ITINERARY 23 days
August 22: Arrive Addis Ababa, transfer to Ellily International Hotel 2 nights. Met our guide, Abiy Dagne.
August 23: City tour in Addis for cultural sites. National Museum (home of the hominid fossil remains of Lucy 3.2 million years old, Trinity Cathedral (baroque style of European architecture unique to Ethiopia & Africa), Ethnographic Museum, Merkato (largest open air market in Africa).
August 24: Early morning drive to Adea Berga Wetland for White-winged Flufftail. Then over the Entoto Mountains and high moorlands of Sultalta Plain to Fiche for an overnight stay (2 hour drive). Selale Hotel. Afternoon visit to Portugese Bridge and monastery.
August 25: Left early for the Jemma Valley. Afternoon drive to Debra Birhan (3-4 hours). Eva Hotel 2 nights
August 26: Morning visit to Melka Ghebdu. Afternoon visit to Ankober escarpment of Gemessa Gebel.
August 27: Travel to Awash National Park for a 2-night stay at Awash Falls Lodge (drive 6 hours). En route crossing Mt Fantalle volcanic lava overflow.
August 28: Awash. Mosaic of grassland, acacia scrub, riverine forest.
August 29: Drive through the Rift Valley to Lake Langano (7 hours) for a 3-night stay, Harra Langano lodge. We left Awash a day earlier than planned due to problems with power supply and food poisoning, opting to spend an extra night at Langano.
August 30: Around Lake Langano – very nice!
August 31: Around Lake Langano.
September 1: Drive to Bale Mountains National Park for a 2-night stay. Stopped at park HQ at Dinsho. Wabishebele Hotel, Goba (drive 3-4 hours).
September 2: Drove across Sanetti Plateau and on to Harema Forest (drive 3 hours round trip) .
September 3: Drive to Negelle (7 hours) for 2 nights at Maareg Hotel.
September 4: Head east along Bogol-Manyo Road. Grassland and acacia bush with whistling thorn; riverside scrub along Genale River.
September 5: Long (9-hour) drive to Yabello for a 3-night stay at Yabello Motel.
September 6: Early morning drive to Sarite Plain near Kenya border. Afternoon visit to scrub near Yabello.
September 7: Drove south to Mega area in the early morning, checking thornbush scrub near Dubulla while returning to Yabello.
September 8: Drive to Arba Minch for a 2-night stay, visiting on the way the World Heritage site of Konso. Haile Resort (drive 5 hours).
September 9: Nechisar National Park.
September 10: Drive to Lake Awassa for overnight stay (4 hours). United Africa Hotel.
September 11 Return to Addis Ababa, visiting Lake Awassa's famed fish market in the morning. Drive 7 hours. Ellily International Hotel.
September 12. Depart Addis Ababa.
With Glenn Scherf, Bill Watson and Sandra Watson. The first day of our 23-day sojourn to Ethiopia was one of rest after a nightmare early morning flight from Singapore. We met our guide for the trip, Abiy Dagne of Ethiopian Birding (abiybird@gmail.com), who we highly recommend. Abiy and I had nutted out an itinerary and his execution of the trip was flawless. Abiy is a superb birder with excellent site knowledge and first-class skills at identifying and tracking down birds. We saw birds we either didn't expect or knew would be tough including White-winged Flufftail, Masked Lark, Liben Lark, Black-fronted Francolin, Ethiopian Long-eared Owl, Red-billed Pytilia and Montane Nightjar. Abbiy is a good companion to boot; nothing is too much trouble for him. Abiy has long worked for the big birding tour companies but has now struck out on his own.
The next day we met our driver for the trip, the amiable and capable Sisay, and took in some of the cultural sights of the capital. Birds were everywhere about Addis. We saw our first Ethiopian highland specialties – Brown-rumped Seedwater and Abysinnian Slaty-Flycatcher. Dusky Turtle-Dove was common and the first of many Swainson's Sparrows were noted. It quickly became obvious that birds are not heavily hunted in Ethiopia; much like in India, they are quite approachable and numerous in populated areas. Other birds common around the city included Streaky Seedeater, Baglafecht Weaver and Ruppell's Robin-Chat. We spotted our first Thick-billed Raven from a lookout above Addis.
Early in the morning of our third day we drove west to the Adea Bergan Wetland, one of three highland wetlands in Ethiopia where the rare and much sought after White-winged Flufftail occurs. The total world population of about 250 birds was about to embark on its annual migration to South Africa; this was one species we had not been banking on. We were thrilled therefore to flush two male White-winged Flufftails from the marsh. Wattled Ibis and White-collared Pigeon were common and remained so everywhere in the highlands. Ethiopian Siskin was another highland endemic that proved to be numerous and we saw our first Ethiopian Cisticola. Red-chested Swallow was a nice surprise as a couple hawked the fields with other swallows. Other birds included Groundscraper Thrush, Yellow-crowned Bishop and African Snipe.
Late-morning we left Addis for the Sultata Plain and the ancient Portugese Bridge and nearby monastery near Debra Libanos – well-known hotspots on the birding map. On the way we saw our first Blue-winged Goose. Several Ruppell's Black Chats were about the bridge. Along a muddy trail near the monastery we had fine views of White-cheeked Turaco, Hemprich's Hornbill and Banded Barbet. A pair of White-winged Cliff Chats were perched on a wall at our hotel in the nearby town of Fiche. We left very early the next morning in heavy rain for the Jemma Valley to be in place in time for one of the more difficult endemics – Harwood's Francolin. As the first rays of light appeared over the moorland we saw plenty of Thekla Larks and a few Erlanger's Larks, along with a couple of Red-breasted Wheatears. We arrived at the francolin site in good time and found one without too much difficulty along with a few of the larger Erckel's Francolins. White-winged Cliff Chat and Mocking Cliff Chat shared the habitat as we slowly descended the steep mountain slope.
The local specials came thick and fast amid the spectacular scenery as waterfalls tumbled from steep cliffs into what effectively is the catchment of the Blue Nile. We saw quite a few White-billed Starlings and Abyssinian Black Wheatears. We found White-throated Seedeaters much higher than expected. Among the birds as we descended the mountain range were Speckle-fronted Weaver, Black-winged Red Bishop and Red-collared Widowbird. We were surprised to see an Egyptian Plover on a small sand bar before crossing the Jemma River. The dry scrub along the river bank was the focus of our attention for a couple of hours. Here we found two much wanted species – Green-backed Eremomela and Red-billed Pytilia. Black-faced Firefinch was another unexpected rarity. We saw Cinnamon-breasted Bunting, Vinaceous Dove, Levaillant's Cuckoo and Black-billed Barbet. As we left the valley the water level had risen so fast that the Egyptian Plover sandbank was inundated and the bird was not in sight. After ascending the mountain range to return to the short-grassed moorlands we saw our first Spot-breasted Lapwing and plenty more Erlanger's Larks. A big surprise was an Abyssinian Ground-Hornbill. We checked into the Eva Hotel in Debra Birhan and the next morning headed down another steep escarpment, this time to Melka Ghebdu.
Birds were again plentiful and we saw Ruppell's Weaver, Little Weaver, Speckled Mousebird and Northern Red Bishop. Shining Sunbird was nice to tick, as was a noisy party of Yellow-breasted Barbets. It took some time to track down the local star – Yellow-throated Seedeater, but it eventually showed well. We saw our first Black-winged Lovebirds and a boisterous group of White-rumped Babblers as we made our way back up the mountain, along with African Citril. The day ended well with a party of Ankober Serins – an Ethiopian endemic with a tiny distribution - found without too much trouble by the sharp-eyed Abiy on the edge of a steep cliff at Gemessa Gebel late in the afternoon. See here for images.
Following our encounter with the serin at Gemessa Gebel, we chanced upon three fair-sized troops of Gelada Baboons on the edge of juniper forest near the cliff edges. This species, endemic to the Ethiopian highlands, has long been high on my wish-list. We watched them for some time, noting that they seemed largely unconcerned by us but quickly scurried off when herdsmen appeared. A few Ethiopian Rock Hyrax were among rocks below the cliffs. After a second night in Debre Libanos we headed south-west, back towards Addis Ababa. A pair of Moorland Francolins on a rocky hillside was unexpected, while Abyssinian Longclaw at last put in an appearance.
We drove through the capital, being stopped along way for an unwelcome, unnecessary and intrusive baggage search by roadside police. We continued south through the Rift Valley and on to our destination for the next two nights – Awash Falls Lodge in Awash National Park, passing through the busy town of Adama. We stopped at the Mt Fantalle lava flow by Lake Beseka. Here in baking hot conditions we quickly found a Blackstart - one of the specialties of this stark landscape. This was followed shortly after by a vocal pair of Sombre Rock-Chats - an Ethiopian endemic also restricted to this habitat. By the lake were waterbirds including Pink-backed Pelican, Yellow-billed Stork and Saddle-billed Stork. We entered the national park and dry thorn scrub along the road to the lodge yielded Mouse-coloured Penduline-Tit, Yellow-necked Spurfowl, Buff-bellied Warbler and Grey Wren-Warbler. Hornbills were well-represented with African Grey, Northern Red-billed, Van Der Decken's and Eastern Yellow-billed seen. The next day we had a long drive through acacia scrub and short-grassed plains where mammals included Lesser Kudu, Salt's Dick-Dik, Beisa Oryx and Soemmerring's Gazelle. Buff-breasted, Kori and Hartlaub's bustards were encountered. Other birds included Northern Carmine Bee-eater, Abyssinian Roller, Dark Chanting Goshawk and Red-fronted Warbler. Gillett's Lark was good to see and Singing Bushlark was present, along with large numbers of Chestnut-headed and Chestnut-backed Sparrowlarks.
Grey-headed Batis was a previously missed species that was nice to catch up on while Somali Bulbul, a recent split, was slightly less inspiring. In the tall acacias along the river at the now disused camping ground was a group of noisy Black-billed Wood-Hoopoes. Bruce's Green-Pigeon and Little Sparrowhawk were present. Primates were in fine form here with Olive Baboon, Grivet Monkey and Guereza Colobus about in numbers. A Nile Crocodile sunned itself on the river bank; the reptiles were common on the river banks below our lodge. We headed out at dusk and were rewarded with fine views of three Star-spotted Nightjars and a Slender-tailed Nightjar, as well as an Abyssinian (Cape) Hare. On our final morning we encountered a troop of Hamadryas Baboons along the main and dangerously busy road which links Addis with Djibouti.
Following our visit to Awash National Park we continued south to the lovely Harro Langano lodge on the south-east shore of Lake Langano for a three-night stay. Early the first morning we saw a pair of Yellow-fronted Parrots in the tall fig trees outside the restaurant. We headed around to the west shore of the lake to check out the compound of the largely disbanded Simbo Lodge. Here were loads of birds including Gymnogene, African Orange-bellied Parrot, Rufous Chatterer, Red-necked Wryneck, Bare-faced Go-Away-Bird and White-bellied Go-Away-Bird. Locals showed us a pair of roosting Greyish Eagle-Owls. As in quite a few places on the trip, Abiy had people lined up before our arrival to track down the more secretive species. We flushed a small group of Ethiopian Epauleted Fruit-Bats. We saw several Little Rock-thrushes – another species I've missed on past visits to East Africa. Other birds included Rattling Cisticola, Ethiopian Boubou, Blue-naped Mousebird, Mocking Cliff-Chat and Western Black-headed Batis.
We moved on to what used to be the main accommodation centre for birders – the now derelict Wabe Shabelle Hotel. In the grounds we were shown a roosting pair of Northern White-faced Owls. Back in our lodge grounds, Senegal Thick-knees were vocal at night, Gambian Sun-Squirrels scampered about and Hippopotamus wallowed in the lake offshore. African Fish-Eagles were regular. A visit to the ruins of the nearby Bishangari Lodge – another disbanded hotel – was productive. We had seen Black-winged Lovebirds several times but they showed nicely here, as did a couple more Yellow-fronted Parrots. We had both Greater and Scaly-throated Honeyguides attending bee hives high in the trees. Other birds included Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Double-toothed Barbet and Red-shouldered Cuckoo-shrike. Lilac-breasted Roller is always a joy and Broad-billed Roller was here as well. Ruppell's Weavers were busy attending nests and Silvery-cheeked Hornbills were common and vocal.
After Laker Langano we again headed east, this time towards the Bale Mountains,where some of Africa's finest scenery is on offer. As we ascended the mountains we stopped at a well-known spot for Cape Eagle-Owl; local boys were able to show us one at its cliff-side roost almost immediately. Lanner Falcon also showed well roadside. Our next port of call was the national park station at Dinsho. Here, park staff are adept at tracking down owls at their day roosts. We were shown a pair of roosting African Wood Owls, then an Abyssinian (Long-eared) Owl – a much-wanted specialty. We found a party of White-backed Black Tits and an Abyssinian Catbird in the wet forest surrounding the park station. Mammals were also about, including the endemic Mountain Nyala and Mendelik's Bushbuck. Warthogs were common. Our home for the next two nights was the Wabishebele Hotel in Goba, where we had an opportunity to adjust to the high altitude. Thick-billed Raven was common about the town and we saw our first Somali Crows of the trip. We had a full day traversing the beautiful Sanetti Plateau, where Africa's highest road ascends to 4300 metres. This was the only day of the trip that we needed to drag out all the warm weather clothes we brought, anticipating cold high altitude weather. A Golden Jackal emerged close to the road lower down and we saw the local endemic race of Brown Parisoma.
Spot-breasted Lapwing and Rouget's Rail – both Ethiopian highland endemics – were easy to spot in the moorlands as we continued our ascent. We saw plenty of Chesnut-naped Francolins and a Moorland Francolin as we drove across the plateau. Lammergeier and Golden Eagle appeared overhead. Rodents were abundant – most were seemingly Blik's Grass-Rat, and we were thrilled to find a few bizarre-looking Giant Root-Rats. Ethiopian Wolf is one of the star animals of this country, so we were pleased to see a total of 5 of these attractive predators, including a pair close to the road.
We moved on to the Harema Forest – the largest forest in Ethiopia. Here we saw Ethiopian Oriole without much trouble and ticked off Abyssinian Woodpecker – one of the more difficult endemics. We found a small troop of another endemic animal – the Bale Monkey, considered a race of Vervet Monkey but a good candidate for a split. On the way back a Wattled Crane showed distantly. The next day we left Gobe and retraced our steps across the Senetti Plateau before descending to the southern lowlands of Ethiopia. We stopped in an area of dry acacia in break-away country and saw striking White-crested Helemet-shrikes before tracking down our main target for the site – a magnificent Ruspoli's Turaco.
We continued south to the dusty town of Negelle for a two-night stay. Early in the morning we headed east along the Bogol-Manyo Road to the famed Libano Plain – home to one of the world's rarest birds. We saw several Somali Short-toed Larks before local spotters who Abiy had lined up found our target – the critically endangered Liben (Sidano) Lark; we saw just one bird. We were soon catching up with much-wanted southern Ethiopian specialties such as White-crowned Starling and Shelley's Rufous Sparrow. Other birds included Bristle-crowned Starling, Spotted Palm-Thrush, Grey-headed Batis, Pectoral-patch Cisticola, Somali Bunting and Yellow-bellied Eremomela. Then we tracked down another difficult rarity, Salvadori's Seedeater, in dry scrub.
Later in the day we found a couple of African White-winged Doves on the outskirts of Negelle. Then along the Genale River nearby, a few Juba Weavers were about in riverside scrub. Birders previously had to travel much further south for the dove and weaver to country which these days is somewhat risky, so it's handy to have them around Negelle.
A very long drive along appalling roads brought us to our next destination – the town of Yabello, where we had three nights in the Yabello Motel. (Don't expect fine cuisine in this place!) Birds along the way included Pringle's Puffback, Red-and-yellow Barbet, Shelley's Starling, Bare-eyed Thrush and White-bellied Canary. Very early the next morning we headed south, unexpectedly flushing a couple of roadside Montane Nightjars a few km out of town; this is a difficult species that we had dipped on in the highlands. We continued south towards the Sarite Plains, not far from the Kenya border. Birds included Rufous-crowned Roller, Eastern Paradise-Wydah and Vulturine Guineafowl roadside. We tracked down Pale Prinia, another species I'd missed previously in Kenya, before reaching the short-grassed plains. Somali Ostrich appeared in the distance. It took us a while to track down our main target – the range-restricted Masked Lark. Mammals included Guenther's Dik-dik and Geranuk, while on the plains we saw plenty of African Grass-Rats scurrying about.
In the afternoon we checked out sparse thornbush scrub around villages south of Yabello for two much-wanted regional specialties – the enigmatic Stresemann's Bush-Crow (surely a candidate to have its own family) and White-tailed Swallow. Other birds included Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird, Golden-breasted Starling, Somali Tit, Grey Wren-Warbler and Black-cheeked Waxbill. The next day we took the main road south to Mega where we easily found our early morning target- Black-fronted Francolin, near the road. Then we checked thornbush further north for a host of much-wanted southern Ethiopia-northern Kenya endemics including Red-naped Bush-Shrike, Scaly Chatterer, Somali Crombec and Northern Grosbeak-Canary. Other birds included Foxy Lark, Magpie Starling and Boran Cisticola.
We left Yabello and visited the World Heritage-listed Konso cultural site before continuing west to Arba Minch for a two-night stay in the very nice Haile Resort, owned by famed Ethiopian long distance runner Haile Gebrselassie. We visited Nechisor National Park, seeing our first Marabou Storks for the trip. We failed to find Archer's Francolin but saw nice mammals including Bright's Gazelle, Burchell's Zebra, and Lesser and Greater Kudus. Our final destination was Lake Awassa for an overnight stay. On the lake and in fringing vegetation were a host of waterbirds including African Jacana, African Pygmy-Goose and Black Crake. A few Hippopotamus were in the lake. Nearby gardens and regrowth were full of birds including Red-billed Firefinch and Blue-headed Coucal. We found Spotted Creeper in the hotel grounds. This is a somewhat seedy area so it is not recommended you walk the lake edge paths on your own.
There were some very long drives on this trip, but there's not much that can be done about it as although distances aren't great, the roads are either in bad condition or are heavily congested. The good news is that rapid progress is being made (largely with Chinese help) with improving road conditions. The scenery is spectacular. We were there at the end of the rainy season and despite warnings that this would hamper birding plans, we had no problems accessing any site. In fact, weather conditions were a good deal more pleasant than they might have been at the height of the usual birding season (October-January). We had lush green vegetation everywhere and birds like bishops, weavers and widowbirds were in full plumage.
The food was excellent in places and ordinary in others; we had a few cases of food poisoning, especially at Awash Lodge. Power supply and the absence of hot water have been problems in the past but things have improved in recent years and they weren't much of an issue for us. People were generally friendly but they are very poor and on a couple of occasions when we gave out pens to children (we brought a supply) we were immediately overwhelmed. We felt safe (far safer than in many countries) though there are places (such as around Lake Awassa's shores) where caution should be exercised.
Common names for birds follow Birds of Africa South of the Sahara (Ian Sinclair, 2003) with taxonomic changes taken into account. * denotes lifer. [heard only].
BIRDS
Somali Ostrich (2 Sarite),
Little Grebe, White-breasted (Great) Cormorant, Long-tailed Cormorant, African Darter, Intermediate Egret, Little Egret, Great Egret, Cattle Egret, Greater Flamingo, Lesser Flamingo, African Spoonbill, African Sacred Ibis, Hadeda,
*Wattled Ibis (common in highlands),
Pink-backed Pelican, Great White Pelican, Marabou Stork, Saddle-billed Stork, Yellow-billed Stork, Hamerkop,
Grey Heron, Black-headed Heron, Purple Heron, Squacco Heron, Goliath Heron (1 Awassa),
White-faced (Whistling) Duck, African Pygmy-Goose (2 Awassa),
*Blue-winged Goose (uncommon but widely distributed in highlands),
Egyptian Goose, Spur-winged Goose, Yellow-billed Duck, Hottentot Teal, Ruddy Shelduck (a few Sanetti),
Black-shouldered Kite, Yellow-billed Kite, African Fish-Eagle, Lammergeier (1 Sanetti), Golden Eagle (1 Sanetti),
White-backed Vulture, Ruppell's Vulture, Hooded Vulture, Black-chested Snake-Eagle, Bateleur, Tawny Eagle, Long-crested Eagle, Verreaux's Eagle, Wahlberg's Eagle, Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk (1 Gemessa Gebel), Little Sparrowhawk, African Goshawk, Black Sparrowhawk, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Pale Chanting Goshawk, Gymnogene (2 Langano), Pearl-spotted Owlet, Augur Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Lanner Falcon, Pygmy Falcon,
Helmeted Guineafowl, Vulturine Guineafowl (a couple of large flocks south & west of Yabello), Yellow-necked Spurfowl, Crested Francolin, Scaly Francolin (1 Harema), [Clapperton's Francolin, 2 Langano),
*Moorland Francolin (1 Sanetti; 1 between Debra Birhan & Addis),
*Harwood's Francolin (1 seen, 2 others heard Jemma Valley),
*Erckel's Francolin (several Jemma Valley & between Debra Birhan & Addis),
*Black-fronted Francolin (2 seen, others heard Mega),
*Chesnut-naped Francolin (quite common Sanetti),
Common Quail (1 Nechisar), Harlequin Quail (2 Awasha),
*White-winged Flufftail (trip highlight was 2 males flushed Adea Berga),
Black Crake, African Swamphen, Red-knobbed Coot,
*Rouget's Rail (small numbers Sanetti),
Wattled Crane (1 Sanetti), Common Crane (1 Nechisar), Kori Bustard, Buff-crested Bustard (a few Awash),
Hartlaub's Bustard (1 Awash), African Jacana, Spotted Thick-knee (several Langano),
Spur-winged Lapwing, Black-headed Lapwing, Crowned Lapwing,
*Spot-breasted Lapwing (2 east of Debra Birhan; fairly common Sanetti),
Egyptian Plover (1 Jemma Valley), African Snipe (3 Adea Berga), Black-winged Stilt, Pied Avocet,
Common Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Grey-headed Gull,
White-winged Tern, Gull-billed Tern,
Rock Dove, Speckled Pigeon, African Olive Pigeon,
*White-collared Pigeon (common highlands),
Red-eyed Dove, African Mourning Dove, Ring-necked (Cape Turtle) Dove, Vinaceous Dove (a few Jemma Valley & Nechisar), Dusky Turtle-Dove, Laughing Dove, Namaqua Dove, Tambourine Dove, Lemon Dove,
*African White-winged Dove (2 Negele),
Bruce's Green Pigeon (several Awash), Blue-spotted Wood-Dove, Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove,
*Yellow-fronted Parrot (2 pairs Langano),
African Orange-bellied Parrot,
*Black-winged Lovebird (widely distributed in small numbers),
*White-cheeked Turaco (small numbers Debre Libanos monastery, Langano, Harema),
*Ruspoli's Turaco (1 between Harema & Negele),
Bare-faced Go-Away-Bird, White-bellied Go-Away-Bird, Eastern Grey Plantain-Eater,
Diderick Cuckoo, Klaas's Cuckoo, Red-chested Cuckoo, Levaillant's Cuckoo (1 Jemma Valley),
White-browed Coucal, Blue-headed Coucal (common Awassa),
*Abyssinian Long-eared Owl (1 Dinsho),
African Wood-Owl (2 Dinsho), Cape Eagle-Owl (1 en route to Dinsho), Greyish Eagle-Owl (2 Langano),
*Northern White-faced Owl (2 Langano),
*Montane (Abyssinian) Nightjar (2 near Yabello),
[Freckled Nightjar – 1 near Yabello], Slender-tailed Nightjar (1 Awash, common Langano),
*Star-spotted Nightjar (3 Awash),
African Palm Swift, Little Swift, White-rumped Swift, Nyanza Swift, Common Swift, Alpine Swift,
Speckled Mousebird, Blue-naped Mousebird, Eurasian Hoopoe, Black Scimitarbill, Abyssinian Scimitarbill,
*Black-billed Wood-Hoopoe (flock at Awasha; 2 near Negele),
Half-collared Kingfisher (1 Jemma Valley), Woodland Kingfisher, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Malachite Kingfisher, African Pygmy Kingfisher, Giant Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher,
Broad-billed Roller (1 Langano), Lilac-breasted Roller, Rufous-crowned Roller, Abyssinian Roller (a few Awash),
Northern Carmine Bee-eater, White-fronted Bee-eater, Little Bee-eater,
Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Madagascar Bee-eater,
Abyssinian Ground-Hornbill (1 near Debra Birhan; 2 south of Yabello),
Northern Yellow-billed Hornbill, Northern Red-billed Hornbill, African Grey Hornbill,
Von Der Decken's Hornbill, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill,
*Hemprich's Hornbill (widely distributed in small numbers),
Red-fronted Tinkerbird, Black-billed Barbet, Double-toothed Barbet, Black-throated Barbet,
*Banded Barbet (2 near Debra Libanos; 2 Langano),
Red-fronted Barbet, D'Arnaud's Barbet, Red-and-yellow Barbet,
*Yellow-breasted Barbet (4 Melka Ghebdu; heard Awash),
Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Greater Honeyguide,
Rufous-breasted (Red-necked) Wryneck (2 Langano, 1 Nechisar),
African Grey Woodpecker, Bearded Woodpecker, Nubian Woodpecker,
*Abyssinian Woodpecker (1 Harema),
Singing Bush Lark (a few Awash), White-tailed Lark (2 Sarite),
Foxy Lark (1 south of Yabello), Thekla Lark (common highlands north of Addis),
*Masked Lark (2 + 1 Sarite),
*Gillett's Lark (a few Awash),
*Erlanger's Lark (common highlands north of Addis),
*Somali Short-toed Lark (several east of Negele),
*Liben (Sidamo) Lark (1 east of Negele),
Chestnut-backed Sparrowlark, Chestnut-headed Sparrowlark,
Sand Martin (Bank Swallow), Rock Martin, Plain Martin, Black Saw-wing, Red-rumped Swallow,
*Red-chested Swallow (2 Adea Berga),
Barn Swallow, Wire-tailed Swallow, Ethiopian Swallow,
*White-tailed Swallow (1 near Yabello),
Grey Wagtail, Mountain Wagtail,
*Abyssinian Longclaw (2 between Debra Birhan & Addis),
Plain-backed Pipit, African Pipit,
Red-shouldered Cuckoo-shrike, Fork-tailed Drongo, African Black-headed Oriole,
*Ethiopian Oriole (2 Harema, 1 Nechisar),
Cape Crow, Pied Crow, Fan-tailed Raven,
*Stresemann's Bush Crow (small party near Yabello),
*Somali Crow (Dwarf Raven) (small numbers in south),
*Thick-billed Raven (thinly distributed in small numbers),
Mouse-coloured Penduline-Tit, White-winged Black-Tit, Somali Tit,
*White-backed Tit (small flock Dinsho),
Spotted Creeper (1 Awassa),
*White-rumped Babbler (widely distributed in small numbers),
Rufous Chatterer (a few Awash, Langano, Dubulla),
*Scaly Chatterer (small flock with preceding species Dubulla),
Northern Brownbul, Common Bulbul (including Dark-capped in Bale Mtns), Dodson's Bulbul (common in dry south),
*Somali Bulbul (common Awash),
*Little Rock-Thrush (4 Langano),
Groundscraper Thrush, Bare-eyed Thrush, Abyssinian Thrush, African Thrush,
Spotted Palm-Thrush (a few in dry south), Abyssinian Ground-Thrush,
White-browed Scrub-Robin, Ruppell's Robin-Chat, African Stonechat, Familiar Chat, Moorland Chat,
*Sombre Rock-Chat (2 Mt Fantalle lava overflow),
*Blackstart (1 Mt Fantalle lava overflow),
*Ruppell's Black Chat (small numbers near Debre Libanos & Jemma Valley),
*Abyssinian Black Wheatear (fairly common Jemma Valley, Langano),
*Red-breasted (Botta's) Wheater (a few above Jemma Valley),
Northern Wheatear, Mocking Cliff-Chat,
*White-winged Cliff-Chat (2 Jemma Valley; 2 Fiche),
African Reed-Warbler, Banded Parisoma, Brown Parisoma (2 of race grisaeventris, a potential split, above Goba),
*Abyssinian Catbird (a few Dinsho, Harema),
Rattling Cisticola, Red-pate Cisticola, Zitting Cisticola, Stout Cisticola, Singing Cisticola,
*Ethiopian Cisticola (fairly common highlands north of Addis),
*Pale Prinia (several in thornbush south of Yabello),
Tawny-flanked Prinia, Buff-bellied Warbler, Red-fronted Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Brown Woodland-Warbler,
Yellow-bellied Eremomela, Yellow-breasted Apalis,
*Green-backed Eremomela (2 Jemma Valley),
*Somali Crombec (1 Dubulla),
Northern Crombec, Red-faced Crombec, Grey-backed Camaroptera, Grey Wren-Warbler,
African Grey Flycatcher, African Dusky Flycatcher, Northern Black Flycatcher, African Paradise-Flycatcher,
*Abyssinian Slaty-Flycatcher (common highlands north of Addis),
*Grey-headed Batis (2 Awash, 1 north of Negele),
Western Black-headed Batis (a few Langano), Pygmy Batis, Brown-throated Wattle-eye,
Somali Fiscal, Taita Fiscal, Common Fiscal, Northern White-crowned Shrike,
*Pringle's Puffback, (1 between Negele & Yabello; 1 south of Yabello),
Northern Puffback, Black-crowned Tchagra, Three-streaked Tchagra, Ethiopian Boubou, Brubru,
*Red-naped Bush-Shrike (1 Dubulla),
Rosy-patched Bush-Shrike, Slate-coloured Boubou, Sulphur-breasted Bush-Shrike, Grey-headed Bush-Shrike,
White-crested Helmet-Shrike,
Greater Blue-eared Starling, Ruppell's Starling, Golden-breasted Starling, Lesser Blue-eared Starling (2 Jemma Valley), Red-winged Starling, Superb Starling, Slender-billed Starling, Wattled Starling, Magpie Starling,
*White-billed Starling (fairly common highlands north of Addis),
*White-crowned Starling (small numbers thinly distributed in dry south),
Bristle-crowned Starling, Shelley's Starling, Red-billed Oxpecker,
Nile Valley Sunbird (2 Awash), Variable Sunbird, Beautiful Sunbird, Tacazze Sunbird, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Hunter's Sunbird, Purple-banded Sunbird, Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird,
*Shining Sunbird (2 Melka Ghebdu),
Montane White-eye, Abyssinian White-eye,
*Shelley's Rufous Sparrow (a few near Negele),
*Swainson's Sparrow (common and widespread),
Parrot-billed Sparrow (several south of Yabello), Chestnut Sparrow, Yellow-spotted Petronia, Bush Petronia, Abyssinian Crimsonwing, Cut-throat Finch, White-headed Buffalo-Weaver, Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver, Grey-capped Social-Weaver, Black-capped Social-Weaver, Speckle-fronted Weaver, White-browed Sparrow-Weaver,
Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-Weaver,
*Ruppell's Weaver (widely distributed in sometimes large nesting colonies),
Village Weaver, Lesser Masked Weaver, Vitteline Masked Weaver, Little Weaver, Chestnut Weaver,
Grosbeak Weaver, Spectacled Weaver,
*Juba Weaver (several Genale River),
Red-billed Quelea, Northern Red Bishop, Black-winged Red Bishop, Yellow-crowned Bishop, Yellow Bishop,
Red-collared Widowbird, Fan-tailed Widowbird,
*Red-billed (Lineated) Pytilia (1 nest-building Jemma Valley),
Green-winged Pytilia, Red-billed Firefinch, African Firefinch, Black-faced Firefinch (1 Jemma Valley),
Bronze Mannikin, Red-cheeked Cordonbleu, Purple Grenadier, African Silverbill, Black-cheeked Waxbill,
Common Waxbill, Yellow-bellied Waxbill, Village Indigobird, Pin-tailed Wydah, Steel-blue Wydah,
Eastern Paradise-Wydah, Yellow-crowned Canary, White-bellied Canary,
*Northern Grosbeak-Canary (1 Dubulla),
*White-throated (Abyssinian Yellow-rumped) Seedeater (several at different altitudes on road to Jemma Valley; also by Jemma River),
*Yellow-throated Seedeater (2 Melka Ghebdu),
*Salvadori's Seedeater (1 east of Negele),
*Ethiopian (Black-headed) Siskin (common highlands north of Addis),
*African Citril (1 Melka Ghebdu; 2 Langano),
Southern Citril, Streaky Seedeater, Reichard's (Stripe-breasted) Seedeater (a few Nechisar),
*Brown-rumped Seedeater (common in highlands),
*Ankober Serin (small party Gemessa Gebel),
Cinnamon-breasted Bunting, Somali Bunting. 395 total – 72 lifers
MAMMALS
Olive Baboon, *Gelada Baboon (3 troops of 200+ Gemessa Gebel),
*Hadamdryas Baboon (1 troop Djibouti-Addis highway; 1 few among Olives elsewhere along highway),
Vervet Monkey (a few in the dry south; Grivet Monkey, a potential split, common elsewhere; a few Bale Monkeys, another potential split, in Harema), Guereza Colobus (common Awash, Langano, Harema),
Golden Jackal (2 between Debra Birhan & Addis; 1 below Dinsho), Black-backed Jackal (1 road-killed east of Yabello), Large-spotted Gennet (1 road-killed east of Yabello), [Spotted Hyaena, heard Awash], African Civet (1 roadkilled south of Addis), Bush (Yellow-spotted) Hyrax Heterohyrax brucei (1 Debre Libanos monastery),
*Ethiopian Rock Hyrax Procavia habessinica (2 Gemessa Gebel),
*Salt's Dik-dik (common Awash),
Guenther's Dik-dik (2 south of Yabello), Gerenuk (a few south of Yabello),
*Lesser Kudu (common Awash, Nechisar), Greater Kudu (1 Nechisar), Beisa Oryx (a few Awash), Warthog (common Bale Mtns), *Bright's Gazelle (common Sarite, Nechisar), Hippopotamus (a few Langano; 2 Awassa), Burchell's Zebra (small numbers Nechisar), *Mountain Nyala (common Bale Mtns),
Bohor Reedbuck (a few below Dinsho), Bushbuck (endemic Mendelik's race; a few below Dinsho),
*Soemmerring's Gazelle (common Awash),
*Starck's (Ethiopian) Hare (1 Adea Berga, 1 Sanetti),
Cape Hare (1 Awash, distinct Ethioian race Lepus capensis habessinicus),
*Gambian Sun-Squirrel Heliosciurus gambianus (common Langano, south of Harema),
Striped Ground-Squirrel, Unstriped Ground-Squirrel,
*Giant Root-Rat Tachyoryctes macrocephalus (a few Sanetti),
*Abyssinian Grass-Rat Arvicanthis abyssinicus (seemingly common Sanetti, a few in northern highlands),
*Blik's Grass-Rat Arvicanthis blicki (common Sanetti),
*African Grass-Rat Arvicanthis niloticus (common Sarite),
*Dega Rat Desmomys harringtoni (a few Adea Berga),
*Epauletted Fruit-Bat Epomophorus minimus (a few, Langano).