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Ethiopia Endemics Birding I 7Th to 23Rd January 2019 (17 Days) Trip Report

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Ethiopia Endemics Birding I 7Th to 23Rd January 2019 (17 Days) Trip Report Ethiopia Endemics Birding I 7th to 23rd January 2019 (17 Days) Trip Report Stresemann’s Bush Crow by Holger Teichmann Trip report compiled by Tour Leader: Greg de Klerk Rockjumper Birding Tours View more tours to Ethiopia Trip Report – RBL Ethiopia - Endemics Birding I 2019 2 Tour Summary The Ethiopia Endemics tour is designed to focus on Ethiopia’s most diverse and dynamic habitats and the associated endemic species. From the heights of the Sanetti Plateau to the lush lowland forests and magnificent Rift Valley Lakes, we had the opportunity to explore the full spectrum as we traversed the country during our 17-day tour, connecting with a vast array of Ethiopia’s most sought-after bird species. Our Ethiopian adventure started off with an arrival day in the capital city, Addis Ababa. Here we settled into our overnight accommodations while a few of the tour group managed to connect with Rüppell’s Robin-Chat, Abyssinian Slaty Flycatcher, Montane White-eye, Pied Crow, Hooded Vulture and Tacazze Sunbird before we settled in for our welcome dinner ahead of a busy tour. We departed Addis Ababa early the following morning, to embark on a wonderful drive south through the Great Rift Valley, visiting a Abyssinian Ground Hornbill by Holger Teichmann number of impressive and unique lakes each offering a new set of birds. En route, we collected Abdim's Stork, Pied Crow, Fan-tailed Raven and Black-winged Lapwing; while also turning our first mammal: an Abyssinian Hare. Our first stop was at Lake Cheleleka, a man-made reservoir providing a haven for a vast array of species. Our dawn arrival ensured we were greeted by Speckled Pigeon, Egyptian Goose, Hottentot Teal, Red-billed Teal, Greater Flamingo, African Sacred, Hadada and Glossy Ibises, African Spoonbill, Great Egret, Black-winged Stilt, Spur-winged Lapwing, African Wattled Lapwing, Common Ringed Plover, Ruff, Curlew Sandpiper, Temminck's Stint, Little Stint, Green Sandpiper, Marsh Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Western Yellow Wagtail, Red-throated Pipit, large numbers of Common Crane and the highlight of the morning: a breeding pair of Black Crowned Crane with two juveniles, all feeding in the shallow, muddy waters and emergent vegetation. Marabou Stork and Hooded Vulture were located around the edge of the lake; while we also found African Fish Eagle, and Augur Buzzard near the water’s edge. Lesser Spotted Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Black and Yellow-billed Kites, Mourning Collared Dove, Red-eyed Dove, Laughing Dove, Namaqua Dove, Speckled Mousebird, Black-billed Barbet, Grey-backed Fiscal, Northern Fiscal, Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu, African Paradise Flycatcher, Common Bulbul, Red-faced Crombec, Northern Carmine Bee-eater by Holger Greater Blue-eared Starling, Variable Sunbird, Swainson's Teichmann Sparrow, Baglafecht Weaver, Rüppell's Weaver, Red-billed Rockjumper Birding Tours View more tours to Ethiopia Trip Report – RBL Ethiopia - Endemics Birding I 2019 3 Firefinch, African Citril, Streaky Seedeater and Common Kestrel were located in the surrounding woodland. The surrounding farmland provided excellent views of Wattled Ibis, Western Cattle Egret, Cape Crow, African Pipit, Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark, Red-billed Quelea, Fan-tailed Widowbird, Pied Wheatear, Isabelline Wheatear and fantastic views of a drinking Quailfinch. Swarms of insects provided incredible views; while masses of Brown-throated Martin, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow and Rock Martin hawked the insects we disturbed as we passed through the vegetation. A kettle of species produced White Stork, and White-backed Vulture. We then made our way to Lake Hora, a crater lake surrounded by an interesting mixed acacia and fig woodland. On arrival, we were greeted with views of Northern Shoveler, Little Grebe, Squacco Heron, Grey Heron, Intermediate Egret, Little Egret, Hamerkop, Great White Pelican, Reed Cormorant, White-breasted Cormorant, Common Moorhen, Red-knobbed Coot, Grey Wagtail and Lesser Swamp Warbler near the water; also producing a Nile Monitor. The woodlands surrounding the lake were also impressive, and produced Tawny-flanked Prinia, Grey-backed Camaroptera, a brief Greyish Eagle-Owl by Holger Teichmann Eurasian Blackcap, an inquisitive family of Abyssinian White-eye, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Black-winged Lovebird, African Dusky Flycatcher, Common Redstart, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Tacazze Sunbird, Spectacled Weaver, Red-fronted Tinkerbird and Eastern Grey Woodpecker. With time passing quickly, we decided to head to Lake Bishoftu, our second crater lake, for lunch. On arrival at the lake, we had an opportunity to view a few species from the steep, vegetated cliffs above the water before our meal, including Southern Pochard, and had wonderful views of Banded Barbet while we enjoyed our meal. As we departed Lake Bishoftu, we made headway south toward Lake Koka, collecting Dark Chanting Goshawk, Montagu's Harrier, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill and White- winged Tern en route. This man-made White-cheeked Turaco by Holger Teichmann reservoir intersects the Awash River and covers a wide area, providing refuge for many species of bird. Sadly, water levels were very low and much of the birding activity was diminished. However, one participant managed a glimpse of a Saddle- billed Stork in flight; while we all managed to view Rüppell's Starling, and a single Northern Carmine Bee-eater provided all the participants with fantastic views as we departed the reservoir. Rockjumper Birding Tours View more tours to Ethiopia Trip Report – RBL Ethiopia - Endemics Birding I 2019 4 With the day slowly drawing to a close, we made a final stop at a local lodge on the borders of yet another crater lake, Lake Langano, where we were fortunate to locate White-bellied Go-away-bird, a pair of Greyish Eagle-Owl, a pair of Verreaux's Eagle-Owl, Eurasian Hoopoe, Northern Red-billed Hornbill, Red-fronted Barbet, Greater Honeyguide, Nubian Woodpecker, a Western Black-headed Batis, Slate- colored Boubou, White-browed Sparrow- Weaver, Superb Starling, Little Rock Thrush and a pair of Red-throated Wryneck before making our way to the opposite side of the lake, where we would be based as we explored the region. On arrival at our camp, we settled in for a good dinner and a wonderful night’s rest. Early the next morning, we met our local guide before setting off to the forested area of Lake Langano, with its huge fig and podocarpus trees. We managed to connect with Crested Francolin, Woodland Kingfisher, Brown-throated Wattle-eye and Blue-winged Duck by Holger Teichmann frustratingly brief flight views of Yellow-fronted Parrot. As we traversed the forest and transitional woodland that morning, we connected with some wonderful species, including African Olive Pigeon, Lemon Dove, Blue-spotted Wood Dove, Tambourine Dove, Bruce’s Green Pigeon, White-cheeked Turaco, Narina Trogon, Black-billed Wood Hoopoe, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Lesser Honeyguide, Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Greater Honeyguide, Orange-breasted Bushshrike, Northern Puffback, a female Black Cuckooshrike, Masked Shrike, Ethiopian Oriole, Buff-bellied Warbler, Red-billed Oxpecker, Abyssinian Thrush, Rüppell’s Robin-Chat, Olive Sunbird, Red-headed Weaver and the shy, secretive Green Twinspot – also finding Grivet and Olive Baboon. We then returned to camp for a short siesta and lunch, where we had excellent views of a striking male Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike, White- rumped Babbler, Hemprich's Hornbill waiting for lunch scraps, Pink-backed Pelican, African Marsh Harrier, Three-banded Plover, Common Sandpiper, a non-breeding Black-headed Gull, Gull-billed Tern, African Darter, Malachite Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher and Senegal Thick-knee. A pod of Hippopotamus and a Gambian Sun Squirrel were easily located around the lodge as well. The afternoon allowed us to return to the edge of the forest, which was quieter than the early morning, but we still located Fork-tailed Drongo, Yellow-rumped Seedeater, White- winged Black Tit, Black Saw-wing, Willow Warbler, Wattled Starling, Violet-backed Starling, Northern Black Flycatcher, Beautiful Sunbird, Village Weaver and Pin- tailed Whydah. Walking back through the Spot-breasted Lapwing by Holger Teichmann transition zone on the edge of the forest turned up Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Senegal Coucal and Double-toothed Barbet, as well as a Black- backed Jackal when we flushed it from it’s hiding place and a Salt's Dik-dik as we entered camp, before we returned to the lodge for dinner looking out across the lake. Rockjumper Birding Tours View more tours to Ethiopia Trip Report – RBL Ethiopia - Endemics Birding I 2019 5 Early the following morning we departed Lake Langano, collecting Pallid Harrier, Crowned Lapwing, Lilac-breasted Roller, White-headed Buffalo Weaver and Northern White-crowned Shrike before we made our way to Shashamene. We left the rift valley and headed up the escarpment and toward the Bale Mountains National Park. The route to our first stop produced some excellent species along a highland stream: Blue-winged Goose, Ethiopian Cisticola, Abyssinian Longclaw, Groundscraper Thrush, African Stonechat, Moorland Chat and Red-breasted Wheatear among them. We then made our way to lunch, joined by Thick-billed Raven and Abyssinian Slaty Flycatcher, where we were introduced to authentic Ethiopian cuisine of injera – a traditional sourdough flatbread served with an array of sauces. We departed our lunch stop a short while later and headed to our next stop, where the locals helped find a roosting Cape Eagle-Owl. We also located White-collared Pigeon, Yellow- crowned Canary and Blue Rock Thrush, and one vehicle managed a view of Red-billed Abyssinian Catbird by Holger Teichmann Chough in the highlands. We then headed on toward Dinsho, stopping only when an array of endemics was located, including the handsome Rouget's Rail and Spot-breasted Lapwing. Garganey, Yellow-billed Duck and Northern Pintail were also seen well around a small pan. Nearby, Common Warthog, Bohor Reedbuck, Mountain Nyala and Bushbuck provided views for all of us. Next, we were off to Bale Mountain National Park and its headquarters at Dinsho, where we sought the rare and localised Abyssinian Owl.
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