The Best of Ethiopia

Naturetrek Tour Report 20 October - 5 November 2013

Lammergeier with bone Ethiopian Wolf

Gelada Baboon Black-winged Red Bishop

Report compiled by Andy Smith Images courtesy of Robert Davidson

Naturetrek Cheriton Mill Cheriton Alresford Hampshire SO24 0NG England T: +44 (0)1962 733051 F: +44 (0)1962 736426 E: [email protected] W: www.naturetrek.co.uk

Tour Report The Best of Ethiopia

Tour Leader: Andy Smith Naturetrek Naturalist Mehiret Ewnetu Local Guide

Participants: Jean Johnson Colin Johnson David Allison Helen Durndell Alan Durndell Karami Ure Alan Ure Claire Edey Robert Davidson Stella Aquilina Bob Aquilina

Day 1 Sunday 20th October

We arrived at Addis Ababa airport on time in the early morning. Thick-billed Ravens and a Tawny Eagle were our first birds as we emerged from the airport buildings and a short drive took us to a city centre hotel where breakfast awaited us. A brief exploration of the surrounding gardens provided a nice little introduction to some common highland birds including Tacazze Sunbird, Abyssinian Slaty Flycatcher, Montane White-eye, Baglafecht Weaver, Speckled Mousebird and Mountain Thrush. Hooded Vultures cruised incongruously around the nearby rooftops and a pair of Lanner Falcons close overhead added a further exciting touch.

From the hotel it was straight back to the airport to check-in for our noon flight up to Bahar Dar. All went well and we had a calm flight with spectacular views of the well farmed Ethiopian highlands below us. Pied Wheatear, Rock Martin and Striped Kingfisher were the first birds here as we emerged from our second airport of the day and a brief bus ride took us to our hotel on the shore of Lake Tana. Lunch ensued and then after a short break we drove to a viewpoint on the edge of town to see the start of the mighty Blue Nile before finishing the day with walk along the lake shore by the hotel. Birds seen along the way included Long-crested and African Fish Eagles, a Black Crake, two Eastern Grey Plantain-eaters, a pair of Silvery-cheeked Hornbills, several displaying Yellow-crowned Bishops and a Pied Kingfisher trying to eat a fish far too big for it.

Day 2 Monday 21st October

Double-toothed Barbets, Black-winged Lovebirds and a Grey Woodpecker around the hotel at breakfast time made for a good start before we headed off in our bus towards Tiss Abay and the Blue Nile Falls. We made a number of stops along the way including by the town dump which was alive with vultures and Marabous and by some wet meadows where Yellow-mantled Widows, Yellow-crowned Bishops and stunning Black-winged Red Bishops were all busy displaying.

The Best of Ethiopia Tour Report

From the old Portuguese bridge at Alata just beyond Tiss Abay a pleasant stroll through an area of low, rocky hills with agricultural clearings took us to the falls themselves. They presented a suitably spectacular vista and along the way we enjoyed some interesting human encounters (women carrying wood, men herding cattle and goats, teams of pack donkeys etc.) and saw a good range of birds including Banded and Black-billed Barbets, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Red-billed Oxpecker and Half-collared Kingfisher.

After lunch back at Bahar Dar we took a boat trip out on the lake. Our first stop was by an uninhabited wooded island with a busy little African Darter colony and some mighty Water Monitors. Next we continued on to an isolated peninsula where we visited a Coptic monastery with some remarkable 16th century frescoes. Yellow- fronted Parrots and Grivet Monkeys added wildlife interest here. White-winged Terns hawked over the lake as we headed back at the end of the afternoon and some Pink-backed Pelicans, two Open-billed Storks and a distant flock of Black-crowned Cranes at the Blue Nile exit at sunset finished the day for us in grand style.

Day 3 Tuesday 22nd October

Nubian Woodpeckers, an Abyssinian Boubou and a Ruppell’s Robin Chat were among our early birds today before we left Bahar Dar. A full morning’s drive through some diverse habitats produced a wide range of birds. Among the highlights were Common and Black-crowned Cranes, Pallid Harrier, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Booted and Short-toed Eagles, Hemprich’s Hornbill, Spur-winged Plover, Erlanger’s Lark, Wire-tailed Swallow, Red-breasted Wheatear and Cinnamon-breasted Bunting.

We reached Gonder at the end of the morning and after lunch and a short break at our comfortable hotel we headed out to explore the historic sites of the town. An authoritative tour with a local guide who really did know all the answers took us to the royal compound with its various castles and then on to a church with some wonderful frescoes. Thundery rain further enlivened the afternoon and some birds along the way included White-collared Pigeons, Black-billed Wood-hoopoes, Mocking Cliff Chats, Slender-billed Starlings and Abyssinian Orioles. Our last stop was at the atmospheric “Swimming Pool” where Bruce’s Green Pigeons fed in a fig tree and a Greyish Eagle Owl watched us warily from a window sill on the building.

Day 4 Wednesday 23rd October

After breakfast and a little early morning birding around the grounds of the hotel which produced great views of Tawny Eagles leaving their roosts and a very vocal pair of Hemprich’s Hornbills, we left Gonder and continued our journey. Our first stop was at a viewpoint near the village of Kossoye which gave us a panoramic view of the spectacular scenery plus sightings of Lammergeyer, Augur Buzzard, Grey Hornbill, Black Saw-wing and Little Rock Thrush. A little after the town of Dabat we stopped again to watch a group of Ground Hornbills, one of which caught and despatched a small snake, and then at the end of the morning we reached Debark where we collected a local guide and two armed scouts and headed up into the Simien Mountains National Park.

A huge funeral procession on the edge of town with hundreds of people filing down the road draped in white shawls presented an impressive sight and as we progressed we noted increasing numbers of people on horseback (a colourful feature of the Ethiopian highlands) and new birds such as Moorland Chat and Abyssinian Black Wheatear. At the end of the morning we duly arrived at the Simien Mountains Lodge and settled in prior to lunch.

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The Best of Ethiopia Tour Report

An afternoon exploration along the utterly spectacular escarpment edge brought us some fantastic encounters with a couple of large troops of Geladas. The first were out grazing and typically confiding, allowed a very close approach. They were great to watch: big males, females, youngsters and babies; sitting and grazing, grooming each other and playing. The whole scene, with this large group of animals spread out cross the cliff-top grassland in the shifting mist, was wonderfully serene, with just some low level chatter and the occasional squawk from scolded babies – marvellous!

The second big troop some time later and some way further along the escarpment edge were settling down for the night. Most were among the rocks just over the edge (a bedroom with a view) but some were still out on the cliff top including a big male who was chasing around seeing off a group of young bachelors. The action was noisy and fast but there was little physical contact involved; it was mostly gesture and bravado with much flashing of gums and teeth. A few birds to complete this enjoyable outing included some Wattled Ibis and Ruppell’s Griffons, an adult Verraux’s Eagle and several Groundscraper Thrushes, whilst a last bit of excitement came in the form of a neat Little Klipspringer making its way through the scrub.

Day 5 Thursday 24th October

It was a lovely still, clear, cold morning and as soon as we could we set off in the bus to explore further. Our first stop was with yesterday evening’s Gelada troop. They numbered about 300 animals and it was fantastic and wonderful to sit among them in the early morning sun as they made their way foraging across the grass through the scattered heather trees. Once again we witnessed a wide range of behaviour and social interactions including grooming, feeding, lip-flipping, babies playing, males squabbling and chasing etc. – lovely. Birds here included Slaty Flycatcher, Thekla Larks, Groundscrapers, Long-billed Pipit and Yellow-crowned Canary, with Nyanza Swifts, Barn Swallows and Crag Martins cruising around overhead.

Next stop was at Sankaber Camp where we walked along the escarpment edge, enjoyed the scenery and saw a couple of smart Erckel’s Francolins, a perched Verraux’s Eagle, an Augur Buzzard soaring very close just below us and a subtle but special Stripe-breasted Seedeater. Our last stop of the morning was at the Jinbar waterfall, a lovely area of open forest and meadowland and the falls themselves, spectacular indeed and set amongst the most awesome of scenery. In the woodland we enjoyed great views of Abyssinian Catbirds, White-backed Tits and Brown Woodland Warbler whilst at the falls viewpoint we found some White-billed Starlings and had a pair of Lanners soaring around in the abyss below then rising up and cruising past us at eye-level and arm’s reach – wow! We ate our picnic lunch out on the meadows with a pair of Thick-billed Ravens for company then began the drive back. Most opted to walk the last three kilometres to the lodge but we got caught in a truly spectacular thunder storm; torrential rain and hail had us soaked in minutes and the ground running with water and covered in a thick layer of hail. Our bus driver had the foresight to come back out to find us and we were all safely back at the lodge by 4pm drying out and warming up.

Day 6 Friday 25th October

Another clear, still, cold dawn and we were away again after an early breakfast back along the escarpment edge. Ten minutes down the road we met a big truck stuck in the mud and barring the way. We could only wait but at least the sun was shining and it was a beautiful spot complete with Geladas and an interesting range of birds.

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Eventually we got under way again and after making just one short stop at a little valley studded with Giant Lobelias and flowering Red-hot Pokers, where we watched Abyssinian Siskins, Yellow Bishops, a Malachite Sunbird and some Somali Starlings, we made it to Chenek Camp, our destination at around 11.30 am. Our aim was to find some Walia Ibex and so we headed straight on up past the camp itself. The scenery was extraordinary; dramatic in the extreme with huge cliffs all around and steep boulder strewn slopes covered with tussock grass and studded with Giant Lobelias. A little way up the road, at a breathless 3840 metres, Swali the scout spotted some Ibex. It was a bachelor herd comprising four adult and two young males and we enjoyed great telescope views as they settled down for their siesta on a rocky outcrop about 500 metres away across the valley. The big males sported massive curled horns and looked very impressive in this wonderful setting. Seeing them was, I think, a big highlight for many of us.

We ate lunch on the escarpment edge down at Chenek camp with an adult Lammergeyer close overhead and post lunch took a little stroll during which we saw Cinnamon Bracken Warblers and Ethiopian Cisticolas. We broke the drive back with a walk over some rolling, rock-strewn, close-cropped grassland and found Pied and Red-breasted Wheatears, Erlanger’s Larks, Red-throated Pipits, 65 Wattled Ibis and a wonderful flock of over 250 Red-billed Choughs. A roadside Grey Duiker and a smart male Pallid Harrier occasioned one last stop and we made it back to the lodge by about 5pm.

Day 7 Saturday 26th October

Another clear, cold morning but today a little breezier After breakfast most of the group opted for a walk from the lodge along the escarpment. Once again we admired the marvellous scenery, spent some time with Geladas and generally soaked up the atmosphere of this extraordinary place. Birds seen include a pair of Peregrines, 5 Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Larks, 30 European Bee- eaters (passing overhead on their way further south), a male Blue Rock Thrush, two White-billed Starlings and a distant Verraux’s Eagle on its nest halfway up a stupendous and totally inaccessible cliff. The crags rang with the mad cackling calls of Erckel’s Francolins and all the time the skies above us were filled with thousands of Crag Martins, House Martins and Barn swallows – lovely!

After lunch we began the journey back to Gonder and once there finished the afternoon with half an hour or so at the fruiting fig trees by the “Swimming Pool” that on our last visit had held a number of Bruce’s Green Pigeons. Sure enough we had lovely views of these boys again plus several Slender-billed and Greater Blue-eared Starlings, three Black-billed Wood-Hoopoes, a trio of Black-billed Barbets and a two superb White-cheeked Turacos – not bad!

Day 8 Sunday 27th October

A mid-morning flight from Gonder saw us back in Addis before noon. Scarlet-chested Sunbirds and Yellow White-eyes were our last birds at Gonder; Steppe and Tawny Eagles our first back in the capital. We met up with a new bus and driver and set off towards Awash. Our first stop en-route was at Lake Chelekalaka by the town of Debrezeyt where the water level was low and the birds distant. Nevertheless we saw hundreds of Marabou Storks and Egyptian Geese, plus Sacred, Glossy and Wattled Ibis, Common Cranes, Spur-winged Plovers and Pink-backed Pelicans. Small birds closer to hand included an Isabelline Shrike, several Northern Red Bishops and an excellent Quailfinch.

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The Best of Ethiopia Tour Report

Leaving Debrezeyt behind, we crossed golden plains dotted with hemispherical straw stacks from already cut fields. Namaqua Doves and Isabelline Wheatears were here. Descending into drier country with fewer fields and more acacia scrub we passed cinder cones and lava fields and so reached Lake Bosaka. Dark Chanting Goshawks, Lilac-breasted Rollers, White-headed Buffalo Weavers and a big flock of Red-billed Queleas appeared at the roadside along the way. We reached Awash National Park gate at sunset and drove the last 11 kilometres to the lodge in the fading light, noting Cape Hares, Salt’s Dik-diks, Helmeted Guineafowl, Yellow-breasted Spurfowl and White-bellied Go-away-birds en-route.

Day 9 Monday 28th October

Up at first light… A cool, clear, still dawn. Breakfast was on the lodge’s deck overlooking the Awash Falls. We found White-crested Helmet Shrikes, Grey Hornbills and Grivet Moneys before getting in the bus for a long drive across the park through Acacia scrub and grassland to the distant hot springs. Highlights were too many to mention in full but included Spotted Hyena, Lesser Kudu, Buff-crested Bustard, Brown Snake Eagle, Bateleur, Pygmy Falcon, Yellow-billed Hornbill and Rosy-patched Bush-Shrike. Approaching the hot springs we passed a long, colourful line of Afar nomads with their camels and at the springs themselves we found the expected Hamadryas Baboons plus a number of Warthogs. After lunch there with a Booted Eagle soaring around overhead and the nomads setting up camp all around us we took a look at the waterhole itself and found a nice range of waterbirds. These included Wood and Green Sandpipers, three Temminck’s Stints, two Jacanas, a Striated Heron and a pair of Senegal Thick-knees.

Retracing our steps back through the park in the heat of the afternoon we had great views of Little and Carmine Bee-eaters, Ruppell's Long-tailed Starling and a superb pair of Kori Bustards. A walk in the cool woodland around the pool in Kudu Valley proved very productive with good sightings of African Hawk Eagle, Abyssinian Roller, Grey-headed and Bearded Woodpeckers, Orange-billed Parrot, Paradise Whydah and Crimson-rumped Waxbill. We finished the day out on the Oryx Plains in a cool breeze and golden late afternoon light and found several Beisa Oryx, a Soemering’s Gazelle, a Pallid Harrier, a distant Black-shouldered Kite, a number of Somali Fiscals and a couple of Woodchat Shrikes.

Day 10 Tuesday 29th October

Out at first light walking along the river near the lodge: lots of Grivet Monkey action, superb views of a group of six Black-billed Barbets preening and sunning themselves, a pair of Fish Eagles perched up in the top of a tall tree, a male Little Sparrowhawk and a couple of Buff-bellied Warblers – all very nice! After breakfast we took to the bus for a lengthy game drive and had a fine morning cruising along the tracks out around to the Oryx Plains again. Highlights included rather better views of Lesser Kudu that we’d enjoyed yesterday plus White-bellied and Buff-crested Bustards, Red-billed and Yellow-billed Hornbills, Lilac-breasted Roller, Grey Wren-Warbler, Ashy Cisticola, White-crowned Shrike and White-browed Scrub Robin.

After lunch and a siesta back at the lodge we headed off again, this time out of the park and through the town of Matara to the so-called “Hyena Cave” in an area of dry acacia scrubland between Lake Bosaka and the low escarpment to the north. Volcanic country this, with narrow, black lava canyons streaking across the landscape to more extensive lava flows down by the distant lakeshore. By 5.30 pm we were positioned on a low rocky ridge overlooking some large holes in a sandy depression below us, waiting silently.

The Best of Ethiopia Tour Report

By 6.30 over 15 Spotted Hyenas had emerged, some confident and some wary, plus three Warthogs. Great views for us in the fading light with Venus shining brightly and a supporting cast of birds that included a trio of vocal Yellow-breasted Barbets, some Blue-naped Mousebirds and a calling White-faced Owl. Satisfied we made our way back to Awash, noting two impressive Verraux’s Eagle Owls out a-hunting as we drove back through the park itself.

Day 11 Wednesday 30th October

Another beautiful, cool, still, clear morning We left Awash NP after an early breakfast and made a stop on the bleak lava flows by Lake Bosaka where we found several Rock Hyrax, a Blackstart and a couple of Striolated Buntings, before pushing on back up the busy main road towards Addis. At Nazareth we turned southwards on the quieter road down towards Awassa, stopped briefly by Lake Koka, where we saw Lesser Spotted Eagle, Goliath Heron and Gull-billed Tern, and made it to Ziway in good time for lunch. A Diederik Cuckoo, a Woodland Kingfisher, a couple of Grey-headed Woodpeckers and lots of Beautiful Sunbirds kept the birding interest going through the lunch and then we took a look down at the nearby lakeshore/fish landing area where there was the usual typically Ethiopian scene of lots of people doing lots of things surrounded by lots of birds also doing lots of things. Here we saw masses of Marabous and White Pelicans plus a good range of other stuff including Reed Cormorant, Hammerkop, Black Egret, Three-banded and Little Ringed Plovers, Grey-headed Gull and Malachite, Pied and Brown-hooded Kingfishers. We continued on through the afternoon, noted roadside Ground Hornbills, Lilac-breasted Rollers, Von der Decken's Hornbills and Carmine Bee-eaters, passed through Sheshemane and arrived at our lake shore hotel at Awassa just before sunset.

Day 12 Thursday 31st October

Most of us were up and out at first light and exploring the hotel grounds and the adjacent lakeshore. In an action packed couple of hours we enjoyed close up views of the local troop of Black-and-white Colobus and a lovely range of birds. In the garden the highlights included Blue-headed Coucal, Pygmy and Woodland Kingfishers, Eurasian and Red-throated Wrynecks and Black-headed Batis whilst out on the lakeshore we saw Pygmy Geese, White-backed Ducks, a Gymnogene, lots of Pied and Malachite Kingfishers, a few Jacanas, a Lesser Swamp Warbler, two Spectacled Weavers, a Grosbeak Weaver feeding fledglings, an Abyssinian White-eye and a Red- faced Cisticola – phew!

After a late breakfast we stopped by at the lively fish market and explored further along the wooded shore and found lots of Silvery-cheeked Hornbills, several Gambian Sun Squirrels and a couple of amazing Spotted Creepers and then we set off towards the Bale Mountains. Passing back through Sheshemane we drove up and out across wide open grasslands dotted with wattle-and dub huts, herds of livestock and people on horseback. Cape Rooks and Red-breasted Wheatears were at the roadside and at one point we passed a huge flock of handsome Black-winged Plovers. After a riverside picnic lunch some way after the town of Adaba we climbed up and up through the majestic, sweeping slopes of the Bale Mountains. In the late afternoon we reached the edge of the national park itself and crossed the famous Gaysay grasslands. Here there were Blue-winged Geese and Rouget’s Rails, two special Ethiopian highland endemics, plus our first Bohor Reedbucks and Mountain Nyala. Pushing on we stopped for formalities at the NP offices at Dinsho (where an Abyssinian Woodpecker was seen by some of us) and then drove the final stretch to Gobe and our hotel.

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Day 13 Friday 1st November

A cool, damp overcast morning found the grounds of the hotel hopping with hundreds of Common Whitethroats and other common European migrants which boded well but unfortunately the heavy overnight rain soon set in again and we spent a relatively frustrating day very much shaped by the limitations of the weather. A morning at Dinsho “Mountain” exploring the woodlands and glades brought us repeated close up views of Mountain Nyalas, Menelik’s Bushbucks and Warthogs and encounters with a small range of birds that included Abyssinian Catbird, Dusky Flycatcher, Abyssinian Slaty Flycatcher, White-backed Tit and Montane White-eye.

Back in the Gaysay Valley in the afternoon the rain finally stopped and stroll out across the plain to a distant hillock brought us sightings of lots more Nyala, Reedbucks and Warthogs, plus Rouget’s Rails, Blue-winged Geese, Wattled Ibis, Abyssinian Longclaws, Grassland and Red-throated Pipits, Ethiopian Cisticolas, Red- breasted Wheatears, Long-legged Buzzard and Steppe Eagle. Pretty good really!

Day 14 Saturday 2nd November

Better weather today meant we could go up onto the Sanetti Plateau and search for Wolves, everyone’s top target. Soon we were up there in that breathless other worldly landscape, in and out of scudding cloud and spattering rain showers. The habitat consisted of grassland, scrub, rocky outcrops, marshy pools and lakes, and scattered Giant Lobelias. Spot-breasted Plovers, Rouget's Rails and Chestnut-naped Francolins were at the trackside. Flocks of Abyssinian Siskins were fluttering across the grass and eagles were in the sky. We had our eyes peeled for Wolves. And then, there they were: first three in and out of the mist, loping across the landscape and then two, a pair, which we approached carefully on foot as the cloud lifted. They came towards us unconcerned and passed within 50 metres - fabulous! We explored further, added to the bird list, saw Stark’s Hares and Grass Rats, ate lunch and then found another Wolf foraging on its own. We followed it closely as it looked, listened, sniffed and dug its way cross the plateau in its pursuit of prey – a wonderful creature indeed and a rare privilege for us!

We stopped in tattered patches of welcome sunshine to explore some degraded woodland and gardens on the way back down to Gobe and saw a few nice birds including Ruppell’s Robin-Chat, Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, a lovely female Abyssinian Woodpecker and some large flocks of White-collared Pigeons. Then it was back to the hotel in time to warm up before dinner. It had been a great day in a truly marvellous place and we’d seen our wolves!

Day 15 Sunday 3rd November

We left Gobe soon after breakfast and retraced our steps back through Dinsho and Gaysay. Dwarf Ravens and displaying Red-collared Widows were seen along the way. An adult Lammergeyer swooping down to collect a bone from the roadside verge right in front of us was a jaw-dropping sight. Lunch was at a restaurant in Sheshemane with Blue-breasted Bee-eaters in the garden and then we pushed on towards Lake Langano. The last stages, bumping along a dirt track through villages, gardens and farmland was productive for birds with Crowned Plovers, Black-billed Wood-Hoopoes, Black-winged Lovebirds, Blue-spotted Wood-Dove and Red-shouldered Cuckoo-Shrike all being seen.

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We arrived at the lovely lakeshore Bishangari Lodge at 5pm with just enough time for a short walk out to Hippo Point. Thousands of Sand Martins and Barn Swallows were streaming along the shore, presumably on their way to some huge roost in the reeds; White-rumped Babblers chattered noisily in the undergrowth; a Northern Black Flycatcher, a Grey-headed Kingfisher and a pair of Grey-headed Woodpeckers were seen in the trees and out on the eponymous Point two Hippos sported around in the shallows – lovely!

Day 16 Monday 4th November

A full and relaxing day at Bishangari and no vehicles involved - great! A series of walks through the day introduced us to the principle habitats of Bishangari; the lake and shore, the grasslands and the fig forest, and between us we saw a staggering 130 species of birds! Among the highlights were: Crested Francolin, Lemon Dove, Yellow-fronted Parrot, White-cheeked Turaco, Narina Trogon, Banded and Double-toothed Barbets, Red-fronted Tinkerbird, Black Scimitarbill, Brown-throated Wattle-eye and Rufous Chatterer. Mammals included Warthogs, Sun Squirrels, Colobus Monkeys, some very bold Olive Baboons and another Hippo at sunset. A good day!

Day 17 Tuesday 5th November

We were away from Bishangari shortly after breakfast. Back along the dirt track with Hemprich’s Hornbills and White-cheeked Turacos popping up in the trees to keep us on our toes. Our first break in the journey was at the Abiata-Shala Lakes National Park. First in an area of acacia bushveld where we saw handsome Grant’s Gazelles and Von der Decken’s Hornbills and then out on the wide open lakeshore where we were presented with the spectacle of many, many birds. These included thousands of Greater and Lesser Flamingos, hundreds of Yellow- billed Storks, fifteen impressive Wattled Cranes and a host of waders. It was a fine place indeed and a fitting spot to more or less finish our Ethiopian birding.

From here we drove fast back to Addis, breaking the journey for lunch at Ziway. We arrived in the big city at the end of the afternoon, enjoyed a last dinner together, said goodbye to Mehiret and then headed off to the airport for our late night flight. Everything went smoothly and we all arrived safely back in the UK on time the following morning.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Mehiret for being our local guide; to all our various local guides, drivers, boatmen and hotel and lodge staff. Thanks also to the members of the group for their good humour and enthusiasm. It was an exciting, interesting and enjoyable trip!

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Tour Report The Best of Ethiopia

Species List

Birds ( = recorded but not counted)

October/November Common name Scientific name 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 1 Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis h 4 3 2 2 Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus 16 50 75 10 3 Pink-backed Pelican Pelecanus rufescens 3 3 250 30 Phalacrocorax carbo 4 White-breasted Cormorant 1 10 1 10 10 25 5 lucidus 5 Long-tailed Cormorant Phalacrocorax africanus 20 30 5 12 15 10 20 6 African Darter Anhinga melanogaster 1 30 1 7 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 4 1 1 4 3 8 Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala 1 2 9 Goliath Heron Ardea goliath 1 1 10 Purple Heron Ardea purpurea 1 2 1 11 Great Egret Ardea alba 3 5 2 3 2 12 Black Heron Egretta ardesiaca 1 13 Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia 1 3 14 Little Egret Egretta garzetta 4 2 5 2 6 1 1 2 5 5 5 15 Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 20 30 50 6 2 10 10 10 20 30 35 30 16 Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides 1 2 1 2 2 3 2 5 17 Striated Heron Butorides striata 1 18 Hamerkop Scopus umbretta 3 5 2 1 2 10 10 2 5 19 Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis 1 1 2 6 21 100 20 African Openbill Anastomus lamelligerus 2 21 Black Stork Ciconia nigra 12 1 22 Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus 1 23 Eurasian White Stork Ciconia ciconia 70 300 24 Marabou Stork Leptoptilos crumeniferus 25 500 5 35 500 100 5 10 15 25 Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus 5 5 15 1 35 200 50 30 10 30 26 Hadada Ibis Bostrychia hagedash 5 5 2 1 5 30 8 27 Wattled Ibis Bostrychia carunculata 13 4 75 30 5 2 150 200 70 15 28 Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus 2 2 1 2

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October/November Common name Scientific name 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 29 African Spoonbill Platalea alba 1 30 Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber 1000's 31 Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor 1000's 32 White-faced Whistling-duck Dendrocygna viduata 25 3 33 White-backed Duck Thalassornis leuconotus 2 34 Blue-winged Goose Cyanochen cyanopterus 12 15 30 6 35 Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiacus 3 5 100 2 1 100 15 100 50 10 30 50 50 36 Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea 10 37 Spur-winged Goose Plectropterus gambensis 2 6 2 1 2 5 38 Comb Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos 1 39 African Pygmy-goose Nettapus auritus 4 40 Yellow-billed Duck Anas undulata 1 1 30 41 Garganey Anas querquedula 10 42 Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata 2 2 5 43 Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus 1 1 1 44 Black Kite Milvus migrans 1 45 Yellow-billed Kite Milvus migrans parasitus 30 100 100 100 5 10 35 100 2 5 100 50 5 25 1 100 46 African Fish Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer 2 1 1 2 12 2 1 2 3 47 Lammergeier Gypaetus barbatus 4 2 4 10 3 2 48 Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus 3 3 2 1 1 49 Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus 30 50 100 30 5 12 100 5 100 50 5 30 5 20 50 African White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus 1 50 100 5 50 2 25 51 Ruppell's Vulture Gyps rueppellii 2 5 12 25 10 5 1 1 10 52 Eurasian Griffon Gyps fulvus 1 1 53 Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotus 1 54 Brown Snake Eagle Circaetus cinereus 1 55 Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus 1 1 56 Bateleur Terathopius ecaudatus 4 1 57 Eurasian Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus 2 1 3 58 Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus 1 1 1 3 1 2 2 1 1 59 Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus 1 60 Pallid/Montagu's Harrier Circus macrourus/pygargus 1 2 2

The Best of Ethiopia Tour Report

October/November Common name Scientific name 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 61 African Harrier-hawk Polyboroides typus 1 1 2 62 Dark Chanting Goshawk Melierax metabates 3 3 4 3 1 63 Shikra Accipiter badius 1 1 1 1 64 African Little Sparrowhawk Accipiter minullus 1 65 Western Steppe Buzzard Buteo buteo vulpinus 1 1 66 Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus 1 67 Red-necked Buzzard Buteo auguralis 2 68 Augur Buzzard Buteo augur 4 5 3 10 4 2 2 3 5 4 69 Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina 1 3 1 70 Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax 1 8 7 4 12 10 10 6 2 2 4 2 8 5 71 Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis 1 1 1 2 1 3 72 Verreaux's Eagle Aquila verreauxii 1 4 3 1 73 African Hawk-eagle Aquila spilogaster 2 74 Booted Eagle Aquila pennatus 2 1 1 1 75 Long-crested Eagle Lophaetus occipitalis 1 1 1 76 African Pygmy-falcon Polihierax semitorquatus 3 77 Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus 1 1 2 1 1 2 2 4 2 3 1 1 2 78 Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo 1 79 Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus 2 1 2 1 1 2 2 1 80 Saker Falcon Falco cherrug 1 81 Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus 1 2 1 82 Barbary Falcon Falco pelegrinoides 1 83 Crested Francolin Francolinus sephaena 5 3 10 84 Orange River Francolin Francolinus levaillantoides h 85 Chestnut-naped Francolin Francolinus castaneicollis 4 15 1 86 Erckel's Francolin Francolinus erckelii 2h 2+2h 8h 6h 87 Yellow-necked Spurfowl Pternistis leucoscepus 2 1 88 Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris 30 30 10 10 10 89 Black Crowned Crane Balearica pavonina 15 5 3 90 Wattled Crane Bugeranus carunculatus 15 91 Common Crane Grus grus 230 50 92 Rouget's Rail Rougetius rougetii 11 15 10 5

The Best of Ethiopia Tour Report

October/November Common name Scientific name 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 93 Black Crake Amaurornis flavirostris 2 2 2 3 94 Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus 1 95 Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata 3 8 8 6 96 Kori Bustard Ardeotis kori 2 97 White-bellied Bustard Eupodotis senegalensis 2 98 Buff-crested Bustard Lophotis gindiana 1 4 99 African Jacana Actophilornis africanus 2 2 5 1 100 Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus 6 25 3 3 1 4 101 Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta 1 15 102 Senegal Thick-knee Burhinus senegalensis 2 h h 2 3 h 103 Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus 2 50 5 15 5 10 50 25 104 Black-winged Lapwing Vanellus melanopterus 500 500 105 Crowned Lapwing Vanellus coronatus 1 4 6 4 106 Spot-breasted Lapwing Vanellus melanocephalus 150 107 Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula 1 5 108 Little Plover Charadrius dubius 1 109 Kittlitz's Plover Charadrius pecuarius 3 2 110 Three-banded Plover Charadrius tricollaris 2 1 1 2 1 111 African Snipe Gallinago nigripennis 2 2 2 112 Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa 25 2 113 Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis 1 1 1 114 Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia 1 1 3 115 Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus 1 2 2 2 6 2 3 116 Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola 4 6 3 5 12 20 117 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos 1 1 1 1 5 2 2 1 4 1 118 Little Stint Calidris minuta 2 25 50 119 Temminck's Stint Calidris temminckii 3 1 5 120 Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea 5 121 Ruff Philomachus pugnax 1 30 1 1 100 100 122 Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 3 2 123 Grey-headed Gull Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus 2 3 5 124 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus 1 1 3

The Best of Ethiopia Tour Report

October/November Common name Scientific name 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 125 Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica 3 1 1 126 Common Tern Sterna hirundo 2 127 White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus 2 30 50 5 50 30 128 Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bengalensis 1 129 Speckled Pigeon Columba guinea 30 30 40 30 10 10 30 50 10 15 30 35 30 5 30 20 20 130 White-collared Pigeon Columba albitorques 20 1 8 15 5 30 25 40 30 120 40 131 Olive Pigeon Columba arquatrix 1 2 132 Lemon Dove Columba larvata 4 2 133 Dusky Turtle Dove Streptopelia lugens 30 2 6 100 15 5 100's 5 100 10 15 100 5 134 African Mourning Dove Streptopelia decipiens 5 10 10 50 10 10 135 Vinaceous Dove Streptopelia vinacea 1h 136 Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata 15 30 20 15 6 15 10 10 15 20 50 137 Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis 10 12 10 10 30 10 20 5 5 20 138 Emerald-spotted Wood Dove Turtur chalcospilos 1 139 Blue-spotted Wood Dove Turtur afer 1 2 1h 2 4 1 140 Tambourine Dove Turtur tympanistria 1 2 1 141 Namaqua Dove Oena capensis 1 1 8 30 12 8 2 6 142 Bruce's Green Pigeon Treron waalia 1 15 6 2 2 143 Black-winged Lovebird Agapornis taranta 1 2 5 4 8 6 3 144 Orange-bellied Parrot Poicephalus rufiventris 3 145 Yellow-fronted Parrot Poicephalus flavifrons 5 2 10 20 20 146 White-cheeked Turaco Tauraco leucotis 1 3 2 2 1 147 White-bellied Go-away-bird Corythaixoides leucogaster 2 10 3 1 148 Bare-faced Go-away-bird Corythaixoides personatus 1 149 Eastern Grey Plantain-eater Crinifer zonurus 4 10 4 1 150 Deiderik Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius 1 151 Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus 1 1 152 Blue-headed Coucal Centropus monachus 2 153 White-faced Owl Ptilpsis leucotis 1h 154 Cape Eagle-owl Bubo capensis 1 155 African Wood Owl Strix woodfordii 1h 156 Greyish Eagle Owl Bubo cinerascens 1

The Best of Ethiopia Tour Report

October/November Common name Scientific name 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 157 Verraux's eagle Owl Bubo lacteus 2 158 African Palm Swift Cypsiurus parvus 1 159 Nyanza Swift Apus niansae 1 50 100's 100 50 160 Little Swift Apus affinis 4 161 White-rumped Swift Apus caffer 1 10 2 2 162 Speckled Mousebird Colius striatus 15 10 12 4 3 3 4 5 10 10 10 20 163 Blue-naped Mousebird Urocolius macrourus 3 20 10 15 164 Narina Trogon Apaloderma narina 2 165 Grey-headed Kingfisher Halcyon leucocephala 1 1 5 1 166 Striped Kingfisher Halcyon chelicuti 2 3 4 2 167 Woodland Kingfisher Halcyon senegalensis 1 1 5 2 1 168 African Pygmy Kingfisher Ceyx pictus 1 169 Malachite Kingfisher Alcedo cristata 2 1 1 1 8 2 170 Half-collared Kingfisher Alcedo semitorquata 2 171 Giant Kingfisher Megaceryle maxima 1 172 Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis 4 10 3 4 15 5 1 173 Little Bee-eater Merops pusillus 8 2 1 2 1 2 174 Blue-breasted Bee-eater Merops variegatus 10 5 2 5 175 Madagascar Bee-eater Merops superciliosus 50 30 25 176 European Bee-eater Merops apiaster 30 177 Northern Carmine Bee-eater Merops nubicus nubicus 2 5 2 5 15 5 2 5 178 Rufous-crowned Roller Coracias naevius 1 1 179 Abyssinian Roller Coracias abyssinicus 1 1 180 Lilac-breasted Roller Coracius caudatus 1 1 8 4 3 181 Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops 2 6 2 3 4 3 5 182 Black-billed Woodhoopoe Phoeniculus somaliensis 3 3 4 183 Black Scimitarbill Rhinopomastus aterrimus 2 1 184 Northern Ground Hornbill Bucorvus abyssinicus 5 2 185 Hemprich's Hornbill Tockus hemprichii 2 3 1 2 1 186 African Grey Hornbill Tockus nasutus 2 1 5 2 3 187 Red-billed Hornbill Tockus erythrorhynchus 3 1 2 3 188 Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill Tockus flavirostris 2 1 1

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October/November Common name Scientific name 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 189 Von Der Decken's Hornbill Tockus deckeni 1 1 2 190 Silvery-cheeked Hornbill Bycanistes brevis 2 1 1 20 15 20 2 191 Yellow-breasted Barbet Trachyphonus margaritatus 1 3 192 Red-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus pusillus 1h 1 193 Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus chrysoconus 2 2 1h 194 Banded Barbet Lybius undatus 1 4 2 195 Black-billed Barbet Lybius guifsobalito 2 1 4 3 1 7 196 Double-toothed Barbet Lybius bidentatus 2 1 2 1 197 Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla 2 198 Rufous-necked Wryneck Jynx ruficollis 1 199 Nubian Woodpecker Campethera nubica 2 1 1 1 1 200 Abyssinian Woodpecker Dedropicos abyssinicus 1 1 201 Bearded Woodpecker Dendropicos namaquus 1 202 African Grey Woodpecker Dendropicos goertae 2 3 Dendropicos 203 African Grey-headed 1 1 3 2 3 1 Woodpecker spodocephalus 204 Erlanger's Lark Calandrella erlangeri 5 1 205 Thekla Lark Galerida theklae 10 2 5 5 10 5 206 Chestnut-backed Sparrow-lark Eremopterix leucotis 5 10 2 1 207 Black Saw-wing Psalidoprocne pristoptera 1 2 4 20 1 208 Plain Martin Riparia paludicola 1 2 1 10 5 2 5 5 209 Collared Sand Martin Riparia riparia 20 20 5 10 10 2 100+ 1000's 1000's 210 Mosque Swallow Cecropis senegalensis 30 211 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 3 10 50 30 40 100 100 100+ 100's 100's 100+ 100's 100+ 50 100's 1000's 1000's 212 Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii 3 6 5 2 213 Northern House Martin Delichon urbicum 30 1 10 50+ 5+ 214 Eurasian Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris 3 50 30 100+ 215 Rock Martin Ptyonoprogne fuligula 2 5 10 10 10 10 5 10 216 Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica 2 5 20+ 217 Grassveld Pipit Anthus cinnamomeus 5 218 Long-billed Pipit Anthus similis 2 219 Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus 3 15 10 12 10 3 15 5 3 220 Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis 3 4 4

The Best of Ethiopia Tour Report

October/November Common name Scientific name 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 221 Abyssinian Longclaw Macronyx flavicollis 10 1 222 White Wagtail Motacilla alba 1 2 223 African Pied Wagtail Motacilla aguimp 1 1 224 Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava 100+ 50+ 10 5 20 100 15 15 10 25 15 300+ 5 225 Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea 1 1 1 1 2 226 Mountain Wagtail Motacilla clara 1 2 Red-shouldered Cuckoo- 227 Campephaga phoenicea 1 1 1 shrike 228 Dark-capped Bullbul Pycnonotus tricolor 2 4 2 229 Common Bulbul Pycnonotus barbatus 10 12 5 5 10 5 5 1 6 5 230 African Thrush Turdus pelios 2 2 1 1 1 4 1 231 Mountain Thrush Turdus abyssinicus 5 5 2 3 5 10 3 4 232 Groundscraper Thrush Psophocichla litsipsirupa 2 20 12 15 5 12 30 3 20 233 Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius 1 1 1 234 Little Rock-thrush Monticola rufocinereus 3 1 235 Mocking Cliff-chat Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris 8 1 1 1 2 236 Rüppell's Robin-chat Cossypha semirufa 3 2 1 2 1h 1 1h 1 237 White-browed Robin-chat Cossypha heuglini 3 238 Thrush/Common Nightingale Luscinia luscinia/megarhynchos 2 239 White-browed Scrub-robin Erythropygia leucophrys 1 leucoptera 240 Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus 1 1 3 5 1 241 Whinchat Saxicola rubetra 1 242 Common Stonechat Saxicola torquatus 2 4 10 1 243 Moorland Chat Pinarochroa sordida 1 15 20 30 10 15 20 10 244 Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe 1 1 2 2 245 Abyssian Black Wheatear Oenanthe lugubris 1 4 1 1 246 Pied Wheatear Oenanthe pleschanka 1 1 1 5 3 2 4 6 2 3 2 3 3 247 Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina 1 2 1 2 3 8 10 5 1 1 10 248 Red-breasted Wheatear Oenanthe bottae 2 4 1 20 15 249 Blackstart Oenanthe melanura 1 250 African Grey Flycatcher Bradornis microrhynchus 2 1 251 Spotted Flycatcher Muscipapa striata 1 2 5 1 252 Abyssinian Slaty Flycatcher Melaenornis chocolatinus 2 1 8 2 1 2 6

The Best of Ethiopia Tour Report

October/November Common name Scientific name 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 253 Northern Black Flycatcher Melaenornis edolioides 1 1 4 254 African Dusky Flycatcher Muscicapa adusta 2 1 2 4 1 255 Grey-headed Batis Batis orientalis 1 2 256 Western Black-headed Batis Batis erlangeri 2 2 2 3 257 Brown-throated Wattle-eye Platysteira cyanea 1h 1 1 258 African Paradise-flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis 4 5 2 2 3 2 1 1 1 259 Tawny-flanked Prinia Prinia subflava 2 1 2 1 1 2 260 Red-faced Cisticola Cisticola erythrops 2 261 Rattling Cisticola Cisticola chiniana 5 262 Ashy Cisticola Cisticola cinereolus 2 263 Ethiopian Cisticola Cisticola lugubris 2 2 3 2 8 1 264 Grey-backed Camaroptera Camaroptera brachyura 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 265 Buff-bellied Warbler Phyllolais pulchella 4 3 4 3 266 Grey Wren-Warbler Calamonastes simplex 1 1 267 Cinnamon Bracken Warbler Bradypterus cinnamomeus 1 2 1 1 268 Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus 1 269 Lesser Swamp Warbler Acrocephalus gracilirostris 1 2 270 Eastern Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais pallida 1 2 3 2 1 271 Brown Woodland Warbler Phylloscopus umbrovirens 1 1 1 2 1 272 Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus 2 1 1 3 273 Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita 4 1 3 1 4 5 5 1 1 274 Red-faced Crombec Sylvietta whytii 2 1 2 275 Northern Crombec Sylvietta brachyura 1 276 Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla 30 10 15 3 2 1 2 1 277 Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca 2 5 1 278 Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis 75+ 279 African Hill Babbler Pseudoalcipe abyssinica 1h 280 Rufous Chatterer Turdoides rubiginosus 5 281 White-rumped Babbler Turdoides leucopygius 6 4 15 15 282 Abyssinian Catbird Parophasma galinieri 5 1h 1h 2+2h 2 2h 283 White-winged Black-tit Melaniparus leucomelas 1 284 White-backed Black-tit Melaniparus leuconotus 5 4 5

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October/November Common name Scientific name 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 285 Spotted Creeper Salpornis spilonotus 2 286 Malachite Sunbird Nectarina famosa 2 287 Scarlet-chested Sunbird Chalcomitra senegalensis 7 9 2 3 1 288 Tacazze Sunbird Nectarinia tacazze 10 2 3 5 5 8 2 7 10 5 10 289 Beautiful Sunbird Cinnyris pulchellus 3 10 10 1 4 8 290 Variable Sunbird Cinnyris venustus 2 2 2 1 1 2 5 3 291 Montane White-eye Zosterops poliogastrus 2 3 1 1 3 4 4 2 292 Yellow White-eye Zosterops senegalensis 15 4 10 293 Abyssinian White-eye Zosterops abyssinicus 1 1 294 Abyssinian Oriole Oriolus monacha 1 6 1 295 Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus 2 296 Isabelline Shrike Lanius isabellinus 1 1 1 3 297 Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio 1 3 8 4 1 298 Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor 2 299 Southern Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis 1 300 Grey-backed Fiscal Lanius excubitoroides 5 2 10 2 301 Somali Fiscal Lanius somalicus 5 2 302 Common Fiscal Lanius collaris 5 10 5 4 1 3 3 6 5 2 303 Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator 2 1 304 Brubru Nilaus afer 305 Northern Puffback Dryoscopus gambensis 2 1 1 1 306 Black-crowned Tchagra Tchagra senegala 1h 1 1 307 Tropical Boubou Laniarius aethiopicus 1h 2 1 1 3 2 2 1 5 3 308 Slate-coloured Boubou Laniarius funebris 3 1 309 Rosy-patched Bushshrike Telophorus cruentus 2 2 Sulphur-breasted 310 Telophorus sulfureopectus 1h 1h Bushshrike 311 Northern White-crowned Shrike Eurocephalus ruepelli 5 5 312 White-crested Helmetshrike Prionops plumatus 5 1 2 313 Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis 8 1 2 5 314 Red-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax 250 8 2 315 Cape Crow Corvus capensis 3 5 20 4 4 8 2 30 15 10 25 316 Pied Crow Corvus albus 25 5 10 20 10 5 10 15 5 10

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October/November Common name Scientific name 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 317 Dwarf Raven Corvus edithae 5 2 8 318 Fan-tailed Raven Corvus rhipidurus 2 5 6 12 8 4 50 5 2 2 6 10 5 319 Thick-billed Raven Corvus crassirostris 12 6 10 10 25 12 2 1 2 4 4 10 320 Wattled Starling Creatophora cinerea 30 20 321 Greater Blue-eared Glossy- Lamprotornis chalybaeus 5 15 100+ 10 12 50 2 20 10 100+ 100 starling 322 Lesser Blue-eared Glossy Lamprotornis chloropterus 1 Starling 323 Rueppell's Glossy-starling Lamprotornis purpuropterus 10 15 20 2 50 30 50 324 Superb Starling Lamprotornis superbus 1 10 1 2 10 325 Red-winged Starling Onychognathus morio 2 6 1 5 5 326 Slender-billed Starling Onychognathus tenuirostris 15 25 10 5 25 15 327 Somali Starling Onychognathus blythi 10 328 White-billed Starling Onychognathus albirostris 10 2 329 Red-billed Oxpecker Buphagus erythrorhynchus 2 3 10 10 6 1 20 5 30 20 330 Swainson's Sparrow Passer swainsonii 10 15 20 15 2 5 10 10 5 5 10 30 30 20 331 Bush Petronia Gymnoris dentata 1 332 Yellow-spotted Petronia Petronia pyrgita 5 333 Red-billed Buffalo-weaver Bubalornis niger 15 20 5 334 White-headed Buffalo-weaver Dinemellia dinemelli 10 30 35 335 White-browed Sparrow-weaver Plocepasser mahali 2 25 50 5 20 10 30 336 Grosbeak Weaver Amblospiza albifrons 4 2 337 Baglafecht Weaver Ploceus baglafecht 20 2 10 15 5 10 5 10 8 10 5 15 2 338 Little Weaver Ploceus luteolus 6 10 339 Spectacled Weaver Ploceus ocularis 2 340 Rueppell's Weaver Ploceus galbula 2 5 5 6 2 341 Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus 25 25 50 2 1 10 342 Red-headed Weaver Anaplectes rubriceps 2 1 343 Red-billed Quelea Quelea quelea 300 100 300 344 Yellow-crowned Bishop Euplectes afer 10 40 5 345 Yellow Bishop Euplectes capensis 2 2 8 346 Black-winged Red Bishop Euplectes hordeaceus 1 6 5 347 Northern Red Bishop Euplectes franciscanus 50 348 Yellow-mantled Widowbird Euplectes macroura 15 20 15 1 2

The Best of Ethiopia Tour Report

October/November Common name Scientific name 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 349 Red-collared Widowbird Euplectes ardens 1 12 3 350 Green-winged Pytilia Pytilia melba 1 1 351 Red-billed Firefinch Lagonosticta senegala 2 10 20 10 3 10 15 5 5 3 10 352 Red-cheeked Cordonbleu Uraeginthus bengalus 3 5 10 4 1 1 5 2 2 2 5 10 2 353 Yellow-bellied Waxbill Coccopygia quartinia 4 2 1 4 2 354 Crimson-rumped Waxbill Estrilda rhodopyga 10 355 Common Waxbill Estrilda astrid 3 5 356 African Quailfinch Ortygospiza fuscocrissa 1 357 African Siverbill Euodice cantans 10 358 Bronze Mannikin Spermestes cucullatus 1 5 1 3 1 1 359 Cut-throat Amadina fasciata 50 1 360 Village Indigobird Vidua chalybeata 12 10 10 3 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 361 Pin-tailed Whydah Vidua macroura 1 362 Straw-tailed Whydah Vidua fischeri 1 363 Eastern Paradise-whydah Vidua paradisaea 3 15 4 364 Yellow-crowned Canary Serinus flavivertex 1 5 2 3 5 10 365 Yellow-fronted Canary Serinus mozambica 2 366 Abyssinian Siskin Serinus nigriceps 2 30 30 20 150 100+ 367 African Citril Serinus citrinelloides 3 5 6 5 5 2 2 2 2 368 Brown-rumped Seedeater Serinus tristriatus 1 10 15 30 20 20 2 15 15 10 369 Streaky Seedeater Serinus striolatus 2 3 20 5 2 1 6 10 5 1 370 Stripe-breasted Seedeater Serinus reichardi 1 371 Striolated Bunting Emberiza striolata 2 372 Cinnamon-breasted Bunting Emberiza tahapisi 4

Mammals

1 Warthog Phacochoerus aethiopicus 10 9 20 40 8 10 5 2 Walia Ibex Capra ibex 6 3 Grey Duiker Cephalophus grimmia 1 1 2 1 4 Menelik's Bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus meneliki 10 1 2 5 Mountain Nyala Tragelaphus buxtoni 20 40 1 6 Bohor Reedbuck Redunca redunca 10 100

The Best of Ethiopia Tour Report

October/November Common name Scientific name 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 7 Lesser Kudu Tragelaphus imbirbis 1 2 8 Beisa Oryx Oryx beisa 4 2 9 Grant's Gazelle Gazella grantii 20 10 Soemmerring's Gazelle Gazella soemmerringi 1 11 Salt's Dik Dik Madoqua saltiana 1 15 6 5 12 Klipspringer Oreotragus oreotragus 1 1 3 13 Hippopotamus hippopotamus amphibius 2 1 14 Rock Hyrax Heterohyrax brucei 1 7 5 15 Abyssinian(Cape)Hare Lepus (capensis) habessinicus 1 4 2 16 Starck's Hare Lepus starcki 3 17 Slender Mongoose Herpestes sanguinea 1 18 Civet Civettictis civetta 1 19 Ethiopian Wolf Canis simensis 9 20 Spotted Hyena Crocuta crocuta 1 15 21 African Wildcat Felix sylvestris 22 Olive Baboon Papio cynocephalus 2 5 12 1 12 25 25 25 23 Hamadryas Baboon Papio hamadryas 100 30 24 Gelada Baboon Papio gelada 400 700 500 50 25 Grivet Monkey Cercopithecus aethiops 5 10 20 2 15 1 12 26 Black-and-white Colobus Colobus guereza 1 10 3 2 8 27 Gambian Sun Squirrel heliosciurus gambensis 5 8 28 Blick's Grass-rat Arvicanthis blicki 5 100+

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