Mfuwe's Year.

[Peter Connan]

Indeed well done.on exceeding 400.

 

That Regal sunbird is magnificent!

[TonyQ]

What a stunnng set of sunbirds to reach and pass 400! Congratulations

[xelas]

#400 is achieved now go get the #500!

[Galana]

Thanks. With having reached "Swallows" there is not much alphabet left and I am afraid the Law of Diminishing Returns may kick in soon but it would be nice to think I can reach maybe #500 by the year end.

[michael-ibk]

Wow, what a wonderful collection, congrats on #400! Many of these I've never seen. Particularly jealous about the Grey Parrot which I missed in Kakamega. How long was this trip?

[Galana]

5 hours ago, michael-ibk said:

How long was this trip?

Thanks Michael,

We flew to Nairobi on 3rd September and left Entebbe on 5th October so just over 4 weeks.

A lot of praise must go to our friend and guide Emmy whose enthusiasm and energy never failed. As an example you may note the number of times "Imperial Botanical Gardens, Entebbe" is given as the location. We had arrived from Bwindi the evening before to catch our flight at noon next day and even this did not prevent him from taking us to the Gardens for two hours first. He is indefatigable.

[elefromoz]

@Galana, phew 400+. The Palmnut Vulture is a great looking Bird. 

[Galana]

The last of the "Esses". Swallows etc.,

Only a few as they are usually flying at speed.

 

408. Wire-tailed Swallow. Lugard Falls, Tsavo East NP. Kenya.

 

409. Red-rumped Swallow. Ruaha NP. Tanzania,

 

410. Lesser-striped Swallow. Ruaha NP. Tanzania.

 

411. Little Swift.  Kayonza, Rwanda.

 

412. Black Sawwing.  Ruhija, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Uganda.

 

 

 

 

 

[Galana]

On to the Ts.

We can "Tee off" with a few Thrushes.

 

413. Olive Thrush. Troy Hotel, Langata Road, Nairobi.

 

414. African Bare-eyed Thrush.  Ithumba, Tsavo and Tarangire, Tanzania.

 

415. Spotted Morning Thrush. Tarangire Roika Camp. Tanzania.

 

416. Collared Palm Thrush. Katavi NP. Tanzania.

 

417. African Thrush. Eastern Country Hotel, Kayonza, Rwanda.,

 

 

[Galana]

Two White-eyes and a pair of Tits.

 

418. Abyssinian White-eye. Kibwezi Forest Reserve, Kenya.

 

419. African Yellow White-eye. Tarangire NP Tanzania and Kayonza, Rwanda.

 

420. Hard to pin down at first but...

White-bellied Tit. Tandala Camp, Ruaha, Tanzania.

 

421. Stripe-breasted Tit.   Ruhija, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Uganda.

Always good to catch a good view of this very localised bird.

 

 

[Dave Williams]

No catching you now! Well done on an amazing count already.

 

[Galana]

Turacos and Tchagras.

 

422.  White-bellied Go away bird.  Ithumba Camp, Tsavo East, Kenya.

 

423. Bare-faced Goaway bird.  Ruaha NP. Tanzania.

 

424. Eastern Plantain Eater. Nr. Kampala, Uganda.

 

425. Purple-crested Turaco. Flycatcher Camp, Katavi NP, Tanzania.

 

426. Ross's Turaco. Botanical Gardens, Entebbe, Uganda.

 

427. Great Blue Turaco. Botanical Gardens, Entebbe, Uganda.

 

428. Black-crowned Tchagra. Tarangire NP, Tanzania.

 

##18. Brown-crowned Tchagra. Ruaha, (This bird was determined we should see its Brown crown.)

[Galana]

Not long to the end now as we get into the W's.

Some of the few waders encountered:-  (We never saw much water.)

429. Three-banded Plover. Lugard Falls. Tsavo East, Kenya.

 

430. Collared Pratincole.  Silale Swamp, Tarangire, Tanzania.  Heat haze was a problem.

 

431. Black-winged Stilt. Silale Swamp, Tarangire.

 

432. Green Sandpiper.. Rufiji River. Ruaha NP. Tanzania.

 

[Galana]

Warblers next. Those we had not seen earlier. Precious few:-

 

433. Grey Wren-warbler. (Queen of the Skulkers). Ithumba Camp, Tsavo East. Kenya.

 

434. Yellow-breasted Apalis. Tsavo East. Frequently seen. Rarely posed for long. Cute little buggers.

 

435. Mountain Masked Apalis. Broadbill Camp,Ruhija, Uganda. Another Albertine Rift Endemic.

 

[Galana]

Waterfowl. Once again. Not much water.

 

436. Egyptian Goose.  Silale Swamp, Tarangire, Tanzania.

 

437. Hottentot Teal. Silale Swamp, Tarangire, Tanzania.

 

438. Two for the price of one. Spur-winged Goose.  and

439. Knob-billed Duck.  Silale Swamp, Tarangire NP. Tanzania.

 

440. White-faced Whistling Duck. Silale Swamp, Tarangire NP, Tanzania.

 

441. Long-tailed Cormorant.  Botanical Gardens, Entebbe.

 

Not many more. Waxbills, Weavers, Whydahs and Woodpeckers.

 

 

 

[Dave Williams]

A truly impressive list you are putting together here.

[Galana]

Thanks.

With luck and a fair wind I may complete this tomorrow. I need to as I am due in Kirkcudbrightshire at the end of next week.

[Galana]

The end is in sight

Waxbills and Whydahs. I suppose Firefnches should have been sorted under "Finches" but my mind does not work that way.

 

442. Red-cheeked Cordon-Bleu. Tarangire Roika, Tanzania.

 

443. African Firefinch.  Tarangire Roika, Tanzania.

 

444. Jameson's Firefinch.  Tarangire Roika, Tanzania.

 

445. Black-bellied Firefinch. Airport Guest House, Entebbe, Uganda. First light.

 

446. Black-headed Waxbill. Broadbill Camp, Bwindi, Uganda.

 

447. Red-billed Quelea.  Ithumba Camp, Tsavo East, Kenya.

 

 

448. Pin-tailed Whydah. Ithumba Camp, Tsavo East. Kenya.

 

449.  Eastern Paradise Whydah. Ithumba Camp, Tsavo East. Kenya.

 

450.  Montane Marsh Widowbird. Kitulo NP. Tanzania.

 

451. Red-shouldered (Fan-tailed) Widow-bird..Kabale, Uganda.

 

I won't count this but what the heck is it?

Seen in reed bed south of Ruaha NP as we drove towards Mbeya. My instinct says Red Bishop but .....

 

Moving on to something easier. Weavers.

 

 

 

 

Edited November 1, 2017 by Galana
Removal of surplus photograph.

[Dave Williams]

500 is starting to look a distinct possibility!

[Galana]

1 hour ago, Galana said:

I won't count this but what the heck is it?

Am I blind or just a bit slow today. No need to reply.....

Look at the bird behind the male in #451. Different location, same bird?  Just as well I did not count it.

 

@Dave Williams It would be nice to think so but not from this batch. Still two months to go though.

Fieldfares already here and Whooper Swans overdue. Target birds next week. Barn Owl and Red-Kite.

[Dave Williams]

I need all 4!

[Galana]

4 minutes ago, Dave Williams said:

I need all 4!

 

Well I am sure a trip to Castle Douglas 10-14th will do you both good. KItes assured. Owl on a promise.

 

[Dave Williams]

1 hour ago, Galana said:

 

Well I am sure a trip to Castle Douglas 10-14th will do you both good. KItes assured. Owl on a promise.

 

 

Is that part of the Great Wall?

[Galana]

1 hour ago, Dave Williams said:

Is that part of the Great Wall?

Could be if the wee Krankie gets her way!!

However just as you were asking that and I was loading the "Weavers", the clouds rolled back and I could not resist an outing to chase off the last of my 'flu.

Thanks for the incentive!

 

452. Fieldfare. Ballacrye, IOM. 15.26 GMT today.

 

AND then on the way home look what else I found.

 

453. Whooper Swan. St. Judes, IOM. 15.43 GMT. 1st November 2017. About 15 in the herd.

 

@Dave Williams  I owe you one.

 

 

 

[Dave Williams]

You and me both with the lurgy,hoping it disappears soon, very soon!

Well done on the extra two. I didn't,t feel up to doing anything today.