ethiopia - raoul beunen · 2017. 2. 24. · day 10 21-nov wondo genet - bale mountains day 11...
TRANSCRIPT
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Introduction
Ethiopia is a country with a great variety of habitats and hence a huge diversity of bird species. Few other
countries offer such unique combination of highlands, tropical forest, savanna landscapes and dry deserts.
Over 800 species have been recorded in Ethiopia and 18 of these are endemic to the country and several
others are near-endemic and shared only with Eritrea or Somali. All this has made Ethiopia a popular
birdwatching destination.
This trip report presents an overview of a three week birding trip made in November 2015. It presents the
itinerary, an overview of the visited places, the birds and mammals observed as well as some practical
information.
We recorded an incredible amount of 565 bird species, most of which were seen very well by all participants
and many where photographed as well. Next to that 49 different mammal species and numerous dragonflies
and butterflies were recorded.
Group members:
Raoul Beunen, Marijn Prins, Lucas Kaaij, Klaas Bouwmeester, Reinoud Vermoolen, Bas van de Meulengraaf.
Pictures by Bas van de Meulengraaf and Raoul Beunen
Itinerary
Day 1 12-nov Arrival in Addis Adaba
Day 2 13-nov Sululta Plains -Debre Libanos
Day 3 14-nov Jemma Valley
Day 4 15-nov Jemma Valley - Ankober Escarpment
Day 5 16-nov Ankober - Melka Ghebdu - Debre Zeit
Day 6 17-nov Awash
Day 7 18-nov Ali Dege Plains - Bilen Lodge
Day 8 19-nov Awash - Lake Ziway - Lake Lagano
Day 9 20-nov Lake Lagano - Wondo Genet
Day 10 21-nov Wondo Genet - Bale Mountains
Day 11 22-nov Oromiya
Day 12 23-nov Bale Mountain - Sanetti Plateau - Harenna Forest
Day 13 24-nov Harenna Forest - Negele
Day 14 25-nov Liben Plains
Day 15 26-nov Negele - Mega
Day 16 27-nov Mega - Yabello
Day 17 28-nov Yabello - Awassa
Day 18 29-nov Lake Awassa - Senkele - Shashemene
Day 19 30-nov Lake Langano - Lake Ziway - Butajira
Day 20 1-dec Butajira - Gibe Gorge - Jimma
Day 21 2-dec Jimma - Chebera-Churchura NP
Day 22 3-dec Chebera-Churchura NP
Day 23 4-dec Chebera-Churchura NP - Abelti
Day 24 5-dec Gibe Gorge - Addis Adaba
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Map of our route
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1. Addis Adaba
2. Debre Libanos
3. Jemma Valley
4. Ankobar
5. Debre Zeit
6. Awash
7. Bilen Lodge
8. Lake Lagano
9. Wondo Genet
10. Bale Mountains HQ
11. Oromiya
12. Harrena Forest
13. Negele
14. Liben Plains
15. Mega
16. Yabello
17. Awassa
18. Shashemene
19. Butajira
20. Jimma
21. Chebera-Churchura NP
22. Chebera-Churchura NP
23. Gibe Gorge
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Logistics
Travelling around in Ethiopia is easy if one makes use of one of the many operators who rent out cars with
drivers. These drivers not only take you around, but can also help you with the other logistics and some of
them even know the birding spots and even the birds. We used the services from Ethiopian Quadrants
(http://www.ethiopianquadrants.com). They proved to be very reliable, knowledgeable and helpful in
organizing the whole trip and making it into a big success and we can highly recommend them.
Most nights we stayed in a hotel. These were generally ok. Only in the very remote areas one has to settle for
a very basic option. We camped in Chebera-Churchura NP. Food was generally good, especially if one goes
for the local injera’s or pasta. Bread, avocado’s, onions and tomatoes make for a good lunch and are widely
available. We never had any food-related health issues.
The currency in Ethiopia is Ethiopian Birr. ATMs are found in most cities, but we found out that they are not
always working. It might therefore be smart to take enough cash when you have the option to withdraw it. 1
Birr is worth about 0.04 euro’s. Bank notes come in small notes so be prepared to carry a thick wallet.
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Sululta Plains – Debre Libanos Most birders will pass this area when they travel to the well known sites north of Addis Adaba. The plains offers a good opportunity to find birds that are less easy seen elsewhere, including Fan-tailed Widowbird, Black-winged Lapwing, Botta’s Wheatear, Erlander’s Lark, Abyssinian Longclaw, Ethiopian Cisticola, White-winged Cliff Chat, African Black Duck and African Stonechat. A few stops along the way will be sufficient to find most of these species.
Wattled Ibis, Bottás Lark and Black-winged Lapwing
Debre Libanos Debre Libanos is famous for the Gelada Monkeys, which are common in the area. We stayed at the Ethio-German Park Hotel, a great location near the deep gorge that holds Verreaux’s Eagle, amongst other birds. Specialities include White-billed Starling, Rüppell's Black Chat and Little Rockthrush. It is also a well-know place to find Stout Cisticola – a bird which we failed to find.
Jemma Valley The Jemma Valley is the place to find the endemic Erckel’s and Harwood’s Francolins. The Erckel’s is fairly common, but the Harwood’s can be difficult to find. Make sure you arrive early morning and be prepared for a large number of local people willing you to show the birds – although they were good in spotting Francolins we still are not sure if their help was really useful or not. We failed to see the bird on our first morning,
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despite extensive searching and had to go back the next day. Another speciality of this valley is the Lineated or Red-billed Pytilia. This bird was found in the dense bushes along a river. It required some effort, but in the end we could obtain nice views. At the most northern part of our trip into the Jemma Valley we found Yellow-rumped Seed-eater, the northern counterpart of the much more common Reichenow’s Seedeater. Other birds to look for in this area include Bush Petronia, Speckle-fronted Weaver, Woolly-necked Stork, Cinnamon-breasted Bunting, Yellow-rumped Seedeater, Abyssinian Wheatear, Lesser Blue-eared Starling, African Silverbill and Hemprich’s Hornbill. Most of these can be found on route or while birding at the sites for the specialities. One bird that we did miss here was the Fox Kestrel. It can be found on the ridges that one pass while driving into the valley.
Red-billed Pytillia Yellow-rumped Seedeater Erckel’s Francolin
Ankober Escarpment This is the place for the localized Ankober Serin. They are fairly common near the viewpoint and we found them immediately after we got out of the car. The place is also home to a large group of Gelada Monkeys.
Ankober - Melka Ghebdu - Debre Zeit A long drive east from Ankober brings you in a completely different and greener habitat. Here one can find Yellow-throated Seedeater, Eastern Grey Plantain-eater, Yellow-breasted Barbet, Red-headed Weaver, Rufous Chatterer, Blue-spotted Wood Dove, Banded Barbet, Bare-faced Go-away-bird and Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-weaver.
Yellow-breasted Barbet
Yellow-throated Seed-eater
Banded Barbet
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After a long drive we arrived just in time to allow an hour of birding at Debre Zeit, a place were, with some
luck, Black-Crowned Crane can be found. Our first good birds were some Quailfinches foraging in the fields.
The lake itself offered very nice birding, with many waders and ducks. A large group of Common Cranes was
also present, but no Black-crowned could be found among them. We concentrated on the water birds and
found Red-billed Teal, Knob-billed Duck, Hottentot Teal, Southern Pochard, Gull-billed Tern and Pink-backed
Pelican. Around 17:30 the sun started to go down and we decided to return to the cars. We still had some
driving to do and our drivers didn’t like driving around in the dark. We kept an eye on the sky as more and
more cranes came in. Persistence paid of and just before leaving, we finally saw two Black-crowned Cranes
flying by. A great end of a long day.
Awash
An early morning start brought us on the way to Awash National Park. There is a long list of specialities that
can be found in Awash and the nearby areas Ali Dege Plains and Bilen Lodge. This list includes Chestnut-
bellied Sandgrouse, Somali Ostrich, Kori Bustard, Hartlaub’s Bustard, Buff-crested Bustard, Yellow-necked
Spurfowl, Somali Fiscal, Chestnut-back Sparrow Lark, Singing Lark, Gillet’s Lark, Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-
lark, Yellow-vented Eremomela, Ashy Cisticola, and Rosy-Patched Bushshrike. Next to all these birds one can
also find a wide range of mammals here, including Soemmerring's Gazelle, Grévy's zebra, Gerenuk, East-
African Oryx, Spotted Hyena, Bat-eared Fox, and Aardwolf. Several days are needed to do all the different
place justice and search for the different species. We end up in staying two nights in Awash. On the second
day we made a trip to Ali Dege Plain and Bilen lodge, but returned to Awash as staying at the Bilen Lodge is
much more expensive. The final morning was again spent in Awash, where we left around 11 h.
On the way to Awash we made a short stop for our target of the day, the Sombre Rock Chat. This species can
be found on the volcanic rocks north of Lake Basaka. We quickly found several birds of this highly localized
near-endemic. Another good find here was a pair of Nile Valley Sunbirds. After some shopping in Metehara,
where we found several Mourning Collared-Doves, we continued our way.
Sombre Rock Chat Mourning Collared-dove
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Just after 9 we arrived at the entrance gate to Awash National Park and the next hours were spent driving
and walking through the different parts of the park. We quickly found species like Pygmy Falcon, Bateleur,
White-bellied Bustard, Kori Bustard, Rosy-patched Bushshrike, Somali Fiscal and Singing Bushlark. An Arabian
Bustard was a surprising find as they normally are mostly seen at the Ali Dege Plains and not so often in
Awash. Time pasted by quickly and temperatures got up even faster. Although it was already past noon we
continued birding. This proved to be a good choice as we managed to find a very obliging Gillet’s Lark. We
then continued to the Awash Fall Lodge, picking up Buff-crested Bustard, Green-winged Pytillia, Grey Wren-
Warbler, Red-fronted Warbler and Yellow-necked Spurfowl on the way.
We had lunch at the lodge, arranged our stay there, and did some strolling around the bungalows. Although
there weren’t many birds around, we could add Cyprus Wheatear and Steppe Grey Shrike. In the afternoon
we spend some time in the park again, but this was much less productive than our morning visit. Bird activity
was low, but we did find another Gillett’s Lark, Purple Grenadier, and Mouse-colored Penduline Tit.
White-bellied Bustard Gillet’s Lark
Purple Grenadier African Oryx
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Ali Dege Plains – Bilen Lodge
The next morning we left around 4 h. toward the Ali Dege Plains. It takes a couple of hours to get there from
Awash and because temperatures get up really quickly one has to be there early morning. We arrived around
6:30 and organized the obligatory armed guide. Due to severe droughts and overgrazing the grassy
vegetation on the plains had mostly gone. Fortunately not all birds had left and during our drive over the
plains we found all targets, including Somali Ostrich, Hartlaub’s Bustard and Black-headed Lapwing. Best find
was a Cream-coloured Courser, a very rare migrant to Ethiopia (no sightings in Observado or Ebird and only 2
on iGoTerra). We were also really happy to find a Grévy’s Zebra, as most wildlife had disappeared from the
plains and numerous death cows were the silent witness of the tragedy that the drought had caused.
Cream-coloured Courser Hartlaub’s Bustard
Somali Ostrich Black-headed Lapwing
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We left the plains around 9 and continued our journey to Bilen Lodge. Along the way we made a few stops to
search for birds. The lodge is sited near a large marshland and offers some nice scrubland birding. This area is
famous for wintering migrants. We, for example, found Black-Scrub Robin, Barred Warbler, Menetries’s
Warbler, Upcher’s Warbler, and Eastern Orphean Warbler. Another nice find was a sleeping Slender-tailed
Nightjar. A couple of Gerenuk that was standing close to the road was also highly appreciated. Around 17 we
arrived back at Awash NP and we decided to do some last birding and then drive back to the lodge in the
dark. Good finds were Ashy Cisticola and Plain Nightjar. The night drive was rather unproductive.
Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse Chestnut-headed Sparrow-Lark
Awash - Lake Ziway - Lake Lagano
The next morning gave us another early start. Just on the road, we had a Three-banded Courser quickly
crossing it. We then started to search the plain again until Klaas started shouting and waving. We all ran
towards him, having no idea what he might have found. Once close enough we discovered our running
wasn’t in vain. Two Aardwolfs were slowly walking over the plain, giving great sights. Birds were less obliging
this morning and since activity was really low, we decided to continue our way out of the park.
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We made a final stop close to the entrance and while some guys where chasing a White-bellied Canary, we
suddenly noticed a Three-banded Courser, just near the road. We had great views of this uncommon and
nocturnal species. What an end of a successful visit to Awash! We left at 11 h. on to a whole different set of
birds at Lakes Ziway and Lagano.
At 15:00 we made our first stop Lake Koka. Here we quickly found Saddle-billed Stork, Wattled Crane and
Black-crowned Crane. These species were not really expected here, but highly appreciated. Our next stop
was at Lake Ziway, where we could add yet another range of water birds to our ever growing list. These
included Black Crake, Yellow-billed Stork, Marsh Sandpiper, and Black Heron. Highlight for some lucky ones
was a juvenile Citrine Wagtail. We continued to Lake Lagano, where we spend the night in Wabe Shebelle
Langano. This bungalow park is a well-known place where Greyish Eagle-owl, Northern White-faced Owl and
Red-throated Wryneck can be found.
Lake Lagano - Wondo Genet
Early morning found us strolling around the bungalows. Red-throated Wryneck was quickly found, as was the
eagle owl. The White-faced Owl was much more difficult however. Fortunately the local people are more
than willing to help you with finding these birds – for a price of course. After negotiating a price they showed
us the owl, which was indeed well-hidden in a bush, and even with explanations difficult to see.
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The next targets were Clapperton’s Francolin and Boran Cisticola which can easily be found on the ground
just north of the bungalow park. Beware however that many of these grounds are private lands and people
might demand some payment for entering. We quickly found both species and returned to our bungalow.
The bushes in and around the bungalows hold many nice species and one can easily spend several hours
enjoying the great diversity of birds.
Around 8:30 we continued our way to a site a bit further south, the Bekele Mola Hotel area. We spend an
hour walking around and found White-backed Black Tit, another White-faced Owl, Verreaux’s Eagle Owl,
Greater Honeyguide, Eastern Grey Woodpecker, Bearded Woodpecker, Red-fronted Barbet, Green-backed
Eremomela, Yellow-bellied Eremomela, and Mocking Cliff Chat.
We decided to make a short visit to Abijatta-Shalla Lake. Here Red-necked Phalarope, Black-necked Grebe
and Cape Teal were added to the list. Around 13:00 we left the area.
Clapperton’s Francolin Boran Cisticola
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A two hour drive brought us to Wondo Genet, a forest remnant that holds a number of good species, such as
African Goshawk, African Spotted Creeper, Brown Parisoma, Scaly Partridge, Yellow-fronted Parrot,
Abyssinian Woodpecker, Brown Woodland Warbler,
Wondo Genet - Bale Mountains
Our first quest for the morning was finding the Abyssinian Woodpecker. This species has become increasingly
difficult to find in this area, but our local guide had confidence in finding one. Unfortunately the bird was not
that easy to find. We spend several hours walking around, checking different places and it was only just
before we decided to leave that we again checked the site where we started early morning till we hit the
jackpot. After enjoying the bird for a while we continued walking and found African Spotted Creeper, Narina
Trogon, and Scaly-throated Honeyguide.
Eastern Black-and-white Colobus
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Abyssinian Woodpecker Spotted Creeper
Around 10:00 we left Wondo Genet and started driving towards the Bale Mountains. The drive is about 170
km. and takes some time. Along the way we made some brief stops. Our first stop was at a small stream
where Red-chested Swallow and Brown-throated Martin were found. The second stop was at a well-known
site for Cape Eagle Owl. This bird can easily be found in a steep ravine just near the road. We started
scanning the wall, but could not find an owl. At some point the local kids arrived and started talking about a
big owl that they had seen early morning near their house. Although we were a bit sceptical we decided to
give it a chance and walked with them to their house. It didn’t look for an eagle owl, with agricultural land
and some trees, but then to our surprise a bigger owl flew out of one of those trees into a next one. It was
big, but not big enough for an eagle owl. It took some time to relocate the bird, only to find out that it was an
Abyssinian Owl, a species that most people see thanks to a guide that shows them one at the Bale Mountains
Lodge; a very surprising find indeed. Yet, we still had not seen the eagle owl and returned to the site near
the road. There we found the bird, but it turned out to be death.
Just before arriving to the Bale Mountain HQ one passes a marshy area with much wildlife, including good
numbers of Mountain Nyala. This is also one of the best places to see Serval. We were lucky and saw one,
albeit a bit far away, during a short stop to scan the area. We then continued to the HQ, with about an hour
sunlight left and still some birds to see. At the HQ we started walking, but birdlife was very slow at this point
Abyssinian Owl Cape Eagle Owl
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of the day. Fortunately Abyssinian Catbird was quickly found as were White-backed Black Tit and Brown
Parisoma. We only had one bird left to see, the Abyssinian Ground Thrush and although it was almost dark
we gave it a shot – which turned out to be a lucky one. Our last bird of the day was a very obliging Abyssinian
Ground Thrush that showed well enough just before darkness felt and we continued to our hotel.
Sof Omar - Oromiya
Today we had planned a trip to Sof Omar, an area about 100 km. east of Robe. The main target here is the
endemic Salvadori’s Seedeater. Furthermore Orange-winged Pytilia and Brown-tailed Rock Chat can be found
here. The drive takes a couple of hours and an early start is needed. Once we arrived at the site we quickly
found the Rock Chat and one of us saw the Seedeater. It took however a bit more time and effort before all
of us had seen the Seedeater well. The Pytilia was skulking, but also found by all of us after some while.
Around noon we started driving back to the Bale Mountains where the local guide showed us an African
Wood Owl and a Cape Eagle-owl and we enjoyed great views of yet another Serval.
Bale Mountains - Sanetti Plateau - Harenna Forest
A visit to the Sanetti Plateau is undoubtedly one of the highlights on a trip to Ethiopia. The scenery is
astonishing; there are good chances to see Ethiopian Wolf and various interesting other species such as the
bizarre looking Big-headed Mole Rat, Spot-breasted Lapwing, Chestnut-naped Francolin and Moorland
Francolin. Both Francolins can be found along the drive up to the plateau. We had good views of both
species. On the plateau we quickly located a large group of Spot-breasted Lapwings and also found two
distant Wattled Cranes. Behind the Sanetti Camp Site we found a couple of Big-headed Mole Rats and an
Ethiopian Wolf that was hunting for rats. When we continued we found another wolf very close to the road.
Serval
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Once down from the Plateau one enters the Harenna Forest. As we had seen many species already we
focussed on the new ones. Good finds included Abyssinian Crimsonwing and Crowned Hawk-eagle. We were
also very happy to find Bale Monkey, a localized split from the more widespread Grivet Monkey. We stayed
the night in the beautiful Bale Mountain Lodge Harenna Forest.
Ethiopian Wolf
Big-headed Mole Rat Moorland Francolin Spot-breasted Lapwing
Bale Monkey Abyssinian Crimsonwing
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Harenna Forest – Negele
The next day was used for the long drive to Negele. The distance is about 200 km., but the road doesn’t allow
fast driving and there are several places worth a (short) stop along the way. One of species that can be found
along the way is Ruspoli's Turaco. We also found our first Foxy Lark on a field just west of Negele.
Ruspoli’s Turaco Foxy Lark
Liben Plains
Liben Plains is the place where the extremely rare and local Liben or Archer’s Lark can be found. This species
is threatened due to habitat loss. Conservationists are trying hard to protect the area from overgrazing and
discussing more sustainable practices with local communities. A small entrance fee is therefore required for
visitors. We also drove the road east of Negele for a while. Unfortunately it is not save to travel too far east,
where birds like Little Brown Bustard can be found there. Fortunately also the area closer to Negele holds
some interesting species. Birds that can be found here include Tiny Cisticola, Taita Fiscal, Temminck’s
Courser, White-tailed Swallow, Somali Short-toed Lark, Somali Crombec and Juba Weaver.
Liben Lark Liben Lark White-tailed Swallow
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Negele – Mega
Today we would drive all the way to Mega. A long drive that passes diverse habitats and a region of Ethiopia
that holds a large number of specialities, including Juba Weaver, Stresemanns’s Bushcrow, Somali Courser,
Taita Fiscal, Vulturine Guineafowl, Somali Bunting, White-winged Collared Dove, Chestnut Weaver, Golden-
breasted Starling, Black-faced Starling, Yellow-breasted Apalis, and Pygmy Batis.
Our fist destination was Dawa River. A bit south of Negele the vegetation becomes more lush and at a short
stop we found Chestnut Weaver, Jacobin Cuckoo, Bare-eyed Thrush and White-browed Scrub Robin. In a
small village we found our first White-winged Collared Dove. Around 8:30 we arrived at Dawa river. Here we
quickly found Black-faced Sandgrouse. This place is also a well-known site for Juba Weaver, but we failed to
find one here. Good species include Pygmy Batis, Pringle’s Puffback, Acacia Tit, Lesser Masked Weaver,
Abyssinian White-eye, Yellow-vented Eremomela and Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird.
Around 11:00 we continued our drive. Stops along the way produced Yellow-breasted Apalis, Banded
Parisoma, Somali Bunting, Martial Eagle, and several groups of Vulturine Guineafowl. A very intriguing
observation was a possible Fischer’s Starling in a group of Wattled Starling. Unfortunately we could not
locate it. Around 17:30 we arrived in the area closer to Mega. This is the place were Stresemann’s Bushcrow
can be found, as we did. Unfortunately we dipped Somali Courser and Secretary Bird. Just before dark we
continue to Mega, where we stayed the night. After two weeks of travelling we had already found over 500
different species.
Mega – Yabello
Early morning found us in the mountainous area north-east of Mega, where we started looking for the
localized Black-fronted Francolin. This species is a split of the more widespread Chestnut-capped Francolin.
The first place where we started looking proved to be too low as we only encountered Crested Francolin
here. We asked some villagers for directions to a higher place, where we arrived in a drizzling rain. We
quickly started scanning the area and suddenly heard a Pternistis francolin calling several times. That
sounded good. Unfortunately the birds were somewhere between the dense bushes. We spent several hours
walking through these bushes and it was only when we started to return to the car that we suddenly saw a
couple of francolins walking around. Yes! These were indeed the highly wanted Black-fronted Francolins.
Very happy we returned to the car and started our drive to Yabello.
During a short stop on the plains we again failed to find Somali Courser. We did find another Foxy Lark and a
Short-tailed Lark. At another spot we could add Speke’s Weaver to our list. In the evening we drove to an
area just west of Yabello, where we found a White-bellied Go-away-bird, a species that most of us had not
yet seen. The night was spent looking for night birds, with a very obliging Donaldson Smith’s Nightjar as
highlight.
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Donaldson Smith’s Nightjar Speke’s Weaver
Yabello – Awassa
This day was mainly a driving day as we had to cover the 300 km. between Yabello and Awassa. We left
around 5 in the morning and arrived at 15 in Awassa. We checked in and had a late lunch and then starting
birding the lake shore. New species were quickly picked-up. These include White-backed Duck, Lesser Jacana
and African Pygmy Goose.
Lake Awassa - Senkele - Shashemene
Before we left Awassa we had only one bird to find, Abyssinian Waxbill. This species can also be found near
Gibe Gorge, which was still on our itinerary, but since one of us would leave the group today, we had to find
one here as well. Fortunately we managed to do so, after which we said goodbye and continued our journey
north. The last part of our trip was more flexible and after discussing some of the options we decided to
make a visit to the Senkele Wildlife Sanctuary. This is one of the few places where Swayne’s Hartebeest can
be found. The park itself consisted of lush grassland. Oribi and Swayne’s Hartebeest were quickly found. Yet
the biggest surprise was a Scissor-tailed Kite that was hunting in the area. Scanning around, we found many
of these magnificent raptors hoovering and hunting above the grasslands. Again a very unexpected highlight
of our trip. Furthermore we also found Black-bellied Bustard and Desert Cisticola. Very satisfied we drove to
Shashemene for a well-deserved beer.
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Black-bellied Bustard Scissor-tailed Kite
Lake Langano - Lake Ziway - Butajira
In the morning we went birding in the forest near Lake Langano. Our main target was Green Twinspot, which
we found after some searching. Other additions to our list were Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk, Black
Scimitarbill, Violet-backed Starling and Red-capped Robin Chat. We then continued our drive, made a short
stop at Lake Ziway and drove to Butajira where we stayed the night.
Butajira - Gibe Gorge - Jimma
Gibe Gorge, our destination for this morning, was still a long drive away so we left early morning. We arrived
at Gibe Gorge around 7:00. Foxy Cisticola was easily found along the road as were a number of warblers.
Once we arrived at the river the first bird we saw was a Goliath Heron. We followed the track along the river,
looking for waxwings and other birds. The biggest surprise was a bird that was walking along the crocodiles, a
rather unexpected, but secretly hoped for, Egyptian Plover. We had some amazing views of this spectacular
bird. Another good find was an Ovamba Sparrowhawk that flew overhead. Furthermore we found Snowy-
crowned Robin-Chat, Red-billed Firefinch, Bar-breasted Firefinch, and Mosque Swallow.
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Around 12:00 we had to leave for our drive toward Jimma, where we stayed the night.
Jimma - Chebera-Churchura NP
From Jimma it was still a couple of hours driving to the national park. Once there we organized that we could
camp near a small stream, we pitched our tents and started to explore the surrounding area. Green Malkoha,
White-throated Bee-eater, Yellow-bellied Hyliota, and Copper Sunbird were a nice find.
Chebera-Churchura NP
The next morning the local guide took us out to look for African Bush Elephants. We hiked over a small trail
through dense bushed and it was very clear that this place was regularly and recently visited by the
Elephants. We could even hear them every now and them. Actually finding them proved to be difficult and
after a couple hours walking we decided to give up. We returned to the campsite and hike a small trail
behind the camp. Here we were more successful, with Green Twinspot, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Dusky
Babbler, White-breated Cuckooshrike, African Yellow White-eye, Stuhlmann’s Starling and White-crowned
Robin-chat.
As the evening fell we decided to try our luck at a drinking pool. According to the guides Buffalo’s, Bushpigs
and other wildlife are regularly visiting this pool. We sat there for a long while, but not much happened. It
was only after it was dark that animals started to come in. We heard some sniffing slowly approaching the
pool, Buffalo’s according to the guides. We waited a bit longer and then decided to use the flashlight to see
which animals were there. Wow. A small herd of Elephants was right next to us. The light scared them and
with a noise trumpet they got back into the forest. That was a close encounter of a unique kind.
Chebera-Churchura NP – Abelti
The next morning we again walked the trail behind our campsite. This time we found Crowned Hornbill,
Green-backed Woodpecker, Black Bishop and Reichard’s Seedeater. And then it was time to return. We
Egyptian plover Nile crocodile
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packed our tents and drove back towards Addis. We arrived late afternoon in a small village just before the
Gibe Gorge.
Gibe Gorge – Addis Adaba
The last hours of our trip were again spent in the Gibe Gorge. We could add Barbary Falcon, Moustached
Grass Wren, Four-banded Sandgrouse, Red-faced Cisticola and Orange-breasted Waxbill to our list and also
saw what was very likely a Beaudouin's Snake Eagle. The drive back to Addis was long and it was only after
dark that we arrived there. We had dinner with some friends and went to the airport. Back home.
Reinchard’s Seedeater Violet-backed Starling White-breasted Cuckooshrike
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List of species | a complete overview including GPS details can be found on www.observado.org
Birds
1. Somali Ostrich - Struthio molybdophanes 2. Helmeted Guineafowl - Numida meleagris 3. Vulturine Guineafowl - Acryllium vulturinum 4. Moorland Francolin - Scleroptila psilolaema 5. Crested Francolin - Dendroperdix sephaena 6. Scaly Francolin - Pternistis squamatus 7. Clapperton's Francolin - Pternistis clappertoni 8. Harwood's Francolin - Pternistis harwoodi 9. Chestnut-naped Francolin - Pternistis castaneicollis 10. Erckel's Francolin - Pternistis erckelii 11. Yellow-necked Spurfowl - Pternistis leucoscepus 12. Common Quail - Coturnix coturnix 13. White-faced Whistling Duck - Dendrocygna viduata 14. Fulvous Whistling Duck - Dendrocygna bicolor 15. White-backed Duck - Thalassornis leuconotus 16. Spur-winged Goose - Plectropterus gambensis 17. Knob-billed Duck - Sarkidiornis melanotos 18. Blue-winged Goose - Cyanochen cyanoptera 19. Egyptian Goose - Alopochen aegyptiaca 20. Ruddy Shelduck - Tadorna ferruginea 21. African Pygmy Goose - Nettapus auritus 22. Cape Teal - Anas capensis 23. Yellow-billed Duck - Anas undulata 24. Northern Shoveler - Anas clypeata 25. Red-billed Teal - Anas erythrorhyncha 26. Northern Pintail - Anas acuta 27. Garganey - Anas querquedula 28. Eurasian Teal - Anas crecca 29. Hottentot Teal - Anas hottentota 30. Southern Pochard - Netta erythrophthalma 31. Little Grebe - Tachybaptus ruficollis 32. Black-necked Grebe - Podiceps nigricollis 33. Greater Flamingo - Phoenicopterus roseus 34. Lesser Flamingo - Phoeniconaias minor 35. Yellow-billed Stork - Mycteria ibis 36. African Openbill - Anastomus lamelligerus 37. Black Stork - Ciconia nigra 38. Abdim's Stork - Ciconia abdimii 39. Woolly-necked Stork - Ciconia episcopus 40. White Stork - Ciconia ciconia 41. Saddle-billed Stork - Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis 42. Marabou Stork - Leptoptilos crumenifer 43. African Sacred Ibis - Threskiornis aethiopicus 44. Hadada Ibis - Bostrychia hagedash 45. Wattled Ibis - Bostrychia carunculata 46. Glossy Ibis - Plegadis falcinellus 47. African Spoonbill - Platalea alba 48. Striated Heron - Butorides striata 49. Squacco Heron - Ardeola ralloides 50. Western Cattle Egret - Bubulcus ibis 51. Grey Heron - Ardea cinerea 52. Black-headed Heron - Ardea melanocephala 53. Goliath Heron - Ardea goliath 54. Purple Heron - Ardea purpurea 55. Great Egret - Ardea alba 56. Intermediate Egret - Egretta intermedia 57. Black Heron - Egretta ardesiaca 58. Little Egret - Egretta garzetta 59. Hamerkop - Scopus umbretta 60. Great White Pelican - Pelecanus onocrotalus 61. Pink-backed Pelican - Pelecanus rufescens 62. Reed Cormorant - Microcarbo africanus 63. White-breasted Cormorant - Phalacrocorax lucidus
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64. African Darter - Anhinga rufa 65. Western Osprey - Pandion haliaetus 66. Bat Hawk – Macheiramphus alcinus 67. Black-winged Kite - Elanus caeruleus 68. Scissor-tailed Kite - Chelictinia riocourii 69. Black Kite - Milvus migrans 70. African Fish Eagle - Haliaeetus vocifer 71. Bearded Vulture - Gypaetus barbatus 72. Egyptian Vulture - Neophron percnopterus 73. Hooded Vulture - Necrosyrtes monachus 74. White-backed Vulture - Gyps africanus 75. Rüppell's Vulture - Gyps rueppelli 76. Griffon Vulture - Gyps fulvus 77. White-headed Vulture - Trigonoceps occipitalis 78. Lappet-faced Vulture - Torgos tracheliotos 79. Short-toed Snake Eagle - Circaetus gallicus 80. Black-chested Snake Eagle - Circaetus pectoralis 81. Brown Snake Eagle - Circaetus cinereus 82. Bateleur - Terathopius ecaudatus 83. Western Marsh Harrier - Circus aeruginosus 84. African Marsh Harrier - Circus ranivorus 85. Pallid Harrier - Circus macrourus 86. Montagu's Harrier - Circus pygargus 87. African Harrier-Hawk - Polyboroides typus 88. Dark Chanting Goshawk - Melierax metabates 89. Eastern Chanting Goshawk - Melierax poliopterus 90. Gabar Goshawk - Micronisus gabar 91. African Goshawk - Accipiter tachiro 92. Shikra - Accipiter badius 93. Little Sparrowhawk - Accipiter minullus 94. Ovambo Sparrowhawk - Accipiter ovampensis 95. Eurasian Sparrowhawk - Accipiter nisus 96. Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk - Accipiter rufiventris 97. Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo 98. Mountain Buzzard - Buteo oreophilus 99. Augur Buzzard - Buteo augur 100. Lesser Spotted Eagle - Clanga pomarina 101. Tawny Eagle - Aquila rapax 102. Steppe Eagle - Aquila nipalensis 103. Verreaux's Eagle - Aquila verreauxii 104. African Hawk-Eagle - Aquila spilogaster 105. Martial Eagle - Polemaetus bellicosus 106. Long-crested Eagle - Lophaetus occipitalis 107. Crowned Hawk-Eagle - Stephanoaetus coronatus 108. Booted Eagle - Hieraaetus pennatus 109. Wahlberg's Eagle - Hieraaetus wahlbergi 110. Yellow-billed Kite - Milvus aegyptius 111. Pygmy Falcon - Polihierax semitorquatus 112. Lesser Kestrel - Falco naumanni 113. Common Kestrel - Falco tinnunculus 114. Grey Kestrel - Falco ardosiaceus 115. Lanner Falcon - Falco biarmicus 116. Peregrine Falcon - Falco peregrinus 117. Barbary Falcon - Falco pelegrinoides 118. Arabian Bustard - Ardeotis arabs 119. Kori Bustard - Ardeotis kori 120. White-bellied Bustard - Eupodotis senegalensis 121. Buff-crested Bustard - Lophotis gindiana 122. Black-bellied Bustard - Lissotis melanogaster 123. Hartlaub's Bustard - Lissotis hartlaubii 124. Rouget's Rail - Rougetius rougetii 125. Black Crake - Amaurornis flavirostra 126. African Swamphen - Porphyrio madagascariensis 127. Common Moorhen - Gallinula chloropus 128. Red-knobbed Coot - Fulica cristata 129. Black Crowned Crane - Balearica pavonina 130. Common Crane - Grus grus
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131. Wattled Crane - Grus carunculata 132. Senegal Thick-knee - Burhinus senegalensis 133. Black-winged Stilt - Himantopus himantopus 134. Pied Avocet - Recurvirostra avosetta 135. Spur-winged Lapwing - Vanellus spinosus 136. Black-headed Lapwing - Vanellus tectus 137. Black-winged Lapwing - Vanellus melanopterus 138. Crowned Lapwing - Vanellus coronatus 139. African Wattled Lapwing - Vanellus senegallus 140. Spot-breasted Lapwing - Vanellus melanocephalus 141. Common Ringed Plover - Charadrius hiaticula 142. Little Ringed Plover - Charadrius dubius 143. Kittlitz's Plover - Charadrius pecuarius 144. Three-banded Plover - Charadrius tricollaris 145. Egyptian Plover - Pluvianus aegyptius 146. Lesser Jacana - Microparra capensis 147. African Jacana - Actophilornis africanus 148. African Snipe - Gallinago nigripennis 149. Common Snipe - Gallinago gallinago 150. Black-tailed Godwit - Limosa limosa 151. Common Redshank - Tringa totanus 152. Marsh Sandpiper - Tringa stagnatilis 153. Common Greenshank - Tringa nebularia 154. Green Sandpiper - Tringa ochropus 155. Wood Sandpiper - Tringa glareola 156. Common Sandpiper - Actitis hypoleucos 157. Sanderling - Calidris alba 158. Little Stint - Calidris minuta 159. Temminck's Stint - Calidris temminckii 160. Curlew Sandpiper - Calidris ferruginea 161. Dunlin - Calidris alpina 162. Ruff - Philomachus pugnax 163. Red-necked Phalarope - Phalaropus lobatus 164. Cream-coloured Courser - Cursorius cursor 165. Temminck's Courser - Cursorius temminckii 166. Three-banded Courser - Rhinoptilus cinctus 167. Collared Pratincole - Glareola pratincola 168. Black-headed Gull - Chroicocephalus ridibundus 169. Lesser Black-backed Gull - Larus fuscus 170. Gull-billed Tern - Gelochelidon nilotica 171. Whiskered Tern - Chlidonias hybrida 172. White-winged Tern - Chlidonias leucopterus 173. Grey-headed Gull - Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus 174. Black-faced Sandgrouse - Pterocles decoratus 175. Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse - Pterocles exustus 176. Yellow-throated Sandgrouse - Pterocles gutturalis 177. Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse - Pterocles lichtensteinii 178. Four-banded Sandgrouse - Pterocles quadricinctus 179. Speckled Pigeon - Columba guinea 180. White-collared Pigeon - Columba albitorques 181. African Olive Pigeon - Columba arquatrix 182. Dusky Turtle Dove - Streptopelia lugens 183. African Collared Dove - Streptopelia roseogrisea 184. White-winged Collared Dove - Streptopelia reichenowi 185. Mourning Collared Dove - Streptopelia decipiens 186. Red-eyed Dove - Streptopelia semitorquata 187. Ring-necked Dove - Streptopelia capicola 188. Vinaceous Dove - Streptopelia vinacea 189. Emerald-spotted Wood Dove - Turtur chalcospilos 190. Blue-spotted Wood Dove - Turtur afer 191. Tambourine Dove - Turtur tympanistria 192. Namaqua Dove - Oena capensis 193. Bruce's Green Pigeon - Treron waalia 194. Lemon Dove - Columba larvata 195. Laughing Dove - Spilopelia senegalensis 196. African Green Pigeon - Treron calvus 197. Black-winged Lovebird - Agapornis taranta
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198. Red-bellied Parrot - Poicephalus rufiventris 199. Yellow-fronted Parrot - Poicephalus flavifrons 200. White-cheeked Turaco - Tauraco leucotis 201. Ruspoli's Turaco - Tauraco ruspolii 202. Bare-faced Go-away-bird - Corythaixoides personatus 203. White-bellied Go-away-bird - Corythaixoides leucogaster 204. Eastern Plantain-eater - Crinifer zonurus 205. Blue-headed Coucal - Centropus monachus 206. White-browed Coucal - Centropus superciliosus 207. Great Spotted Cuckoo - Clamator glandarius 208. Klaas's Cuckoo - Chrysococcyx klaas 209. Green Malkoha - Ceuthmochares australis 210. Jacobin Cuckoo - Clamator jacobinus 211. Cape Eagle-Owl - Bubo capensis 212. Verreaux's Eagle-Owl - Bubo lacteus 213. African Wood Owl - Strix woodfordii 214. Pearl-spotted Owlet - Glaucidium perlatum 215. Abyssinian Owl - Asio abyssinicus 216. Greyish Eagle-Owl - Bubo cinerascens 217. Northern White-faced Owl - Ptilopsis leucotis 218. Donaldson Smith's Nightjar - Caprimulgus donaldsoni 219. Montane Nightjar - Caprimulgus poliocephalus 220. Plain Nightjar - Caprimulgus inornatus 221. Slender-tailed Nightjar - Caprimulgus clarus 222. African Palm Swift - Cypsiurus parvus 223. Mottled Swift - Tachymarptis aequatorialis 224. Nyanza Swift - Apus niansae 225. Little Swift - Apus affinis 226. Alpine Swift - Tachymarptis melba 227. Speckled Mousebird - Colius striatus 228. Blue-naped Mousebird - Urocolius macrourus 229. Narina Trogon - Apaloderma narina 230. Purple Roller - Coracias naevius 231. Lilac-breasted Roller - Coracias caudatus 232. Abyssinian Roller - Coracias abyssinicus 233. Grey-headed Kingfisher - Halcyon leucocephala 234. Striped Kingfisher - Halcyon chelicuti 235. Blue-breasted Kingfisher - Halcyon malimbica 236. Woodland Kingfisher - Halcyon senegalensis 237. African Pygmy Kingfisher - Ispidina picta 238. Half-collared Kingfisher - Alcedo semitorquata 239. Giant Kingfisher - Megaceryle maxima 240. Pied Kingfisher - Ceryle rudis 241. Malachite Kingfisher - Corythornis cristatus 242. Little Bee-eater - Merops pusillus 243. Blue-breasted Bee-eater - Merops variegatus 244. White-throated Bee-eater - Merops albicollis 245. Blue-cheeked Bee-eater - Merops persicus 246. European Bee-eater - Merops apiaster 247. Northern Carmine Bee-eater - Merops nubicus 248. Eurasian Hoopoe - Upupa epops 249. Green Wood Hoopoe - Phoeniculus purpureus 250. Black-billed Wood Hoopoe - Phoeniculus somaliensis 251. Black Scimitarbill - Rhinopomastus aterrimus 252. Abyssinian Scimitarbill - Rhinopomastus minor 253. Crowned Hornbill - Lophoceros alboterminatus 254. Hemprich's Hornbill - Lophoceros hemprichii 255. African Grey Hornbill - Lophoceros nasutus 256. Northern Red-billed Hornbill - Tockus erythrorhynchus 257. Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill - Tockus flavirostris 258. Von der Decken's Hornbill - Tockus deckeni 259. Silvery-cheeked Hornbill - Bycanistes brevis 260. Abyssinian Ground Hornbill - Bucorvus abyssinicus 261. Red-fronted Tinkerbird - Pogoniulus pusillus 262. Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird - Pogoniulus chrysoconus 263. Red-fronted Barbet - Tricholaema diademata 264. Black-throated Barbet - Tricholaema melanocephala
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265. Banded Barbet - Lybius undatus 266. Black-billed Barbet - Lybius guifsobalito 267. Double-toothed Barbet - Lybius bidentatus 268. Red-and-yellow Barbet - Trachyphonus erythrocephalus 269. Yellow-breasted Barbet - Trachyphonus margaritatus 270. D'Arnaud's Barbet - Trachyphonus darnaudii 271. Green-backed Honeybird - Prodotiscus zambesiae 272. Lesser Honeyguide - Indicator minor 273. Scaly-throated Honeyguide - Indicator variegatus 274. Greater Honeyguide - Indicator indicator 275. Eurasian Wryneck - Jynx torquilla 276. Red-throated Wryneck - Jynx ruficollis 277. Nubian Woodpecker - Campethera nubica 278. Green-backed Woodpecker - Campethera cailliautii 279. Abyssinian Woodpecker - Dendropicos abyssinicus 280. Cardinal Woodpecker - Dendropicos fuscescens 281. Bearded Woodpecker - Dendropicos namaquus 282. Eastern Grey Woodpecker - Dendropicos spodocephalus 283. Grey-headed Batis - Batis orientalis 284. Pygmy Batis - Batis perkeo 285. Brown-throated Wattle-eye - Platysteira cyanea 286. Western Black-headed Batis - Batis erlangeri 287. White-crested Helmetshrike - Prionops plumatus 288. Grey-headed Bushshrike - Malaconotus blanchoti 289. Northern Puffback - Dryoscopus gambensis 290. Pringle's Puffback - Dryoscopus pringlii 291. Slate-colored Boubou - Laniarius funebris 292. Orange-breasted Bushshrike - Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus 293. Red-naped Bushshrike - Laniarius ruficeps 294. Brubru - Nilaus afer 295. Ethiopian Boubou - Laniarius aethiopicus 296. Black-crowned Tchagra - Tchagra senegalus 297. Rosy-patched Bushshrike - Telophorus cruentus 298. Grey Cuckooshrike - Coracina caesia 299. White-breasted Cuckooshrike - Coracina pectoralis 300. Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike - Campephaga phoenicea 301. Isabelline Shrike - Lanius isabellinus 302. Red-tailed Shrike - Lanius phoenicuroides 303. Southern Grey Shrike - Lanius meridionalis 304. Steppe Grey Shrike - Lanius pallidirostris 305. Grey-backed Fiscal - Lanius excubitoroides 306. Taita Fiscal - Lanius dorsalis 307. Somali Fiscal - Lanius somalicus 308. Woodchat Shrike - Lanius senator 309. Masked Shrike - Lanius nubicus 310. Northern White-crowned Shrike - Eurocephalus ruppelli 311. Northern Fiscal - Lanius humeralis 312. Ethiopian Oriole - Oriolus monacha 313. Black-headed Oriole - Oriolus larvatus 314. Fork-tailed Drongo - Dicrurus adsimilis 315. African Paradise Flycatcher - Terpsiphone viridis 316. Stresemann’s Bushcrow - Zavattariornis stresemanni 317. Red-billed Chough - Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax 318. Cape Crow - Corvus capensis 319. Pied Crow - Corvus albus 320. Fan-tailed Raven - Corvus rhipidurus 321. Thick-billed Raven - Corvus crassirostris 322. Somali Crow - Corvus edithae 323. White-winged Black Tit - Melaniparus leucomelas 324. White-backed Black Tit - Melaniparus leuconotus 325. Acacia Tit - Melaniparus thruppi 326. Mouse-colored Penduline Tit - Anthoscopus musculus 327. Singing Bush Lark - Mirafra cantillans 328. Gillett's Lark - Mirafra gilletti 329. Archer's Lark - Heteromirafra archeri 330. Erlanger's Lark - Calandrella erlangeri 331. Somali Short-toed Lark - Alaudala somalica
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332. Short-tailed Lark - Spizocorys fremantlii 333. Thekla Lark - Galerida theklae 334. Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark - Eremopterix leucotis 335. Foxy Lark - Calendulauda alopex 336. Chestnut-headed Sparrow-Lark - Eremopterix signatus 337. Common Bulbul - Pycnonotus barbatus 338. Somali Bulbul - Pycnonotus somaliensis 339. Dodson's Bulbul - Pycnonotus dodsoni 340. Dark-Capped Bulbul - Pycnonotus tricolor 341. Northern Brownbul - Phyllastrephus strepitans 342. Black Saw-wing - Psalidoprocne pristoptera 343. Brown-throated Martin - Riparia paludicola 344. Sand Martin - Riparia riparia 345. Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica 346. Red-chested Swallow - Hirundo lucida 347. Ethiopian Swallow - Hirundo aethiopica 348. Wire-tailed Swallow - Hirundo smithii 349. White-tailed Swallow - Hirundo megaensis 350. Common House Martin - Delichon urbicum 351. Red-rumped Swallow - Cecropis daurica 352. Lesser Striped Swallow - Cecropis abyssinica 353. Mosque Swallow - Cecropis senegalensis 354. Grey-rumped Swallow - Pseudhirundo griseopyga 355. Rock Martin - Ptyonoprogne fuligula 356. Brown Woodland Warbler - Phylloscopus umbrovirens 357. Common Chiffchaff - Phylloscopus collybita 358. Willow Warbler - Phylloscopus trochilus 359. Lesser Swamp Warbler - Acrocephalus gracilirostris 360. Sedge Warbler - Acrocephalus schoenobaenus 361. African Yellow Warbler - Iduna natalensis 362. Eastern Olivaceous Warbler - Iduna pallida 363. Upcher's Warbler - Hippolais languida 364. Cinnamon Bracken Warbler - Bradypterus cinnamomeus 365. Red-faced Cisticola - Cisticola erythrops 366. Singing Cisticola - Cisticola cantans 367. Boran Cisticola - Cisticola bodessa 368. Ashy Cisticola - Cisticola cinereolus 369. Foxy Cisticola - Cisticola troglodytes 370. Zitting Cisticola - Cisticola juncidis 371. Desert Cisticola - Cisticola aridulus 372. Pectoral-patch Cisticola - Cisticola brunnescens 373. Tawny-flanked Prinia - Prinia subflava 374. Pale Prinia - Prinia somalica 375. Buff-bellied Warbler - Phyllolais pulchella 376. Yellow-breasted Apalis - Apalis flavida 377. Grey-backed Camaroptera - Camaroptera brevicaudata 378. Grey Wren-Warbler - Calamonastes simplex 379. Yellow-bellied Eremomela - Eremomela icteropygialis 380. Yellow-vented Eremomela - Eremomela flavicrissalis 381. Green-backed Eremomela - Eremomela canescens 382. Rattling Cisticola - Cisticola chiniana 383. Ethiopian Cisticola - Cisticola lugubris 384. Tiny Cisticola - Cisticola nana 385. Red-fronted Warbler - Urorhipis rufifrons 386. Eurasian Blackcap - Sylvia atricapilla 387. Barred Warbler - Sylvia nisoria 388. Lesser Whitethroat - Sylvia curruca 389. Eastern Orphean Warbler - Sylvia crassirostris 390. Common Whitethroat - Sylvia communis 391. Menetries's Warbler - Sylvia mystacea 392. Brown Parisoma - Sylvia lugens 393. Banded Parisoma - Sylvia boehmi 394. Abyssinian Catbird - Parophasma galinieri 395. African Hill Babbler - Pseudoalcippe abyssinica 396. Abyssinian White-eye - Zosterops abyssinicus 397. African Yellow White-eye - Zosterops senegalensis 398. Montane White-eye - Zosterops poliogastrus
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399. Yellow-bellied Hyliota - Hyliota flavigaster 400. African Spotted Creeper - Salpornis salvadori 401. Wattled Starling - Creatophora cinerea 402. Greater Blue-eared Starling - Lamprotornis chalybaeus 403. Lesser Blue-eared Starling - Lamprotornis chloropterus 404. Superb Starling - Lamprotornis superbus 405. Shelley's Starling - Lamprotornis shelleyi 406. Violet-backed Starling - Cinnyricinclus leucogaster 407. Red-winged Starling - Onychognathus morio 408. Slender-billed Starling - Onychognathus tenuirostris 409. Bristle-crowned Starling - Onychognathus salvadorii 410. White-billed Starling - Onychognathus albirostris 411. Stuhlmann's Starling - Poeoptera stuhlmanni 412. White-crowned Starling - Lamprotornis albicapillus 413. Rüppell's Starling - Lamprotornis purpuroptera 414. Golden-breasted Starling - Lamprotornis regius 415. Red-billed Oxpecker - Buphagus erythrorynchus 416. African Thrush - Turdus pelios 417. Bare-eyed Thrush - Turdus tephronotus 418. Abyssinian Thrush - Turdus abyssinicus 419. Abyssinian Ground Thrush - Geokichla piaggiae 420. Groundscraper Thrush - Turdus litsitsirupa 421. Common Nightingale - Luscinia megarhynchos 422. Rüppell's Robin-Chat - Cossypha semirufa 423. White-browed Robin-Chat - Cossypha heuglini 424. Red-capped Robin-Chat - Cossypha natalensis 425. Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat - Cossypha niveicapilla 426. Spotted Palm Thrush - Cichladusa guttata 427. Black Scrub Robin - Cercotrichas podobe 428. Common Redstart - Phoenicurus phoenicurus 429. Whinchat - Saxicola rubetra 430. Siberian Stonechat - Saxicola maurus 431. African Stonechat - Saxicola torquatus 432. Red-breasted Wheatear - Oenanthe bottae 433. Isabelline Wheatear - Oenanthe isabellina 434. Northern Wheatear - Oenanthe oenanthe 435. Pied Wheatear - Oenanthe pleschanka 436. Desert Wheatear - Oenanthe deserti 437. Cyprus Wheatear - Oenanthe cypriaca 438. Abyssinian Wheatear - Oenanthe lugubris 439. Sombre Rock Chat - Oenanthe dubia 440. Familiar Chat - Oenanthe familiaris 441. Blackstart - Oenanthe melanura 442. Brown-tailed Rock Chat - Oenanthe scotocerca 443. Rüppell's Black Chat - Myrmecocichla melaena 444. Mocking Cliff Chat - Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris 445. Little Rock Thrush - Monticola rufocinereus 446. Blue Rock Thrush - Monticola solitarius 447. Abyssinian Slaty Flycatcher - Melaenornis chocolatinus 448. Northern Black Flycatcher - Melaenornis edolioides 449. Pale Flycatcher - Melaenornis pallidus 450. African Grey Flycatcher - Melaenornis microrhynchus 451. Spotted Flycatcher - Muscicapa striata 452. African Dusky Flycatcher - Muscicapa adusta 453. White-browed Scrub Robin - Cercotrichas leucophrys 454. White-crowned Robin-Chat - Cossypha albicapillus 455. White-winged Cliff Chat - Monticola semirufus 456. Moorland Chat - Pinarochroa sordida 457. Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird - Anthreptes orientalis 458. Tacazze Sunbird - Nectarinia tacazze 459. Hunter's Sunbird - Chalcomitra hunteri 460. Scarlet-chested Sunbird - Chalcomitra senegalensis 461. Copper Sunbird - Cinnyris cupreus 462. Shining Sunbird - Cinnyris habessinicus 463. Marico Sunbird - Cinnyris mariquensis 464. Black-bellied Sunbird - Cinnyris nectarinioides 465. Beautiful Sunbird - Cinnyris pulchellus
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466. Variable Sunbird - Cinnyris venustus 467. Collared Sunbird - Hedydipna collaris 468. Nile Valley Sunbird - Hedydipna metallica 469. White-browed Sparrow-Weaver - Plocepasser mahali 470. Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-Weaver - Plocepasser superciliosus 471. Grey-capped Social Weaver - Pseudonigrita arnaudi 472. Black-capped Social Weaver - Pseudonigrita cabanisi 473. Shelley's Sparrow - Passer shelleyi 474. Swainson's Sparrow - Passer swainsonii 475. Parrot-billed Sparrow - Passer gongonensis 476. Chestnut Sparrow - Passer eminibey 477. Bush Petronia - Gymnoris dentata 478. Yellow-spotted Petronia - Gymnoris pyrgita 479. Red-billed Buffalo Weaver - Bubalornis niger 480. White-headed Buffalo Weaver - Dinemellia dinemelli 481. Speckle-fronted Weaver - Sporopipes frontalis 482. Thick-billed Weaver - Amblyospiza albifrons 483. Baglafecht Weaver - Ploceus baglafecht 484. Little Weaver - Ploceus luteolus 485. Spectacled Weaver - Ploceus ocularis 486. Rüppell's Weaver - Ploceus galbula 487. Northern Masked Weaver - Ploceus taeniopterus 488. Lesser Masked Weaver - Ploceus intermedius 489. Vitelline Masked Weaver - Ploceus vitellinus 490. Speke's Weaver - Ploceus spekei 491. Village Weaver - Ploceus cucullatus 492. Chestnut Weaver - Ploceus rubiginosus 493. Red-billed Quelea - Quelea quelea 494. Black Bishop - Euplectes gierowii 495. Black-winged Red Bishop - Euplectes hordeaceus 496. Northern Red Bishop - Euplectes franciscanus 497. Yellow Bishop - Euplectes capensis 498. White-winged Widowbird - Euplectes albonotatus 499. Red-collared Widowbird - Euplectes ardens 500. Red-headed Weaver - Anaplectes rubriceps 501. Juba Weaver - Ploceus dichrocephalus 502. Red-billed Pytilia - Pytilia lineata 503. Orange-winged Pytilia - Pytilia afra 504. Green-winged Pytilia - Pytilia melba 505. Cut-throat Finch - Amadina fasciata 506. Green Twinspot - Mandingoa nitidula 507. Abyssinian Crimsonwing - Cryptospiza salvadorii 508. Bar-breasted Firefinch - Lagonosticta rufopicta 509. Red-billed Firefinch - Lagonosticta senegala 510. African Firefinch - Lagonosticta rubricata 511. Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu - Uraeginthus bengalus 512. Purple Grenadier - Uraeginthus ianthinogaster 513. Abyssinian Waxbill - Estrilda ochrogaster 514. Crimson-rumped Waxbill - Estrilda rhodopyga 515. Common Waxbill - Estrilda astrild 516. Black-cheeked Waxbill - Estrilda charmosyna 517. Orange-breasted Waxbill - Amandava subflava 518. Black-and-white Mannikin - Lonchura bicolor 519. Yellow-bellied Waxbill - Coccopygia quartinia 520. African Silverbill - Euodice cantans 521. Bronze Mannikin - Lonchura cucullata 522. Quailfinch - Ortygospiza atricollis 523. Village Indigobird - Vidua chalybeata 524. Pin-tailed Whydah - Vidua macroura 525. Straw-tailed Whydah - Vidua fischeri 526. Long-tailed Paradise Whydah - Vidua paradisaea 527. Western Yellow Wagtail - Motacilla flava 528. Citrine Wagtail - Motacilla citreola 529. Grey Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea 530. Mountain Wagtail - Motacilla clara 531. White Wagtail - Motacilla alba 532. African Pied Wagtail - Motacilla aguimp
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533. Abyssinian Longclaw - Macronyx flavicollis 534. African Pipit - Anthus cinnamomeus 535. Tawny Pipit - Anthus campestris 536. Long-billed Pipit - Anthus similis 537. Plain-backed Pipit - Anthus leucophrys 538. Tree Pipit - Anthus trivialis 539. Red-throated Pipit - Anthus cervinus 540. Ethiopian Siskin - Serinus nigriceps 541. Ankober Serin - Crithagra ankoberensis 542. African Citril - Crithagra citrinelloides 543. Northern Grosbeak-Canary - Crithagra donaldsoni 544. White-bellied Canary - Crithagra dorsostriata 545. Yellow-throated Seedeater - Crithagra flavigula 546. Yellow-fronted Canary - Crithagra mozambica 547. Reichard's Seedeater - Crithagra reichardi 548. Reichenow's Seedeater - Crithagra reichenowi 549. Streaky Seedeater - Crithagra striolata 550. Brown-rumped Seedeater - Crithagra tristriata 551. Salvadori's Seedeater - Crithagra xantholaema 552. Yellow-rumped Seedeater - Crithagra xanthopygia 553. Yellow-crowned Canary - Serinus flavivertex 554. Ortolan Bunting - Emberiza hortulana 555. Striolated Bunting - Emberiza striolata 556. Cinnamon-breasted Bunting - Emberiza tahapisi 557. Somali Bunting - Emberiza poliopleura 558. Scaly Chatterer - Turdoides aylmeri 559. Moustached Grass Warbler - Melocichla mentalis 560. Northern Crombec - Sylvietta brachyura 561. Somali Crombec - Sylvietta isabellina 562. Red-faced Crombec - Sylvietta whytii 563. White-rumped Babbler - Turdoides leucopygia 564. Rufous Chatterer - Turdoides rubiginosa 565. Dusky Babbler - Turdoides tenebrosa
Mammals | a complete list including GPC coordinates can be found on www.observado.org
1. African Bush Elephant - Loxodonta africana
2. Yellow-spotted Rock Hyrax - Heterohyrax brucei
3. Common Rock Hyrax - Procavia capensis
4. Yellow-winged Bat - Lavia frons
5. Serval - Leptailurus serval
6. Common Genet - Genetta genetta
7. Marsh Mongoose - Atilax paludinosus
8. Common Dwarf Mongoose - Helogale parvula
9. Common Slender Mongoose - Herpestes sanguineus
10. White-tailed Mongoose - Ichneumia albicauda
11. Spotted hyena - Crocuta crocuta
12. Aardwolf - Proteles cristata
13. Golden Jackal - Canis aureus
14. Black-backed Jackal - Canis mesomelas
15. Ethiopian Wolf - Canis simensis
16. Bat-eared Fox - Otocyon megalotis
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17. Grévy's zebra - Equus grevyi
18. Hippopotamus - Hippopotamus amphibius
19. Desert Warthog - Phacochoerus aethiopicus
20. Common Warthog - Phacochoerus africanus
21. Bushpig - Potamochoerus larvatus
22. Swayne’s Hartebeest - Alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei
23. Gerenuk - Litocranius walleri
24. Guenther's Dik-dik - Madoqua guentheri
25. Salt's Dikdik - Madoqua saltiana
26. Grant's Gazelle - Nanger granti
27. Soemmerring's Gazelle - Nanger soemmerringii
28. Klipspringer - Oreotragus oreotragus
29. East African Oryx - Oryx beisa
30. Oribi - Ourebia ourebi
31. Mountain Reedbuck - Redunca fulvorufula
32. Bohor Reedbuck - Redunca redunca
33. Common Duiker - Sylvicapra grimmia
34. Mountain Nyala - Tragelaphus buxtoni
35. Lesser Kudu - Tragelaphus imberbis
36. Bushbuck - Tragelaphus scriptus
37. Abyssinian Hare - Lepus habessinicus
38. Gambian Sun Squirrel - Heliosciurus gambianus
39. Striped Ground Squirrel - Xerus erythropus
40. Unstriped Ground Squirrel - Xerus rutilus
41. Big-headed Mole Rat - Tachyoryctes macrocephalus
42. Blick's Grass Rat - Arvicanthis blicki
43. Senegal Lesser Galago - Galago senegalensis
44. Grivet Monkey - Chlorocebus aethiops
45. Bale Monkey - Chlorocebus djamdjamensis
46. Vervet Monkey - Chlorocebus pygerythrus
47. Eastern Black-and-white Colobus - Colobus guereza
48. Olive Baboon - Papio anubis
49. Gelada Baboon - Theropithecus gelada
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Dragonflies
1. Dancing Jewel - Platycypha caligata
2. Pallid Spreadwing - Lestes pallidus
3. Marsh Bluetail - Ischnura senegalensis
4. Common Orange - Ceriagrion glabrum
5. Common Riverjack - Mesocnemis singularis
6. Blue Emperor - Anax imperator
7. Orange Emperor - Anax speratus
8. Green Hooktail - Paragomphus genei
9. Corkscrew Hooktail - Paragomphus elpidius
10. Darting Cruiser - Phyllomacromia picta
11. Southern Banded Groundling - Brachythemis leucosticta
12. Broad Scarlet - Crocothemis erythraea
13. Black Percher - Diplacodes lefebvrii
14. Slender Skimmer - Orthetrum sabina
15. Wandering Glider - Pantala flavescens
16. Phantom Flutterer - Rhyothemis semihyalina
17. Red-veined Darter - Sympetrum fonscolombii
18. Violet Dropwing - Trithemis annulata
19. Orange-winged Dropwing - Trithemis kirbyi
20. Ringed Cascader - Zygonyx torridus
21. Slender Pintail - Acisoma variegatum
22. Red Groundling - Brachythemis lacustris
23. Three-striped Skimmer - Orthetrum brevistylum
24. Lucia Widow - Palpopleura lucia
25. Portia Widow - Palpopleura portia
26. Navy Dropwing - Trithemis furva
27. Elegant Dropwing - Trithemis werneri