Introduction
This report covers a birding trip made to Ethiopia by myself, my wife Linda and our 13 year old son Brent. All the logistics for the trip were arranged through Trevor Jenner of Birding Ethiopia / Jenner Expeditions. Trevor pre booked all the accommodation, although few minor changes were made whilst we were there, and he also arranged the vehicle and a driver who was familiar with the sites we were visiting.
Transport
We used a Toyota Landcruiser, which proved to be an excellent vehicle, although it did have a few starting problems, particularly in the cold highlands. The driver, Daniel, proved not only to be excellent company, but had an excellent knowledge of all the sites we visited and had driven for several birding groups previously. Without doubt, his knowledge added to the success of our trip.
Climate
The weather was dry and mostly sunny throughout the trip, although we did encounter some low cloud in the highlands. The temperatures varied from hot and sunny in the lowlands to below freezing overnight in the highlands. As a reasonable proportion of the trip was at altitude, warm clothes such as a jumper and fleece are needed.
Books & CD’s
Field guide: Birds of Africa south of the Sahara. by Ian Sinclair & Peter Ryan ISBN: 1-868-72857-9
The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals by Jonathan Kingdon ISBN: 0-12-408355-2
African bids sounds 2 West and Central Africa (11 cd set) by Claude Chappuis. This was of little use as most of the key species are not covered.
Itinerary
23rd December
Arrived at Addis at 20.45, but regretfully all four of our bags did not. There were no airline staff present to offer any support and the lost baggage staff at the airport could not locate the missing luggage, but they did suggest it may arrive on the next flight two days later! We met our driver Daniel, but due to the delays and having to buy emergency suppliers, we decided to spend the night in Addis, rather Debre Zeit that we had planned. We finally arrived at the hotel at 23.00, where we had a meal before retiring to bed.
24th December
We rose at 6.30 and after breakfast spent the morning, unsuccessfully, trying to get an update on our bags, as no Lufthansa offices were open, we then proceeded to buy a few emergency provisions such as a change of clothes and toiletries. By late morning we finally left Addis and after a few lakeside stops we reached Lake Langano at about 17.00, which gave us a couple of hours birding before dark. Our time was spent birding around the hotel and nearby scrub.
Highlights: White-collared Pigeon, Black-winged Lovebird, N. Carmine Bee-eater, Little Rockthrush and White-rumped Babbler.
25th December
We awoke at 5.30, just before dawn, in order to open the few Christmas presents that we had carried in our hand luggage, with Brent being most impressed with his Digital Camera. I spent a couple of hours birding around that hotel, before a Christmas breakfast beside the lake. We departed at 8.15 for our journey to the Bale Mountains. We made a number of stops during the journey and reached the Dinsho Park Headquarters at dusk. The accommodation here was cold and pretty basic and our bags were sorely missed as they contained most of our warm clothing and our travel kettle, which would be been much appreciated. After an evening meal of Bananas and bread we went to bed at 9.30.
Highlights: Wattled Ibis, Rougets Rail, Spot-breasted Lapwing, White-cheeked Turaco, Black-billed Woodhoopoe, Banded Barbet and Thick-billed Raven.
26th December
After a slight delay, due to problems with getting the vehicle started, we headed a few Km’s back down the road and birded the open plain beyond the town where we noticed a small group of Blue-winged Geese a short distance from the road besides a rocky outcrop. I decided to get closer, in order to try and get a few photographs, shortly after I reached the broken ground I heard a yelp and an Abyssinian Wolf appeared, running along the far side of a small ravine. This was soon followed by about three others, at which point I realised that there were several more on the rock outcrop behind me!. I whistled Linda & Brent, who by this time had already noticed the wolves. The first wolf continued its run along side the ravine before crossing the road bridge near Linda & Brent, allowing them excellent views. After a couple of minutes the others headed back in the direction from which they had come and disappeared into the vegetation. This close encounter with the rarest canid in the world was, for all of us, the highlight of the trip. The next few hours were spend birding the plain, primarily looking for Abyssinian Longclaw, which we eventually found in a patch of marshy grassland. We returned to Dinsho, where we stopped for a coffee in one of the local cafes, before returning to the HQ in the late morning, where we birded the surrounding woodland. After a short while Brent located a pair of Abyssinian Woodpeckers, prospecting a nest hole, as this can be a tricky species to find, we were rather pleased to have seen them so early in the trip. After lunch we had arranged to meet a local guide, who had recently found Abyssinian Owl in the nearby woodland. He informed us that he had managed to locate the Owl, for Solomon, who was leading an American couple, that morning, but the bird had been disturbed & had flown from its roost site. We could not re-locate the owl, but did have excellent views of a pair of roosting Mountain Nightjars.
We left the HQ at 14.00 for the 1.5-hour drive to Goba, where we booked into the hotel. After a much needed coffee, we spent the last couple of hours birding the road that leads to the Sinetti plateau. Later that evening our bags finally arrived which meant we could have a much-needed change of clothes.
Highlights: Blue-winged Goose, Abyssinian Woodpecker, Abyssinian Longclaw, Abyssinian Catbird, White-backed Tit, Abyssinian Siskin and Ethiopian Wolf.
27th December
We woke at 5.30, and celebrated our second Christmas of the trip; now that Brent’s remaining presents arrived. After breakfast and a few problems getting the Landcruiser started again, we headed up the Sinetti plateau stopping on route to bird the high altitude scrub, in the hope of seeing Bale Parisoma, a potential split from Brown, which occurs at a lower altitude. After obtaining good views of a pair, we continued to the plateau where we spent the rest of the morning. We returned to the hotel and chilled out for a couple of hours whilst Daniel took the vehicle to be repaired. As we had failed to locate Erlanger’s Lark so far on the trip, we opted to bird an agricultural area dominated by cereal fields, just outside the town of Bale. This proved successful and Brent even managed to get some decent photos, digiscoping with his new camera.
Highlights: Moorland Francolin, Wattled Crane, Erlanger’s Lark & Bale Parisoma.
28th December
This was a major day for me, as I hoped to connect with my main target species of the trip, the enigmatic Prince Ruspoli's Turaco. The route took us back over the Sinetti plateau, and down through the Harrena Forest that apparently still holds a population of forest dwelling Wild Dogs. We finally arrived at the Turaco site, mid afternoon and after a short while spent trying to locate the recommended local guide, we headed off, with much trepidation, in search of our target. It would appear that there are several favoured areas, but the one chosen by our guide was about a 45 minutes walk form the road. A single bird was located and over the next 20 minutes good views were obtained as the bird moved through the canopy. We finally arrived at our Hotel in Negelle, late afternoon, where we freshened up before departing on a night drive, but unfortunately we could not locate any of the hoped for nightbirds.
Highlights: Prince Ruspoli's Turaco
29th December
Our main target today was Sidamo Lark, a restricted range endemic. We left the hotel just before dawn, in order to reach the Liben plain, at first light. After about 2 hours of searching the grassland and seeing large numbers of Somali Short-toed Larks, we had only managed poor display / flight views of 2 Sidamo Larks, so we decided to try a different area. By this time Solomon and his group had arrived on the plain and after a short while I noticed that they appeared to be watching something quite intently. We hurried over and were informed that they had located a lark on the ground, it promptly appeared from behind a tussock and preceded to give excellent views. We went back to the nearby road junction where a pair of Shelly’s Rufous Sparrows and a party of White-crowned Starlings were giving excellent photographic opportunities. We then headed back to the hotel for lunch. The afternoon was spent birding roadside scrub to the North of town, followed after dark by another fruitless night birding session.
Highlights: Sidamo Lark, Somali Short-toed Lark, Dwarf Raven, White-crowned Starling & Shelly’s Rufous Sparrow.
30th December
We rose early for another long days drive to the town of Yabello located in the south of the country. Our main quarry today was another major target bird, Stresemann's Bush-crow. By mid afternoon we knew we were starting to enter the Bush-crows range and by the time we reached Yabello we had located 4 parties, some of which allowed close observation. These birds are real characters, usually found in small groups and for me were one of the birds of the trip. We booked into the hotel and chilled out for a short while before heading a few km’s back down the Arero track as darkness fell. Several Donaldson-smith's Nightjars started to call and after initially only getting flight views, we managed to locate a perched bird, which performed admirably..
Highlights: Donaldson-smith's Nightjar & Stresemann's Bush-crow.
31st December
This morning we headed west form Yabello, towards the town of Mega, in search of White-tailed Swallow, the second endemic unique to this area. After a couple of hours and a couple of false alarms, we located a bird flying near to the road, which fortunately did a couple of circuits of the vehicle before disappearing. The rest of the morning was spent birding the roadside scrub, which produced several more fly by swallows. We returned to the Hotel at mid day where we chilled out until 15.00 when myself and Linda birded the scrub along the road to the north of town, whilst Brent stayed in and played on his PSP..
Highlights: White-tailed Swallow.
1st January
I arose just prior to dawn, in order to get a couple of hours birding in, before breakfast and our journey, back to the North. Most of the day was spent travelling, arriving at our Hotel in Awassa, in the late afternoon. After dropping off our bags, we headed off to the lake for the last hour or so of light, where we birded in the grounds of the Wabe Shebele Hotel number 1
Highlights: Three-streaked Tchagra.
2nd January
Up at 5.30 for another early start, as we wanted to get to Wondo Genet early in the morning. The journey took about 1 hour and on arrival, concentrated on the hotel grounds as this was supposed to be a good area for Yellow-fronted Parrot. After about half an hour, in which time we found a Brown Parisoma (the lower elevation relative of Bale), we heard a parrot calling which we managed to track it down to a large tree behind the hotel. We then had excellent scope views as the bird remained at the top of the tree for at least 10 minutes, until hunger drove us to the hotel restaurant. After a hearty breakfast, we met up with a local guide and headed up the valley. The birding was excellent, but the only new bird we managed to locate was Sharpe’s Starling. After lunch at the hotel, we headed back to Awassa where we spent a couple of hours birding the grounds of Wabe Shebele Hotel number 2, before meeting up with Solomon and his two American clients, Ron and Marcia Braun for an evening meal.
Highlights: Yellow-fronted Parrot, Brown Parisoma & Sharpe’s Starling.
3rd January
As this was mainly a travelling day, we opted for a lie-in until 7.00. On the journey we called back in to the Hotel at Lake Langano in order to settle our breakfast bill that we had forgotten to pay earlier in the trip. This was useful, as we had not yet connected with Rüppell's Weaver, which proved to be common around the hotel restaurant, even coming to the tables for scraps. I don’t really understand how we had managed to miss these at the beginning of the trip, they were either not present or we completely overlooked them!! After Lake Langano we headed to Debre Zeit where we booked into a pleasant modern hotel, where I left Linda & Brent relaxing, whilst I birded around on of the local lakes until dusk.
Highlights: Rüppell's Weaver
4th January
We rose at 4.30 am, in order to make the journey through Addis Ababa, while the roads were still quiet. After a couple of roadside stops we reached the edge of the Jemma valley by mid morning. Our first birding stop here was at the Portuguese Bridge, which conveniently had a new café, which came with excellent views of the escarpment. We managed to locate several Erckel's Francolins and Rüppell's Chats as well as good numbers of raptors thermalling overhead, whilst drinking coffee & popcorn! We then birded the valley near to the bridge, just as we were about to return to the vehicle, an unfamiliar francolin called from the edge of the valley, followed a few seconds later be a close fly-by Harwood’s Francolin which landed on the far side of the valley, before running into cover. This was probably the luckiest break of the trip, as we had not anticipated seeing this elusive species, which can take several days of hard searching to find. We then headed to the monastery, which was heaving with people making the pilgrimage to this popular location. We spent a short time birding the stream and surrounding woodland, which was quite active bird wise, but extremely dirty, being more akin to a large open air toilet than a place of worship. We left the escarpment and headed to Debre Birhan, where we would spend the last 2 nights of our trip.
Highlights: Harwood's and Erckel's Francolins, Rüppell's Chat, White-winged Cliff-chat, White-billed Starling and Gelada Baboon.
5th January
We were due to have a pre-dawn start in order to get to the Ankober Serin site early in the morning and hopefully before the area became cloaked in low cloud, for which the area is notorious. Unfortunately the vehicle would not start again, probably not helped by the below zero temperatures overnight. After a couple of hours and breakfast at the hotel, a new battery was located and we managed to head off in search of our last 2 remaining potential endemics. We spent a couple of hours searching the cliff tops and surrounding fields near Ankober, where its names sake the serins have been seen in the past, but with no success. As the cloud was now making searching difficult, we decided to abandon the attempt and head down into the valley in the hope of finding Yellow-throated Seedeater at the site where it had been rediscovered in 1989. We searched the riverside scrub, where we knew the species had been seen in the past, for a couple of hours but with not sign, so I decided to search the hill side scrub further down the road. After as short while I located a small feeding flock, which contained at least 2 of the Seedeaters, I whistled Linda & Brent who arrived just in time to get a decent view of one of the birds before the flock moved off and disappeared. Now we were back on a high, we decided to re-trace our steps and return to the top of the escarpment and continue our search for the elusive serin. Fortunately the low cloud had broken up slightly and we had reasonable, albeit patchy, visibility. But after several hours of further searching and as dusk was fast approaching, we decided to admit defeat and head back to the hotel.
Highlights: Eastern Grey Plantain-eater, Schalow's [Abyssinian Black] Wheatear & Yellow-throated Seedeater.
6th January
A case of deja vous this morning, as the vehicle would not start again. So much for the new battery! After another delayed start we headed to another Serin site which Daniel had visited on a previous trip. After an hour or so of staring into a moss laden ravine, we had glimpsed a few potential serins, but the views were not conclusive, and we were getting very worried as we would soon have to leave in order to make our way to the airport. We decided to try further along the escarpment and search the steep grassy slopes, after a short while a party of 3 birds flew in and landed in the open, giving rather distant, but more than acceptable views of our final target bird. This was a huge relief and we headed back to the hotel on a real high. The afternoon was spent driving back to Addis from where we departed on our evening flight back to the UK.
Highlights: Ankober Serin & an impressive group of 80+ Geladas.
Sites Visited
Lake Langano
Situated about 180km from Addis, this is a pleasant lake resort, whose lake is one of the few in Ethiopia that is safe to swim in, as it is bilharzia free. We stayed in the Hotel Bekele Molla and spent our time birding around the grounds of the hotel and the nearby scrub.
Bale Mountains
We stayed a single night at the Dinsho Park HQ, which was a little basic, and where you had to take your own food, or eat in the nearby village. We birded the woodland surrounding the HQ and the plain near the village. It is worth hiring the services of one of the park guides/ rangers who may be able to show you roosting Abyssinian Owl and Mountain Nightjar.
Two nights were spent at Hotel Wabe Shabele, in Goba. The main areas birded were the upper wooded sections of the road leading from the town, to the Sinetti plateau, as well as the plateau itself. We also spent a few hours in the nearby agricultural area, primarily to see Erlanger’s Lark.
Negelle
The main target in this area is the Sidamo Lark, which occurs on the Liben plain about 13km SE of the town at the junction of the Filtu and Arero tracks. There is an army barracks by the junction, which has a thorn scrub corral, it was along this corral, where we saw a pair of Shelly’s Rufous Sparrows and a party of White-crowned Starlings. We also brided the scrub along the road back towards Goba. We stayed in the Green Hotel, situated in the middle of the town
Yabello
Situated in the far south of Ethiopia, about 100kms from the Kenyan border, this area holds two restricted range endemics; Stresemann's Bush-crow and White-tailed Swallow. We birded the Arero track which runs back towards Negelle, the junction of which runs east off the main paved road, a couple of kms to the south of the town. We saw the bush crow along this road on our journey from Negelle. We also birded along the main paved road to the south of Yabello, towards Mega. We drove along this road for about an hour, until we located a W-t. Swallow after which we backtracked and birded the scrub along the road, seeing a couple more swallows and bush-crows in the process. We stayed in the Mobil Hotel, which is situated on the edge of town.
Awassa
We used this site mainly as a base for Wondo Genet, but did bird the lakeshore at the two Wabe Shebele Hotels.
Wondo Genet
This hill resort, famed for its hot springs, is situated about an hours drive from Awassa and 17km from the town of Shashemane. We birded around the grounds of the hotel and along the wooded valley above the village. The area holds a good selection of highland endemics and is the only place we saw Yellow-fronted Parrot and Dark-headed Oriole.
Debre Zeit
We stayed here mainly to avoid staying in Addis, on our journey to the north. The only area birded was a couple of hours spend at the nearby lake.
Debre Libanos monastery and Portuguese Bridge
Debre Libanos monastery lies 110km to the north of Addis and is one of Ethiopia’s most holy sites, the birding around here was quite productive, but very unpleasant due to the area being basically an open air toilet. The site was also very busy, with many hangers-on. The nearby Portuguese Bridge in contrast, was a quiet, attractive place, with excellent views over the valley, a good café and excellent birding.
Debre Birhan
This town was purely used as a base to bird the Ankober area. We stayed in the new and very comfortable Eva Hotel.
Ankober
This is the traditional site for Ankober Serin, situated about 170km NE of Addis and about 40 km from Debre Birhan. The serin is often being located either; in the fields along the road, or the grassy areas at the top of escarpment, a few kms before the village. We missed them here, but found them at another site, which was known, to our diver, which was a similar distance from Debre Birhan.
Melka Ghebbu.
This is the site for Yellow-throated Seedeater, which was re-discovered here in 1989. It is located in the Valley about 19km south of Ankober and the birds are often found in scrub, where the road runs along side, and than crosses a stream.
Birds
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
Small numbers recorded on several rift valley lakes, but 200+ present on the lake at Debre Zeit.
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)
6 Debre Zeit
Long-tailed Cormorant (Phalacrocorax africanus)
Small numbers recorded on several rift valley lakes
White-breasted Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo lucidus)
Small numbers recorded on several rift valley lakes
African Darter (Anhinga rufa [melanogaster])
Small numbers recorded on several rift valley lakes
White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus)
Recorded on several rift valley lakes, Max daily count 40.
Pink-backed Pelican (Pelecanus rufescens)
Recorded on several rift valley lakes, but less than the previous species. Max daily count 10.
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
Regular in suitable habitat
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
Recorded on 3 dates.
Goliath Heron (Ardea goliath)
A total of 6 recorded on the journey from Awassa to Debre Zeit.
Great White Egret (Egretta alba)
Recorded on 3 dates.
Intermediate Egret (Mesophoyx intermedia)
Just a single roadside bird noted on the 25/12.
Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)
Regular in suitable habitat
Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides)
Recorded on 3 dates. Max daily count: 4.
Striated Heron (Butorides striatus ])
A single seen on the 24/12
Hamerkop (Scopus umbretta)
Recorded on 4 dates. Max daily count: 10.
Yellow-billed Stork (Mycteria ibis)
Recorded on 2 dates. Max daily count: 10.
Black Stork (Ciconia nigra)
2 roadside birds noted on the 24/12.
White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)
Recorded on 2 dates, with several large flocks seen on the journey from Addis to Lake Langano.
Marabou Stork (Leptoptilos crumeniferus)
Recorded in 4 dates. Max daily count 100.
Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)
8 near Awassa on the 2/1 and 4 in the same area the following day.
Hadada Ibis (Bostrychia hagedash)
Recorded on 4 dates. Max daily count: 8
Wattled Ibis (Bostrychia carunculata)
Common in the highlands, with up to a 100 recorded in a day in the Bale mountains
Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus)
Recorded on 6 dates. Max daily count: 50
African Spoonbill (Platalea alba)
Recorded on 2 dates, on the rift valley lakes. Max daily count: 5
Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus)
A flock of 30 birds seen on route to Debre Birhan on the 4/1
White-faced Whistling-duck (Dendrocygna viduata)
2 on route to Debre Zeit on 3/1.
Blue-winged Goose (Cyanochen cyanopterus)
Recorded on 2 dates in the Bale Mountains and on the journey from Debre Birhan to Addis. Max daily count: 25
Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiacus)
Recorded on 4 dates around the rift valley lakes. Max daily count 10
Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea)
3 on the Sinetti plateau on the 27/12.
African Pygmy-goose (Nettapus auritus)
4 Awassa on 2/1 and 2 on the journey from there to Debre Zeit the following day.
Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope)
At last 10 birds amongst a large flock of wildfowl seen on route to Debre Birhan on the 4/1
Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca)
At last 10 birds amongst a large flock of wildfowl seen on route to Debre Birhan on the 4/1
Yellow-billed Duck (Anas undulata)
Recorded daily in the Bale Mountains. Max daily count: 20
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)
At last 100 birds amongst a large flock of wildfowl seen on route to Debre Birhan on the 4/1
Hottentot Teal (Anas hottentota)
Recorded on 3 dates. Max daily count : 6
Garganey (Anas querquedula)
4 near Awassa on 2/1 and at last 5 amongst a large flock of wildfowl seen on route to Debre Birhan on the 4/1.
Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)
20 at Debre Zeit on 2/1 and at last 10 amongst a large flock of wildfowl seen on route to Debre Birhan on the 4/1.
Southern Pochard (Netta erythrophthalma)
2 Debre Zeit on 2/1.
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
3 Debre Zeit on 2/1
Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus caeruleus)
A single near Wondo Genet on the 2/1.
Yellow-billed Kite (Milvus migrans parasitus)
Common – interestingly no definite Black Kites were noticed, although not too much effort was made to find any
African Fish-eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer)
Regularly around the rift valley lakes.
Lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus)
A single at Portuguese Bridge.
Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus)
Singles seen at Lake Langano and Portuguese Bridge
Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus)
Common, especially around habitation.
African White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus [bengalensis])
A flock of 40 seen on route from Goba to Negelle, were the only ones positively identified.
Rüppell's Griffon-vulture (Gyps rueppellii)
A total of 20 seen from the Portuguese Bridge were the only ones positively identified.
White-headed Vulture (Trigonoceps occipitalis)
An adult and 2 juvs were seen at a roadside kill on route from Yabello to Awassa on the 1/1.
Bateleur (Terathopius ecaudatus)
A total of 4 birds recorded over 3 dates.
Western Marsh-harrier (Circus aeruginosus)
Recorded on 4 dates. Max daily count: 2
Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus)
A total of 3 birds recorded in the Bale mountains plus a1 between Addis and Debre Birhan.
Montagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus)
Singles recorded on 3 dates. N.B. Several other harries were seen but not specifically identified.
African Harrier-hawk (Polyboroides typus [radiatus])
Singles recorded on 2 dates.
Eastern Chanting-goshawk (Melierax poliopterus [canorus])
A total of 3 seen over 2 dates.
Black Goshawk (Accipiter melanoleucus)
2 birds seen at Wondo Genet, including 1 bird besides its the nest.
Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus)
A single seen at Ankober on the 5/1
Augur Buzzard (Buteo augur)
Common in the Bale mountains.
Lesser Spotted Eagle (Aquila pomarina)
A single in the Bale mountains on the 26/12.
Greater Spotted Eagle (Aquila clanga)
A Single in the Bale mountains on the 27/12.
Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax)
Recorded on 6 dates. N.B.: Many aquila eagles were seen but not specifically identified
Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)
A single seen on the Sinetti plateau on the 27/12.
Verreaux's Eagle (Aquila verreauxii)
A single seen in the Bale Mountains and a pair at Portuguese Bridge.
Wahlberg's Eagle (Aquila wahlbergi)
A single at Portuguese Bridge.
Long-crested Eagle (Lophaetus occipitalis)
A single seen on the 3/1.
Pygmy Falcon (Polihierax semitorquatus)
Singles seen near Negelle and Yabello.
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
Recorded on 6 dates. Max daily count: 30
Moorland Francolin (Francolinus psilolaemus)
2 pairs seen on the Sinetti plateau in the Bale Mountains
Crested Francolin (Francolinus sephaena)
2 seen on the 29/12 and a single on the 31/1.
Harwood's Francolin (Francolinus harwoodi)
A single at Portugese Bridge, see in the valley near the bridge itself.
Erckel's Francolin (Francolinus erckelii)
6 seen at the Portugese bridge with 2 pairs from the café.
Chestnut-naped Francolin (Francolinus castaneicollis)
Fairly common in the Bale mountains. Max daily count of 20.
Yellow-necked Spurfowl (Francolinus leucoscepus)
Recorded daily around Negelle and Yabello. Max daily count: 4
Vulturine Guineafowl (Acryllium vulturinum)
Several flocks totalling circa 100 birds seen between Yabello and Mega on the 31/12.
Rouget's Rail (Rougetius rougetii)
Fairly common in the Bale Mountains, in particular on the plain near the Dinsho Park Headquarters, where they wander around in the open, even in the middle of the road. Max daily count: 20
Black Crake (Amaurornis flavirostra)
A single on the 3/1.
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
Small numbers noted besided the rift valley lakes.
Red-knobbed Coot (Fulica cristata)
Recorded on 4 dates. Max 50 on the lake at Debre Ziet.
Black Crowned-crane (Balearica pavonina)
A single on route from Awassa to Debre Zeit on the 3/1.
Wattled Crane (Grus carunculatus)
A pair seen on the Sinetti plateau on the 27 & 28/12.
Common Crane (Grus grus)
12 seen on 4/1, on the journeys to and from the Jemmu Valley .
Kori Bustard (Ardeotis kori)
A single near Negelle on the 29/12.
African Jacana (Actophilornis africanus)
Recorded on 3 dates. Max daily count: 6
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)
Recorded on 3 dates. Max daily count: 20.
Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta)
Recorded on 2 dates. Max daily count 20.
Senegal Thick-knee (Burhinus senegalensis)
Recorded at a lake between Debre Zeit and Awassa, with 6 on the 24/12 & 2 there on 3/1. x
Three-banded Courser (Rhinoptilus cinctus)
3 on the night drive near Yabello on 31/12.
Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula)
4 on the journey between Asassa and Debre Zeit on the 3/1.
Three-banded Plover (Charadrius tricollaris)
A single in the Bale Mountains on the 26/12.
Caspian Plover (Charadrius asiaticus)
A flock of 20 in fields on the outskirts of Negelle on the 28/12 and 2 in flight over the Sidamo Lark site the following day.
Spur-winged Lapwing (Vanellus spinosus)
Recorded on 4 dates. Max daily count 20.
Spot-breasted Lapwing (Vanellus melanocephalus)
Recorded on 3 dates in the Bale Mountains. Max daily count: 50
Black-winged Lapwing (Vanellus melanopterus)
30 in the Bale Mountains on 25/12 and 4 near Negelle on the 29/12.
Crowned Lapwing (Vanellus coronatus)
Pairs recorded on 2 dates, on the jourbey to the Bale mountains & near Yabello.
Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)
4 on the journey from Addis to Portugese Bridge on the 3/1.
Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis)
A total of 3 birds seen over 2 dates.
Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)
2 seen on the journey north form Yabello on the 1/1.
Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus)
Singles recorded on 2 dates.
Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)
A total of 6 recorded over 2 dates.
Common Sandpiper (Tringa hypoleucos)
Recorded on 5 dates. Max daily count: 4.
Little Stint (Calidris minuta)
A total of 3 recorded over 2 dates.
Temminck's Stint (Calidris temminckii)
A single on the 24/12.
Ruff (Philomachus pugnax)
Recorded on 3 dates. Max daily count: 60
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)
A total of 4 birds recorded over 2 dates on the rift valley lakes.
Grey-headed Gull (Larus cirrocephalus)
4 on the journey from Awassa to Debre Zeit on 3/1.
Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus)
A single on the journey from Awassa to Debre Zeit on 3/1.
Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybridus)
Regular on the rift valley lakes.
White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus)
At least 2 seen on Lake Awassa
Speckled Pigeon (Columba guinea)
Common.
White-collared Pigeon (Columba albitorques)
Common in the highlands, even in the middle of Addis Ababa. Max daily count: 300
African Olive-pigeon (Columba arquatrix)
4 Wondo Genet 2/1.
Lemon Dove (Columba larvata)
4 Wondo Genet 2/1
Dusky Turtle-dove (Streptopelia lugens)
Common in the highlands. Max daily count 100.
Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis)
Recorded on 3 dates.
Mourning Collared-dove (Streptopelia decipiens)
Fairly common throughout.
Ring-necked Dove (Streptopelia capicola)
Fairly common throughout
Red-eyed Dove (Streptopelia semitorquata)
Fairly common throughout
Emerald-spotted Wood-dove (Turtur chalcospilos)
A total of 3 recorded over 2 dates.
Tambourine Dove (Turtur tympanistria)
2 Wondo Gene 2/1.
Namaqua Dove (Oena capensis)
Recorded on 4 dates. Max daily count: 2
Bruce's Green-pigeon (Treron waalia)
A single at the Prince Ruspoli's Turaco site on the 27/12 & 12 on the journey north from Yabello on the 1/1.
Yellow-fronted Parrot (Poicephalus flavifrons)
4 Wondo Genet. A single in the grounds of the hotel followed by 3 in the valley above the town.
Red-bellied Parrot (Poicephalus rufiventris)
Recorded on 3 dates around Negelle and Yabello. Max daily count: 4
Black-winged Lovebird (Agapornis taranta)
Recorded at Lake Langano, Bale Mountains and Awassa. Max daily count: 10
White-cheeked Turaco (Tauraco leucotis)
Singles recorded on the journey to the Bale mountains on the 25/12 and along the road between
Goba and the Sinetti Plateau on the 26/12. 4 at Wondo Genet on the 2/1.
Prince Ruspoli's Turaco (Tauraco ruspolii)
A single shown to us by a local guide, on route from Goba to Negelle on the 28/12..
White-bellied Go-away-bird (Corythaixoides leucogaster)
Common in the south of the country e.g. around Yabello . Max daily count: 10
Eastern Grey Plantain-eater (Crinifer zonurus)
4 in riverine scrub at Melka Ghebbu, whilst searching for Yellow-throated Seedeater on 5/1.
Pied Cuckoo (Oxylophus jacobinus)
A single near Yabello on 31/12.
Senegal Coucal (Centropus senegalensis)
2 Awassa on the 1/1.
White-browed Coucal (Centropus superciliosus)
A single on the journey to Negelle on the 30/12.
Grayish Eagle-Owl (Bubo cinerascens)
A single seen in flight, near the Hotel at Lake Langano.
Verreaux's Eagle-owl (Bubo lacteus)
Heard calling near the Hotel at lake Langano on the evening of 24/12, then seen in flight in scrub below the cliffs the following morning.
Donaldson-smith's Nightjar (Caprimulgus donaldsoni)
2 seen on the night drive near Yabello on the 30/12, with several other heard.
Montane Nightjar (Caprimulgus poliocephalus)
A roosting pair located by our local guide / park ranger at the Dinsho park HQ on the 26/12.
Freckled Nightjar (Caprimulgus tristigma)
2 birds seen at dusk along at the base of the cliffs near the Hotel at Lake Langano. We also heard one from our room pre-dawn the following day.
Alpine Swift (Tachymarptis melba)
6 near Goba on the 27/12 and 10 on the journey from Goba to Negelle the following day.
Common Swift (Apus apus)
Recorded at Goba and Ankober.
Nyanza Swift (Apus niansae)
2 at the Ankober Serin site on the 6/12
Little Swift (Apus affinis)
2 Ankober 4/1.
Speckled Mousebird (Colius striatus)
Recorded most days.
Blue-naped Mousebird (Urocolius macrourus)
4 near Yabello on the 31/12.
Narina Trogon (Apaloderma narina)
2 in the pine woodland above Wondo Genet 2/1.
Malachite Kingfisher (Alcedo cristata)
Recorded on 4 dates. Max dily count: 3.
Grey-headed Kingfisher (Halcyon leucocephala)
A single at Awassa on the 2/1.
Woodland Kingfisher (Halcyon senegalensis)
2 Awassa on the 1/1 & 1 there the following day.
Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis)
Recorded on 5 dates. Max daily count: 5.
Little Bee-eater (Merops pusillus)
4 Lake Langano on the 24/12 & 2 Negelle 29/12.
Blue-breasted Bee-eater (Merops variegatus)
A single Wondo Genet 2/1 & 10 at Melka Ghebbu on the 5/1
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater (Merops persicus)
A single seen on 3/1 on the journay fron Awassa to Debre Zeit.
Northern Carmine Bee-eater (Merops nubicus)
2 road side birds on the journey to the Bale Mountains on the 24/12. 40 Near Wondo Genet 2/1.
Lilac-breasted Roller (Coracias caudata)
Mostly recorded in the south
Rufous-crowned Roller (Coracias noevia)
A single near Yabellon on 31/12.
Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops)
Recorded on 5 dates. Max daily count: 3
Black-billed Woodhoopoe (Phoeniculus somaliensis )
First seen at Lake Langano. Recorded on 5 dates. Max daily count:12
Abyssinian Scimitar-bill (Rhinopomastus minor)
2 on the journey from Negelle Yabello on the 30/12.
Red-billed Hornbill (Tockus erythrorhynchus)
Recorded on 7 dates. Max daily count: 4
Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill (Tockus flavirostris)
2 near Yabello 30/12.
Von Der Decken's Hornbill (Tockus deckeni)
Fairly common around Yabello. Max daily count: 20
African Grey Hornbill (Tockus nasutus)
2 on journey from Negelle to Yabello 10/12.
Silvery-cheeked Hornbill (Ceratogymna brevis)
Recorded on 3 dates. Max daily count 10, around Awassa & Wondo Genet.
Abyssinian Ground-hornbill (Bucorvus abyssinicus)
Recorded on 3 dates, all of which were roadside birds. Max daily count: 3
Red-fronted Barbet (Tricholaema diademata)
A single at Lake Langano on 24/12.
Black Throated Barbet (Tricholaemamelanocephala)
.A single on the journey from Negelle Yabello on the 30/12
Banded Barbet (Lybius undatus)
A single near the hotel at Lake Langano on 25/12, 2 at Debre Libanos monastery on the4/1 and 2 by the lake at Debre Zeit on the 4/1
Black-billed Barbet (Lybius guifsobalito)
5 near the Ruspoli's Turaco site on the 28/12
Red-and-yellow Barbet (Trachyphonus erythrocephalus)
Fairly common in the Negelle area, usually found sitting on top of termite mound.
D'arnaud's Barbet (Trachyphonus darnaudii)
Fairly common around Yabello. Max count 8 on the 31/12.
Greater Honeyguide (Indicator indicator)
A single at Debre Zeit on the 3/1.
Nubian Woodpecker (Campethera nubica)
Recorded on 3 dates. Max daily count: 3
Abyssinian Woodpecker (Dendropicos abyssinicus)
A pair seen prospecting a nest hole, near the Dinsho Park HQ on the 25/12.
Cardinal Woodpecker (Dendropicos fuscescens)
A single on the journey from Negelle to Yabello.
Bearded Woodpecker (Dendropicos namaquus)
2 near Yabello on the 31/12.
African Grey-headed Woodpecker (Dendropicos spodocephalus)
A single at Debre Libanos monastery on the 4/1
Singing Bushlark (Mirafra cantillans )
A single near Negelle on the 29/12 and 1 single near Yabello on the 31/12.
Sidamo Lark (Heteromirafra sidamoensis)
3 on the Liben plain near Negelle on the 29/12.
Erlanger's Lark (Calandrella erlangeri)
5 in agricultural fields near Goba on the 27/12. Small numbers noted on the 5 & 6/1 in the Ankober / Debre Birhan areas.
Somali [Rufous] Short-toed Lark (Calandrella somalica)
12 seen whilst sewraching for Sidamo Lark near Negelle on the 29/12.
Thekla Lark (Galerida theklae)
Common in the bale mountains and around Ankober / Debre Birhan. Max daily count: 20
Plain Martin (Riparia paludicola)
Recorded on 2 dates around the rift valley lakes.
Rock Martin (Hirundo fuligula)
Regular in the highlands.
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
Recorded on 7 dates
Wire-tailed Swallow (Hirundo smithii)
Recorded on 4 dates. Max daily count: 10
White-tailed Swallow (Hirundo megaensis)
4 singles seen along the road between Yabello and Mega
Lesser Striped-swallow (Hirundo abyssinica)
Recorded on 4 dates. Max daily count 30.
Red-rumped Swallow (Hirundo daurica)
6 seen on the journey from Addis to Debre Birhan on the 4/1.
House Martin (Delichon urbica)
A flock of 20 seen obn the jourmey from Goba to Negelle on the 28/12.
Abyssinian Longclaw (Macronyx flavicollis)
A single in the plain near Dinsho on the 26/12, 2 on the Sinetti Plateau on the 27/12 and 2 near Ankober on the 5/1.
African Pipit (Anthus cinnamomeus )
4 near Dinsho on the 26/12.
Plain-backed Pipit (Anthus leucophrys)
4 near Negelle on the 29/12.
Long-billed Pipit (Anthus similis)
2 near Ankober on the 5/1.
Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis)
A single in the pine woodland above Wondo Genet.
Red-throated Pipit (Anthus cervinus)
Common in the Bale Mountains.
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
A single near Dinsho on the 26/12.
Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava)
Recorded on 6 dates. Max daily count: 30.
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)
A single near Dinsho on the 26/12.
Mountain Wagtail (Motacilla clara)
2 Wondo Genet on the 2/1.
Grey Cuckooshrike (Coracina caesia)
A single Wondo Genet on the 2/1.
Common Bulbul (Pycnonotus barbatus)
Common throughout. Several races, and potential splits were recorded, but it was not until about half way through the trip that I realised that I should have been giving this species more attention. The following races were noted: P.b.schoanus, P.b. tricolour and P.b.dodsoni, was recorded in the Negelle area.
Red-backed Scrub-robin (Cercotrichas leucophrys)
Small numbers recorded at Negelle, Yabello and nr Ankober.
Rüppell's Robin-chat (Cossypha semirufa)
Fairly common in the Bale Mountains and Wondo Genet. Max daily count: 6
Spotted Morning-thrush (Cichladusa guttata)
Recorded on 2 dates around Yabello
Common Redstart [sp] (Phoenicurus phoenicurus)
Singles seen at Lake Langano and Debre Zeit
Moorland Chat (Cercomela sordida)
Common in the Bale Mountains. Max daily count 50.
African Stonechat (Saxicola torquata albofasciata)
Small numbers noted in the highlands e.g. Dinsho and Ankober.
Rüppell's Chat (Myrmecocichla melaena)
20 on the Jenna escarpment, with the majority around Portuguese Bridge.
Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)
Small numbers seen in the Bale Mountains.
Schalow's [Abyssinian Black] Wheatear (Oenanthe lugubris)
A single seen in roadside fields between just below Ankober on the journey to the Yellow-throated Seedeater site. The Ethiopian form is often split from the Schalow’s / Mourning Wheatear complex.
Pied Wheatear (Oenanthe pleschanka)
Common in the highlands
Isabelline Wheatear (Oenanthe isabellina)
Small numbers seen in the highlands.
Heuglin's [Botta’s] Wheatear (Oenanthe [bottae] heuglini
Common in open grassy areas of the highlands, particularly in the Bale Mountains. The Ethiopian & Arabian form is often split from Heuglin’s Wheatear.
Mocking Cliff-chat (Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris)
2 around the hotel at Lake Langano and 4 at the Portuguese Bridge.
White-winged Cliff-chat (Thamnolaea semirufa)
2 Portuguese Bridge on the 4/1, on rocks besides the bridge itself.
Little Rock-thrush (Monticola rufocinereus)
Singles around the hotel at Lake Langano and the cliffs below Portuguese Bridge.
Blue Rock-thrush (Monticola solitarius)
A single at the Ankober Serin site on the 6/1.
Abyssinian Ground-thrush (Zoothera piaggiae)
Recorded along the road leading from Goba to the Sinetti Plateau with a single there on 26/12 and 2 on the 27/12.
Groundscraper [Ethiopian]Thrush (Psophocichla litsipsirupa simensis)
Common in the highlands such as the Bale mountains. Max daily count 20. The Ethiopian race is a potential split.
African Thrush (Turdus pelios )
Small numbers recorded.
Olive [Mountain]Thrush (Turdus olivaceus [abyssinicus])
This form may be split in the a separate species. Fairly common in the highlands.
Cinnamon Bracken Warbler (Bradypterus cinnamomeus)
A single at the successful Ankober Serin site on the 6/1
Boran Cisticola (Cisticola bodessa)
4 near Yabello on the 31/12.
Rattling Cisticola (Cisticola chinianus)
Recorded on 7 dates.
Winding [Ethiopian] Cisticola (Cisticola galactotes [lugubris])
Fairly common in the Bales mountains and around Ankober. Max daily count: 8
Pectoral-patch Cisticola (Cisticola brunnescens)
6 at the Sidamo lark site near Negelle.
Tawny-flanked Prinia (Prinia subflava)
2 near Goba on the 26/12 and a single on the journey from Awassa to Debre Zeit.
Yellow-breasted Apalis (Apalis flavida]
2 Near Negelle.
Grey-backed Camaroptera (Camaroptera brevicaudata )
Commion in the southe around Yabello and Negelle.
Lesser Swamp-warbler (Acrocephalus gracilirostris)
A single ate Lake Awassa.
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler (Hippolais pallida)
Single at Lake Langano on the 24/12 & 3/1.
Buff-bellied Warbler (Phyllolais pulchella)
2 Lake Langano 24/12 and 2 Awassa 2/1
Brown Parisoma (Parisoma lugens)
2 in the grounds of the hotel at Wondo Genet 2/1.
[Bale Parisoma (Parisoma griseaventris)]
2 in scrub, at the tree line, on the road from Goba to the Sinetti Plateau on the 27/12.
Banded Warbler (Sylvia boehmi)
2 Yabello 31/12.
Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)
Max 40 Lake Awassa on 2/1.
Common Whitethroat (Sylvia communis)
A single seen at Yabello.
Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca)
Small numbers Lake Awassa
Yellow-bellied Eremomela (Eremomela icteropygialis)
A single Yabellon on the 31/12.
Red-faced Crombec (Sylvietta whytii)
Recorded on 3 dates.
Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus)
Small numbers recorded on 4 dates.
Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)
Small numbers noted on 5 dates.
Pale Flycatcher (Bradornis pallidus)
6 Yabello on the 31/12.
African Grey Flycatcher (Bradornis microrhynchus)
A single near Neghelle on the 29/12 and 2 Yabello on the 31/12.
Abyssinian Slaty-flycatcher (Dioptrornis chocolatinus)
Small numbers recorded in the Blae mountains and Debre Libanos monastery.
Northern Black-flycatcher (Melaenornis edolioides)
2 at Lake Langano on the 3/1.
Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata)
A single on the journey from Awassa to Debre Zeit.
African Dusky Flycatcher (Muscicapa adusta)
Recorded on 4 dates. Daily max: 3
African Paradise-flycatcher (Terpsiphone viridis)
Recorded on 4 dates. Daily max: 2
Abyssinian Hill-babbler (Illadopsis abyssinica)
A single seen in the valley above Wondo Genet on the 2/1.
Rufous Chatterer (Turdoides rubiginosus)
Recorded on 4 dates e.g. Lake Langano & Yabello. Max daily count 10.
White-rumped Babbler (Turdoides leucopygius)
Recorded on 7 dates, e.g. Lake Langano & Negelle. Max daily count: 8
Abyssinian Catbird (Parophasma galinieri)
A 2 parties totalling circa 6 birds near the Dinsho Park HQ on the 26/12. 2 along the
upper section of the road running from Goba to the Sinetti Plateau on the 27/12. The
parties were quite vocal and were picked up on call.
White-winged Tit (Parus leucomelas )
3 in the grounds of the hotel at Lake Langano on the 3/1.
White-backed Tit (Parus leuconotus)
2 near the Dinsho Park HQ on the 26/12 and a single at Debre Libanos monastery on the 4/1.
Somali Tit (Parus thruppi )
2 Yabello on the 31/12.
Mouse-coloured Penduline-tit (Anthoscopus musculus)
4 Negelle 29/12
Kenya Violet-backed Sunbird (Anthreptes orientalis)
A single Yabello 31/12
Scarlet-chested Sunbird (Nectarinia senegalensis)
Singles seen at Yabello and Lake Langano.
Variable Sunbird (Nectarinia venusta)
Recorded on 3 dates. Max daily count: 4
Shining Sunbird (Nectarinia habessinica)
A total of 7 birds recorded around Negelle and Yabello.
Tacazze Sunbird (Nectarinia tacazze)
A total of 4 birds recorded in the Bale Mountains.
Mariqua Sunbird (Nectarinia mariquensis)
Recorded on 2 dates.
Beautiful Sunbird (Nectarinia pulchella)
5 seen at Lake Langano and 2 on the journey north from Yabello to Awassa.
Broad-ringed White-eye [sp] (Zosterops poliogaster)
A total of 10 birds seen in the Bale Mountains.
White-breasted White-eye (Zosterops abyssinicus)
Small numbers seen at Awassa.
Dark-headed Oriole (Oriolus monacha)
20+ seen at Wondo Genet, in the weeded valley above the town.
African Black-headed Oriole (Oriolus larvatus)
Singles recorded at Negelle and Yabello.
Brubru (Nilaus afer)
Singles at Lake Langano and Yabello
Black-crowned Tchagra (Tchagra senegala)
A single at Lake Langano.
Three-streaked Tchagra (Tchagra jamesi)
A single near Yabello on the 1/1.
Tropical Boubou (Laniarius aethiopicus )
A total of 4 seen, over 3 dates.
Slate-coloured Boubou (Laniarius funebris)
Recorded at Negelle and Yabello.
Rosy-patched Bushshrike (Rhodophoneus cruentus)
1 near Yabello on the 31/12.
Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike (Telophorus sulfureopectus)
2 near Yabello on 1/2.
Grey-headed Bushshrike (Malaconotus blanchoti)
A single at Lake Langano on the 25/12.
Grey-headed Batis (Batis orientalis)
Recorded on 3 dates.
Pygmy Batis (Batis perkeo)
1 near Yabello.on the 31/12.
Brown-throated Wattle-eye (Platysteira cyanea)
2 Wondo Genet on the 2/1.
Isabelline Shrike (Lanius isabellinus)
A single Negelle on the 29/12.
Grey-backed Fiscal (Lanius excubitoroides)
A single near Awassa on the 2/1.
Common Fiscal (Lanius collaris)
Common.
White-rumped Shrike (Eurocephalus rueppelli)
Several birds seen around Negelle.
Fork-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus adsimilis)
Recorded on 6 dates.
Stresemann's Bush-crow (Zavattariornis stresemanni)
20 on the 30/12 on the journey from Negelle to Yabello, all seen on the latter section of the journey. 10 seen on the 31/12 mostly along the road south of Yabello (towards Mega) with a couple just North the Yabello in the afternoon.
Cape Crow (Corvus capensis)
Very common in the highlands. Max daily count: 200.
Pied Crow (Corvus albus)
Common throughout.
Dwarf Raven (Corvus ruficollis edithae)
10 near Negelle on the 29/12 and 2 near Yabello on the 31/12.
Fan-tailed Raven (Corvus rhipidurus)
Recorded on 6 dates, mostly in the highlands. Max daily count: 20.
Thick-billed Raven (Corvus crassirostris)
Recorded on 5 dates with a daily max of 4. Seen daily in the Bale Mountains.
Red-winged Starling (Onychognathus morio)
Recorded on 5 dates in the highlands. Max 30 in the Bale Mountains on the 25/12
Slender-billed Starling (Onychognathus tenuirostris)
A flock of circa 30 birds near Dinsho on the 26/12.
White-billed Starling (Onychognathus albirostris)
Recorded on the Jemma escarpment with 4 on cliffs below the Portuguese bridge and 20 near the Debre Libanos monastery all on the 4/1.
Greater Blue-eared Glossy-starling (Lamprotornis chalybaeus)
Recorded on 7 dates, more common in the south.
Lesser Blue-eared Glossy-starling (Lamprotornis chloropterus)
A single roadside birds on the journey from Addis to Lake Langano on the 24/12.
Rüppell's Glossy-starling (Lamprotornis purpuropterus)
10 Lake Langano 24/12 and 6 there on the 3/1.
Superb Starling (Lamprotornis superbus)
Common in the lownalds.
Shelley's Starling (Lamprotornis shelleyi)
Recorded on 3 dates around Negelle and Yabello. Max daily count: 10
Sharpe's Starling (Cinnyricinclus sharpii)
A total of 40 in the valley above Wondo Genet on the 2/1.
Violet-backed Starling (Cinnyricinclus leucogaster)
Recorded on 3 dates. Daily max: 4 near Dinsho
White-crowned Starling (Spreo albicapillus)
20 near Negelle on the 29/12 and 20 the following day on the journey to Yabello.
Golden-breasted Starling (Cosmopsarus regius)
30 on the journey from Negelle to Yabello on the 30/12 and 2 near Yabello the following day.
Red-billed Oxpecker (Buphagus erythrorhynchus)
Reodside birds recorded on 2 dates.
Shelley's Rufous Sparrow (Passer shelleyi)
4 at the Sidamo Lark site on the 29/12 and 6 near Yabello on the 31/12.
Swainson's Sparrow (Passer swainsonii)
Common.
Red-billed Buffalo-weaver (Bubalornis niger)
Recorded on 2 dates.
White-headed Buffalo-weaver (Dinemellia dinemelli)
Recorded on 3 dates.
White-browed Sparrow-weaver (Plocepasser mahali)
First recorded at Lake and seen on a total of 3 dates
Grey-headed Social-weaver (Pseudonigrita arnaudi)
Fairly common around Yabello, with a max daily count of 40.
Black-capped Social-weaver (Pseudonigrita cabanisi)
A single seen on the journey from Negelle to Yabello.
Baglafecht Weaver (Ploceus baglafecht)
Small numbers recorded in the highlands.
Little Weaver (Ploceus luteolus)
A single breeding plumaged male seen at Lake Langano on the 25/12.
Rüppell's Weaver (Ploceus galbula)
30 Lake Langano on the 3/1, were even coming to the dining tables for scraps, I’m not sure if I completely overlooked them on the earlier visit, or if they were not present! 10 by the lake at Debre Zeit later the same day.
Vitelline Masked-weaver (Ploceus vitellinus)
Recorded on 3 dates.
Village Weaver (Ploceus cucullatus)
Recorded on 3 dates.
Speke's Weaver (Ploceus spekei)
Recorded on 2 dates.
Red-headed Weaver (Anaplectes rubriceps)
A single on the journey from Negelle to Yabello and 2 at the Yellow-throated Seedeater site. This northern black faced form may be split
Yellow Bishop (Euplectes capensis)
40+ in fields around Ankober, whilst searching for the Serin.
Green-winged Pytilia (Pytilia melba)
A single Yabello on the 31/12.
Red-billed Firefinch (Lagonosticta senegala)
Recorded on 6 dates.
African Firefinch (Lagonosticta rubricata)
A single seen at Wondo Genet.
Red-cheeked Cordonbleu (Uraeginthus bengalus)
Recorded on 6 dates.
Purple Grenadier (Uraeginthus ianthinogaster)
2 Yabello on the 31/12.
Yellow-bellied Waxbill (Estrilda quartinia)
A single on the journey into the Bale Mountians on the 25/12 and 2 near Ankober on the 5/1.
Crimson-rumped Waxbill (Estrilda rhodopyga)
4 at the Yerllow-throated seedeater site 5/1.
Black-rumped Waxbill (Estrilda troglodytes)
A single seen in the Bale Mountains
Bronze Mannikin (Lonchura cucullata)
A single at the Yerllow-throated seedeater site 5/1.
Village Indigobird (Vidua chalybeata)
Up to 4 Lake Langano on the 24 & 25/12
Straw-tailed Whydah (Vidua fischeri)
3 at a roadside pool near Yabello on the 31/12.
Abyssinian Siskin (Serinus nigriceps)
Common around Dinsho and on the Sinetti Plateau. Max daily count: 1,000
African Citril (Serinus citrinelloides)
1 on the journey into the Bale mountains on the 25/12 and 4 Wondo Genet on the 2/1.
Yellow-throated Seedeater (Serinus flavigula)
2 birds, were seen at Melka Ghebbu, on the 5/1. We initially searched the area around a stream, but finally located the birds in a feeding flock on a nearby scrubby hillside.
Kenya Yellow-rumped Seedeater (Serinus reichenowi)
10 near Negelle on the 29/12 and 2 Debre Zeit on the 3/1.
Abyssinian Grosbeak-canary (Serinus donaldsoni)
6 Yabello on the 31/12.
White-bellied Canary (Serinus dorsostriatus )
2 Lake Langano on the 3/1.
Reichard's Seedeater (Serinus reichardi)
A single on the journey into the Bale Mountains on the 25/12.
Brown-rumped Seedeater (Serinus tristriatus)
Fairly common in the highlands. Max 20 on the 4/1.
Ankober Serin (Serinus ankoberensis)
We were unable to locate any birds at the traditional site near Ankober, fortunately Daniel knew of another site, about 40 km from Debre Birhan, where we managed to locate 3 birds.
Streaky Seedeater (Serinus striolatus)
Common in the highlands. Max daily count : 40
Cinnamon-breasted Bunting (Emberiza tahapisi)
A single by the Portuguese bridge on the 4/1.
Mammals
Guereza Colobus (Colobus guereza)
Several groups noted. Very approachable at awassa.
Olive Baboon (Papio anubis)
Several groups noted.
Gelada (Theropithecus gelada)
Several groups seen: The largest group being circa 80 at the successful Ankober Serin site. First seen between Portuguese Bridge and the monastery.
Savannah [Grivet] Monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops)
Several groups noted. Very approachable at awassa
Galago sp.
2 seen on a night drive near Yabelo
Starck’s Hare. (Lepus Starcki)
A single seen on the Sinetti plateau.
Cape Hare (Lepus capensis)
Several sightings
Giant Root rat Tachyoryctes macrocephalus
Regularly seen in the Bale mountains
Black-backed Jackal (Canis mesomelas)
Singles seen at Negele and Yabelo
White-tailed Mongoose (Ichneumia albicauda)
Several seen.
Ethiopian Wolf (Canis simensis)
7 seen on the plain hear Dinsho on the 26/12 followed by 2 singles on the Sinetti plateau the following day.
Common Genet (Genetta genetta)
1 seen on a night drive near Yabello
Ethiopian rock hyrax (Procavia habessinica)
Several seen in the Bale mountains
Common Warthog (Phacochoerus africanus)
Common in the bale mountains
Mountain Nyala (Tragelaphus buxtoni)
Circa 10 seen around Dinsho, in the Bale mountains.
Klipspringer (Oreotragus oreotragus)
2 Seen at the Ankobr Serin site on the final day of the trip.
Salts Dikdik (Madoqua saltiana)
20+ on the journey between Negelle and Yabello, plus several in the Yabello area.
Guenther’s Dikdik (Madoqua guentheri
2+ on the journey between Negelle and Yabello.