Michael´s Sixth Year

[michael-ibk]

457/K211) Common aka Rufous-Tailed Rock-Thrush (Monticola saxatilis) / Steinrötel

 

Ol Pejeta, 21/11/21. It was almost absurd how often I saw this bird here and (to a lesser degree) in the Mara. I´ve often tried to find out here in Austria, they are among our rarest breeders high up in the mountains. Always failed. And here they were, virtually sitting on any second bush. The quest at home continues thought - would love to see them in their striking breeding plumage.

 

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

458/212) African Stonechat (Saxicola torquatus) / Afrikanisches Schwarzkehlchen

 

Aberdares, 15/11/21. Every source seems to treat it as a good species these days. Not that common, only a few sightings. Mrs. and Mr.:

 

 

 

Also saw one lonyely Whinchat passing through.

[michael-ibk]

459/K213) Moorland Chat (Pinarochroa sordida) / Almenschmätzer

 

Aberdares, 15/11/21. Probably the most common bird up on the moorlands.

 

[michael-ibk]

460/K214) Sooty Chat (Myrmecocichla nigra) / Hadesschmätzer

 

Ol Kinyei, 14/11/21. Only saw this pair.

 

 

[michael-ibk]

461/K215) Northern Anteater-Chat (Myrmecocichla aethiops) / Rußschmätzer

 

Ol Pejeta, 20/11/21. Not really a scarce bird but never gave me a good opportunity.

 

[michael-ibk]

462/K216) Isabelline Wheatear (Oenanthe isabellina) / Isabellsteinschmätzer

 

Ol Pejeta, 20/11/21. Common I guess but since they are so similar to their (female) Northern cousins hard to say really.

 

 

Northerns (K217) were definitely around in good numbers.

 

[michael-ibk]

463/K217) Pied Wheatear (Oenanthe pleschanka) / Nonnensteinschmätzer

 

Nairoib NP, 10/11/21. A couple of sightings throughout. I´ve seen this bird on its breeding grounds only once in Romania.

 

[michael-ibk]

464/K218) Scarlet-Chested Sunbird (Chalcomitra senegalensis) / Rotbrustglanzköpfchen

 

Sandai Farm, 17/11/21. A very relieable place for this beautiful species, have seen them on all my four visits.

 

 

[michael-ibk]

465/K219) Amethyst Sunbird (Chalcomitra amethystina) / Amethystglanzköpfchen

 

Nairobi NP, 10/11/21. Only this one sighting.

 

[michael-ibk]

466/K220) Tacazze Sunbird (Nectarinia tacazze) / Tacazzenektarvogel

 

Aberdares, 16/11/21. Only a few sightings high up on the moorlands.

 

[michael-ibk]

467/K221) Bronze aka Bronzy Sunbird (Nectarinia kilimensis) / Bronzenektarvogel

 

Sandai, 17/11. Not uncommon in the highlands.

 

 

[michael-ibk]

468/K222) Malachite Sunbird (Nectarinia famosa) / Malachitnektarvogel

 

Aberdares, 16/11/21. Two sightings. Generally restricted to high elevations except in South Africa - I´ve seen it at sea leavel there. Again I missed an Aberdares specialty - Scarlet-Tufted Sunbird.

 

[michael-ibk]

469/K223) Golden-Winged Sunbird (Drepanorhynchus reichenowi) / Goldschwingen-Nektarvogel

 

Aberdares, 17/11/21. Whenever you come to an area with the orange flowers seen in the first pictures you can count on them not being far. They seem to love the stuff in there.

 

 

The female:

 

 

More proof that Bulbuls are just rubbish birds:

 

[michael-ibk]

470/K224) Variable Sunbird (Cinnyris venustus) / Ziernektarvogel

 

Aberdares, 16/11/21. Quite common here.

 

 

[michael-ibk]

471/K225) Eastern Double-Collared Sunbird (Cinnyris mediocris) / Hochland-Nektarvogel

 

Aberdares, 18/11/21. The most common Sunbird here.

 

[michael-ibk]

472/K226) Northern Double-Collared Sunbird (Cinnyris reichenowi) / Nandinektarvogel

 

Aberdares, 18/11/21. Much scarcer than its cousin. Extremely similar, but a bit darker and more blue-green. The red breast band is supposed to be broader but I don´t think that´s a very reliable feature - this seems to be very variable in Easterns.

 

 

[michael-ibk]

473/K227) White-Headed Buffalo-Weaver (Dinemellia dinemelli) / Starweber

 

Ol Kinyei, 12/11/21. Only one distant sighting.

 

Edited January 4, 2022 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

474/K228) Speckle-Fronted Weaver (Sporopipes frontalis) / Schuppenkopfweber

 

Ol Kinyei, 11/11/21. An atypically-looking and quite cute Weaver IMO.

 

[michael-ibk]

475/K229) Grey-Headed Social-Weaver (Pseudonigrita arnaudi) / Marmorweber

 

Ol Pejeta, 21/11/21. Only a few sightings here.

 

 

[michael-ibk]

476/K230) Red-Headed Weaver (Anaplectes rubriceps) / Scharlachweber

 

Aberdares, 15/11/21. One of the most beautiful Weavers. One sighting here, and one later in Ol Pejeta.

 

[michael-ibk]

477/K231) Baglafecht Weaver (Ploceus baglafecht) / Baglafechtweber

 

Sandai Farm, 17/11/21. Quite a common highland species.

 

 

This bird still confuses me - I guess it must be a juv. Baglafecht (that was also the reluctant consensus on birdforum) but those blue eyes ...

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

478/K232) Little Weaver (Ploceus luteolus) / Zwergweber

 

Ol Kinyei, 11/11/21. In camp. Only "discovered" them at home - had taken half-hearted photos of them since I was not completley sure what it was. Delighted to find out I had one of the rarer Weavers.

 

 

Edited January 4, 2022 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

479/K233) Spectacled Weaver (Ploceus ocularis) / Brillenweber

 

Aberdares, 16/11/21. Two of three sightings of this widespread species.

 

[michael-ibk]

480/K234) Holub´s Golden Weaver (Ploceus xanthops) / Safranweber

 

Sandai Farm, 17/11/21. A handful of sightings in the highlands.

 

[michael-ibk]

481/K235) Speke´s Weaver (Ploceus spekei) / Somaliweber

 

Ol Pejeta, 20/11/21. The most common Weaver in the highlands.