forego travelling through vast areas of arid woodland in the lowlands, and instead we drove through higher elevations and a mixture of cultivation and patches of natural forest. Black-headed Heron, Bateleur, African Wattled Lapwing, Little Bee-eater, Red-fronted Barbet, Lesser Striped Swallow, Red-faced and Rattling Cisticolas, Red-collared Widowbird, African Firefinch, Common Waxbill and, in particular, Yellow-fronted Parrot were added on the drive. Closer to our destination of Yabello, we added Red-bellied Parrot and Golden-breasted Starling.

At sunrise on our full day exploring the Yabello area, we left for the drive south and headed to an area called the Soda Plains. Our main target in this area was the Stresemann’s Bushcrow, which we had no problem in finding as they had a nest right next to where we were to have our breakfast! Another localised endemic, the White-tailed Swallow, was equally as compliant and we enjoyed numerous sightings of them. Vying for attention from these star birds were Yellow- necked Spurfowl, Lappet-faced Vulture, Gabar Goshawk, Blue-naped Mousebird, Rosy-patched Bushshrike, Somali Fiscal, Grant’s Gazelle by Jan Pienaar Foxy and the localised Short-tailed Lark, Tiny Cisticola, Pale Prinia, Banded Parisoma, Chestnut Sparrow, Black-cheeked Waxbill and both Grey- capped and Black-capped Social Weavers. Grant’s Gazelle, a lone Gerenuk and a few Unstriped Ground Squirrels were notables on the mammal front. An afternoon birding session nearer Yabello yielded

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Emerald-spotted Wood Dove, Black-billed Wood Hoopoe, Northern Red-billed, Von Der Decken’s, Hemprich’s and Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbills, D’Arnaud’s Barbet, Pygmy Falcon, Red-naped Bushshrike, White-crested Helmetshrike, Acacia Tit, Northern Brownbul, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Scaly and Rufous Chatterers, White-browed Scrub Robin, Spotted Palm Thrush, Eastern Violet-backed and Hunter’s Sunbirds and a single White-bellied Canary.

As we headed back up the Rift Valley for the final night of the tour in the town of Shashemene, we stopped of in an area of taller Acacia woodland where we had Red-and-yellow Barbet, Grey-backed Fiscal and Red-headed Weaver, before embarking on the long drive north. We arrived in Shashemene, the unofficial capital of Ethiopia’s Rastafarian community, in the late afternoon.

After our last morning started with a hearty breakfast, we struck out north again and headed to the south-eastern shore of Lake Langano. Here we stopped in at the Bishangari Lodge (under construction following a recent fire) and birded the superb woodland and fig forests nearby. Notable species we added to our trip included Clapperton’s Francolin, Yellow-billed Stork, Ayres’s Hawk-Eagle, African Goshawk, Kittlitz’s Plover, African Olive Pigeon, Lemon Dove, Klaas’s Cuckoo, Narina Trogon, Bare-faced Go-away-, Greater Honeyguide, Brown-throated Wattle-eye, Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike, Masked Shrike, White-winged Black Tit, Red-capped Robin- Chat, Thick-billed Weaver and Bronze Mannikin. After lunch, where we were entertained by various species feeding in a huge fig tree outside the restaurant, we headed back to Addis Ababa, where our tour concluded with a farewell dinner in a cultural restaurant – replete with traditional music, tribal dancing and the famed coffee ceremony!

During our 12 days here, we were treated to stunning scenery, amazing wildlife and wonderfully hospitable hosts. The memories made on this trip will surely last a lifetime for all Von Der Decken’s Hornbill by Jan who participated! Pienaar

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Annotated List of species recorded Note: Number in brackets ( ) indicate number of days on the tour the species was recorded. List powered through the report generator of our partner iGoTerra.

Birds (399 in total: 396 seen, 3 heard) Nomenclature and follows Gill, F and D Donsker (Eds). 2018. IOC World Bird List (v 8.2). Status codes: E = Endemic, NE = Near-endemic, I = Introduced IUCN codes: CR = Critically endangered, EN = Endangered, VU = Vulnerable, EW = Extinct in the Wild, NT = Near Threatened, DD = Data Deficient

Ducks, Geese & Swans Anatidae White-faced Whistling Duck Dendrocygna viduata Observed 2 day(s) in total. Fulvous Whistling Duck Dendrocygna bicolor (1) 6 Lake Ziway 29.11. Spur-winged Goose Plectropterus gambensis gambensis (2) 4 Lake Ziway 29.11 and 8 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11. Knob-billed Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos (1) 4 Bishoftu--Lake Chelekleka 29.11. Blue-winged Goose (VU) Cyanochen cyanoptera (5) 6 Debre Birhan 27.11, 4 Sululta Plains 28.11, 2 Dinsho - Gaysay Valley, NW of town 30.11, 12 Bale Mountains NP--Sanetti Plateau 1.12 and 10 Bale Mountains NP--Sanetti Plateau 2.12. Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca Observed 8 day(s) in total. Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea (2) 10 Bale Mountains NP--Sanetti Plateau 1.12 and 4 Bale Mountains NP--Sanetti Plateau 2.12. African Pygmy Goose Nettapus auritus (1) 4 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11. Garganey Spatula querquedula (3) 10 Bishoftu--Lake Chelekleka 29.11, 2 Lake Ziway 30.11 and 1 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Hottentot Teal Spatula hottentota (1) 20 Lake Koka 29.11. Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata (2) 8 Sululta Plains 28.11 and 2 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. African Black Duck Anas sparsa leucostigma (1) 3 Debre Birhan 27.11. Yellow-billed Duck Anas undulata ruppelli (6) 3 Debre Birhan 27.11, 12 Sululta Plains 28.11, 4 Bishoftu--Lake Chelekleka 29.11, 2 Dinsho - Gaysay Valley, NW of town 30.11, 6 Bale Mountains NP--Sanetti Plateau 1.12 and 2 Bale Mountains NP--Sanetti Plateau 2.12. Red-billed Teal Anas erythrorhyncha (1) 2 Sululta Plains 28.11.

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Northern Pintail Anas acuta (1) 1 Sululta Plains 28.11.

Guineafowl Numididae Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris (1) 10 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 5.12.

Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies Phasianidae Coqui Francolin Peliperdix coqui maharao (1) 4 Liben Plains, E of Negele 3.12. Crested Francolin Dendroperdix sephaena (3) 2 en route--Filtu to Negele, 36km from Negele 3.12, 6 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 5.12 and 2 heard Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 6.12. Scaly Francolin Pternistis squamatus (1) 2 heard Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Clapperton's Francolin Pternistis clappertoni (1) 3 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Harwood's Francolin (VU) Pternistis harwoodi (1) 2 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11. Hard work paid off as we searched the upper reaches of the Jemma Valley for this special. Chestnut-naped Francolin Pternistis castaneicollis (3) 1 Dinsho - Gaysay Valley, NW of town 30.11, 8 Bale Mountains NP--Sanetti Plateau 1.12 and 10 Bale Mountains NP--Sanetti Plateau 2.12. Erckel's Francolin Pternistis erckelii (2) 2 Debre Birhan 27.11 and 10 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11. Yellow-necked Spurfowl Pternistis leucoscepus (1) 10 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 5.12.

Grebes Podicipedidae Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis capensis Observed 3 day(s) in total.

Flamingos Phoenicopteridae Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus (1) 50 Bishoftu--Lake Chelekleka 29.11. Lesser Flamingo (NT) Phoeniconaias minor (2) 12 Lake Koka 29.11 and 1 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11.

Storks Ciconiidae Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis (1) 1 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Black Stork Ciconia nigra (1) 2 Debre Birhan 27.11. Abdim's Stork Ciconia abdimii (1) 2 Liben Plains, E of Negele 3.12.

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Woolly-necked Stork (VU) Ciconia episcopus microscelis (4) 4 Sululta Plains 28.11, 2 Kibre Menghist 4.12, 3 Shashamene, Oromia 6.12 and 3 Lake Langano-- SE, Bishangari 7.12. White Stork Ciconia ciconia ciconia (3) 6 en route--Filtu to Negele, 36km from Negele 3.12 and 20 Addis Ababa 7.12. Marabou Stork Leptoptilos crumenifer Observed 4 day(s) in total.

Ibises, Spoonbills Threskiornithidae African Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus Observed 8 day(s) in total. Hadada Ibis Bostrychia hagedash nilotica (3) 10 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11, 2 Negele, Oromia 4.12 and 4 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Wattled Ibis Bostrychia carunculata (7) 1 Shashamene, Oromia 6.12 and 4 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus (2) 1 Sululta Plains 28.11. African Spoonbill Platalea alba (3) 2 Sululta Plains 28.11, 2 Bishoftu--Lake Chelekleka 29.11 and 4 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12.

Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns Ardeidae Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides (3) 10 Bishoftu--Lake Hora 29.11, 6 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11 and 1 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Observed 6 day(s) in total. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea cinerea (3) 1 Sululta Plains 28.11, 3 Lake Koka 29.11 and 2 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala (1) 1 Hagare Maryam, Oromia 4.12. Purple Heron Ardea purpurea purpurea (2) 1 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11 and 1 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Great Egret Ardea alba (2) 6 Bishoftu--Lake Chelekleka 29.11 and 1 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Little Egret Egretta garzetta garzetta (4) 3 Sululta Plains 28.11, 4 Bishoftu--Lake Chelekleka 29.11 and 6 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12.

Hamerkop Scopidae Hamerkop Scopus umbretta umbretta (9) 1 Debre Birhan 27.11, 1 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11, 8 Bishoftu--Lake Chelekleka 29.11, 1 Goba - Wabe Shebelle Hotel 1.12, 1 Kibre Menghist 4.12, 1 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 5.12, 1 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 6.12 and 2 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12.

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Pelicans Pelecanidae Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus (3) 12 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Pink-backed Pelican Pelecanus rufescens (1) 6 Bishoftu--Lake Chelekleka 29.11.

Cormorants and Shags Phalacrocoracidae Reed Cormorant Microcarbo africanus africanus (4) 1 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. White-breasted Cormorant Phalacrocorax lucidus (4) 15 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12.

Anhingas Anhingidae African Darter Anhinga rufa rufa (1) 4 Lake Ziway 29.11.

Kites, Hawks & Eagles Accipitridae Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus caeruleus (5) 1 Sululta Plains 28.11, 1 Lake Koka 29.11, 1 Liben Plains, E of Negele 3.12, 2 Soda Plains 5.12 and 1 Shashamene, Oromia 6.12. African Harrier-Hawk Polyboroides typus typus (5) 1 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11, 1 Goba - Wabe Shebelle Hotel 1.12, 1 en route--Filtu to Negele, 36km from Negele 3.12, 1 Kibre Menghist 4.12 and 1 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 6.12. Bearded Vulture (NT) Gypaetus barbatus meridionalis (3) 8 Gemassa Gedel 27.11, 2 Bale Mountains NP--Sanetti Plateau 1.12 and 1 Bale Mountains NP-- Sanetti Plateau 2.12. Hooded Vulture (EN) Necrosyrtes monachus Observed 11 day(s) in total. White-backed Vulture (NT) Gyps africanus (6) 2 Kibre Menghist 4.12 and 3 Dubuluk Scrub - N of Mega 5.12. Rüppell's Vulture (EN) Gyps rueppelli Observed 8 day(s) in total. Lappet-faced Vulture (VU) Torgos tracheliotos tracheliotos (1) 6 Soda Plains 5.12. Bateleur (NT) Terathopius ecaudatus (1) 1 Hagare Maryam, Oromia 4.12. Crowned Eagle (NT) Stephanoaetus coronatus (1) 2 Harena Forest 2.12. Martial Eagle (NT) Polemaetus bellicosus (3) 2 Goba - Wabe Shebelle Hotel 1.12, 1 Harena Forest 2.12 and 1 Soda Plains 5.12. Long-crested Eagle Lophaetus occipitalis (2) 1 Harena Forest 2.12 and 1 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Lesser Spotted Eagle Clanga pomarina (1) 1 Addis Ababa 7.12.

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Wahlberg's Eagle Hieraaetus wahlbergi (2) 1 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11 and 1 en route--Filtu to Negele, 36km from Negele 3.12. Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus (1) 1 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11. Ayres's Hawk-Eagle Hieraaetus ayresii (1) 1 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. A difficult bird anywhere, we had brief but good views over the fig forest Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax (8) 2 Debre Birhan 27.11, 1 Bishoftu--Lake Chelekleka 29.11, 1 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11, 1 Harena Forest 2.12 and 1 en route--Filtu to Negele, 36km from Negele 3.12. Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis orientalis (4) 2 Addis Ababa 27.11, 1 Bishoftu--Lake Hora 29.11, 8 Bale Mountains NP--Sanetti Plateau 1.12 and 6 Bale Mountains NP--Sanetti Plateau 2.12. Verreaux's Eagle Aquila verreauxii (2) 1 Gemassa Gedel 27.11 and 1 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11. Gabar Goshawk Micronisus gabar (1) 2 Soda Plains 5.12. Dark Chanting Goshawk Melierax metabates metabates (2) 1 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11 and 3 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Eastern Chanting Goshawk Melierax poliopterus (3) 1 en route--Filtu to Negele, 36km from Negele 3.12, 2 Dubuluk Scrub - N of Mega 5.12 and 1 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 6.12. African Goshawk Accipiter tachiro (1) 1 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Shikra Accipiter badius sphenurus (2) 1 Debre Birhan 27.11 and 1 en route--Filtu to Negele, 36km from Negele 3.12. Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus aeruginosus (2) 6 Bishoftu--Lake Chelekleka 29.11 and 1 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Pallid Harrier (NT) Circus macrourus (2) 1 Sululta Plains 28.11 and 1 Liben Plains, E of Negele 3.12. Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus (1) 2 Lake Koka 29.11. Black Kite Milvus migrans migrans (2) 4 Addis Ababa 27.11 and 6 Bishoftu--Lake Chelekleka 29.11. Yellow-billed Kite Milvus aegyptius Observed 12 day(s) in total. African Fish Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer (4) 1 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11, 3 Bishoftu--Lake Chelekleka 29.11, 4 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11 and 6 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Common Buzzard Buteo buteo (2) 1 Bishoftu--Lake Chelekleka 29.11 and 1 Dinsho - Gaysay Valley, NW of town 30.11. Mountain Buzzard (NT) Buteo oreophilus (1) 2 Harena Forest 2.12. Seen displaying over the Harenna Forest

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Augur Buzzard Buteo augur (8) 2 Kibre Menghist 4.12 and 1 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12.

Bustards Otididae Kori Bustard (NT) Ardeotis kori struthiunculus (1) 2 Liben Plains, E of Negele 3.12. White-bellied Bustard Eupodotis senegalensis (3) 3 Liben Plains, E of Negele 3.12, 2 Soda Plains 5.12 and 2 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 6.12. Buff-crested Bustard Lophotis gindiana (1) 1 heard Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 6.12.

Rails, Crakes & Coots Rallidae Rouget's Rail (NT) Rougetius rougetii (5) 6 Dinsho - Gaysay Valley, NW of town 30.11, 12 Bale Mountains NP--Sanetti Plateau 1.12, 4 Bale Mountains NP--Sanetti Plateau 2.12, 2 Kibre Menghist 4.12 and 2 Shashamene, Oromia 6.12. Black Crake Amaurornis flavirostra (1) 2 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11. Allen's Gallinule Porphyrio alleni (1) 1 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11. Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus (2) 2 Bishoftu--Lake Chelekleka 29.11 and 2 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11. Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata Observed 3 day(s) in total.

Cranes Gruidae Black Crowned Crane (VU) Balearica pavonina ceciliae (1) 4 Bishoftu--Lake Chelekleka 29.11. A pair with chicks were feeding in the lakeside vegetation Wattled Crane Grus carunculata (1) 2 Bale Mountains NP--Sanetti Plateau 1.12. We were fortunate to lacate a pair just before heading down from the plateau Common Crane Grus grus (2) 15 Bishoftu--Lake Chelekleka 29.11 and 25 Addis Ababa 7.12.

Thick-knees Burhinidae Senegal Thick-knee Burhinus senegalensis (2) 18 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11 and 10 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12.

Stilts and Avocets Recurvirostridae Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus (3) 3 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11 and 2 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta (3) 12 Sululta Plains 28.11 and 15 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12.

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Plovers and Lapwings Charadriidae Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus (4) 2 Liben Plains, E of Negele 3.12. Black-winged Lapwing Vanellus melanopterus melanopterus (4) 30 Sululta Plains 28.11, 4 Bale Mountains NP--Sanetti Plateau 1.12 and 6 Liben Plains, E of Negele 5.12. Crowned Lapwing Vanellus coronatus (4) 6 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. African Wattled Lapwing Vanellus senegallus senegallus (1) 8 Hagare Maryam, Oromia 4.12. Spot-breasted Lapwing Vanellus melanocephalus (2) 30 Bale Mountains NP--Sanetti Plateau 1.12 and 12 Bale Mountains NP--Sanetti Plateau 2.12. Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula tundrae (2) 2 Bishoftu--Lake Chelekleka 29.11 and 8 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Kittlitz's Plover Charadrius pecuarius (1) 6 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12.

Jacanas Jacanidae African Jacana Actophilornis africanus (3) 6 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11 and 1 Shashamene, Oromia 6.12.

Sandpipers and Allies Scolopacidae Black-tailed Godwit (NT) Limosa limosa limosa (3) 2 Sululta Plains 28.11, 20 Bishoftu--Lake Chelekleka 29.11 and 10 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Ruff Calidris pugnax (3) 3 Sululta Plains 28.11, 50 Bishoftu--Lake Chelekleka 29.11 and 20 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Little Stint Calidris minuta (2) 1 Bishoftu--Lake Chelekleka 29.11. African Snipe Gallinago nigripennis aequatorialis (1) 4 Lake Ziway 29.11. Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago gallinago (1) 3 Sululta Plains 28.11. Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos (5) 1 Debre Birhan 27.11, 4 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11, 6 Bishoftu--Lake Chelekleka 29.11, 1 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11 and 1 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus (6) 1 Debre Birhan 27.11, 3 Sululta Plains 28.11, 1 Bishoftu--Lake Hora 29.11, 4 Bale Mountains NP-- Sanetti Plateau 1.12, 1 Bale Mountains NP--Sanetti Plateau 2.12 and 1 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis (2) 2 Lake Ziway 29.11 and 4 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12.

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Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola (4) 1 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11, 4 Bishoftu--Lake Chelekleka 29.11, 2 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11 and 1 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus (1) 1 Bishoftu--Lake Chelekleka 29.11. Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia (3) 1 Sululta Plains 28.11, 1 Bale Mountains NP--Sanetti Plateau 1.12 and 2 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12.

Pratincoles and Coursers Glareolidae Temminck's Courser Cursorius temminckii temminckii (1) 15 Liben Plains, E of Negele 3.12.

Gulls, Terns & Skimmers Laridae Grey-headed Gull Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus poiocephalus (3) 20 Bishoftu--Lake Chelekleka 29.11, 10 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11 and 2 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus (3) 1 Lake Koka 29.11, 1 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11 and 1 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica nilotica (2) 1 Bishoftu--Lake Chelekleka 29.11 and 6 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus (3) 4 Bishoftu--Lake Chelekleka 29.11, 30 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11 and 15 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12.

Pigeons and Doves Columbidae Rock Dove Columba livia var. domestica (2) 4 Debre Birhan 27.11 and 2 Shashamene, Oromia 6.12. Speckled Pigeon Columba guinea guinea Observed 12 day(s) in total. White-collared Pigeon Columba albitorques (5) 20 Bale Mountains NP--Sanetti Plateau 2.12. African Olive Pigeon Columba arquatrix (1) 3 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Lemon Dove Columba larvata bronzina (1) 6 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Dusky Turtle Dove Streptopelia lugens (7) 2 Goba - Wabe Shebelle Hotel 2.12 and 4 Shashamene, Oromia 6.12. Mourning Collared Dove Streptopelia decipiens Observed 2 day(s) in total. Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata Observed 11 day(s) in total. Ring-necked Dove Streptopelia capicola (3) 2 en route--Filtu to Negele, 36km from Negele 3.12.

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Laughing Dove Spilopelia senegalensis senegalensis (7) 6 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11. Emerald-spotted Wood Dove Turtur chalcospilos (1) 4 Dubuluk Scrub - N of Mega 5.12. Blue-spotted Wood Dove Turtur afer (2) 1 Genale River, E of Bitata 2.12 and 4 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Tambourine Dove Turtur tympanistria (3) 3 Harena Forest 2.12, 1 heard Kibre Menghist 4.12 and 2 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Namaqua Dove Oena capensis capensis (4) 8 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11, 1 Awassa--Lake Awassa 29.11, 1 Soda Plains 5.12 and 1 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Bruce's Green Pigeon Treron waalia (3) 3 Genale River, E of Bitata 2.12, 2 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 4.12 and 6 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12.

Turacos Musophagidae White-cheeked Turaco Tauraco leucotis (3) 4 Goba - Wabe Shebelle Hotel 1.12, 2 Harena Forest 2.12 and 6 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Ruspoli's Turaco (VU) Tauraco ruspolii (1) 4 Genale River, E of Bitata 2.12. Bare-faced Go-away-bird Corythaixoides personatus personatus (2) 1 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 6.12 and 4 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. White-bellied Go-away-bird Corythaixoides leucogaster (6) 4 Lake Ziway 29.11, 1 Genale River, E of Bitata 2.12, 6 en route--Filtu to Negele, 36km from Negele 3.12 and 4 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 4.12.

Cuckoos Cuculidae Blue-headed Coucal Centropus monachus (2) 2 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11 and 1 Kibre Menghist 4.12. Klaas's Cuckoo Chrysococcyx klaas (1) 2 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. African Emerald Cuckoo Chrysococcyx cupreus (1) 2 heard Harena Forest 2.12.

Owls Strigidae Cape Eagle-Owl Bubo capensis dillonii (1) 1 Dinsho - Gaysay Valley, NW of town 30.11. African Wood Owl Strix woodfordii umbrina (2) 1 heard Addis Ababa 29.11 and 2 Dinsho Forest 30.11. Abyssinian Owl Asio abyssinicus abyssinicus (1) 2 Dinsho Forest 30.11. Very fortunate to have found this difficult species on the day roost

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Swifts Apodidae African Palm Swift Cypsiurus parvus (1) 6 Negele, Oromia 3.12. Nyanza Swift Apus niansae (2) 1 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11. Little Swift Apus affinis aerobates Observed 1 day(s) in total.

Mousebirds Coliidae Speckled Mousebird Colius striatus Observed 11 day(s) in total. Blue-naped Mousebird Urocolius macrourus (2) 2 Soda Plains 5.12 and 6 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 6.12.

Trogons Trogonidae Narina Trogon Apaloderma narina narina (1) 1 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. One female showed briefly in the fig forest

Rollers Coraciidae Purple Roller Coracias naevius naevius (2) 1 Genale River, E of Bitata 2.12 and 1 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Lilac-breasted Roller Coracias caudatus lorti (4) 5 Negele, Oromia 3.12.

Kingfishers Alcedinidae Grey-headed Kingfisher Halcyon leucocephala leucocephala (1) 1 Negele, Oromia 3.12. Woodland Kingfisher Halcyon senegalensis (1) 2 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11. African Pygmy Kingfisher Ispidina picta picta (2) 2 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11 and 1 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Malachite Kingfisher Corythornis cristatus (4) 1 Debre Birhan 27.11, 2 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11, 3 Bishoftu--Lake Chelekleka 29.11 and 4 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11. Half-collared Kingfisher Alcedo semitorquata (1) 1 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11. Giant Kingfisher Megaceryle maxima maxima (1) 1 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11. Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis rudis (4) 4 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11, 3 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11 and 4 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12.

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Bee-eaters Meropidae Little Bee-eater Merops pusillus (3) 4 en route--Filtu to Negele, 36km from Negele 4.12, 4 Soda Plains 5.12 and 3 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 6.12. Blue-breasted Bee-eater Merops variegatus lafresnayii (4) 2 Bishoftu--Lake Hora 29.11, 3 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11, 6 Harena Forest 2.12 and 6 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Northern Carmine Bee-eater Merops nubicus (4) 3 Lake Ziway 29.11 and 4 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11.

Hoopoes Upupidae Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops (5) 2 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11, 6 Lake Ziway 29.11 and 4 en route--Filtu to Negele, 36km from Negele 3.12.

Wood Hoopoes Phoeniculidae Black-billed Wood Hoopoe Phoeniculus somaliensis (2) 1 heard en route--Filtu to Negele, 36km from Negele 3.12 and 1 Dubuluk Scrub - N of Mega 5.12. Black Scimitarbill Rhinopomastus aterrimus notatus (1) 1 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11.

Ground Hornbills Bucorvidae Abyssinian Ground Hornbill Bucorvus abyssinicus (4) 2 Genale River, E of Bitata 2.12, 3 Hagare Maryam, Oromia 4.12, 1 Dubuluk Scrub - N of Mega 5.12 and 4 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12.

Hornbills Bucerotidae Northern Red-billed Hornbill Tockus erythrorhynchus (5) 1 Genale River, E of Bitata 2.12 and 5 en route--Filtu to Negele, 36km from Negele 3.12. Von der Decken's Hornbill Tockus deckeni (2) 1 Genale River, E of Bitata 2.12 and 2 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 5.12. Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill Tockus flavirostris (2) 1 Genale River, E of Bitata 2.12 and 1 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 5.12. Hemprich's Hornbill Lophoceros hemprichii (4) 1 Debre Birhan 27.11, 2 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11, 2 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 5.12 and 2 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Silvery-cheeked Hornbill Bycanistes brevis (5) 25 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11, 2 Harena Forest 2.12, 25 Kibre Menghist 4.12 and 3 Shashamene, Oromia 6.12. A constant presence in the Rift Valley, pretty much anywhere with fruiting trees

African Barbets Lybiidae Red-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus pusillus (3) 1 Bishoftu--Lake Hora 29.11, 2 en route--Filtu to Negele, 36km from Negele 3.12 and 1 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12.

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Red-fronted Barbet Tricholaema diademata diademata (1) 2 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 4.12. Banded Barbet Lybius undatus (2) 1 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11 and 1 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Black-billed Barbet Lybius guifsobalito (2) 4 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11 and 2 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Double-toothed Barbet Lybius bidentatus aequatorialis (3) 1 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11, 1 Kibre Menghist 4.12 and 4 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Red-and-yellow Barbet Trachyphonus erythrocephalus (2) 1 Genale River, E of Bitata 2.12 and 3 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 6.12. D'Arnaud's Barbet Trachyphonus darnaudii (2) 6 Dubuluk Scrub - N of Mega 5.12 and 4 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 6.12.

Honeyguides Indicatoridae Lesser Honeyguide Indicator minor (2) 1 Harena Forest 2.12 and 2 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Greater Honeyguide Indicator indicator (1) 1 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12.

Woodpeckers Picidae Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla torquilla (1) 1 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11. Red-throated Wryneck Jynx ruficollis aequatorialis (2) 1 Genale River, E of Bitata 2.12 and 2 Kibre Menghist 4.12. Nubian Woodpecker Campethera nubica (3) 2 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11, 1 en route--Filtu to Negele, 36km from Negele 3.12 and 1 Yabelo-- Yabelo Motel 6.12. Abyssinian Woodpecker Dendropicos abyssinicus (2) 1 Goba - Wabe Shebelle Hotel 1.12 and 1 Harena Forest 2.12. This small woodpecker is often difficult to find high up in the Juniper branches, but we enjoyed great views near Goba. Cardinal Woodpecker Dendropicos fuscescens (4) 1 Genale River, E of Bitata 2.12, 1 Hagare Maryam, Oromia 4.12, 1 Dubuluk Scrub - N of Mega 5.12 and 2 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 6.12. Eastern Grey Woodpecker Dendropicos spodocephalus spodocephalus (3) 1 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11, 2 Kibre Menghist 4.12 and 1 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12.

Falcons and Caracaras Falconidae Pygmy Falcon Polihierax semitorquatus castanonotus (1) 1 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 5.12. Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni (1) 1 Liben Plains, E of Negele 3.12. Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Observed 11 day(s) in total.

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Grey Kestrel Falco ardosiaceus (2) 3 Liben Plains, E of Negele 3.12 and 1 Soda Plains 5.12. Amur Falcon Falco amurensis (1) 1 Liben Plains, E of Negele 3.12. Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus (4) 1 Gemassa Gedel 27.11, 2 Bale Mountains NP--Sanetti Plateau 1.12, 1 Bale Mountains NP--Sanetti Plateau 2.12 and 1 Soda Plains 5.12.

African & New World Parrots Psittacidae Yellow-fronted Parrot Poicephalus flavifrons (2) 5 Kibre Menghist 4.12 and 3 heard Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. We were fortunate to have 5 fly in when we stopped for some roadside birding. Red-bellied Parrot Poicephalus rufiventris (3) Up to 2 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 4-6.12.

Old World Parrots Psittaculidae Black-winged Lovebird Agapornis taranta (6) 3 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11, 1 Bishoftu--Lake Hora 29.11, 1 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11, 1 Goba - Wabe Shebelle Hotel 1.12, 4 Kibre Menghist 4.12 and 15 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12.

Wattle-eyes, Batises Platysteiridae Western Black-headed Batis Batis erlangeri erlangeri (3) 1 Bishoftu--Lake Hora 29.11, 2 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11 and 1 Kibre Menghist 4.12. Brown-throated Wattle-eye Platysteira cyanea aethiopica (1) 2 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12.

Bushshrikes and Allies Malaconotidae Grey-headed Bushshrike Malaconotus blanchoti (3) 1 Negele, Oromia 3.12, 1 Dubuluk Scrub - N of Mega 5.12 and 1 heard Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 6.12. Orange-breasted Bushshrike Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus similis (2) 1 Bishoftu--Lake Hora 29.11 and 1 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Rosy-patched Bushshrike Telophorus cruentus (2) 6 Soda Plains 5.12 and 4 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 6.12. Northern Puffback Dryoscopus gambensis erythreae (4) 1 Goba - Wabe Shebelle Hotel 1.12, 1 Negele, Oromia 3.12, 2 Kibre Menghist 4.12 and 2 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Slate-colored Boubou Laniarius funebris (3) 6 en route--Filtu to Negele, 36km from Negele 3.12, 4 Dubuluk Scrub - N of Mega 5.12 and 2 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 6.12. Red-naped Bushshrike Laniarius ruficeps rufinuchalis (1) 2 Dubuluk Scrub - N of Mega 5.12. Staying mostly hidden in dense tangles, two birds nevertheless gave us prolonged views Ethiopian Boubou Laniarius aethiopicus (6) 2 Bishoftu--Lake Hora 29.11, 2 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11, 2 heard Goba - Wabe Shebelle Hotel 1.12, 2 heard Goba - Wabe Shebelle Hotel 2.12, 2 Kibre Menghist 4.12 and 4 heard Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12.

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Brubru Nilaus afer (1) 1 Hagare Maryam, Oromia 4.12.

Vangas Vangidae White-crested Helmetshrike Prionops plumatus (1) 6 Dubuluk Scrub - N of Mega 5.12.

Cuckoo-shrikes Campephagidae Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike Campephaga phoenicea (1) 1 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. A stunning male in the fig forest

Shrikes Laniidae Northern White-crowned Shrike Eurocephalus ruppelli (5) 2 Lake Ziway 29.11, 4 en route--Filtu to Negele, 36km from Negele 3.12 and 1 Negele, Oromia 4.12. Isabelline Shrike Lanius isabellinus isabellinus (1) 1 en route--Filtu to Negele, 36km from Negele 3.12. Red-tailed Shrike Lanius phoenicuroides (2) 1 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11 and 1 Soda Plains 5.12. Grey-backed Fiscal Lanius excubitoroides intercedens (3) 2 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11, 6 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 6.12 and 4 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Taita Fiscal Lanius dorsalis (1) 4 Liben Plains, E of Negele 3.12. Somali Fiscal Lanius somalicus (1) 4 Soda Plains 5.12. Northern Fiscal Lanius humeralis humeralis Observed 9 day(s) in total. Masked Shrike Lanius nubicus (1) 1 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12.

Old World Orioles Oriolidae Ethiopian Oriole Oriolus monacha (2) 6 Harena Forest 2.12 and 2 heard Kibre Menghist 4.12. Black-headed Oriole Oriolus larvatus rolleti (4) 3 Negele, Oromia 3.12, 1 heard Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 4.12, 2 Dubuluk Scrub - N of Mega 5.12 and 1 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 6.12.

Drongos Dicruridae Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis divaricatus Observed 7 day(s) in total.

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Monarchs Monarchidae African Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis ferreti (8) 1 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11, 2 Bishoftu--Lake Hora 29.11, 1 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11, 1 Harena Forest 2.12, 2 Negele, Oromia 3.12, 1 Dubuluk Scrub - N of Mega 5.12, 1 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 6.12 and 4 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12.

Crows, Jays, and Magpies Corvidae Stresemann's Bushcrow (EN) Zavattariornis stresemanni (2) 5 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 5.12, 4 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 6.12, 15 Soda Plains 5.12 and 10 Dubuluk Scrub - N of Mega 5.12. Good sightings, including birds at the nest, of this range-restricted endemic Red-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax baileyi (1) 3 Bale Mountains NP--Sanetti Plateau 2.12. Cape Crow Corvus capensis kordofanensis Observed 7 day(s) in total. Pied Crow Corvus albus Observed 9 day(s) in total. Somali Crow Corvus edithae Observed 1 day(s) in total. Fan-tailed Raven Corvus rhipidurus rhipidurus (7) 2 Kibre Menghist 4.12, 10 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 5.12 and 6 Shashamene, Oromia 6.12. Thick-billed Raven Corvus crassirostris (7) 15 Gemassa Gedel 27.11, 4 Dinsho - Gaysay Valley, NW of town 30.11, 1 Goba - Wabe Shebelle Hotel 1.12, 1 Goba - Wabe Shebelle Hotel 2.12, 3 Kibre Menghist 4.12, 4 Shashamene, Oromia 6.12 and 4 Shashamene, Oromia 7.12.

Tits, Chickadees Paridae White-winged Black Tit Melaniparus leucomelas leucomelas (1) 2 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. White-backed Black Tit Melaniparus leuconotus (1) 2 Dinsho Forest 30.11. Acacia Tit Melaniparus thruppi thruppi (2) 1 Dubuluk Scrub - N of Mega 5.12 and 1 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 6.12.

Penduline-Tits Remizidae Mouse-colored Penduline Tit Anthoscopus musculus (3) 2 en route--Filtu to Negele, 36km from Negele 3.12, 3 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 4.12 and 4 Yabelo-- Yabelo Motel 6.12.

Larks Alaudidae Foxy Lark Calendulauda alopex (2) 2 Soda Plains 5.12 and 1 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 6.12. Archer's Lark (CR) Heteromirafra archeri (1) 2 Liben Plains, E of Negele 3.12. This mega was seen well, including scope views, on the Liben Plains

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Short-tailed Lark Spizocorys fremantlii (1) 3 Soda Plains 5.12. Thekla's Lark Galerida theklae (4) 1 Debre Birhan 27.11 and 2 Dinsho - Gaysay Valley, NW of town 30.11. Erlanger's Lark Calandrella erlangeri (3) 3 Debre Birhan 27.11, 6 Addis Ababa 29.11 and 2 Dinsho - Gaysay Valley, NW of town 30.11. Somali Short-toed Lark Alaudala somalica Observed 1 day(s) in total.

Bulbuls Pycnonotidae Common Bulbul Pycnonotus barbatus schoanus (5) 2 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11, 2 Bishoftu--Lake Hora 29.11, 4 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11 and 1 Goba - Wabe Shebelle Hotel 1.12. Dodson's Bulbul Pycnonotus dodsoni Observed 2 day(s) in total. Dark-capped Bulbul Pycnonotus tricolor (5) 1 Goba - Wabe Shebelle Hotel 1.12 and 6 Harena Forest 2.12. Northern Brownbul Phyllastrephus strepitans (1) 2 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 5.12.

Swallows Hirundinidae Black Saw-wing Psalidoprocne pristoptera (3) 40 Harena Forest 2.12. Brown-throated Martin Riparia paludicola Observed 5 day(s) in total. Sand Martin Riparia riparia Observed 2 day(s) in total. Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica rustica Observed 9 day(s) in total. Ethiopian Swallow Hirundo aethiopica (1) 2 Liben Plains, E of Negele 3.12. Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii smithii (1) 10 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11. White-tailed Swallow (VU) Hirundo megaensis (2) 4 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 6.12. Rock Martin Ptyonoprogne fuligula (4) 1 Bale Mountains NP--Sanetti Plateau 1.12. Common House Martin Delichon urbicum (1) 1 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11. Lesser Striped Swallow Cecropis abyssinica (1) 2 Kibre Menghist 4.12. Mosque Swallow Cecropis senegalensis saturatior (1) 2 Addis Ababa 29.11. Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica Observed 3 day(s) in total.

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Crombecs, African warblers Macrosphenidae Northern Crombec Sylvietta brachyura leucopsis (3) 1 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11, 1 Bishoftu--Lake Hora 29.11 and 1 en route--Filtu to Negele, 36km from Negele 3.12. Red-faced Crombec Sylvietta whytii loringi (4) 1 en route--Filtu to Negele, 36km from Negele 3.12, 1 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 4.12, 1 Dubuluk Scrub - N of Mega 5.12 and 1 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 6.12.

Leaf warblers and allies Phylloscopidae Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus (4) 1 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11, 1 Dubuluk Scrub - N of Mega 5.12 and 1 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 6.12. Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita (4) 2 Addis Ababa 27.11, 1 heard Goba - Wabe Shebelle Hotel 1.12, 1 Goba - Wabe Shebelle Hotel 2.12 and 1 Shashamene, Oromia 6.12. Brown Woodland Warbler Phylloscopus umbrovirens (2) 1 Dinsho Forest 30.11 and 4 Goba - Wabe Shebelle Hotel 1.12.

Reed warblers and allies Acrocephalidae Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus (1) 1 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11. African Reed Warbler Acrocephalus baeticatus (1) 1 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11. Eastern Olivaceous Warbler Iduna pallida (1) 1 Dubuluk Scrub - N of Mega 5.12.

Grassbirds and allies Locustellidae Cinnamon Bracken Warbler Bradypterus cinnamomeus cinnamomeus (3) 1 heard Dinsho Forest 30.11, 2 Goba - Wabe Shebelle Hotel 1.12 and 3 heard Harena Forest 2.12.

Cisticolas and allies Cisticolidae Red-faced Cisticola Cisticola erythrops (1) 4 Kibre Menghist 4.12. Singing Cisticola Cisticola cantans cantans (1) 2 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11. Rattling Cisticola Cisticola chiniana fricki (1) 2 Hagare Maryam, Oromia 4.12. Boran Cisticola Cisticola bodessa (3) 2 Liben Plains, E of Negele 3.12, 1 Negele, Oromia 4.12 and 1 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 6.12. Ethiopian Cisticola Cisticola lugubris (3) 1 Debre Birhan 27.11, 2 Dinsho - Gaysay Valley, NW of town 30.11 and 4 Bale Mountains NP-- Sanetti Plateau 1.12. Tiny Cisticola Cisticola nana (1) 1 Soda Plains 5.12.

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Pectoral-patch Cisticola Cisticola brunnescens (1) 6 Liben Plains, E of Negele 3.12. Tawny-flanked Prinia Prinia subflava (4) 4 Bishoftu--Lake Chelekleka 29.11, 1 Goba - Wabe Shebelle Hotel 1.12 and 4 Harena Forest 2.12. Pale Prinia Prinia somalica (1) 2 Soda Plains 5.12. Buff-bellied Warbler Phyllolais pulchella (3) 6 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11, 5 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 6.12 and 1 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Yellow-breasted Apalis Apalis flavida (3) 1 en route--Filtu to Negele, 36km from Negele 3.12, 4 Dubuluk Scrub - N of Mega 5.12 and 2 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 6.12. Grey-backed Camaroptera Camaroptera brevicaudata (8) 1 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11, 1 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11, 1 Harena Forest 2.12, 2 en route-- Filtu to Negele, 36km from Negele 3.12, 1 Hagare Maryam, Oromia 4.12, 2 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 6.12 and 2 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Grey Wren-Warbler Calamonastes simplex (3) 1 en route--Filtu to Negele, 36km from Negele 3.12, 2 Dubuluk Scrub - N of Mega 5.12 and 1 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 6.12. Yellow-bellied Eremomela Eremomela icteropygialis griseoflava (3) 4 en route--Filtu to Negele, 36km from Negele 3.12, 2 Dubuluk Scrub - N of Mega 5.12 and 2 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 6.12.

Laughingthrushes Leiothrichidae Scaly Chatterer Turdoides aylmeri (1) 3 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 5.12. This difficult bird was seen well in dense tangles south of Yabello Rufous Chatterer Turdoides rubiginosa (2) 4 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 5.12 and 4 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 6.12. White-rumped Babbler Turdoides leucopygia (3) 8 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11 and 6 Kibre Menghist 4.12.

Sylviid Babblers Sylviidae Abyssinian Catbird Parophasma galinieri (3) 4 Dinsho Forest 30.11, 4 Goba - Wabe Shebelle Hotel 1.12 and 2 heard Harena Forest 2.12. African Hill Babbler Pseudoalcippe abyssinica abyssinica (2) 2 Harena Forest 2.12 and 1 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Eurasian Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla (3) 2 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11, 1 Harena Forest 2.12 and 1 Kibre Menghist 4.12. Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca curruca (2) 2 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11 and 2 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Brown Parisoma Sylvia lugens (1) 2 Addis Ababa 27.11. Banded Parisoma Sylvia boehmi (2) 6 Soda Plains 5.12 and 1 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 6.12.

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White-eyes Zosteropidae Abyssinian White-eye Zosterops abyssinicus Observed 3 day(s) in total. Montane White-eye Zosterops poliogastrus Observed 6 day(s) in total.

Treecreepers Certhiidae African Spotted Creeper Salpornis salvadori erlangeri (1) 2 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11.

Starlings Sturnidae Wattled Starling Creatophora cinerea Observed 3 day(s) in total. Greater Blue-eared Starling Lamprotornis chalybaeus cyaniventris Observed 8 day(s) in total. Rüppell's Starling Lamprotornis purpuroptera (4) 2 Lake Ziway 29.11, 8 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11 and 2 Shashamene, Oromia 6.12. Golden-breasted Starling Lamprotornis regius (2) 1 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 4.12 and 3 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 5.12. Superb Starling Lamprotornis superbus Observed 7 day(s) in total. Shelley's Starling Lamprotornis shelleyi (3) 10 en route--Filtu to Negele, 36km from Negele 3.12, 3 Soda Plains 5.12 and 4 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 6.12. White-crowned Starling Lamprotornis albicapillus Observed 3 day(s) in total. Violet-backed Starling Cinnyricinclus leucogaster (2) 2 Genale River, E of Bitata 2.12. Red-winged Starling Onychognathus morio rueppellii (2) 2 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 5.12. Slender-billed Starling Onychognathus tenuirostris tenuirostris (2) 1 Harena Forest 2.12 and 1 en route--Filtu to Negele, 36km from Negele 3.12. White-billed Starling Onychognathus albirostris (2) 8 Gemassa Gedel 27.11 and 10 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11.

Oxpeckers Buphagidae Red-billed Oxpecker Buphagus erythrorynchus (7) 2 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11, 12 Lake Koka 29.11, 2 Goba - Wabe Shebelle Hotel 1.12, 12 en route--Filtu to Negele, 36km from Negele 3.12, 8 Dubuluk Scrub - N of Mega 5.12 and 4 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12.

Thrushes and Allies Turdidae Groundscraper Thrush Turdus litsitsirupa simensis (6) 2 Kibre Menghist 4.12.

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African Thrush Turdus pelios (2) 2 Lake Ziway 29.11 and 6 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11. Bare-eyed Thrush Turdus tephronotus (3) 1 Negele, Oromia 3.12, 4 Dubuluk Scrub - N of Mega 5.12 and 1 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 6.12. Abyssinian Thrush Turdus abyssinicus abyssinicus Observed 6 day(s) in total.

Chats, Old World Flycatchers Muscicapidae White-browed Scrub Robin Cercotrichas leucophrys (1) 2 Dubuluk Scrub - N of Mega 5.12. Abyssinian Slaty Flycatcher Melaenornis chocolatinus (3) 1 Dinsho Forest 30.11, 1 Harena Forest 2.12 and 4 Kibre Menghist 4.12. Northern Black Flycatcher Melaenornis edolioides (2) 3 Genale River, E of Bitata 2.12 and 2 Kibre Menghist 4.12. African Grey Flycatcher Melaenornis microrhynchus (5) 6 en route--Filtu to Negele, 36km from Negele 3.12, 4 Hagare Maryam, Oromia 4.12, 8 Soda Plains 5.12 and 8 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 6.12. African Dusky Flycatcher Muscicapa adusta minima (6) 2 Addis Ababa 29.11, 4 Dinsho Forest 30.11, 1 Harena Forest 2.12 and 2 Kibre Menghist 4.12. Rüppell's Robin-Chat Cossypha semirufa (6) 1 Addis Ababa 28.11, 4 Addis Ababa 29.11, 2 Dinsho Forest 30.11, 1 Goba - Wabe Shebelle Hotel 1.12 and 2 Harena Forest 2.12. White-browed Robin-Chat Cossypha heuglini heuglini (2) 2 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11 and 1 Kibre Menghist 4.12. Red-capped Robin-Chat Cossypha natalensis (1) 2 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Spotted Palm Thrush Cichladusa guttata (1) 4 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 5.12. Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus (3) 1 Bishoftu--Lake Hora 29.11, 1 en route--Filtu to Negele, 36km from Negele 3.12 and 3 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. White-winged Cliff Chat Monticola semirufus (2) 4 Debre Birhan 27.11 and 2 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11. Common Rock Thrush Monticola saxatilis (1) 1 en route--Filtu to Negele, 36km from Negele 3.12. Little Rock Thrush Monticola rufocinereus rufocinereus (1) 1 Debre Birhan 27.11. Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius (1) 1 Gemassa Gedel 27.11. Siberian Stonechat Saxicola maurus (2) 1 Debre Birhan 27.11 and 1 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11. African Stonechat Saxicola torquatus albofasciatus (1) 1 Dinsho - Gaysay Valley, NW of town 30.11. Moorland Chat Pinarochroa sordida sordida Observed 5 day(s) in total.

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Mocking Cliff Chat Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris (1) 4 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11. Rüppell's Black Chat Myrmecocichla melaena (1) 3 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11. Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe (3) 2 Bishoftu--Lake Chelekleka 29.11 and 2 Soda Plains 5.12. Red-breasted Wheatear Oenanthe bottae frenata (4) 1 Debre Birhan 27.11, 2 Sululta Plains 28.11 and 2 Addis Ababa 29.11. Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina (6) 1 Sululta Plains 28.11, 3 Bishoftu--Lake Chelekleka 29.11, 1 Dinsho - Gaysay Valley, NW of town 30.11 and 4 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti (1) 5 Debre Birhan 27.11. Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica (1) 1 Addis Ababa 27.11. Pied Wheatear Oenanthe pleschanka (6) 1 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11, 2 Bishoftu--Lake Hora 29.11, 1 Dinsho - Gaysay Valley, NW of town 30.11, 2 Liben Plains, E of Negele 3.12, 2 Soda Plains 5.12 and 2 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 6.12. Abyssinian Wheatear Oenanthe lugubris lugubris (1) 2 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11.

Sunbirds and Spiderhunters Nectariniidae Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird Anthreptes orientalis (1) 2 Dubuluk Scrub - N of Mega 5.12. Collared Sunbird Hedydipna collaris (2) 2 Bishoftu--Lake Hora 29.11 and 1 Harena Forest 2.12. Scarlet-chested Sunbird Chalcomitra senegalensis proteus (3) 1 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11, 3 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11 and 1 Kibre Menghist 4.12. Hunter's Sunbird Chalcomitra hunteri (1) 2 Dubuluk Scrub - N of Mega 5.12. Tacazze Sunbird Nectarinia tacazze tacazze (6) 1 Addis Ababa 29.11, 4 Dinsho Forest 30.11, 1 Goba - Wabe Shebelle Hotel 1.12, 4 Harena Forest 2.12 and 2 Shashamene, Oromia 7.12. Beautiful Sunbird Cinnyris pulchellus (4) 1 Bishoftu--Lake Hora 29.11, 2 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11, 1 Dubuluk Scrub - N of Mega 5.12 and 1 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Marico Sunbird Cinnyris mariquensis osiris (2) 6 en route--Filtu to Negele, 36km from Negele 3.12. Variable Sunbird Cinnyris venustus Observed 8 day(s) in total.

Old World Sparrows Passeridae Shelley's Sparrow Passer shelleyi (2) 6 Liben Plains, E of Negele 3.12.

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Swainson's Sparrow Passer swainsonii Observed 12 day(s) in total. Chestnut Sparrow Passer eminibey (1) 20 Dubuluk Scrub - N of Mega 5.12. Bush Petronia Gymnoris dentata (1) 2 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11. Yellow-spotted Petronia Gymnoris pyrgita pyrgita (2) 4 en route--Filtu to Negele, 36km from Negele 3.12 and 1 Dubuluk Scrub - N of Mega 5.12.

Weavers, Widowbirds Ploceidae Red-billed Buffalo Weaver Bubalornis niger intermedius Observed 2 day(s) in total. White-headed Buffalo Weaver Dinemellia dinemelli dinemelli (5) 1 Lake Ziway 29.11, 10 en route--Filtu to Negele, 36km from Negele 3.12 and 3 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. White-browed Sparrow-Weaver Plocepasser mahali melanorhynchus (5) 8 Lake Ziway 29.11 and 10 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11. Grey-capped Social Weaver Pseudonigrita arnaudi (2) 12 en route--Filtu to Negele, 36km from Negele 3.12. Black-capped Social Weaver Pseudonigrita cabanisi (1) 15 Soda Plains 5.12. Speckle-fronted Weaver Sporopipes frontalis frontalis (1) 2 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11. Thick-billed Weaver Amblyospiza albifrons (1) 4 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Baglafecht Weaver Ploceus baglafecht Observed 7 day(s) in total. Little Weaver Ploceus luteolus luteolus (1) 15 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11. Spectacled Weaver Ploceus ocularis crocatus (2) 2 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11 and 2 Kibre Menghist 4.12. Rüppell's Weaver Ploceus galbula (3) 1 Bishoftu--Lake Chelekleka 29.11, 4 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11 and 1 Hagare Maryam, Oromia 4.12. Lesser Masked Weaver Ploceus intermedius intermedius (1) 2 Dubuluk Scrub - N of Mega 5.12. Vitelline Masked Weaver Ploceus vitellinus uluensis (4) 6 en route--Filtu to Negele, 36km from Negele 3.12 and 8 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 6.12. Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus abyssinicus (2) 6 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11 and 4 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Chestnut Weaver Ploceus rubiginosus rubiginosus (1) 12 en route--Filtu to Negele, 36km from Negele 3.12. Red-headed Weaver Anaplectes rubriceps leuconotos (4) 1 en route--Filtu to Negele, 36km from Negele 3.12, 1 Hagare Maryam, Oromia 4.12, 2 Yabelo-- Yabelo Motel 6.12 and 2 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12.

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Red-billed Quelea Quelea quelea aethiopica (4) 2 en route--Filtu to Negele, 36km from Negele 3.12 and 15 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 6.12. Northern Red Bishop Euplectes franciscanus (2) 12 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11. Yellow Bishop Euplectes capensis xanthomelas (1) 10 Debre Birhan 27.11. Red-collared Widowbird Euplectes ardens laticauda (4) 1 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11, 1 Harena Forest 2.12, 30 Kibre Menghist 4.12 and 2 Yabelo-- Yabelo Motel 6.12. A tree with upwards of 25 males (all in breeding plumage still), was a memorable sighting

Waxbills, Munias and allies Estrildidae Cut-throat Finch Amadina fasciata (2) 10 en route--Filtu to Negele, 36km from Negele 3.12 and 8 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 6.12. Red-billed Firefinch Lagonosticta senegala (4) 1 Debre Birhan 27.11 and 4 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11. African Firefinch Lagonosticta rubricata haematocephala (2) 2 Kibre Menghist 4.12 and 4 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu Uraeginthus bengalus bengalus Observed 8 day(s) in total. Purple Grenadier Uraeginthus ianthinogaster (4) 4 en route--Filtu to Negele, 36km from Negele 3.12, 2 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 4.12, 4 Soda Plains 5.12 and 2 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 6.12. Yellow-bellied Waxbill Coccopygia quartinia quartinia (4) 1 Addis Ababa 27.11, 4 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11 and 6 Harena Forest 2.12. Crimson-rumped Waxbill Estrilda rhodopyga (2) 4 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11 and 3 en route--Filtu to Negele, 36km from Negele 3.12. Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild peasei (2) 6 Kibre Menghist 4.12 and 4 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 6.12. Black-cheeked Waxbill Estrilda charmosyna charmosyna (1) 2 Soda Plains 5.12. African Silverbill Euodice cantans orientalis (1) 8 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11. Bronze Mannikin Lonchura cucullata scutata (3) 8 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11 and 4 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12.

Indigobirds Viduidae Village Indigobird Vidua chalybeata ultramarina (5) 4 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11, 3 Lake Ziway 29.11, 1 Harena Forest 2.12, 2 en route--Filtu to Negele, 36km from Negele 3.12 and 1 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Pin-tailed Whydah Vidua macroura (1) 4 Harena Forest 2.12.

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Wagtails, Pipits Motacillidae Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava (6) 2 Debre Birhan 27.11, 4 Dinsho - Gaysay Valley, NW of town 30.11 and 1 Negele, Oromia 3.12. Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea cinerea (3) 1 Sululta Plains 28.11, 1 Goba - Wabe Shebelle Hotel 2.12 and 1 Kibre Menghist 4.12. Mountain Wagtail Motacilla clara clara (1) 3 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11. White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba (2) 1 Debre Birhan 27.11 and 2 Bishoftu--Lake Chelekleka 29.11. African Pied Wagtail Motacilla aguimp vidua (1) 1 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11. African Pipit Anthus cinnamomeus (3) 2 Bishoftu--Lake Chelekleka 29.11, 4 Liben Plains, E of Negele 3.12 and 2 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 4.12. Long-billed Pipit Anthus similis (1) 1 Debre Birhan 27.11. Plain-backed Pipit Anthus leucophrys (2) 12 Liben Plains, E of Negele 3.12 and 2 Soda Plains 5.12. Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus (6) 6 Addis Ababa 27.11, 1 Sululta Plains 28.11, 2 Addis Ababa 29.11, 4 Dinsho - Gaysay Valley, NW of town 30.11, 10 Bale Mountains NP--Sanetti Plateau 1.12 and 4 Bale Mountains NP--Sanetti Plateau 2.12.

Finches Fringillidae African Citril Crithagra citrinelloides citrinelloides (6) 4 Bishoftu--Lake Chelekleka 29.11, 10 Dinsho Forest 30.11, 8 Harena Forest 2.12 and 10 Kibre Menghist 4.12. Reichenow's Seedeater Crithagra reichenowi (4) 1 Dubuluk Scrub - N of Mega 5.12 and 2 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 6.12. Salvadori's Seedeater Crithagra xantholaema (1) 2 en route--Filtu to Negele, 36km from Negele 3.12. This handsome endemic showed well near Filtu Yellow-fronted Canary Crithagra mozambica (1) 8 Genale River, E of Bitata 2.12. White-bellied Canary Crithagra dorsostriata maculicollis (1) 1 Dubuluk Scrub - N of Mega 5.12. Ankober Serin Crithagra ankoberensis (1) 15 Gemassa Gedel 27.11. Seen well near Gemesa Geden, including scope views Brown-rumped Seedeater Crithagra tristriata Observed 5 day(s) in total. Streaky Seedeater Crithagra striolata striolata (6) 1 Addis Ababa 29.11, 4 Dinsho - Gaysay Valley, NW of town 30.11, 4 Goba - Wabe Shebelle Hotel 1.12, 6 Bale Mountains NP--Sanetti Plateau 2.12 and 4 Kibre Menghist 4.12.

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Yellow-crowned Canary Serinus flavivertex flavivertex (2) 20 Addis Ababa 27.11 and 1 Goba - Wabe Shebelle Hotel 1.12. Ethiopian Siskin Serinus nigriceps Observed 4 day(s) in total.

Buntings, New World Sparrows and allies Emberizidae Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana (1) 6 Debre Birhan 27.11. Cinnamon-breasted Bunting Emberiza tahapisi (2) 1 Debre Birhan 27.11. Somali Bunting Emberiza poliopleura (1) 1 en route--Filtu to Negele, 36km from Negele 3.12.

Mammals (25 in total: 25 seen) Status codes: E = Endemic, NE = Near-endemic, I = Introduced IUCN codes: CR = Critically endangered, EN = Endangered, VU = Vulnerable, EW = Extinct in the Wild, NT = Near Threatened, DD = Data Deficient

Hyraxes Procaviidae Yellow-spotted Hyrax Heterohyrax brucei (1) 1 Harena Forest 2.12. Rock Hyrax Procavia capensis (1) 1 Gemassa Gedel 27.11.

Old World monkeys Cercopithecidae Grivet Monkey Chlorocebus aethiops (4) 6 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11, 2 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11 and 10 Genale River, E of Bitata 2.12. Bale Monkey Chlorocebus djamdjamensis (1) 8 Harena Forest 2.12. A troop showed very well in the Harenna forest. Uncommon and little known, they are endemic to the bamboo forest zone of the Bale Mountains (2400m - 3000m) Guereza Colobus guereza (3) 10 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11 and 12 Harena Forest 2.12. The troop at Awassa allowing close approach was especially memorable Olive Baboon Papio anubis (4) 25 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11, 6 Genale River, E of Bitata 2.12 and 4 Hagare Maryam, Oromia 4.12. Gelada Baboon Theropithecus gelada (2) 40 Gemassa Gedel 27.11 and 30 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11. One of the star mammals of the trip, our best views came in the Jemma Valley when we had a whole troop cross the road in front of our vehicles.

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Rabbits, Hares Leporidae Abyssinian Hare Lepus habessinicus (1) 2 Soda Plains 5.12. Ethiopian Highland Hare Lepus starcki (2) 2 Bale Mountains NP--Sanetti Plateau 1.12 and 2 Bale Mountains NP--Sanetti Plateau 2.12.

True Mice and Rats, Gerbils, Spiny Mice, Crested Rat Muridae Gray-tailed Narrow-headed Rat Stenocephalemys griseicauda (3) 20 Gemassa Gedel 27.11.

Mole Rats, Bamboo Rats and Zokors Spalacidae Giant Mole Rat Tachyoryctes macrocephalus (1) 4 Bale Mountains NP--Sanetti Plateau 1.12.

Squirrels Sciuridae Gambian Sun Squirrel Heliosciurus gambianus (2) 2 Awassa--Lake Awassa 30.11 and 2 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12. Unstriped Ground Squirrel Xerus rutilus (2) 1 Liben Plains, E of Negele 3.12 and 4 Soda Plains 5.12.

Cats Felidae Serval Leptailurus serval (1) 1 Dinsho Forest 30.11.

Hyaenas, Aardwolf Hyaenidae Spotted Hyaena Crocuta crocuta (1) 2 Negele, Oromia 3.12. Seen by our lead vehicle early morning on our way to the Liben Plains

Wolves, Coyote, Foxes, Jackals Canidae Ethiopian Wolf Canis simensis (1) 7 Bale Mountains NP--Sanetti Plateau 1.12. We enjoyed marvellous views of these handsome canids as they hunted, at times quite close to our vehicles, on the Sanetti Plateau

Pigs Suidae Common Warthog Phacochoerus africanus africanus (1) 6 Dinsho Forest 30.11.

Hippopotamuses Hippopotamidae Hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius (1) 3 Lake Langano--SE, Bishangari 7.12.

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Cattle, Antelopes, Sheep, Goats Bovidae Gerenuk Litocranius walleri (1) 1 Soda Plains 5.12. Guenther's Dik-dik Madoqua guentheri (1) 5 Dubuluk Scrub - N of Mega 5.12. Grant's Gazelle Nanger granti (1) 30 Soda Plains 5.12. Bohor Reedbuck Redunca redunca (1) 2 Dinsho Forest 30.11. Common Duiker Sylvicapra grimmia (2) 2 Dinsho Forest 30.11 and 1 Negele, Oromia 4.12. Mountain Nyala Tragelaphus buxtoni (2) 20 Dinsho Forest 30.11 and 3 Bale Mountains NP--Sanetti Plateau 1.12. Bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus meneliki (1) 4 Dinsho Forest 30.11.

Reptiles (3 in total: 3 seen) Status codes: E = Endemic, NE = Near-endemic, I = Introduced IUCN codes: CR = Critically endangered, EN = Endangered, VU = Vulnerable, EW = Extinct in the Wild, NT = Near Threatened, DD = Data Deficient

Agamas Agamidae Southern Tree Agama Acanthocercus atricollis minutus (1) 2 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11. Common Agama Agama agama (1) 2 Yabelo--Yabelo Motel 5.12.

Crocodiles and relatives Crocodylidae Nile Crocodile Crocodylus niloticus (1) 2 Jemma Valley, Amhara 28.11.

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Rockjumper Birding Ltd The Hive, Lot 23 Tel: (USA & Canada) toll-free: 1-888-990-5552 Centre Commercial du Barachois Email: [email protected] La Place Cap, Tamarin Alternative email: [email protected] Mauritius Website: www.rockjumperbirding.com

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