Kenya Birds the bird supplement of the EANHS Bulletin
Volume 10:T*8T2 • 2002 May 2003 ISSN 1023.3679 Recent Records
from top to bottom
Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos, a rare migrantfrom Siberia, was photographed by Brian Finch. Brian and Richard and Ann Bishop found the bird at Athi Basin Dam, Nairobi N.P., on 7 April 2002. Note the sharp "cut-off" of colour on the breast.
Immature Eurasian Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus, photographed by Itai Shanni at the "vulture pool", Nairobi N. P. on 5 March 2003. Note the uniform buff-brown upper-wing coverts and pale tips to the dark secondary upper-wing coverts.
Red-footed Booby, Sula sula, brown morph, was found 23 November 2002 on the beach at Watamu, and nursed back to health by Sanda Ash. In December, Colin Jackson measured, ringed, and photographed the bird and set it free.
Kenya Birds, Volume 10: 16(2, 2002 May 2003 1 598
Contents
Feature Articles 12 Tradition, Tragedy and the Eurasian Honey Buzzard 3 Not a good way to conserve G. Amutete biodiversity! 13 Pratincole-Wader Interaction L. Borghesio C. Hill Nests of 2 globally endangered species 14 Odd Purple Grenadier on Mt Kulal 6 Aberdare Cisticola K. Ndang'ang'a & L. Borghesio G. W. Eshiamwata & S. Karimi 14 Common Button-quail, Nairobi NP 7 Taita Thrush A. Johnston
D. Samba, B. Amakobe, M.Chovu 1 African Finfoot breeding at Mpala Ranch, Laikipia Short (and not so short) Notes B. Chege 10 First records from ephemeral Kijirtit 16 Hinde's Babbler survey, 2000-1
Wetland near Lake Bogoria P. Shaw & J. Musina B. Childress, R. Ndolo, D. Harper 17 Osprey displaying at Watamu
1 Oriole-Finch in Mau & Aberdares B. Means L. Bennun 1 Albino Southern Flycatcher and Two cases of Brood Parasitism J.Kirika
1 Duckling Surprise On the cover: an Arctic Tern P. Davey Sterna paradisaea photographed 1 Arctic Tern for Kenya by Jan Bisschop on 6 July 2002 J. Bisschop at the Sabaki River mouth north of Malindi. This record, if Reports approved by the Rarities 20 Vital Statistics for Kinangop Committee, is the first Arctic Grasslands IBA Tern for East Africa! Top photo K. Ndang 'ang 'a & W. Wamiti caught the tern in flight. Bottom 24 Ringing at Ngulia photo shows the Arctic Tern D. Pearson & G. Backhurst resting near an African Skimmer,
Greater Crested (Swift) Terns (at 27 Waterbird Counts, Jul 01 -Jan 02 left and at the back), Lesser A. Owino
Crested Tern (behind the Arctic 29 Three Darwin Initiatives
Tern) and Common Terns (with P. Matiku, O. Nasirwa, K. Ndang 'ang 'a black bills). Thanks to Jan 33 Records Bisschop. For more details on this record see page 19. Records Sub-Committee 44 Notice Board
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2 Kenya Birds, Volume 10: 1 4 2, 2002 May 2003 Not a good way to increase biodiversity!
Luca Borghesio C. Re Umberto 42, 1-10128 Torino, Italy
all know that the world's rainfall to allow the growth of a true Webiodiversity is threatened. forest, which clads the slopes of this Species are being lost at an ancient volcano, and covers an area of
2 increasing rate, and there is an about 110 km . Forest birds, of course, extremely high need to find out Ways make up the most part of the avifauna, to allow a more peaceful coexistence and include some interesting species, between man and the other living such as Green-backed Twinspot and species. Therefore, one could think it is Sharpe's Starling. a very good news that in some places In addition, the forest has the biodiversity is actually increasing. . . but peculiarity of hosting a large number of is it really so? There is a very interesting waterbirds that live on two small lakes story from Marsabit Forest Reserve, in in the middle of the craters of the extinct northern Kenya. But let start from me volcano. Lake Paradise (a well-chosen the beginning. name!) is about 1 km in diameter, in the
Marsabit Forest Reserve is a lovely middle of the forest, while Sokorte Dika place. Although northern Kenya is is smaller, perhaps one-quarter the size generally very dry or even desertic, of Lake Paradise, and is located in the Mount Marsabit receives enough northern part of the area. Apart from
Lake Paradise by Rati Kfir
May 2003 Kenya Birds, Volume 10: 16 2, 2002 their sizes, the two lakes are very Going through the table, one can't similar, with a rounded shape, shallow help being struck by the differences in waters and wide expanses of mudflats the avifauna in the two lakes. Even around the shores. The Bird Atlas of keeping into account that Sokorte Dika
Kenya lists 55 waterbird species as is much smaller, it is clear that it has being present in the two lakes, including much fewer birds than Lake Paradise the rare Maccoa Duck, White-backed (based on size, one would expect that Duck, Southern Pochard and several about 400 waterbirds should be there,
Palaearctic migrants. In March 2000 I not 52 only!). Moreover, the small lake visited Marsabit forest for several days, has some bird species (Pink-backed and had a chance to do some waterbird Pelican, African Darter, Yellow-billed counts, which are summarised in the Stork, African Spoonbill, Common table below. Sandpiper) that were not seen at Lake Paradise, and also Sokorte Lake many more Grey Herons Dika Paradise seem to live at Sokorte than Species 9-10 4-8 at Lake Paradise. In contrast, March March several species of ducks and 2000 2000 the Red-Knobbed Coot are Little Grebe 2 200 abundant at Lake Paradise, " - Pink-backed Pelican 1 but seemingly absent at - Long-tailed Cormorant 1 Sokorte Dika. Summing up, African Darter 1 - it seems that Sokorte is 7 1 Grey Heron populated by a few large, Black-headed Heron 1 5 mostly piscivorous birds, - Hamerkop 2 while Lake Paradise teems African billed Stork - 22 Open- with many herbivorous or - Yellow-billed Stork 6 insectivorous species. Why? Sacred Ibis 6 20 One explanation came to African Spoonbill 3 - mind when I inspected the White-faced Whistling Duck - 15 two lakes more closely. In White-backed Duck - 50 the waters of Lake Paradise Egyptian Goose 20 15 grows a rich aquatic Red-billed Teal - 15 vegetation of submersed Hottentot Teal - 15 plants, which appear to host Southern Pochard - 200 an abundant invertebrate Maccoa Duck - 5 fauna. On the contrary, at Black Kite 3 5 Sokorte, no water plants were African Fish Eagle 1 2 visible, but the shores of the Red-knobbed Coot - 1000 lake were covered by Black-winged Stilt - 100 hundreds of dead fish. I am Spur-winged Plover - 20 African - not an expert on Wood Sandpiper 1
- fishes, but to me they looked Common Sandpiper 1 TOTAL 52 1694 like small-sized stunted Nile
Kenya Birds, Volume 10: 1&2, 2002 May 2003 Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. The park rangers said that these fish had been introduced some years before into the lake, by an unknown person who, reportedly, had brought them from Lake Turkana.
Nile Tilapia is an omnivore, but Bird Atlas ofKenya. These species were mostly vegetarian, and is known to probably not present there up to the become a pest where it is introduced, recent past, but have now colonised the as it is able to reproduce very quickly lake because of the new food resource. and can have a large negative impact But, is this biodiversity increase a on freshwater ecosystems. Judging positive outcome? Not so much. True, from the size of the dead fish that I could African Darter is considered a rare observe, it seems likely that the waters species in Kenya, but both it and Pink- of the lake were overcrowded with backed Pelican were represented at tilapias that had eaten off almost all the Sokorte by only single individuals, not available food. Now, the evidence by a true breeding population. Sokorte seems to suggest that the tilapia had a seems just to be a place frequented by strong impact on the ecosystem of the erratic, passer-by birds, and cannot be lake. They could have destroyed the considered an important area for these aquatic vegetation, and probably also waterbirds. Moreover, it is very likely much reduced the invertebrate fauna. that before the introduction of the fish This in turn might have caused the the lake was frequented by a much disappearance of the ducks and the larger bird population, similar to the one coots that ate plants and invertebrates, still living at Lake Paradise, which and these birds have been replaced by comprises considerable numbers of piscivorous species, such as herons, other rare species, especially Maccoa pelicans and darters. and White-backed Duck. Now, what is the essence of the The small numerical increase of story? Well, if we simply look at the piscivorous birds has been much more total number of bird species living on than counterbalanced by the likely the lakes, we conclude that the strong demise of the ducks. Luckily biodiversity has increased, not only enough, the fish have not been because of the introduction of the introduced in the larger of the two lakes, tilapia, but also because two of the so, much of the bird life is still there, waterbirds that now frequent Sokorte but what if some enterprising young Dika, namely Pink-backed Pelican and man will one day decide to bring some African Darter, were not listed in the fish even into Lake Paradise? The park authorities in charge of the protection of the Reserve should be informed about this possibility, and should carefully watch that this does not happen. Hamerkop by Reference: Lewis, A.D. & Pomeroy, D.E., 1989. Nani Croze A bird atlas of Kenya. Rotterdam: Balkema.
May 2003 Kenya Birds, Volume 10: 1 <& 2, 2002 5 Nests of globally threatened species First Aberdare Cisticola nest and eggs in moorland
G. W. Eshiamwata and S. Karimi Department of Ornithology, National Museums of Kenya P.O.Box 40658, 00100 GPO Nairobi, Kenya
Aberdare Cisticola is a sandwiched in grass approximately 30 Theglobally endangered species, cm off the ground. The artistically living only in the moist highland woven entrance was facing away from grasslands of the Aberdare mountains, the direction of the wind. This probably Molo and Mau Narok, and nowhere else is an adaptation meant to counter on Earth. It is one of the many members draught and the heavy wind that blows of the Cisticola genus, small warblers incessantly for the better part of the day. of grassland and bush. Until recently, The predominant vegetation at the nest the nest was undescribed. site and vicinity included tough grass tussocks and Alchemilla argyrophylla We stumbled upon a nest in early herbs - typical habitat. 2000, when we were working on the a moorland Aberdare Cisticola project (regarding On peeping in the nest, two eggs the bird's altitudinal distribution in the were found; light blue in colour, oval Aberdare central moorlands and the shaped, approximately 20 mm long. effects of fire). On 10 April, we noted This may be an indication that the birds an Aberdare Cisticola carrying nesting continue lining the nest while material, and traced it to the nest site simultaneously incubating. By the time with binoculars. We could see the birds of our departure on 13 th April 2000 the indefatigably put what was later eggs had not yet hatched. Photos and discovered as the final touches on nest nest records were submitted to the building. The two birds were putting a Ornithology Department of the National lining in the interior of the nest. A closer Museums of Kenya. look revealed that the lining material It would appear that the position of was the cotton-like seed-head of the the nest is precarious, exposing the thistle Carduus chamaecephalus - a low contents to dangers of animal trampling herb of the alpine moorlands. in view of the large mammal The nest was a flimsy ball with a side concentration in the moorlands. entrance near the top, approximately 4 However, learning about the breeding cm in diameter. The outer portion of the ecology of this endangered species nest was woven from the soft grass depends on more nest records. tussocks (Deschampsia flexuosa) and
Kenya Birds, Volume 10: 1 & 2, 2002 May 2003 ,
A Breeding Record for the Taita Thrush, Ngangao Forest, Taita Hills
Daina Samba, Bernard Amakobe, Maxwell Chovu
Taita Hills forest fragments I was in Ngangao as part of my initial Theare home to three globally field survey of the rather elusive Taita threatened bird species - the Apalis, funded by the Wellcome Trust,
Taita Thrush Turdus helleri and Taita at the start of fieldwork to assess its Apalis Apalis (thoracica) fuscigularis population size and the kind of habitat both critically endangered; and the Taita it requires. Bernard Amakobe and Max White-eye Zosterops (poliogaster) Chovu were carrying out fieldwork on silvanus, endangered. These forests the ecology of the White-starred Robin, have been the subject of extensive part of Mwangi Githiru's project that ornithological research, including work looks at how a more common species on the ecology of the Taita Thrush, the copes with the effects of forest Taita Apalis, the Taita White-eye and the fragmentation. White-starred Robin. Notwithstanding In December 2000 we were first the extensive effort involving ringing, alerted to the presence of a nest when radio telemetry and behavioural work, Max noticed that a thrush would always the nests of the Taita Thrush have been be seen flying away when passing a very hard to find. certain point along one of the footpaths inside Ngangao forest. Investigation revealed that there was a nest 6m up a tree just adjacent to the path. The thrush sitting on the nest was very nervous and would fly from the nest at the sound of voices or when someone approached the nest while on the forest path. We borrowed a (very) makeshift ladder and proceeded to investigate. (See
photo 1, next page)
Taita Thrush by Andrew Kamiti
May 2003 Kenya Birds, Volume 10: 16 2, 2002 Nest Description The nest was situated in moderately disturbed vegetation. It was a cup- shaped nest built in a three-way fork on a Tabernaemontana stapfiana tree, approximately 6m above the ground. The tree trunk was covered up to 60 percent by a big-leaved climber {Culcasia sp.) which provided perfect camouflage for the nest. (Photo 2)
The entire outer layer of the nest was composed of moss, of which 95% was still green. The framework was a mixture of skeletal leaves and small fine flexible twigs and leaf veins. Instead of the outer layer being nicely finished off to a circular shape, the moss was left to hang down loose, thus making the nest even more difficult to spot. The Eggs inner layer was composed of small The nest contained three eggs, of a deep flexible twigs and fine-textured skeletal light blue colour, with rufous-brownish leaves and was brown in colour, spots that were more concentrated on contrasting sharply with the green outer the broader end of the oval shaped egg. layer. The dimensions of the nest were: Egg sizes were: Outer diameter, 14.5-15 cm; inner diameter, 8.5 cm; depth, 4.3 cm. Egg No. 12 3 Length 29.3 29.1 32.7
Width 21.4 21.9 22.0
These measurements show that one egg (no. 3) was clearly much larger than the other two. This would seem to indicate
that the thrush invests more in its first
egg, and that it is likely that the chick hatching from this egg automatically
has greater chances for survival and its siblings will only survive if the conditions are very good (lots of conjecture!)
Observations Both adults individually colour ringed, on 24.05.00 and on 18.12.00, WMOO and WMGG, and so easy to identify.
8 Kenya Birds, Volume 10: 1&2, 2002 May 2003 !
In the Taita Hills, all birds caught are 11:13 WMOO (the female) leaves nest fitted with a combination of the usual for ten minutes, returns, stays for 11 metal ring that has a unique number, and minutes then leaves at 11:34. 11:36 three colour bands - two rings on each WMGG had returned from foraging and leg. This gives each bird a unique colour has been perched in a bush at the foot code that allows researchers to identify of the tree. Shortly after his mate leaves the bird if it is spotted with binoculars. the nest he approaches the nest, slowly The codes are read top to bottom, from hopping up the creepers covering the the left leg to the right leg. tree. We observe that he is carrying a full beak-load of insects and he spends In this case one thrush had white some time distributing them over metal on the left leg, and orange among beaks that pop up. then flies off. over orange on the right (WMOO) and He the other had white over metal on the 1 1 :46 WMOO comes back, regurgitates left leg and green over green on the right food for young at 11:53 and at 12:03. (WMGG). At 12:07 WMGG returns, perches below nest, then flies to nest. 14.12.00 :Thrush incubating with tail WMOO held high. Easily disturbed by anyone begs for food (crouches with opens beak). regurgitates, walking along path. Flies about 50m WMGG feeds then flies off away to the ground and forages briefly. WMOO Approaches tree with nest cautiously 12:14 WMOO leaves nest. 12:21 from nearby trees, then settles on eggs WMGG under nest, food in beak, flies approximately ten minutes after to branches above nest and moves disturbance. around, apparently keeping lookout.
17.12.00: Thrush incubating, no young 12:25 WMOO returns, feeds young visible. Flies off when disturbed by from beak, begs from WMGG, feeds people along path. Forages about 200m young from beak and settles on nest. from nest, then returns to nest. WMGG flies to branches above nest, perches and calls/sings.
19.12.00 : Three naked pulli freshly 12:37 leaves hatched. We delicately balance on the WMOO nest, WMGG roughly hewn ladder and take photos. follows suit . 12:50 WMOO below nest, returns to nest and settles. (Photo 3) We then spend about one and a half hours observing the goings-on at At this point I returned to camp for the nest. lunch and later resumed my search for the apalis. In ideal circumstances we would have liked to ring the pulli just before they fledge when their tarsus (leg) attains adult size. However, shortly after these observations were made we broke camp to return to Nairobi for a brief period, and later our field
schedules made it difficult to return to the spot to check for developments.
If you visit the Taita Hills, watch out for birds with colour bands on their legs
May 2003 Kenya Birds, Volume 10: 1 d 2, 2002 9 Short Notes First records from the ephemeral Kijirtit Wetland near Lake Bogoria
1 2 2 Brooks Childress ', Reuben Ndolo and David Harper 1 University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, England, The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Slimbridge GL2 7BT, England (address for correspondence) & National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
Under the auspices of William Institute as part of their Lakes of the Rift Kimosop, Warden, Lake Valley programme conducted surveys Bogoria National Reserve, on foot of the Kijirtit Wetland in April teams sponsored by the Earthwatch 2001 and July 2002. Kijirtit is an ephemeral wetland located between Common Ostrich Common Greenshank Long-tailed Cormorant Namaqua Dove Lakes Baringo and African Darter African Mourning Dove Bogoria (00° 29.07' Cattle Egret Ring-necked Dove N, 036° 06.10' E), Little Egret Laughing Dove at 1,000m asl. The Common Squacco Heron White-bellied Go-away-bird name is sometimes Green-backed Heron White-browed Coucal given as "Kitritich". Yellow-billed Egret Speckled Mousebird Great Egret Giant Kingfisher It is created by Grey Heron Pied Kingfisher occasional flooding Goliath Heron Woodland Kingfisher of the Molo and Black-headed Heron Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Nanyokie Rivers. Hamerkop White- throated Bee-eater Based on interviews Sacred Ibis Little Bee-eater of local people, Hadada Ibis Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater Glossy Ibis d'Arnaud's Barbet this wetland first African Spoonbill Yellow Wagtail appeared in recent White-faced Whistling Duck African Grey Flycatcher times in May 1994 Spur-winged Goose Northern White-crowned Shrike due to the temporary Dark Chanting Goshawk Grey-backed Fiscal flooding of the Ol African Fish Eagle Common Drongo Arabel River, and Black Crake Rattling Cisticola then reappeared Grey Crowned Crane Riippell's Long-tailed Starling African Jacana Superb Starling after the El Nino Eurasian Thick-knee Beautiful Sunbird rains of 1997 (W. Three-banded Plover White-headed Buffalo Weaver Kimosop, pers. Long-toed Plover White-browed Sparrow Weaver comm.). In 1999, it Blacksmith Plover Northern Masked Weaver dried up completely Spur-winged Plover Black-headed Weaver and remained dry Crowned Plover Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu until February 2001
10 Kenya Birds, Volume 10: 1&2, 2002 May 2003 when it reappeared after heavy rains. of lungfish and tilapia.
Sixty avian species were recorded in The authors are grateful to Stephen and around the wetlands (see table). In Lekateiya of the Lake Bogoria addition, we were told that both Conservation Education Centre, James crocodiles and hippos are found in this Njoroge, and the Earthwatch volunteers wetland as well as unidentified species for their assistance in this survey.
Oriole-Finch in the Mau Forest and Aberdares
Oriole-Finch al. mention that Zimmerman et (1996) by Andrew Oriole-Finch is 'inexplicably absent Kamiti from the Mau forests and those of the Aberdare range'. The habitat in the Aberdares salient On 24 June 1991, in the South-west has changed tremendously in the last Mau Forest at Kipsaungon, a survey 20 years, and extensive dense highland team from the Ornithology Department forest has given way to thicket and
of the National Museums of Kenya glades. It seems unlikely that Oriole-
captured an adult male Oriole-Finch at Finch survives here any more, but it
09:55. It was ringed as J106807. As it should be looked for in other parts of
was an unusual capture we also the range where there is more intact
photographed the bird, and this slide forest. remains in the Departmental collection. Albeit that only one of these records
This species cannot be common in is documented, they suggest that the
the Mau forests as we did not capture it puzzling biogeographic anomaly noted
again during extensive survey work. by Zimmerman et al. - a gap in the distribution in the I can also clearly recall seeing an Oriole-Finch's Oriole-Finch in one of the 'M' forests of the Rift Valley rim - is campsites of the Aberdares National apparent rather than real. Park salient, a few kilometres from Leon Bennun, Treetops lodge. I was a young
May 2003 Kenya Birds, Volume 10: 1 & 2, 2002 11 Short Notes
Tradition, Tragedy and the Eurasian Honey Buzzard
Ancestral graveyards are a This active old lady was collecting feature of every large family firewood near her gate when a
in parts of western Kenya. neighbour saw a heap of bees fall from These graveyards, more often than not, the huge fig tree (Luhyia name contain some huge old trees that form a Mukumu) that signified the ancestral patch of 'forest' in some homesteads. graveyard. Looking up, the woman saw These traditional conservation 'islands' a Honey Buzzard make the next attack are sacred groves that support other on the bees' nest with its talons. It aspects of biodiversity. Sacred groves dropped another heap of bees as it flew are specific forest patches, filled with away struggling to feast on the powers beyond those of humans, home honeycomb held in its talons, then to mighty spirits that can take or give dropped this one too. life. In the like Luyia community, many The woman realised that the angry others, to of these groves access most fallen bees were attacking a cow that is restricted by codes and customs to was tied next to the fig tree. She tried particular activities and members of a to rush towards the cow to release it, community. Such patches act as but she was attacked by the bees. She reservoir of diversity in a highly retreated, telling the old lady not to as populated area such Kakamega come in the compound. However, the district. Conservation be a side- may old lady, upset at the thought of losing effect of custom associated with the a cow, disregarded the warning and deities; nevertheless, sacred groves can headed to where the cow was tied. serve as a tool and model for Within seconds she was attacked by the biodiversity conservation. swarm of bees. She tried to reach her In December 2001 a tragic and house but in confusion missed her door, unusual episode unfolded in Mugomari stumbled and fell. As the screamed, bees village, Shinyalu division of Kakamega stung inside her mouth. A neighbour district in Western Kenya. This involved covered himself with a polythene sack a Eurasian Honey Buzzard, a bird that and went to the rescue, pulling her away only appears there in the months just from the compound. The unfortunate before and after Christmas. This huge lady was taken to hospital, but both she bird had been seen flying around in the and the cow sadly died from the bee area by many people, including the stings. people that were later affected its by The villagers burned dried banana behaviour. leaves to destroy what remained of the On the fateful day, an old man left hive, because the bees were still home for a meeting, leaving behind his attacking the mourners. During the wife, whom he had married before he funeral the Honey Buzzard hovered went to fight in the second world war. around, and the mourners ate the honey.
12 Kenya Birds, Volume 10: 1 & 2, 2002 May 2003 it was the family's mistake to have left the hive to accumulate such large honeycombs. He concurred that the bird had come to take what they had ignored and was not to be held responsible for the tragedy. Many villagers in Mugomari held a similar view.
Such a positive traditional attitude towards aspects of biodiversity has helped many indigenous communities to develop conservation ethics that are
deeply rooted in their ways of life. Many natural areas have survived human pressure because of these ethics. Such communities have accumulated, over time, a wealth of knowledge about their immediate environment, to which
they are closely entwined. It is this
knowledge that, in most cases, forms the fabric of the ethics. Local communities Eurasian Honey Buzzard are usually expert in matters regarding by Andrew Kamiti their local environment, and their expertise is required to make biodiversity conservation effective. The interesting thing is that nobody blamed the bird! When later I talked to George Amutete the bereaved husband, he said that had Department of Ornithology, National he been present he would have stopped Museums of Kenya his wife from coming in the compound P.O.Box 40658, 00100 GPO Nairobi when the bees attacked. He added that
Pratincole - Wader Interaction
At Sabaki River mouth, north of Malindi, Sandpiper or Kittlitz's Plover). As on 20 August, 2000, in quite windy insects were disturbed by the wader conditions, I watched a Collared poking its beak in the sand, the Pratincole catching flies or other insects pratincole caught them with a short in a very unusual manner. jump into the air. The pratincole always to parallel to the wader There was a strong wind blowing off managed remain as it its the beach. the estuary and the pratincole positioned worked way along itself upwind of, and about a metre away Chris Hill from, a wader (usually a Curlew
May 2003 Kenya Birds, Volume 10: 1 & 2, 2002 13 Short Notes
Odd Purple Grenadier on Mount Kulal
Purple Grenadier Uraeginthus the same species with a completely ianthinogaster is a widespread estrilid wrinkled brood patch. This gave us a in bush and thickets in Kenya. It had, chance to confirm its surprising however, not been described on Mt appearance. The adult female had white Kulal (QSD 26b). In November 1997, eye patches. The bill was red and the we observed a breeding pair building upper mandible had a black base. This
(or maybe repairing) a nest that was is in contrast to the usual female Purple already holding one egg at Mt Kulal Grenadier,which has small silvery-blue
Biosphere Reserve. The nest was eye patches and an entirely red bill. constructed among Aloe plants, about Kariuki Ndang'ang'a 0.6 m above the ground, within a KARI and Luca Borghesio compound at the forest edge. Ornithology Dept., National Museums Later we ringed an adult female of of Kenya,
Common Button-quail in Nairobi Nat'l Park
I read with interest a report by Mark Point observation lookout when we saw
Mallalieu in Kenya Birds, Vol. 6, No 1 a small quail-like bird standing in the
& 2, page 67, of a breeding record for gravel road. It allowed us to approach Common Button-quail in Nairobi to within two or three metres, and to
National Park in the White Grass Ridge study it carefully with Leica 10 X 42 area on 16 November 1997. He noted binoculars. After a few minutes it that the only previous record was of a ambled into the tall grass. single bird in December 1979 (W. Combined with the breeding record Harvey, 1997). later in the year, this sighting may
I may have been lulled into indicate that by 1997 these beautiful, complacence by the Status and diminutive birds may have begun to re-
Distribution note in Zimmerman, et.al. establish themselves in the park. Have (1996), "Locally common in dry and there have been additional recent moist grassland, savanna and fallow sightings in the park? cultivation. Recorded from all major Alan Johnston grassland areas." But since I had not 194 Buena Vista Way, Chapel Hill, seen a Common Button-quail in my North Carolina 27514, USA more than fifty previous trips to the
Macrae and I were driving at dusk (6:30 Zimmerman, D. A., Turner, D.A., Pearson, D.J. pm) toward the main entrance from 1996. Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania. A. Black, London Ormanyi Dam, approaching the Impala & C.
14 Kenya Birds, Volume 10: 1 d 2. 2002 May 2003 African Finfoot Breeding at Mpala Ranch, Laikipia
Early in the morning of 27 March steps back so as not to disturb her, and 2002 I went to do a bit of also to allow a clear focus with the twitching along the Ngare Nyiro binoculars.
River that joins the Ewaso at Mpala We then discussed how nice the male Research Centre. At the time, I was is - and there came the beautiful, NO, working for Professor Emlen at Mpala NO, sorry, the handsome, gorgeous on the Laikipia Plateau. Birding along male! He came swimming and boldly the river, I joined Keith the Bensusan, passing by, pretending he knew nothing only Leeds University student was who about the nest. He perched on top of a working on birds - all the others (20+) rock to clean himself while watching us. working on and in groups. mammals Superb red feet and bill was enough that Keith was looking at species diversity we left them alone. in two different habitats in East Africa. I returned later with Prof. Emlen to I the jokingly talked about how take a photo and found the female in habitat could produce an African the water not far from the nest. We had Finfoot, and that it be a life bird would a chance to see the two chicken-size or for me. slightly larger eggs with reddish brown
Unbelievably and suddenly, there it speckles or markings, concentrated on was! A female calmly looking at me the blunt side of the egg, like a halo. with her unbwogable face, sitting on a On our third visit some days later the nest over on some branches hanging the nest was empty and looked abandoned. waters of the Ngare Nyiro River, about During the second visit we had seen a a metre the I from bank and where was Slender-tailed Mongoose next to the standing. The nest was made of big hanging branches. Looking at the nature leaves, about 30 cm wide, but shallow of the branch it is possible that the in shape. We had to take a couple of mongoose reached the eggs. A few weeks later the river flooded heavily and
African Finfoot the high water had by Andrew Kamiti taken the whole branch and the nest.
I wish the birds had radio tags to show their movements during displacing floods.
Bernard Chege P.O. Box 8914-00100 Nairobi G.P.O. Kenya
May 2003 Kenya Birds, Volume 10: 1 d 2, 2002 15 Short Notes Hinde's Babbler by Andrew Kamiti A Survey of Hinde's Babbler: 2000-01
Being rather thinly distributed and Scottish Natural Heritage. In addition associated with unremarkable, to the sites covered by Peter Njoroge in scrubby habitat, the status of 1994, they made brief surveys of Mwea
Hinde's Babbler Turdoides hindei is Game Reserve, Kitui and Meru National difficult to gauge. Historically, the Park. The main aims of these surveys species has been recorded from 40 were: to assess the distribution and 10x10 km squares, stretching from population size of Hinde's Babbler; to
Meru in the north, east to Nziu and measure its breeding output; and to Kitui, and south to Machakos. By the examine the relationship between late 1970s, however, its range appeared abundance, group size, breeding output to have contracted into a 'core' area and habitat. around Embu (Plumb, 1979. Scopus A composite estimate for the six sites 3(3): 61-67). Thankfully, it has since surveyed during 1994-2001 suggests a been re-found in of its old haunts, many minimum population of 665 birds in 157 and newly discovered at Mukurweini groups, of which about 77% occurred Valleys, Nyeri District. within the 'core' areas of Mukurweini, Despite these discoveries the Kianyaga and Mwea. Only about 8% of species' global range and population the known population were found remain very small, and much of its within the two protected areas surveyed scrubby habitat has recently been (Mwea G.R. and Meru N.P.), while cleared for cultivation. To help clarify about 62% occurred in or around five its status, the National Museums of IB As, as they are currently configured
Kenya conducted a survey of Hinde's (Shaw et al., 2003 Bird Conservation Babblers at three sites in 1993-94, and International 13:1-12). Paradoxically,
at six sites during 2000-01 . Much of this the highest densities were found at earlier work underpinned the selection Mukurweini and Kianyaga (the most of IB As for Hinde's Babbler, which are intensively cultivated sites), where up at Machakos, Mukurweini, Kitui and to eight birds were found per km of Mwea Game Reserve. water course. Densities were
The 2000-01 surveys were carried substantially lower in the more arid out by John Musina and Patrick Gichuki areas of Machakos, Mwea G.R. and of NMK, and by Phil Shaw from Meru N.P. Although some 70 birds were
16 Kenya Birds, Volume 10: 14 2, 2002 May 2003 found along the NW boundary of Meru are given in NMK Ornithology Reports National Park, the bulk of these 40 & 42. Although these surveys have occurred in partly cultivated land just thrown some light on the species' outside of the park. Only 21 birds were abundance at six sites, little is known seen inside the park, mainly around of its status elsewhere. For example,
Kindani and Nyati camp sites. there have been no records of Hinde's Babbler at Ol Of those birds seen clearly enough Donyo Sapuk N.P. since the 1970s, or from Nziu since 1932! Its to age (by eye colour), fledglings and status atThika is also unclear, immatures together accounted for about following
sighting of two birds near there in 1 999. 16% of the sample in 2000 and 20% in 2001. Breeding output was therefore Reports of further sightings of Hinde's are very appreciated! higher than in the Northern Pied Babbler much Babbler (11% offspring in 2000), and comparable with that of two other Phil Shaw & John Musina African babbler species.
Full details of the 2000-01 surveys
Osprey displaying at Watamu
Early in the morning of 25 October 2000 around the Gulf of Aden, and that the
I watched an Osprey in display flight at Ospreys seen on the East African coast
Watamu. It flew southwards over the sea are migrants, mostly from the Finnish (above the coral reef opposite Turtle and Russian populations. Breeding Bay Beach Club), climbing steeply and Ospreys from the northern hemisphere then dropping down at an angle, do not migrate as pairs and may winter climbing and dropping several times. It hundreds of kilometres apart. The carried a fish in its talons and probable explanation for the continually uttered a high-pitched call. observation at Watamu is that the birds After a few minutes another Osprey, were sub-adults engaged in casual presumably female, flew out towards courtship behaviour. He thought it the male from the shore. Display unlikely to indicate an attempt at activity was also seen by Annali Bamber breeding in Kenya and the time of the Jones on 27 and 28 October. Discussing year also suggested that they were the sighting, Colin Jackson, an migrants from the north. ornithologist who has been living on the Barbara Mearns, A Rocha Kenya coast since early 1998, told me Connansknowe, Kirkton, Dumfries, that he had never seen Ospreys Scotland DG1 1SX. displaying on the Kenyan coast. [Editor's note: Birds of Africa (1982) In the UK I contacted Roy Dennis, records cases of incipient courtship an expert on Ospreys based in Scotland. feeding by migrants along the East He informed me that the nearest African coast. (Brown, L.H., Urban, E.K., breeders to Kenya are 1 ,500 kms to the and Newman, K, 1982, The Birds ofAfrica, north on the north Somalia coast and Volume 1, Academic Press)]
May 2003 Kenya Birds, Volume 10: 1 4 2, 2002 17 !
Short Notes An Albino Southern Two Cases of Brood Black Flycatcher Parasitism
Northern Black Flycatchers are While bird watching along the forest normally black, as the name suggests, edge in Kakamega Forest in 2001, I so it comes as a surprise when one came across an immature Red-chested comes across a Northern Black Cuckoo being fed by a White-browed
Flycatcher with a white head! This Robin-Chat. I watched them for a while, happened to me in September 2001, the cuckoo begging for food persistently while on routine bird watching in and the robin chat dutifully picking food
Buyangu, part of Kakamega forest. I from the forest floor and flying up onto had wandered out to the farmlands when the branch and giving it to the cuckoo. in front of me on a low branch of After a while the robin chat flew away
Cuppressus lusitanica I saw three birds, with the cuckoo in pursuit. two Northern Black Flycatchers and a The next day I heard the calls of a third, unfamiliar flycatcher. young cuckoo close to my house. Upon
This bird had a white head and neck, walking out, I saw a similar immature save for a small portion of the crown Red-chested Cuckoo, however, this time that was black. All the behavioral an African Pied Wagtail was the foster aspects and other body parts were just parent! The wagtail was picking up food like a typical black flycatcher. I items next to my house and tirelessly searched for this new bird in flying up to the begging cuckoo. I
Zimmerman et al, but could not find it. watched them for a full hour in utter
Upon inquiry at the Department of amazement till they flew away.
Ornithology, it was verified to be a Jasper Kirika partially albino Northern Black
Duckling Surprise
On our Athi River property there is a Not only is this a new bird for our small dam, more of a reservoir, covering list here, but none of us, who pay daily at most an acre. I go up almost every visits to this little dam, only 100 metres evening, with a fishing rod, but more away from our house, with constant often to just watch the birds that the comings and goings of people, ever water attracts. At dusk, nightjars dip in caught the slightest glimpse of a White for their evening drink, before I wander Faced Whistling Duck! They sneaked back for my own. in, built a nest, and successfully reared ducklings, right under our This February evening, out of the a brood of
noses! . . . and we had no idea that they corner of my eye, I saw a pair of White- faced Whistling Duck suddenly appear, were even there paddling across the water. Between Peter Davey them, eight newly hatched ducklings!
18 Kenya Birds, Volume 10: 1&2, 2002 May 2003 .
further show short, bright red legs and a complete black cap. When perched, the
tail reached to about the end of the wing
tips.
All these characters convincingly fit an adult breeding plumage Arctic Tern Sterna
paradisaea, the first record of this species for Kenya! Common Tern usually has white underparts but can sometimes show dark underparts; Common Tern however
has a longer, dark-tipped bill, a different underwing pattern (broad diffuse black bar along outer primaries) and a longer- Arctic Tern in Kenya headed appearance in flight. The superficially similar Whiskered Tern can in July 2002 easily be ruled out because it lacks the
white rump and the long outer tail feathers On 6 July 2002, Jan Bisschop and Arnout and has a different wing pattern and shape Linckens were birding at Sabaki River (being a marsh tern, it is also more of an mouth, north of Malindi. There was a roost inland, fresh water species, not usually of several hundred terns on the beach, found at sea). consisting of Lesser Crested, Greater Arctic Terns breed in Europe, across Crested, Common and Roseate Terns and northern Russia to Alaska and across two African Skimmers. One other, smaller northern America to Greenland. Since tern with a fairly dark grey belly was noted they spend the non-breeding season in the and initially identified as a White-cheeked Antarctic region, these terns probably
Tern in breeding plumage, a regular bird cover the longest migration distance of all at the Sabaki. Jan Bisschop photographed birds! Arctic Terns usually migrate well the bird, more or less unintentionally offshore, mainly through the Atlantic and because it was standing next to a eastern Pacific Oceans. They occur Skimmer... one more photo was taken regularly along the southern African coast, when this tern flew off to sea. north to Mozambique. Records of Arctic
Back at home, while studying the Tern are very scarce further north along slides, Jan Bisschop noted several the African east coast. There are twelve characteristics that would not fit a White- records from Somalia, one inland record cheeked Tern: a comparatively short, from Sudan, two from the Egyptian Red all-red bill (longer and dark-tipped in Sea (and 21 from the southernmost tip of
White-cheeked), a white rump and tail Israel). Around the Indian Ocean, the only contrasting with the grey back (grey back, records are from Oman and India. Since rump and tail in White-cheeked), and in most of these records are from the period flight a uniformly pale grey underwing • April to July, it is possible that these birds with a distinct, narrow black bar along the • are returning north along the 'wrong' side outer primary tips (broad and diffuse grey of the African continent and thus end up bar and a contrasting white mid-wing in unexpected places. . panel in White-cheeked), a short-headed, Compiledfrom the following article: Jan long-tailed appearance in flight (longer- Bisschop, Artie Tern in Kenya in July headed in White-cheeked). The pictures 2002. Dutch Birding vol 24 no 6, 2002,
May 2003 Kenya Birds, Volume 10: 1 Si 2, 2002 19 Reports Some vital statistics for Kinangop grasslands, an Important Bird Area
Kariuki Ndang'ang'a and Wanyoike Wamiti
inangop Grasslands Important The Farms
Bird Area (IBA) lies on the Human population density (people per jnangop Plateau, a wide shelf 2 km ) on the Kinangop Plateau was 93 at altitude, of land about 2,500m in 1969, according to national census the (or between Aberdare Nyandarua) figures. Density increased to 101, 110 the floor of the range of mountains and and 184 in the census years of 1979, Great Rift Valley. The covers over IBA 1989 and 1999. The latest inter-census 77,000 ha of mainly privately owned (1989-99) annual population growth land. It holds a significant component rate is 5%. From this, we projected grasslands, of Kenya's unique highland population density for the year 2010 to together with their bird specialties, 2 range between 223 and 281 people km . among them two endangered Kenyan We sampled 162 farms, covering a endemics: Sharpe's Longclaw and total area of 1600 ha. The farms varied Aberdare Cisticola. The habitat in size, the mean size being 9.6 ha. requirements of Sharpe's Longclaw Tussock grasslands occurred in patches includes grass species that form in 83 of the farms. The patches ranged tussocks or clumps, where the bird in size from 0. 1 to 108 ha, with a mean feeds, roosts and nests. area of 5 ha. Overall, 34% of the land In September-October 2000, we on the farms was covered by tussock visited a sample of 162 farms grassland. throughout the Kinangop Plateau to The 156 farms where residence gather information. The data presented information was provided were here may be helpful in assessing occupied by 1582 residents, giving a (i) the extent, rate and pattern of loss of mean of 10 people per farm. Human grasslands on the Kinangop Plateau; density decreased with increase in farm
(ii) the attitude and level of awareness size: densities of about 5 persons per of the community about bird hectare in small farms (less than 6 ha) conservation; and compared to 1 person per ha in larger farms. (iii) the potential of public schools to provide reserves for Sharpe's Longclaw, Based on a sample of land survey and as centres for initiating awareness maps, the number of farms on the entire among the community. Kinangop Plateau was estimated to have
20 Kenya Birds, Volume 10: 1 4 2, 2002 May 2003 ) 5
almost doubled in ten years, from 6470 It is estimated that by the year 20 1 0, in 1984 to 12,550 in 1994. the current tussock area will have
Correspondingly, mean farm size halved diminished to cover about one-fifth ( 1 from 1 2 ha to 6 ha. Further increases of to 24%) of the entire plateau. Almost up to 30,000 farms and decreases in all of the tussock grasslands will be on mean farm size to 2.5 ha in 2010 are farms classified as 'poor' for conserving projected if human immigration into the the longclaw. Virtually all farms that area continues as in the past decade. have potential for holding grasslands big to serve reserves Estimates for the year 2000 show enough as 'source' for longclaws are likely to be that over 70% of Kinangop Plateau was subdivided. divided into farms of less than 10 ha in size. The area under larger farms is The Farmers rapidly decreasing. The percentage area We interviewed 110 farmers who had covered by farms of grasslands (tussock than more 30 ha and non-tussock) in (those that farms their farms about their are likely to hold future plans for the grassland areas grasslands. Sixty one large enough to be (56%) of them had considered suitable definite plans to Sharpe's Longclaw convert at least part of reserves) decreased the grasslands in the by half between near future (before 1984 and 1994, 2005). They might from 18% to 9%. put them into cultivation (46/61), improved pasture (20/ The Grasslands 61), tree plantations Grasslands covered (6/61) or other uses about half of the (2/61) such as Kinangop Plateau residential structures in 2000, but tussock or dams. Most of the grasslands, the preferred habitat of farmers, (67%, especially those with Sharpe's Longclaw, were estimated to large farms), did not plan to totally only cover 29% of the plateau (58% of eliminate tussocks from their farms for the grassland area). Most of the tussock a variety of reasons. grasslands (57%) were estimated to be ( 1 Spare tussock pasture is valuable in on small farms (2 to 10 ha), categorised dry seasons, because tussocks are more as 'poor' - unlikely to support good resistant to drought than other grasses. longclaw territories. Only about 5% of tussock grasslands were on farms large (2) On some large farms, tussock grasslands cover quite large areas enough (more than 30 ha) to support and grasslands that can act as 'source' it may take time before that land is reserves for the longclaw. needed for intensive grazing or cultivation
May 2003 Kenya Birds, Volume 10: 1 4 2, 2002 21 (3) In a few instances, the tussocks were were more than 50 m from tussock found on steep, shallow-soiled, or grassland on other farms. However, infertile land that would not be good for adjacent grasslands often differed in cultivation. tussock quality, with only 27% of the
(4)The costs of converting these adjacent grasslands falling in the same density grasslands to other uses are quite high. tussock category.
(5) In a few cases, there were few people The Birds living on the farm and thus no need to Most of the people we spoke to (84%) cultivate more grasslands to meet liked wild birds, while 5.2 % disliked household needs. them. (10.4 % did not have a strong (6) Some farmers, especially in the more feeling either way.) Wild birds were fertile areas, thought that tussocks have liked for various reasons: their beauty a high regeneration rate, and would of colour and song (33), as God's continue to replace themselves in areas Creation (24), their role in the that are left fallow. ecosystem, especially in eating pests
(20), their interesting behaviour (2) and (7) A few individuals were sympathetic role in providing companionship to Sharpe's Longclaw and were willing (1). disliked birds such as crows, to spare some tussock cover for them. People queleas, and certain eagles due to the One-third of the farmers, particularly losses they bring as predators of those with small farms, could foresee domestic fowl and eaters of grain (17). the total elimination of tussock Sharpe's Longclaw could be grasslands in their farms. Some felt that identified by (106/151) of the all tussocks needed to be removed to 70% respondents. Positive identification was improve pasture, since they are less palatable and they cause eye and dental confirmed by showing a poster illustration of the bird asking the injuries to livestock. Others, especially and respondent to give brief descriptions of those with smaller farms, felt that its Forty-eight people pressure from an increasing number of unique behaviour. could seeing the species on dependants meant that land would be remember their within the year before the further subdivided and more intensively farms study. used. The decision to eliminate tussocks may not necessarily lie with the current The Schools owners, but may be based on the We visited 34 public schools, 27 economic requirements of future primary and 7 secondary. Their generations or land buyers. compounds ranged in size from 0.9 to There is though: some good news, 16.2 ha. Most of the schools (23) were tussock most grasslands were close to on land of less than 6 ha. Unlike each other. On 76% of the farms that privately owned farms, schools plots had grasslands (tussock plus non- were rarely subdivided. Only two tussock) on them (111 farms out of 146), schools had subdivided their plots since grasslands were adjacent to other they acquired them, whereas ten had grasslands on neighbouring farms. Only increased the size of their land through of the tussock grasslands 4% on farms acquisition.
22 Kenya Birds, Volume 10: 1 d 2, 2002 May 2003 Grasslands covered about 75% of activities such as tree planting (9), bird school plots. However, most of these feeding and nest-box provision (5), field grassy areas were playing grounds trips, camping and hiking (5), where tussocks had been removed. Only agriculture (4), international and four of the 34 schools had grasslands national environmental events (3), bird with more than 5% tussock density. watching (2), garbage collection (2),
These tussocks occurred in small and soil conservation (2). Six of the patches, except for one school that had schools offered some land for the clubs' 10.5 ha of dense tussock. Twenty (59%) activities. Membership in the clubs of the school head teachers interviewed ranged from 15 to 63.
it possible for thought that would be Twenty schools were aware of the their schools to set aside some land existence of Friends of Kinangop exclusively for the conservation of Plateau (FoKP), a group established by Sharpe's Longclaw. a few local people to promote the Fourteen of the schools had clubs conservation of the characteristic that participated in environmental grassland birds of Kinangop. All but two of the schools that knew about FoKP were aware of the plight of Sharpe's Longclaw.
Since Kinangop grasslands IBA is
mostly privately-owned, it is important to understand the land use, human population, and social dynamics in the area. We hope that the general information provided here will be a Grey good reference of things to keep in mind Crowned while implementing any conservation Crane actions in the Kinangop Plateau.
May 2003 Kenya Birds, Volume 10: 1 & 2, 2002 23 Reports Ringing at Ngulia, 2002
David Pearson Graeme Backhurst
Ngulia Safari Lodge in Tsavo West National Park was found, in December 1969, to be a unique site for observing Palaearctic bird migration: large numbers of southward-bound night-migrating birds are attracted to the lodge's game-viewing lights under misty conditions in the rainy months of November, December and sometimes January. Every year since then a team of ringers has gathered at Ngulia. Fine-mesh mist nets are set up north of the lodge, and migrating birds flying towards the lights become trapped in the nets. Team members extract the birds, take measurements, fit a light aluminium ring on one leg, and release them. Ringing Recoveries The 2002 Season The main bird-ringing session at Ngulia was Six birds ringed at Ngulia, were 25 to 16 December, both sides of reported last year from distant November with places. The term "controlled" the early December new moon, a team means caught and released with of 12 to 18 people most of this time; over 14,000 Palaearctic birds were ringed. small ring intact by another ringer. A team from the National Museums of Kenya Barn Swallow, ringed covered five more days over the New Year, 28.11.2000, controlled Chokpak, adding over 1300 migrants. Kazakhstan, 26.04.2002 Most birds were caught at dawn in a Sprosser, ringed 15.12.2001, standard arrangement of 18-19 nets in three killed Alnigehah, N Egypt, lines in front of the Lodge, behind the main 22.08.2002 area illuminated at night. Catching at night Marsh Warbler, ringed with a couple of nets under the lights, once 25.11.1998, found dead Kuwait the main thrust of the Ngulia operation, was 05.05.2001 (only just notified) only undertaken on ten occasions this year, Marsh Warbler, ringed due to poor or no mist. Less than 20% of the
21.11.2000, killed by cat, Fyn, overall catch was taken at night. This year Denmark, 25.07.2002 we did not play tapes on misty nights when many birds were attracted to the lights. We Marsh Warbler, ringed Ngulia switched on tapes late at night only when 24.11.01, recovered Lodeynoye there was no mist, to augment what would Pole, Leningradskaya Ob, otherwise be very small catches. Russia, 24.06.02 we arrived the grass was well up, Marsh Warbler, ringed When the bush in leaf and some Thunbergia in 25. 11.2001, controlled flower. The first night was misty, and a good Bandirma, Turkey, 09.05.2002 mixed catch included 10 Olive-tree Warblers Turkey is a "new" country for (about half the year's total) and many Red- Ngulia recoveries, and Kuwait is backed Shrikes. Then conditions turned a "new" country for any Marsh obstinately clear, with just one more misty Warbler ringed in Ngulia (two night in the first week. However, hundreds Red-tailed Shrikes were recovered of feeding Barn Swallows were caught each there in the 1970s). morning in front of the Lodge, attracted to 24 Kenya Birds, Volume 10: 1&2, 2002 May 2003 tapes of their calls. Excitement was Cuckoo, strangely scarce at the lodge, provided by a female Eurasian posted a record year with four ringed.
Sparrowhawk netted on 1 st December. For the first season in many years The swallows soon disappeared, but there were no foreign-ringed controls. on four nights with some mist between But five of our birds returned from 3rd and 9th December some large earlier years: two Barn Swallows ringed catches of migrants were made, in December 2000 and one from including one of 1849. A Eurasian December 2001; and Sprossers from Cuckoo on the 5 th was followed by an November 1999 and December 2001.
th Asian Lesser Cuckoo the 6 , and over
th Afrotropical Species 600 Sprossers were caught on the 8 . This year, 1136 Afrotropical birds of 78 The third week, with a growing moon species were ringed. Because of the up later each night, did provide better advanced grass growth there were good mist and showers, and the ringing total numbers and variety of seed eating increased steadily. species: Chestnut Weavers, Vitelline The Year team encountered New Masked Weavers, White-winged misty, showery weather each night, and Widowbirds and Paradise Whydahs despite the lateness of the season caught were abundant and Purple Indigobirds well with two lines of bush nets. Nearly were common. Yellow-billed Oxpecker 500 migrants were ringed on 30th and Rtippell's Robin Chat were added December, and 399 before packing up to the Ngulia ringing list, while Pallid on 2nd January. Honeyguide, Pale Prinia, Northern Palaearctic Migrants Crombec and Baglafecht Weaver were The migrant catch for the season was ringed for only the second time. A 15,735, of which 45% were Marsh Dwarf Bittern was the first ringed since Warblers. River Warbler (606) and 1990. Two Common Button-quails were Willow Warbler (227) featured ringed in early December and several prominently, but most 'minor' species others seen. The few Afrotropical nightjars all Plain or Dusky. were in short supply, in part because caught were ringing was practically confined to A Red-chested Cuckoo, a scarce bird December. There were very few at Ngulia, was calling on 27 November. Nightjars, Rufous Bush Chats, wheatear And two species new for the area, spp., Spotted Flycatchers or Olive-tree Eastern Bearded Scrub-Robin and Buff- Warblers (all November species). spotted Flufftail, were found at Kalanga Upcher's Warblers were boosted to 12 Spring on 12 December. Several over the New Year session, but this bird flufftails were calling at dusk and were has had a poor run in the last five years. heard again on subsequent evenings. Basra Reed Warblers remained scarce Thanks (only 19 ringed), a second poor year, which might indicate a real decline in As always, we thank the Ngulia Lodge the numbers of a breeding species staff and the Kenya Wildlife Service for confined to the Iraq marshes. However allowing us to catch and ring birds at
Great Reed Warbler had one of its best Ngulia. For financial support, we thank seasons with eight ringed, and Eurasian the Wetlands Trust and Nature Kenya.
May 2003 Kenya Birds, Volume 10: 1 & 2, 2002 25 Summary results, July 2001 and January 2002 Waterblrd Counts (see also page 28) (a) Rift Valley lakes
Wetland Date No. birds No species Lake Naivasha 20.01.02 14,910 83 Lake Oloidien 19.01.02 6,076 41 Lake Sonachi 19.01.02 77 9 Lake Elmenteita 19.01.02 34,906 52 Lake Nakuru 29.07.01 281,364 48 Lake Nakuru 06.01.02 796,998 58 Nakuru Sewage Treatment Ponds 29.07.01 2,178 27 Nakuru Sewage Treatment Ponds 06.01.02 2,421 37 Lake Bogoria 05.01.02 197,128 26
(b) Wetlands around Nairobi
Wetland Date No. birds No. species Manguo Hoodplain 02.01.02 1,117 34 Limuru Sewage Ponds 02.01.02 74 11 Dandora Oxidation Ponds 09.01.02 6,774 46 Hillcrest School 16.01.02 44 13 AHV Church Pond 16.01.02 88 18 Carnivore Splash 16.01.02 35 4 Nairobi National Park 16.01.02 179 32 Kenyatta University Sewage Works 23.01.02 913 42 Jogoo Road Ponds 30.01.02 29 9 Fourteen Falls 30.01.02 275 28 Kahawa Sukari Dam 23.01.02 378 31
(c) Kenya Coast
Wetland Date No. birds No species Sabaki River Mouth 27.01.02 11,923 51 Mida Creek 26.01.02 3,689 22 Malindi Habour 26.01.02 728 19 Lake Bartum 26.01.02 1,084 30 Lake Jilore 26.01.02 620 31 Roka Pools 26.01.02 83 11 Kensalt 27.01.02 2,555 34 Tansy's Pool 26.01.02 44 12 Kararacha Pools 26.01.02 37 12
26 Kenya Birds, Volume 10: 1 & 2, 2002 May 2003 Waterbird counts in Kenya, July 2001 and January 2002
Alfred Owino
part of the African Waterbird In January 2002, however, Lake AsCensus, 153 volunteers counted Nakuru had a much higher waterbirds in Kenyan wetlands concentration of flamingos, with over in July 2001 and January 2002, 760,000 being recorded. Lake Bogoria including Site Support Groups from had significantly fewer flamingos, just various Important Bird Areas and over 190,000, compared with the Wednesday Morning Birdwalk teams 500,000 counted the previous year. Lake organised by Nature Kenya. Elmenteita also had fewer flamingos
Lake Nakuru (including the two (over 21,000), about half the number sewage treatment works within Nakuru recorded in January 2001. Flamingos in Kenya's southern Rift Valley lakes town) was the only site counted in July totalled less than in 2001. There was a drop in the overall 986,375, January flamingos, numbers of waterbirds, and specifically 2001. Breeding attempts by evidenced by abandoned nests, could of flamingos, at Nakuru compared with January 2001 (see Kenya Birds volume still be seen at Nakuru and Elmenteita, as in January 2001. 9). A total of 281,364 waterbirds of 48 species were counted at the lake. The Sites within the Rift Valley held over two sewage treatment works in Nakuru 1 million waterbirds of 89 species - a town had a combined total of 2,178 little lower than the January 2001 results waterbirds of 27 species. (Kenya Birds volume 9). Most Rift Valley sites had moderately higher water levels compared with January 2001, and mud flats were found along
the shorelines of some sites. The eleven sites counted within Nairobi and central Kenya had a total of 9,906 waterbirds of 65 species. The nine wetland sites on the north coast, most of them inland, held over 20,000 waterbirds of 81 species. The three sites around Lake Victoria recorded 1,272 waterbirds of Egyptian 34 species. The low counts at the Lake Goose by Victoria sites and a few sites within Nani Croze
May ZUU6 Kenya Birds, Volume 10: 16 2, 2002 27 (d) Lake Victoria wetlands
Wetland Date No. birds No. Species Sondu Miriu River Mouth ..01.02 292 22
Nyamware Rice Field ..01.02 28 1 Dunga Beach .01.02 952 27
Nairobi could be due to the temporal Lake Nakuru National Park provided movements of waterbirds in response to accommodation for the volunteers at site conditions. their hostels in Nakuru. We thank the boat owners at Lake Naivasha In January 2002, 29 sites were who kindly loaned their boats and in most covered - less than in January 2001 fuel: Colin Burch, Lakes Magadi and 01' Bolossat, and cases donated John D'Olier, Elsamere Conservation Centre, lake Chem Chem, Arabuko swamp, Kisumu Sewage Ponds and dams within Fisherman's Camp, Lake Naivasha and the the Kinangop Plateau were not counted Yacht Club, Loldia Farm Fisheries Department. thank the during the session. However, three new We wetlands were included - Kararacha landowners around Lake Oloidien permitted us to count the site, and Pools and Tansy's Pool (north coast) and who of Delamere Estate Carnivore Splash (Nairobi). Tom Cholmondley Camp who permitted us to count at Lake Acknowledgements Elmenteita. The waterbird counts are a collaborative A Rocha Kenya, through Colin effort between the Department of Jackson, assisted with the organisation
Ornithology of the National Museums of counts at the coast. Wildlife Clubs of Kenya, Nature Kenya (the East Africa of Kenya (Western Kenya) and Kenya Natural History Society) and Kenya Wildlife Service provided transport to Wildlife Service. The count organisers the participants at Lake Victoria are grateful to the volunteers and IB A wetlands and Nairobi National Park. site support groups and to all who We appreciate these major contributed in different ways to make contributions. the July 2001 and January 2002 counts Fleur Ng'weno led the Wednesday a success. Morning Birdwalk participants in More particularly, we are grateful wetland counts around Nairobi. to the Bird Committee of the EANHS, William Kimosop, Tim Samwels, the Important Birds Areas programme Margaret Otieno, Evans Mkalla, Bernd of Nature Kenya, the Kenya Wildlife De Bruijn, Itai Shanni, Narinder Heyer, Service - Netherlands Wetlands Bill and Sue Deverell, Sarah Higgins Programme, World Wide Fund for (LNRA), Ann Kahihia, Bernard Kuloba, Nature (WWF), Royal Society for the Sospeter Okungu and Oliver Nasirwa Protection of Birds (RSPB) and assisted in many ways and deserve International Fund for Animal Welfare special thanks. Special thanks also go (IFAW) for providing funds for the to Henry Ndithia and Nickson Otieno exercise. who assisted with the data entry work. 28 Kenya Birds, Volume 10: 1 & 2, 2002 May 2003 Reports "hree Darwin Initiatives
The Darwin Initiative of the is 1. IBA Monitoring, UK fueling three exciting ongoing Management and projects for building capacity in Action conservation in the region.
Kenya's Important Biodiversity Areas: improving monitoring, management and conservation action is helping Nature Kenya to establish and co-ordinate an effective, sustainable monitoring system at 60
Important Bird Areas - key sites for bird conservation that protect other Sunbird by biodiversity too. The 3-year project, Andrew Kamiti funded by the Darwin Initiative of the U.K. through the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB, the British BirdLife Partner), will build the capacity of local communities and 2. Monitoring and Government agencies to monitor planning for eastern conditions and changes at IBA sites, and feed back into improved site African Wetlands management, conservation action and national reporting. Monitoring biodiversity for site Representatives from Government management planning in eastern agencies and community groups are African Wetlands training in ecological survey, data management, management planning, The wetlands of eastern Africa contain project management and training skills. high biodiversity, supporting They in turn will train and support a internationally important populations of network of local people and government threatened species. Social and economic field staff. Monitoring guidelines are changes have resulted in considerable being developed that are low in cost and loss and degradation of many wetlands simple to implement. With continued in this region, and numerous sites, fund-raising to secure long-term species and habitats are threatened. resource requirements, and continued To address some of these issues, the RSPB support, the project is expected Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) to produce a sustainable monitoring was awarded a grant by UK's Darwin system. Initiative for survival of species (part Paul Matiku, Nature Kenya, of the Department of Environment,
May 2003 Kenya Birds, Volume 10: 1 4 2, 2002 29 to help conserve eastern African learn how UK's Wetland Bird wetlands and their biodiversity. It is Surveys (WeBS) scheme operates. In designed to serve the interests of local conjunction with other WWT staff, people and organisations in eastern Oliver is developing a wetland Africa by underpinning the sustainable database as well as training materials use of valuable water resources. A to be used in training activities in the partnership of 11 organisations has eastern African region. been established: Wetlands WWT, In February 2003, the first Project International and organisations in nine Steering Committee meeting was held eastern African countries, namely at the Kenya Wildlife Service Training Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Burundi, Institute in Naivasha. Oliver will soon Eritrea, Sudan, Tanzania and Rwanda, be back at the National Museums of Uganda. In the region, the project is Kenya, where the regional project office hosted by the National Museums of will be based. The project-funding Kenya. phase ends in May 2005, but a strategic The wetland project will build and work plan and exit strategy will be maintain capacity in the monitoring of developed to maintain the sustainability wetland biodiversity in eastern Africa of the scheme. by: developing a wetlands database and Contacts at WWT query tools, and deliver this, together with the necessary computing Project leader: equipment, to the nine partner countries; Dr. Mark O'Connell providing training in the use of the WWT Head of Research database for developing site
30 Kenya Birds, Volume 10: 1&2, 2002 May 2003 species action planning in Africa. The 3. Species-based project started in April 2001 and is coordinated on behalf of the BirdLife Actions for International African Species Working Group by Nature Uganda and the RSPB globally (BirdLife Partners in Uganda and UK respectively). It is implemented by threatened BirdLife partner organisations in 17 African countries (Nature Kenya in birds in Africa Kenya). Co-funding was received from Many of Africa's 349 globally the UK Department for the threatened bird species need co- Environment, Food and Rural Affairs the Initiative. ordinated action to secure their future (DEFRA) under Darwin survival. The BirdLife Africa The SAP project is producing 8 Partnership saw the need for a species international and 15 national action action plan based approach for birds plans for priority bird species in Africa. not well protected by site conservation Cross-border species have been selected programmes, and established an for the participative training because African Species Working Group they are particularly difficult to (ASWG) to promote single species conserve, they require concerted action action plans (SAPs) and conservation in all important range countries and initiatives. However, neither the African they ensure that a high number of people BirdLife partners nor their government from a wide range of countries receive colleagues had the experience of training and practical experience in a undertaking species action plans, nor short time. Three of the eight focus the resources to do so. species - Spotted Ground Thrush
Actions for the Conservation of Zoothera guttata, Blue Swallow Globally threatened birds in Africa Hirundo atrocaerulea and Lappet faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotus - have (SAP project) is a three-year BirdLife into project, aiming to build capacity for ranges extending Kenya.
Spotted Ground Thrush by Edwin Selempo
May 2003 Kenya Birds, Volume 10: 1 4 2, 2002 31 What has happened so far? Blue Swallow by Andrew 1. National Species Action Plan Co- Kamiti ordinators (NSAPCs) were identified from each African BirdLife partner involved. By applying their knowledge in species conservation and the training obtained from the programme, each
NSAPC is expected to play a major role in developing and implementing species action plans, as well as training colleagues. Nature Kenya nominated
Kariuki Ndang'ang'a from its close collaborator, the Ornithology Department of the National Museums of Kenya. He now volunteers 10% of Still to be done his time to the programme. The Five of the planned international action importance of involving relevant plans are yet to be developed. As the focal person for the government ministries in implementing Spotted Ground species action plans was also recognised Thrush, Kariuki is organising an by ASWG, and Nature Kenya asked international workshop at Watamu in to develop an action plan the Kenya Wildlife Service to nominate May 2003 with stakeholders from six range a government representative. He is countries. He has also secured funds Charles Musyoki, a research scientist at KWS. from RSPB for a survey to re-assess the conservation status of the Spotted 2. ASWG developed a species action Ground Thrush and its coastal forest plan format and process which has now habitat in June/July 2003. In October been tested and refined in three 2003 he will facilitate a national international workshops. stakeholder workshop to develop a 3. A "Training of Trainers" workshop Spotted Ground Thrush Action Plan in was held to train national co-ordinators the Kenyan context. and their government colleagues in All 15 national action plans single species conservation and action scheduled under this project will be planning process. undertaken and launched by the end of 4. Three workshops for developing the SAP project. Considerable effort international action plans for priority will also be devoted to fundraising for species have so far been held. implementation of the action plans and International Action Plans for the Blue also to ensure that the partners are in a Swallow, Grey-necked Picathartes and position to continue the process of Grauer's Rush Warbler are now in place. producing plans for more species in
5. To translate the international plans their own countries. into the national context, a process has Kariuki Ndang'ang'a recently been developed and tested with Ornithology Department, NMK, the Grauer's Rush Warbler National Box 40658, GPO 00100 Nairobi, Kenya Action Plan for Uganda.
32 Kenya Birds, Volume 10: 1 Si 2, 2002 May 2003 Records
Compiled by the Records Sub- committee of the Bird Committee of the EANHS
This section exists for the publication of interesting observations and for updates to A Bird Atlas of Kenya (Lewis & Pomeroy, 1989). All contributions are welcomed.
If you are sending records to Kenya Birds please consider the following guidelines:
For all (non-breeding) records of Afrotropical, Oceanic, and Palaearctic birds, For breeding records, those of confirmed please send in any observation with notes breeding are useful for ALL species, even that you think are of interest, e.g. early or the most common ones; records of probable late dates for Palaearctic and intra-African breeding (nest building, courtship etc.) are migrants, unusual records for your area, or only needed for rare species or ones where any unusually large or impressive there are few breeding records. For movements of birds. We are keen to publish definitions and codes of "confirmed" and information of this kind. Records with "probable" breeding, see Kenya Birds Vol. information are particularly interesting and 5(2) p. 82. Interesting records will be valuable; for example,, "male singing from published here and the others stored by the bush", or "the bird was seen in a flock of EANHS for analysis of breeding seasons, Barn Swallows...", or "1 adult and 3 success rates, habitat requirements, etc. You immatures..." etc. The editors will select are strongly urged to fill in a nest record card records for publication according to space at the same time. Much more detail can be available. However, please remember that recorded on a card, and if your record can all records are useful for supplementing be added to the card collection then it has the computerized bird Atlas database in the permanent value. Ornithology Department, National Museums of Kenya. Your contributions will help to For all records, including breeding improve our knowledge of bird distribution records, please be as detailed as possible and seasonality in Kenya. about dates and locations. If you have sightings from places not easily found on the map, please take the trouble of giving us the latitude and longitude of the site to as much precision as you can (preferably the nearest second of arc or better). We can then use this information as we update the Atlas.
Supporting details and descriptions of problematic species (easily confused, out of range etc.) are always welcome^ and make publication more likely (see Kenya Birds
Vol. 4(2), p. 84 for suggestions on how to submit a record). Records of certain species Eagles by inclusion in this Nani Croze are particularly requested for
May 2003 Kenya Birds, Volume 10: 1 & 2, 2002 33 !
report. These species are indicated by the (hopefully) in the next issue. Many records codes "A", "B" and "X" in the Check-list of have been received, notably checklists rd the Birds of Kenya 3 edition, 1996 (which is excellent!), with many new records (available for 100/= from the Nature Kenya for atlas squares. As a consequence, office). For particularly unusual sightings however, limited space prompts us, again,
(rarity), supporting details (i.e. field notes, to restrict this section mainly to new atlas photos, tape-recordings) will be needed for records, with only little room for interesting scrutiny by the EANHS Rarity Committee other records. But this should not put you before the record can be accepted. off sending in records; ALL data is used, checked, and entered in databases for All records should be sent to the analysis. Records Officer at the Ornithology recent developments have greatly Department, National Museums of Kenya Two contributed to obtaining and analysing data. Box 40658, GPO 00100 Nairobi, Kenya Firstly, the e-mail group "Kenyabirdsnet", a
Ph.(020) 3742161/4 or 3742131/4, ext. 243 sightings (and digital photographs!), is a great medium to gather records of unusual At the Ornithology Department you will also sightings. Secondly, the new records be able to obtain Nest Record cards and database (known also as the "Kagu project"; National Birdmap checklists free of charge. see Nature Net of February 2003) allows fast extraction of interesting species from a huge Key to records amount of checklist data. This is a great help in compiling the records report, especially For new Atlas records, the species number in the near future when the backlog will be as given in the Atlas is placed in brackets cleared and this report can focus more on after the name: e.g. Whinchat (A# 653). The interesting sightings. So, please keep sending new records themselves are indicated in in your records square brackets. Codes are: pres, present Much new information for the Atlas has (first record); post pres, present (first post - come in from areas that are rarely visited by 1970 record); prob, probable breeding; conf, birders, most notably Loita Hills - including confirmed breeding; post conf, confirmed the westernmost records of Yellow-bellied breeding (first since 1970); e.g. [conf 25B] Greenbul and Montane White-eye - and indicates that the species is confirmed as Marsabit, with for example the country's breeding (and is therefore present) in square northernmost record of River Warbler. A 25B. The English names follow the Check- rd World Birdwatch trip to Marich Pass notched list of the Birds of Kenya, 3 edition, up many nice finds, with new atlas square EANHS, Nairobi, 1996. records for some very local birds such as Due to confusion in the backlog files, a Boran Cisticola, Western Violet-backed number of records were erroneously Sunbird and Variable Indigobird. published in Kenya Birds volume 9. The Many new records came from rectifications appear at the end of the records Department of Ornithology staff doing
research at Mpala Ranch, Laikipia, including Overview a breeding record for African Finfoot (see p. 15). Several visits to Western Province This report deals with records from World have yielded many interesting finds, such as Birdwatch 2001 onwards through the whole the rarely recorded Black-rumped Button- year of 2002. This is a substantial part of the quail, Green-backed Eremomela, backlog, most of which is now cleared; Buff-spotted Woodpecker and Green breeding records from this period are still Hylia (the latter two are rarely found outside remaining, however, and will be covered Kakamega forest); Levant Sparrowhawk
34 Kenya Birds, Volume 10: 1 4 2, 2002 May 2003 and Palm-nut Vulture are interesting legged Buzzards and Greater Spotted records as well. Sadly, it was also noted that Eagles, and a Barbary Falcon. A Dunlin - there is a lot of pressure on the little in summer plumage! - was present in Lake remaining grassland and riverine forest Nakuru NP in July 2002. Small but smart: a habitats in this area. pair of Black-backed Cisticola in western Mara was a good find; are they spreading But new birds also continue to be found north following recent records in Serengeti? in well-watched squares such as Nairobi, with Pectoral Sandpiper, Heuglin's Gull, A new bird for Kenya - if accepted by Golden-tailed Woodpecker, White-eared the Rarities Committee - was an Arctic Tern
Barbet, Fan-tailed Raven and Yellow- at Sabaki River mouth {see p. 19). The backed Weaver as surprising examples. second record of Pied Flycatcher in Kenya (pending approval of the Rarities A well-known birder living in Watamu Committee) consisted of two males at must have had a surprise when an exhausted Kakamega Forest. One of our most exciting Red-footed Booby was found on the beach birds, African Pitta, was reported twice; one in front of his house! Seemingly the first from Arabuko-Sokoke forest and one, rather Great Crested Grebe on Lake Naivasha in less predictably, from a garden in Thika! several years was seen during the 2002 Towards the end of the year, a male Black- Waterbird Census. African Darters came in eared Wheatear was seen near Baringo and from few localities only, notably Lake another individual was found at Naivasha, Nairobi NP and Windsor Golf & Mpala Country Club. Grey-crested Helmet- Ranch. shrikes were reported only from Lake Nakuru NP; a project to monitor this species Acknowledgments is ongoing in Naivasha. Please submit any The Records Sub-committee members are records of this vulnerable species! Bernd de Bruijn, Itai Shanni, Shailesh K. Patel, Colin Jackson, John Musina, Anthony While enjoying their victory in Shaba Kuria and Nicodemus Nalianya. We would NR, the winning team from World like to thank the Department of Ornithology, Birdwatch 2001 were further rewarded with National Museums of Kenya, for their help Friedmann's Lark. Another record of this and support. species came from Taita Discovery Centre (Rukinga Ranch). Rare raptors were staging References: a good show, with records of Short-toed Lewis, A.D. & Pomeroy, D.E., 1989. A bird Snake-Eagle. Eurasian Sparrowhawk, atlas of Kenya. Rotterdam: Balkema. Western Red-footed Falcon, several Long-
Doves by J.C. Grandjouan
May 2003 Kenya Birds, Volume 10: 1 & 2, 2002 35 Note Black- Two asterisks (**) in front of the species shouldered name indicate a record that is yet to be Kite by A. accepted by the Rarities Committee. Osanya- Nyyneque World Birdwatch 2001 White-backed Night Heron (A# 28): [pres 114B] Bamburi NR, 7/10/01, Mombasa, Arrow-marked Babbler (A# 601): [pres MNGS. 37A] Marich Pass field study centre, 7/10/ Purple Heron (A# 41): [pres 37A] Marich 01, ISH, JK, AM, OK, DWS. field study centre, Pass 7/10/01, ISH, JK, Little Rush Warbler (A# 682): [pres 114B] AM, OK, DWS. Mombasa, 7/10/01, MR, JKo, JMu. Woolly-necked Stork (A# 48): [pres 74B] Red-capped Robin-Chat (A# 669): [pres Loita Hills, 7/10/01, S&BD, SF. 89C] Tsavo West NP, 7/10/01, P&RH, Allen's Gallinule (A# 199): [pres 114B] P&KP, RM, HE; [pres 5 ID] Meru forest, II Mombasa, 7/10/01, MR, JKo, JMu. 10/01, P&HP, LSL, JKK.
Spur-winged Plover (A# 218): [pres 60C] Boran Cisticola (A# 728): [pres 37A] RumaNP, 7/10/01, BMu, MK, AS, SN, VO. Marich Pass field study centre, 7/10/01, ISH, JK, AM, OK, DWS. Common Snipe (A# 249): [pres 75C] Lake Magadi, 7/10/01, GE, HN, TA, JKa, GS. Gambaga Flycatcher (A# 781): [pres 63D] Mwea NR, 7/10/01, M&LC, RC, BF, BA, Black-faced Sandgrouse (A# 319): [pres PKo. 50B] Bobong Field Centre, Rumuruti, 7/10/ 01,MKa, MN,JMr, JW. Lead-coloured Flycatcher (A# 787): [pres 63D] Mwea NR, 7/10/01, M&LC, RC, BF, Ross's Turaco (A# 361): [pres 74D] Loita BA, PKo. Hills, 7/10/01, S&BD, SF Mountain Wagtail (A# 833): [pres 37 Brown Parrot (A# 344): [pres 74B] Loita A] Marich Pass field study centre, 7/10/01, ISH, Hills, 7/10/01, S&BD, SF JK, AM, OK, DWS. African Cuckoo (A# 367): [pres 63D] Common Fiscal (A# 864): [pres 102B] Mwea NR, 7/10/01, M&LC, RC, BF, BA, PKo. Mida Creek, 7/10/01, DN, JD, AG, LN. Shelley's Starling (A# 888): [pres 100B] Donaldson-Smith's Nightjar (A# 404): Lake Jipe, 7/10/01, RK, BAm, MG, DS, SK, [pres 63D] MweaNR, 7/10/01, M&LC, RC, MC. BF, BA, PKo. Western Violet-backed Sunbird (A# 907): African Black Swift (A# 419): [pres 74A] [pres 37A] Marich Pass field study centre, Governor's Camp, Masai MaraNR, 7/10/01, DR. 7/10/01, ISH, JK, AM, OK, DWS. Yellow White-eye (A# 937): [pres 62D] White-tailed Lark (A# 528): [pres 74A]
Murungaru, N. Kinangop, 7/10/01 , LB, AK. Masai Mara NR, 7/10/01, PKi. African Golden Weaver (A# 946): [pres Williams's Lark (A# 535): [post pres 5 IB] 63A] Mukurwe-ini Valleys, 7/10/01, CJM, lava desert 14 km south of Shaba gate, near LM. Shaba NR, 7/10/2001, SP, BC, HG, BdB. Black-winged Red Bishop (A# 974): [pres African Golden Oriole (A# 572): [pres 37A] Marich Pass field study centre, 7/10/ 63A] Mukurwe-ini Valleys, 7/10/01, CJM, LM. 01, ISH, JK, AM, OK, DWS. Village Indigobird (A# 1019): [pres 63 Brown Illadopsis (A# 589): [pres 49C] A] Mukurwe-ini Valleys, 7/10/01, CJM, LM. South Nandi forest, 7/10/01, SNBCG.
36 Kenya Birds, Volume 10: 14 2, 2002 May 2003 Variable Indigobird (A# -) [pres 37A] Nambale, 13/4/02, BdB, SP, ISH; [pres 48A]
Marich Pass field study centre, 7/10/01 , ISH, one individual north of Alupe (might have JK,AM, OK, DWS. been the same individual), 14/4/02, BdB, SP, ISH; one bird again over 18/09/02, African Firefinch (A# 1022): [pres 37A] Alupe BF - these might well be birds from the Marich Pass field study centre, 7/10/01 , ISH, Ugandan population. JK, AM, OK, DWS. Ruppell's Griffon Vulture [pres Blue-capped Cordon-bleu (A# 1025): [pres (A# 89): 63C] Castle Forest Station, Mt. 29/ 63D] Mwea NR, 7/10/01, M&LC, RC, BF, Kenya, BA, PKo. 4/02, EM, JN. African Harrier Black-and-white Mannikin (A# 1042): Hawk (A# 94): [pres 27D] Marsabit NR, 11/12/02, LBo, [pres 37A] Marich Pass field study centre, MKa. 7/10/01, ISH, JK, AM, OK, DWS. Black-chested Snake Eagle (A# 100): [pres 103 A] Gongoni, 6/10/02, CJ. BF, ISH, SP, Afrotropical species BdB.
Great Crested Grebe, Lake Naivasha, 18/ Great Sparrowhawk (A# 104): [pres 9 IB] 01/02, WBC. Manda island, Lamu, 29/4/02, BdB. ** Red-footed Booby (A# 18): [pres 103 A] African Goshawk (A# 108): [pres 27D] - One brown morph, Watamu, 13/12/02, CJ Marsabit NR, 11/12/02, LBo, MKa. the first record of a live bird in Kenya. Gabar Goshawk (A# 114): [post pres 100B] Long-tailed Cormorant (A# 22): [pres Kitobo Forest, Taveta, 8/2001, DO. 62B] Sangare Ranch, Nyeri, 9/2/02, P&KP, Lizard Buzzard (A# 115): [pres 51C] One P&RH. bird on a pole near the Isiolo-Timau junction, Little Bittern: One adult and one immature 26/10/02, BF. bird at Sukari dam near Peponi School, 23/ Ayres's Hawk-Eagle (A# 126): [pres 74D] 06/02, ISH, AGa; Probable breeding; trek from Magori to Shombole, Loita Hills, Rosslyn River Garden Centre, Nairobi, 3/07/ 17-22/8/2001, JJ; [pres 103A] Gongoni, 6/ 02, WMB; one bird at the tip of Hyena dam, 10/02, CJ, BF, ISH, SP, BdB; [pres 89C] A Nairobi NP, 22/12/02, BF. single bird over Ngulia Lodge, Tsavo West Dwarf Bittern: Seven birds at Endashant NP, 31/12/02, BdB, NN, DG, TI, JM, ISH. swamp, west of Ngong Hills, 18/06/02, SP Bat Hawk: One bird at Giraffe Manor, ISH. Nairobi, 1/04/02, DR; Shaba NR, 30/5/02, White-backed Night Heron: One adult and CJ, WK, AB, BCo, YG. one juvenile bird, Hippo Pools, Nairobi NP, African Swallow-tailed Kite (A# 140): 7/04/02, BdB, SP, ISH. [pres 74A] One bird over Musiara airstrip
Black Heron: six birds at lakeshore near near Governor's Camp, Masai Mara, 23/1 1/ Hippo Camp, Naivasha, 19/1/02, WBC. 02, WO.
Purple Heron (A# 41): [pres 75C] Lake African Hobby (A# 151): [pres 62D] Tetu Magadi, 23/06/02, SP, SR, JMur, ER, JKi, forest, Nyeri, 1/9/02, JWam - a nice record JWw. from central highlands.
African Open-billed Stork (A# 51): [pres Fox Kestrel (A# 157): [pres 5 IB] One bird
27D] Marsabit NR, 11/12/02, LBo, MKa. at Shaba NR, 11/02, NB.
Glossy Ibis (A# 56): [pres 103 A] Sabaki Crested Guineafowl (A# 178): [post pres River mouth, Malindi, 8/10/02, SP, ISH, BF, 102B] Arabuko-Sokoke forest, 8/10/2000, BdB; [pres 27D] Marsabit NR, 11/12/02, DN, HG, FN, BC. LBo, MKa. Common Button-quail (A# 181): [pres Palm-nut Vulture (A# 86): [pres 48C] One 50D] Mpala Ranch, Laikipia, 2001-2002, individual near the Sio River south of
May 2003 Kenya Birds, Volume 10: 1 4 2, 2002 37 DoO; Five birds at Oltopesi waterhole, 22/ African Black Swift (A# 419): [pres 75B] 07/02, ISH, NS. Nairobi NP, 3/6/02, SP, ISH.
** Black-rumped Button-quail (A# 182): White-headed Mousebird: Westermann's [pres 48C] Birds calling at Nambale, 18/09/ Safari Camp,Voi, 4/11/01, JDa. 02, BF - possibly three different territories. Giant Kingfisher (A# 430): [pres 49B] The species hasn't been recorded in the Cheptebo, Kerio Valley, 17/6/02, KD. country since the 1950's. Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill (A# Quail-plover: Tsavo East NP, near Galana 464): [post pres 6 ID] Trans Mara forest, 8/ River, 22 2/01, BdB, ED. 12/2001, SP, ISH, BdB. Buff-spotted Flufftail (A# 186): [pres 89C] White-headed Barbet (A# 479): [pres 50C] Four birds calling from bushy slopes behind Lake Bogoria NR, 10/11/02, MKi; [pres Ngulia Lodr *. 12-13/12/02, BM. 89C] Ngulia area, Tsavo West, 30/12/02, Purple Swamphen (A# 198): [pres 27D] NRG. Marsabit NR, 11/12/02, LBo, MKa. White-eared Barbet (A# 486): [pres 75B] Buff-crested Bustard (A# 206): [pres 75B] One bird in Kiambethu Farm, Limuru, 19/ west of Ngong Hills, 28/12/02, BF, BdB. 12/01, FN.
Black-headed Plover (A# 219): [pres 88C] Yellow-spotted Barbet (A# 487): [pres Amboseli NP, 24/12/02, ISH, AGa. 6 ID] Trans Mara forest, 8/12/2001, SP, ISH,
Brown-chested Plover (A# 221): [pres BdB. 74A] One bird close to Governor's Camp, Moustached Green Tinkerbird: Malewa Masai Mara NR, 6/10/02, DR, DT. River Lodge, 07/02, EH.
Whiskered Tern (A# 312): [pres 103A] Lesser Honeyguide (A# 501): [pres 27D] Sabaki River mouth, Malindi, 29/12/2000, Marsabit NR, 11/12/02, LBo, MKa. PK, ET. Pallid Honeyguide (A# 505): [pres 89C] Black-billed Turaco: Several birds calling Ngulia lodge, Tsavo West, 3 1/12/02, NRG - in Yala Reserve, Kakamega, 13/09/02, BF. immature, ringed.
Purple-crested Turaco: One, possibly 2, on Eastern Honeybird (A# 508): [pres 51C] Giraffe Center nature walk, 2/04/02, DR, Lolmarik Farm, Timau, 29/8/02, SP. EO. Golden-tailed Woodpecker (A# 513): [pres Black Cuckoo (A# 366): [pres 6 ID] Trans 75B] One bird at Mbagathi Ridge, behind Mara forest, 8/12/2001, SP, ISH, BdB. the Karen Blixen Museum, 3 1/07/02, WMB - a most surprising find, so far from the Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo (A# 371): species' known range in Kenya, during a [pres 102B] One bird at Arabuko-Sokoke Wednesday Morning Birdwalk! Forest, 24/07/02, JeB; A bird calling at Kieni Forest, 21/10/02, BF. Buff-spotted Woodpecker (A# 516): [pres 48C] Mungatsi grassland, 13-14/4/02, SP, Dusky Nightjar (A# 400): [pres 51C] ISH, BdB. Lolmarik Farm, Timau, 29/8/02, SP. African Pitta (A# 525): [pres 76 Thika, Plain Nightjar (A# 402): [pres 50D] Mpala A]
6-7/06/02, Pf ; Nyari Track, Arabuko-Sokoke Ranch, Laikipia, 2001-2002, DoO. forest, 16/06/02, WK. Mottled Spinetail (A# 412): [pres 63C] 536): [post pres Birds flying around Mountain Lodge, 22/10/ Friedmann's Lark (A# 5 IB] Several birds singing at Shaba NR, 05/ 02, BF. 02, CJ, WK, AB, BCo, YG; Birds singing Scarce Swift (A# 414): [pres 61C] Trans near Taita Discovery Centre, 10/02, BF. Mara forest, 8/12/2001, SP, ISH, BdB; [pres Wire-tailed Swallow (A# 552): [pres 74D] 62A] 01 Joro Orok, 10/4/02, EM, LB1, IW, JWa. trek from Magori to Shombole, Loita Hills,
38 Kenya Birds, Volume 10: 14 2, 2002 May 2003 Northern Anteater Chat: ILRI, Nairobi, 27/1/02, SP.
Brown-chested Alethe (A# 663): [pres 62C] Eburru, 24/11/2001, DGa, JWam.
White-browed Robin-Chat (A# 666): [pres * 88D] 01 Ngosua water point, Mbirikani, 5/ 2/02, DM.
Ruppell's Robin-Chat (A# 667): [pres 89C] Ngulia lodge, Tsavo West, 3 1/12/02, NRG - ringed.
Wing-snapping Cisticola (A# 717): [post Sw/'ftsbyA Osanya-Nyyneque pres 61B] Molo grasslands, 7/12/2001, SP, ISH, BdB.
** Black-backed Cisticola (A# 718): [pres 17-22/8/2001, JJ. 74A] A pair at Sabaringo Valley, Masai Mara, Lesser Striped Swallow (A# 559): [pres 30/10/02, BF. A 61D] Trans Mara forest, 8/12/2001, SP, ISH, BdB. Desert Cisticola (A# 720): [pres 50D] Mpala Ranch, Laikipia, 2001-2002, DoO. Green-headed Oriole: One on Kararacha Stout Cisticola (A# 722): [pres 89C] Ngulia trail, Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, 5/01/02, CJ, area, Tsavo West, 29/12/02, NRG. BF, WK, SP, BdB, ISH. Ashy Cisticola (A# 725): [pres 50D] Mpala Fan-tailed Raven (A# 579): [pres 75B] One 2001-2002, bird over Loresho, Nairobi, 21/10/01 and Ranch, Laikipia, DoO. again on 12/8/02, BdB. Red-faced Cisticola (A# 736): [pres 62A] Kabati, Kipipiri, 7/5/02 JWam. Mouse-coloured Penduline Tit (A# 587): [pres 75B] west of Ngong Hills, 28/12/02, White-chinned Prinia (A# 745): [pres 6 ID] BF, BdB. Trans Mara forest, 8/12/2001, SP, ISH, BdB.
Scaly Chatterer (A# 596): [post pres 101D] Black-headed Apalis (A#757): [pres 88D] Many birds coming to the bird feeding table Chyulu Hills, 21/5/2001, PG. at Taita Discovery Centre, 10/02, BF. Grey Wren-Warbler (A# 761): [pres 62A] Brown Babbler (A# 602): [post pres 51C] Lake Elementeita, 1/10/02, JK. In Cypress on the ridges around Loldaiga, Green-backed Eremomela (A# 767): [pres 14/06/01, BF; [pres 60A] A small group in 48A] Two near Malaba, 3/06/01, BF. the grounds of Lake Victoria Safari Village, Green Hylia (A# 777): [pres 48C] Birds Mbita Point, 14-15/09/02, BMu, H&PH. calling in Mumias Sugar Company golf Black Cuckoo-shrike (A# 603): [pres 49B] course, 16/09/02, BF. Cheptebo, Kerio Valley, 17/6/02, KD. Gambaga Flycatcher: A pair in the Kerio Purple-throated Cuckoo-shrike (A# 606): Valley, 1 1/09/02, BMu, H&PH; A pair about [pres 62C] Malewa River lodge, Gilgil, 12/ 30km north of Archer's Post, 08/02, BC. 10/02, BdB. Southern Black Flycatcher (A# 788): [post Yellow-bellied Greenbul (A# 621): [pres pres 100B] Kitobo Forest, Taveta, 8/2001, 74D] trek from Magori to Shombole, Loita DO. Hills, 17-22/8/2001, JJ - the westernmost Northern Black Flycatcher (A# 789): [pres atlas square for this species in Kenya. 50D] Mpala Ranch, Laikipia, 2001-2002, Grey-olive Greenbul (A# 629): [pres 63A] DoO. Kianyaga valleys, 8/10/02, SP, BC, HG, White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher (A# 790): BdB.
May 2003 Kenya Birds, Volume 10: 1 & 2, 2002 39 [pres 27D] Marsabit NR, 11/12/02, LBo, Taita Discovery Centre, Rukinga ranch, 10/ MKa. 02, BF.
Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher: One bird Sulphur-breasted Bush-Shrike (A# 852): in Yala Reserve, Kakamega, 13/09/02, BF. [pres 100B] Kitobo Forest, Taveta, 8/2001, DO.
Grey-backed Fiscal (A# 861): [pres 49B] Cheptebo, Kerio Valley, 17/6/02, KD.
Long- tailed Fiscal (A# 862): [pres 74D] trek from Magori to Shombole, Loita Hills, 17-22/8/2001, JJ; [pres 62A] 01 Joro Orok, 10/4/02, EM, LB1, IW, JWa.
Riippell's Long-tailed Starling (A# 881): [pres 9 IB] Lamu, 27/4/02, BdB.
Red-winged Starling (A# 885): [pres 74D] trek from Magori to Shombole, Loita Hills,
17-22/8/2001, J J.
Superb Starling (A# 890): [pres African 48C] Mungatsi grassland, SP, Paradise 13-14/4/02, ISH, BdB. Flycatcher by Nani Olive-bellied Sunbird (A# 919): [post pres Croze 61C] Trans Mara forest, 8/12/2001, SP, ISH, BdB. Eastern Double-collared Sunbird (A# Plain-backed Pipit (A# [pres 818): 74D] 922): [post pres 100B] Kitobo Forest, trek from Magori to Shombole, Loita Hills, Taveta, 8/2001, DO. 17-22/8/2001, JJ. Hunter's Sunbird (A#931): [pres 49B] Long-billed Pipit (A# 819): [pres 74D] trek Cheptebo, Kerio Valley, 17/6/02, KD. from Magori to Shombole, Loita Hills, 17- Montane White-eye (A# 938): [pres 74D] 22/8/2001, JJ. trek from Magori to Shombole, Loita Hills, Bush Pipit (A# 821): [pres 51C] pair in A 17-22/8/2001, JJ - the westernmost atlas Acacias in Loldaiga, 14-16/06/01, BF - square for this species in Kenya. might be the first record north of the Equator! Golden Palm Weaver (A# 945): [post pres Six birds in the Kedong Valley below 9 IB] Manda island, Lamu, 29/4/02, BdB. Kiamese, 3/06/02, BF; A pair and two singles west of Ngong Hills, 28/12/02, BdB, BF. Yellow-backed Weaver (A# 949): [pres 75B] A pair at the tip of Hyena dam, Nairobi Black-backed Puffback (A# 836): [post NP, 22/12/02, BF - a very unusual record pres 6 ID] Trans Mara forest, 8/12/2001, SP, this far from Lake Victoria. ISH, BdB. Vitelline Masked Weaver (A# 954): [pres Northern Puffback (A# 837): [pres 62C] 27D] Marsabit NR, 11/12/02, LBo, MKa. Malewa River lodge, Gilgil, 11/10/02, BdB - the southernmost atlas square for this Little Weaver (A# 957): [pres 50D] Mpala species. Ranch, Laikipia, 2001-2002, DoO.
Pringle's Puffback (A# 838): [pres 75C] Black-necked Weaver (A# 963): [pres 50D] between Olepolos and Oltepesi, Magadi Mpala Ranch, Laikipia, 2001-2002, DoO. - road, 21/4/02, BF, SP, IS, BdB a bird of Paradise Whydah (A# 1010): [pres 75B] the disjunct Olorgesailie-area population; Endashant swamp, west of Ngong Hills, 18/ [post pres 101D] Many birds in the area of 6/02, ISH, SP.
40 Kenya Birds, Volume 10: 1 & 2, 2002 May 2003 Purple Indigobird (A# 1020): [pres 89C] Eurasian Honey Buzzard (A# 137): Ngulia lodge, Tsavo West, 28/1 1/02, NgRG [pres51D] One bird over Isiolo, 27/10/02,
- several ringed. BF; [pres 27D] Marsabit NR, 1 1/1 2/02, LBo, MKa. Blue-capped Cordon-bleu (A# 1025): [pres 50D] Mpala Ranch, Laikipia, 2001-2002, ** Barbary Falcon (A# 144): [pres 50A] DoO. Immature bird hunting at the area of Lake Baringo Club, 29/11/02, BF. Black-crowned Waxbill (A# 1036): [pres 6 ID] Trans Mara forest, 8/12/2001, SP, ISH, ** Red-footed Falcon (A# 149): [pres 74A] BdB. Two female/ imm over the Sabaringo Valley, Somali Golden-breasted Bunting (A# Masai Mara, 30/10/02, BF. 1051): [pres 75D] Olepolos area, Magadi Eleonora's Falcon (A# 155): [pres 76C] A road, 28/12/02, BF, BdB - a part of Magadi dark morph individual just after the turn to road just creeps into the little visited square Machakos on the main Mombasa road, 6/12/ 75D. 02, ISH; One dark morph immature over Loresho, Nairobi, 25/10/02, BdB. Palaearctic species Common Teal: One male on lakeshore near Sooty Falcon (A# 156): [pres 50C] Falls, 9/4/02 Hippo Camp, Naivasha, 19/1/02, WBC. Thompson's Nyahururu, EM, LB1, IW, JWa. ** Short-toed Snake-Eagle: An immature [pres bird on the Musiara Plain, Masai Mara, 2/ Corncrake (A# 192): 50D] Mpala 12/02, BF. Ranch, Laikipia, 2001-2002, DoO. Plover: Sabaki River ** Levant Sparrowhawk (A# 111): [pres Pacific Golden Mouth, Malindi, 27/12/01, CJ, BdB. 48A] One adult male flying west in an area between Alupe and Malaba, 15/04/02, ISH, Temminck's Stint (A#240): [pres 6 IB] One
BdB, SP. bird at Mogotio, 30/11/02, BF; one bird on near School, Eurasian Sparrowhawk (A# 106): [pres Sukari dam, Peponi 2/11/02, ISH, TH.; one on lakeshore near Hippo 74A] One bird east of Narok, 28/10/02, BF; GB, Camp, Naivasha, 19/01/02, one female at Sabaringo Valley, Masai Mara WBC. NR, 30/10/02, BF. Pectoral Sandpiper (A# 242): [pres 75B] Nairobi NP, BF, Long-legged Buzzard (A# 118): [post pres Athi Basin dam, 7/4/02, - the third for a 62C] One bird flying above Mt. Longonot, R&AB record Kenya, spectacular find! 10/10/02, MV; [pres 76A] Blue Posts Hotel, Thika, 26/11/02, BF; [press 89C] one dark ** Dunlin (A# 244): [post pres 62A] A bird morph bird over Ngulia lodge, Tsavo West in summer plumage in Nakuru NP, 2/07/02, NP, 8/12/02, ISH. SE - the bird was seen again later on the nd and 23 rd of July by the same observer. Booted Eagle (A# 124): [pres 5 ID] One 22 light morph bird north of Isiolo, 30/06/02, Common Snipe (A#249): [pres 61B] marsh ISH - a strange date for this species that may near St. Andrew's School, Turi, 7/12/2001, represent birds coming from the South SP, ISH, BdB. African population; [pres 27D] Marsabit NR, Green Sandpiper (A# 262): [post pres 6 IB] 11/12/02, LBo, MKa. Molo grasslands, 7/12/2001, SP, ISH, BdB. Lesser Spotted Eagle: Nairobi NP, 30/11/ Eurasian Thick-knee (Stone Curlew): 01, SP, BdB. Twenty birds, outside the Irinito gate (off the Greater Spotted Eagle (A# 128): [pres pipeline road) in Amboseli NP, 25/1 1/02, BF, 88C] Amboseli NP, 7-20/12/2001, SW, DB; MO. one adult bird in Lake Nakuru NP, 26/10/ Red-necked Phalarope: Four birds in 02, BF; adult flying west over Masai gate, Gongoni Salt ponds, north of Malindi, 6/10/ Nairobi NP, 14/12/02, BF, BdB, ISH. 02, BF, CJ, BdB, SP, ISH - might represent
May 2003 Kenya Birds, Volume 10: 14 2, 2002 41 !
the largest ever group in Kenya. Contributors Heuglin's Gull (A# 299): [pres 75B] One AG, Ann Gathitu; AGa, Afik Gal; AK, 2 nd year bird in Athi Basin dam, Nairobi NP Anthony Kiragu; AM, Anastacia Mwaura;
20/04/02, BF, BdB - this gull is only rarely AS, Alfred Simiyu; AW, Anthony Wandera; recorded inland. BA, Barbie Allen; BAm, Bernard Amakobe; BC, Bernard Chege; BdB, Bernd de Bruijn; ** Arctic Tern (A# -): [pres 103 A] One BF, Bisto Fernandes; BM, Bob Medland; adult in summer plumage at the Sabaki River BMu, Benson Mugambi; CJ, Colin Jackson; mouth, 6/07/02, JB - if accepted, will be a CJM, Chege J.M.; DB, Duan Biggs; DG, great addition to the East African list! ! David Githao; DGa, Douglas Gathungu; Common House Martin (A# 563): [pres DM, David Meijo; DN, David Ngala; DO, 75D] Olepolos area, Magadi road, 28/12/02, Dan Omolo; DoO, Department of BF, BdB - a part of Magadi readjust creeps Ornithology staff; DR, Dave Richards; DS, into the little visited square 75D. Daina Samba; DT, Don Turner; DWS, David Black-eared Wheatear: One male in - Wildlife Safaris; ED, Esther Droppers; EH, Baringo, 29/11/02, BF. Eric Harris; EM, Elizabeth Maloba; EO, Eric
Rufous Bush Chat (A# 658): [pres 75C] Omondi; ER, Elly Rubinstein; ET, Oltepesi, 10/2/02, SP, BC, GE, ISH, BdB. Emmanuel Thoya; FN, Fleur Ng'weno; GB, Gordon Boy; GE, George Eshiamwata; GS, River Warbler (A# 688): [pres 27D] Gerald Saby; H&PH, Helen & Paul Harris; Marsabit NR, 11/12/02, LBo, MKa - the HE, Heather Elkins; HG, Hector Gomez de northernmost record in Kenya. Silva Garza; HN, Henry Ndithia; HS, Hanno Olivaceous Warbler (A# 698): [pres 50D] Stamm; IG, Mrs. I.G.P Grant; ISH, Itai Mpala Ranch, Laikipia, 2001-2002, DoO. Shanni; IW, Ingemar Wiedegren; JB, Jan Upcher's Warbler (A# 699): [pres 50D] Bisschop; JeB, Jeremy Bird; JC, Jeffory Mpala Ranch, Laikipia, 2001-2002, DoO. Coburn; JD, John Dawson; JDa, Jeffrey Davis; JJ, Jeffrey James; JK, Joseph Kariuki; Common Whitethroat (A# 706): [pres JKa, John Kaywa; JKi, James Kiptoo; JKK, 50D] Mpala Ranch, Laikipia, 2001-2002, Joy Kimaita Karani; JKo, Jairus Koki; JM, DoO. John Musina; JMb, Jeffrey Mboche; JMr, Garden Warbler (A# 707): [pres 27D] John Mrucua; JMu, James Mutua; JMur, Marsabit NR, 11/12/02, LBo, MKa. Jonathan Muriithi; JN, John Nzau; JW, Blackcap (A# 708): [pres 27D] Marsabit Justus Wambua; JWa, Joseph Waithaka; NR, 11/12/02, LBo, MKa. JWam, Joshua Wambugu; JWw, James Wawire; Kristin Davis; KdJ, Klaas de Semi-collared Flycatcher, Mount Elgon, KD, Jong; LB, Leon Benunn; LB1, Lars Block; 30/03/02, BdB. LBo, Luca Borghesio; LM, Lazarus White Wagtail (A# 832): [pres 75D] Mutinda; LN, Lucy Njeri; LSL, Lemoonga Olepolos area, Magadi road, 28/12/02, BF, Sam Leseita; MC, Maxwell Chovu; MG, BdB. Mwangi Githiru; M&LC, Miles & Liz House Sparrow (A# 992): [pres 74C] Coverdale; MK, Moses Kazalwa; MKa, Keekorok lodge, Masai Mara, 23/5/2001, Martin Kahindi; MKi, Michael Kimeli; MN, KdJ, BdB; [pres 51C] El Karama Ranch, Mark Ngucal; MNGS, Mama Ngina Girl Laikipia, 31/5/02, IG - the northernmost Secondary School; MO, Mel Ogola; MR, record so far! Marlene Reid; MV, Munir Virani; NaRG,
Ortolan Bunting (A# 1049): [pres 89C] Nairobi Ringing Group; NgRG, Ngulia One bird at Ngulia .lodge, and another Ringing Group; NB, Nik Borrow; NKSB, individual thirty kilometres away towards Nature Kenya Sunday Birdwatch; NN, Nir Sapir; Mtito Gate, Tsavo West NP, 22-23/1 1/02, BF. Nicodemus Nalianya; NS, OK, Onesmus Kioko; Pf, Parker family; P&HP
42 Kenya Birds, Volume 10: 1 & 2, 2002 May 2003 Phyllis & Henry Paltridge; P&KP, Patrick Purple Starling, [pres 48 A] Alupe, 3/6/01, & Karen Plumbe; P&RH, Philip & Ros BF. Hechle; PG, Patrick Gichuki; PK, Peter Waller's Starling, [pres 62D] Kieni Forest, Paul Kirui; Koebel; Kamau; PKi, PKo, Pam 21/5/00, NKPL. R&AB, Richard & Ann Bishop; RC, Rose Feral Lovebird, [pres 75D] Athi Plains -is Caldwell; RK, Robert Kangara; RM, NOT 75D, but 75B, and therefore not new. Rowland Minns; S&BD, S. & B. Deverell; SE, Steve Easley; SF, S. Fyson; SK, Mottled Swift, [pres 75B] Gatamaiyu Sylvester Karimi; SN, Sam Ngoge; SNBCG, Forest, Kimende -is NOT 75B but 62D, and South Nandi Biodiversity Conservation therefore not new.
Group; SP, Shailesh Patel; SR, Spencer Bush Pipit, [pres 75C] Endashant Swamp,
Radmich; SW, Stephen Wamiti; TA, Titus Ngong - is NOT 75C, but 75B and therefore Adhola; TI, Titus Imboma; TH, Tom Heaton; not new. VO, Vincent Owuor; WBC, Water Bird Census; WMB, Wednesday Morning World Bird Watch 1999 Birdwalk; WK, Willy Kombe; WO, Willis Yellow-billed Egret, [pres 88B] Umani Okech. Springs Camp, Kibwezi, 3/10/99, HE, RM, P&RH, P&KP. CORRECTIONS for Kenya Madagascar Bee-eater, [pres 88B] Birds 9 Volume Kilalinda to Mtito Andei, 2/10/99, AM, Ki, The following records were NOT NEW for MM. - should be [post pres 88B] their Atlas square. They are, however, still Yellow-bellied Greenbul, [pres 52C] Meru valid records. NP, 2/10/99, JJ, MMa.
Afrotropicals Chestnut Weaver, [pres 49C] Mugedu Long-tailed Cormorant, [pres 88B] Mugo, 3/10/99, BB, BL, KM, BS. Forest, springs, 9-1 Kibwezi Umani 1/02/01, Spotted Creeper, [pres 37A] Cherangani BdB. Hills - is NOT Cherangani Hills but Marich African Green Ibis, [pres 62D] Kieni Pass (37C), and therefore not new. Forest, 21/05/007NKPL. Palaearctic Migrants Spur-Winged Goose, [pres 103 A] Sabaki Eurasian Marsh Harrier, [pres 61A] River mouth, 29/12/00, PK, ET. Muhuroni junction, 27/05/01, BF - still a Banded Snake-Eagle, [pres 52C] Meru NP, very unusual date for the species. 5-6/5/00, BF Ruff, [pres 75D] Athi Plains - is NOT 75D, Crested Guineafowl, [pres 48D] Kakamaga but 75B, and therefore not new. Forest, Bunyagu, 24/8/01, GE, SP, BdB. Red-throated Pipit, [pres 75D] Athi Plains Red-fronted Parrot, [pres 62B] Aberdare - is NOT 75D, but 75B, and thus not new. Country Club, 15-16/09/01, P&KP, P&RH.
Red-throated Wryneck, [pres 62D] Njurui, Changes Murungaru, 15/7/00, AMw, GN, JWT. Eurasian Nightjar should be in PALEARCTIC MIGRANTS. Montane Oriole, [pres 62D] Kieni Forest, 21/5/00, NKPL. Common Squacco Heron should be in AFROTROPICAL RECORDS. Ashy Flycatcher, [pres 88B] Kibwezi Forest, Umani Springs, 9-11/2/01, BdB. Withdrawn (incorrect records):
Grassland Pipit, [pres 103A] Sabaki River Black-faced Sandgrouse, Mugedu Mugo, mouth, Malindi, 29/12/00, PK, ET. 3/10/99, BB, BL, KM, BS. Rosy-breasted Longclaw [pres 88C] Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove, Lake AmboseliNP, 05/01, DR. Kanyaboli, Kadenge, 2/10/99, NN, SG, JM.
May 2003 Kenya Birds, Volume 10: 1 & 2, 2002 43 )! o NOTICE BOARD World Bird Watch Birdwatch weekend they can tick the 4-5 October 2003 - Plan to birds they observe and send the list to Nature Lists will Participate! Kenya. entered in a draw for a prize. Nature Kenya is a member of the global Partnership of conservation If you wish to take part, sponsor a organisations called BirdLife team or help distribute leaflets, please International. These Partners work visit the Nature Kenya office or drop closely together to conserve birds, us a line at
Americas, the BirdLife network holds • Choosing plants that attract birds bird and nature events during October, • How to identify a family of birds called "Festival Mundial de las Aves". • Building a bird bath or feeder This inspired BirdLife to run World Bird
Festival in 2001, attracting well over • Good birding spots (Birding in ...
300,000 people to more than 1,450 If you have that skill or knowledge, - events in 88 countries the largest please share it with us. Not all articles global celebration of birds ever. in hand could be published in this issue; In Kenya, large numbers of birders some will appear in Kenya Birds 11. in teams fan out across the country to Thank you all for your contributions tick off the highest number of species A matter of style: Kenya Birds uses in a locality over the 48 hours of World the English bird names in the green Birdwatch weekend. It is exhausting, Check-list of the Birds of Kenya, Third competitive and fun. It also collects data Edition, EANHS, 1996. This checklist on bird occurrence and distribution. is available at Ksh.100/- at the Nature
This year, we want to involve the Kenya office (for overseas orders, see public and draw people's attention to www.naturekenya.org). Scientific birds and their environment. We plan names are normally only included for to produce a leaflet with 30 common birds not in the checklist, or where there birds found in the towns, highlands and might otherwise be some confusion. coast, to give people a chance to identify Fleur Ng'weno, Editor the birds they see every day. On World
» ^fe^
•**« m Photo Gallery
/ram to/? /e/f
7. Senegal Thick-knee. Note the lack of a white bar below the dark line bordering the grey wing panel; the whitish supercilium and the heavy
bill. Photo by Rafi Kfir at Lake Baringo on 19.08.02.
2. A juvenile Greater Spotted
Eagle shows why it is called
"spotted". Photo by Itai Shanni at Lake Nakuru N.P, early January 2003.
3. Brown-chested Alethe, photographed on 18.01.03 in
Kakamega Forest by Itai Shanni.
4. The Quail-Finch is one of these birds that you always see when it is too late to have a long look! This individual
was pictured by Itai Shanni,
when it came down to drink at Athi Basin Dam, Nairobi N.P., on 25.02.03.
May 2003 Kenya Birds, Volume 10: 14 2, 2002 .
Mystery Bird Photo Challenge
Use your identification skills to win a prize!
Three mystery bird photos will be published in each issue of Kenya Birds. What species are they? Send Nature Kenya the answer within three months ofpublication. What the birds are and why will be explained in the following issue of Kenya Birds. Rules
The winner will be the first participant to score 6 consecutive correct answers. That is, the winner is the first person to correctly identify the mystery birds in two issues of Kenya Birds.
Your answer must include: • the bird's English name • the bird's scientific (Latin) name
• the number on the photo
Send your answer to [email protected] or to Nature Kenya, P.O. Box 44486, GPO 00100 Nairobi clearly marked "Mystery Bird Photo Challenge"
All entries for this issue of Kenya Birds must be submitted before 1 the end of July 2003.
The challenge is open to all (except for members of the Bird Committee and staff and volunteers at Nature Kenya or the Department of Ornithology, National Museums of Kenya).
Prize Set of 4 checklists; winners' names will be published in Kenya Birds.
BirdLife % INTERNATIONAL HatureKenya