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African Office: 17 Toucan Tropics, Willow Road, Bloubergrise, 7441, Cape Town, South Africa. Tel/Fax: +27-21-556-4124 Cel: +27-83-296-0147, e-mail: info@tropicalbirding.com, www.tropicalbirding.com
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N. Tanzania
Stately Crowned Cranes in Ngorongoro Crater
Birding amongst the beasts – Set departure tour
29 August – 15 September 2004
Leader: Keith Barnes
As usual, northern Tanzania was an extravaganza of birding set against the wildest and some of the most unique of Africa’s backdrops, Arusha NP, Mkomazi, the Usambara Mountains, Pemba Island, the expansive Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. As a wilderness experience, the mammals of northern Tanzania are hard to beat. Amongst the mammal highlights were 3 Cheetah on a kill, two leopard, as well as omnipresent lion prides and many species of ungulates amongst the 52 mammal species encountered! The birding yielded 480 species. Given that this is during the period when Palearctic and Intra-african migrants are not present this is a good haul. Birding highlights included some of Africa’s most endangered birds, the Critically Endangered and recently recognised Beesley’s Spike-heeled Lark and the equally enigmatic Moreau’s Tailorbird of the East Usambara Mountains.
29 Aug: Arusha NP. The tour started with a nice surprise. Because everyone had arrived in Arusha earlier than scheduled I decided to treat us all to a day in Arusha NP. A spin by the Senato Pools and Lake Longil got things started with great views of a host of waterfowl including our only Southern Pochard and Comb Ducks of the trip. We enjoyed lunch with Bronze Sunbirds and also had great views of White-fronted Bee-eater, another species we were not to see elsewhere. The afternoon got us into the forest where we enjoyed views of both Stripe-cheeked and Eastern Mountain Greenbul, before notching up two mega’s both Bar-tailed and Narina Trogons within an hour and Brown Woodland Warbler and Black-throated Wattle-eye before we had to head back to our Coffee Lodge for dinner.
30 Aug. Arusha – Moshi. Today we headed to the lark plains were our prize quarry was Beesley’s Lark. We eventually found a small family party of this Critically Endangered bird. Its global population estimated at less then 200 individuals, we were able to watch them forage for some time. Other larks were seen including Fawn-coloured (Foxy) Lark, Fisher’s Finchlark, Rufous-naped Lark, Short-tailed Lark and several others. The dry bushland en-route to Kilimanjaro yielded tons of birds including good views at White-headed Mousebird and a Secretarybird strutting proudly along the roadside. In the late afternoon we enjoyed a walk on the slopes of Kilimanjaro indulging in some final birding before the cloud burnt off and we were treated to magnificent views of Kili from just beneath it! Dinner in Moshi.
Mt Kilimanjaro made a brief but welcome appearance for us
For the next couple of days we were to bird the drier scrubland around the town of Same and spent some time in the Mkomazi Game Reserve. This is fantastic birding as seeing things is easy and the birds are spectacular. We enjoyed gems such as Somali Golden-breasted Bunting, Blue-headed Cordon Blue, Purple Granadier, Hilderbrandt’s Starling, Eastern Chanting Goshawk, Hunter’s and Beautiful Sunbird, Temminck’s Courser, Red-fronted Warbler, Long-crested Eagle and many more. A nightdrive gave us White-tailed Mongoose, Common Genet, African Wild Cat and great looks at Donaldson-Smith’s Nightjar! The following day in Mkomazi highlights included Golden-breasted Starling and Violet Woodhoopoe. A lake en-route to the Usambaras yielded 20 of the regionally uncommon African Skimmer, Spur-winged Plover, Pink-backed Pelican, African Openbill, Black Heron and Hottentot Teal. That evening we saw Wood Owl and Barn Owl in the forest near the lodge.
2-3 Nov: West Usambaras
Birding a variety of forest patches in the West Usambaras yielded excellent results. The birding was slow (as Afromontane birding often is) but we managed to reel off the local Usambara specialities and high altitude species over the next two days. We started with Eastern (Usambara) Double-collared Sunbird, Moustached Green Tinkerbird and White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher. A Spot-throat, against all expectations, stood out in no cover and walked along the edge of a dusty track for all to see!!! Some birds took more time and we eventually got looks at Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Olive (Usambara) Thrush, Mountain Buzzard, Black-headed Apalis, Yellow-throated Woodland Warbler, White-starred Robin, Fuelleborn’s Boubou, Black-fronted Bush Shrike, White-tailed Crested Flycatcher, African Hill Babbler, Short-tailed Batis, fantastic multiple views of Crowned Eagle, and the gorgeous Hartlaub’s Turaco showed itself, although often fleetingly, on many occasions. The fruiting trees were festooned with Waller’s, Kenrick’s and Sharpe’s Starlings. We spent some time on the forest floor looking for secretive understorey birds. Although it was tough we eventually scored with an Olive Woodpecker and Curt and I saw the local and endemic Usambara Akalat before it moved off. The bizarre, localised and anomalous African Tailorbird was seen regularly while in this area. With their closest relatives in Asia, this is a real evolutionary throwback! Despite much work the highly localised Usambara Weaver’s remained elusive.
4-6 Sept. East Usambaras
On route to Amani we found Striped Pipit (a localised species in this area) and Mocking Cliff Chat. The forests yielded many Silvery-cheeked and Trumpeter Hornbills calling overhead and before long we lucked onto a magnificent Fasciated Snake Eagle that perched low in the forest for all to admire. Amazingly Banded Green and Amani Sunbirds were seen reasonably well in the village on arrival and not again! The following morning started with a bang! At one of the stakeouts a magical single Moreau’s Tailorbird showed well, creeping through the undergrowth. This Critically Endangered species is thought to number less than 50 individuals at this site, although a definitive population of only some 10 individuals is known from Amani!!! Although it is a little grey job, it is indeed one of the star birds of any Tanzania trip. It was misty and good views were hard to obtain, but many of the specialties followed and we saw Green-headed Oriole, Green Barbet, Yellow-streaked and Placid Greenbul, Fisher’s Turaco, Pale Batis and Uluguru Violet-backed Sunbird. Curt and I had brief views of Orange Ground Thrush. White-breasted Alethe and Sharpe’s Akalat’s were both heard but never gave satisfactory views. The lowlands yielded the magnificent Chestnut-fronted Helmetshrike, Yellowbill, Mottled Spinetail, Peter’s Twinspot, Plain-backed Sunbird, Little Yellow Flycatcher, African Crested Flycatcher, Red-tailed Ant-thrush, Green Tinkerbird and Slender Greenbul. We also caught up with the skulking Kretchmar’s Longbill and a very well behaved African Broadbill that perched in the complete open for all to see. The coastal scrub near Muheza revealed Collared Palm Thrush. On the last night we flew to Pemba Island and settled in at the laid-back beach resort of Manta Reef Lodge. On route we found a beautiful Dickinson’s Kestrel perched next to the roadside.
The White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher is a common montane forest bird
7-9 Sept. Pemba Island
The birding here was easy and laidback. A welcome change from the days slogging on muddy forest trails looking for skulkers. We enjoyed the two endemics that frequented the hotel grounds Pemba Sunbird and Pemba White-eye and the endemic subspecies of African Goshawk. We then headed off to Ngezi Forest where we caught up with the endemic vaughni subspecies of Black-bellied Glossy Starling. An impressive and extremely large female Black Sparrowhawk came in and perched nearby, and we admired her completely. After some searching we located a pair of Pemba Green Pigeon’s feeding on a fruiting tree. Later we visited an extremely impressive roosting tree filled with hundreds of the massive endemic rusty-and-black Pemba Flying Fox. We returned to the lodge for lunch. The afternoon was spent at some wetlands finding the exquisite Pygmy Goose, Dimorphic Egret, Mangrove Kingfisher, Palm-nut Vulture and a host of waders. In the evening we ventured back to Ngezi for an attempt at Pemba Scops Owl. Although common, this little bird can be a real troublesome species to find due to their habit of not responding to call and otherwise being decidedly skittish. The night was fruitless, despite the bird being very close on two occasions. The following morning was spent on a boat, we had good looks at a great tern roost, where we could compare Lesser Crested, Greater Crested, Common, Roseate and Saunder’s Terns. The trip also yielded a handful of Terek Sandpipers, our only ones for the trip. The afternoon at the wetlands produced much of the same and our evening excursion back to Ngezi was met with partial success as two participants got fairly substandard views of the endemic Pemba Scops Owl as it flew in to call, perched in a position where no-one could see it and then left. We continued our search, but did not get improved looks.
10 Sept. Pemba – Ngorongoro Crater. Today was primarily a travel day. We were treated to both Pemba and Ujunga (Zanzibar) from the sky in our 6-seater plane before making our way to Arusha. After lunch we headed towards the famed Ngogongoro Crater stopping briefly in the drier woodland near Lake Manyara picking up our two target species and Tanzanian endemics Ashy Starling and Yellow-collared Lovebird as well as our first Speckle-fronted Weaver. Cinnamon-chested Bee-eaters flitted alongside the cuttings as we ascended the crater rim and we added the dainty White-tailed Blue Flycatcher and Thick-billed Seedeater to our list. In the late afternoon we stopped for views over the crater. This spectacular viewpoint with the floor of Ngorongoro spread beneath us, is indeed an impressive site with animal specks cast out across the crater floor roaming from one good feeding patch to another. We finished off with a Schalow’s Turaco near the hotel.
The Speckle-fronted Weaver is a common small bird of drier areas
11 Sept. Ngorongoro Crater. Up before the rest we enjoyed an almost empty restaurant. While scanning the crater from the balcony I head one of the hotel’s other guests say “oh-oh birdwatchers!!”, to which I almost responded “Don’t worry, we’ve been quarantined and are not contagious”. We made an early start enjoying Schalow’s Wheatear and another Tanzanian endemic, Rufous-tailed Weaver, before we’d fully descended the crater wall. We stopped in a futile attempt to identify a red-eared mouse and chuckled to ourselves as we imagined the responses we might get from the ““oh-oh birdwatchers”-crowd with the Big-5 on their minds if they had seen us screech to a halt for a 4-inch mouse! Speaking of the Big-5 though, it is impossible to ignore the enormity of this thronging ecosystem with all its amazing large mammals. In the distance we noticed vultures dropping to the crater floor. Soon we had racked up Lappet-faced, Ruppell’s Griffon, White-backed and White-headed Vultures as they inspected the Cheetah kill. The Cheetah’s were moving off, evidently satiated and soon thereafter a marouding band of Spotted Hyaenas came galloping along to take their place in the drama. Later that day we found several vehicles around a sleepy Lion pride. Lake Magadi was nearly dry, a result of several years bad drought, but several Lesser and Greater Flamingos, ducks and waders including Chestnut-banded Plover were still hanging in. The afternoon yielded a serious highlight. A Grant’s Gazelle had been felled by a mother Cheetah and her two cubs fed on the fresh carcass just metres from the road. Although there were a score of vehicles, the animals fed unperturbed and we watched for some time until we were content. Other birding highlights for the day included White-headed Barbet, Grey-headed Woodpecker, Martial Eagle, Brown Parisoma and many others. We had also saw Egyptian Mongoose, Eland and Defassa Waterbuck.
The Cheetah mum with her two cubs feasting on a Grant’s Gazelle kill!
12 Sept. Ngorongoro – Ndutu (southern Serengeti). We travelled to Ndutu early this morning stopping off at Olduvai Gorge, the aptly named “cradle of mankind”, to view the fossil remains and hear the stories of the Leakey’s amazing discoveries in this district. We added Lanner Falcon and Chestnut Sparrow near the gorge. Ndutu is a relative oasis in the dry season and the cacophony at the lodge was remarkable, attracting loads of birds while the remainder of the bush was seemingly barren. Our final Tanzanian endemic Grey-breasted Spurfowl was seen scurrying around near our rooms. White-rumped Shrike was omnipresent and Fisher’s Lovebirds were literally dripping from the trees at times. An afternoon walk added the splendid Silverbird (a silky steel-grey flycatcher), Ruppell’s Long-tailed Starling, Buff-bellied Warbler and Red-fronted Barbet. In the aftrernoon we made for the nearby Lake Masek as local gen informed us it still had water in it. The drive added Red-throated Tit and Black-lored Babbler, while the many waterbirds and Hippos kept us otherwise entertained. Curt and I spent a bit of time owling after dark, but we spent more time scanning the dark watching the cheeky Hyaenas sloping closer to camp than we were comfortable with!!
The gregarious White-rumped Shrike is a common species around Ndutu.
13-15 Sept. Serengeti NP.
The most famous wildlife ecosystem on earth. This is what lay ahead for us, but not before we had a few highlights of our own. It is always great to see wild animals, but finding your own is always more thrilling. Leaving Ndutu we happened upon two Cheetahs. We had certainly had a good cheetah trip, with this being our 8th in 3 days. They sat near the car and called a plaintive and bird-like chirp to one another. It constantly amazes me how unfussed the animals of the Serengeti are to humans in cars. We headed off birding our way north, adding Yellow-throated Sandgrouse and Saddle-billed Stork at a nice wetland. I got out of the car for a “relief stop” only to see a rather burly and beautiful looking male Lion jump up about 50 m away and bolt off gingerly. Issuing instructions for everyone to stay in the vehicle I made my way back to the car very rapidly, where I was amazed to discover the need to go to the loo had entirely vanished!! We pulled up to the burly male in the safety of our car and we checked each other out for 10 or so minutes before heading off. Making our way to Seronera we added a pride of 10 more lions and saw Bare-faced Go-Away Bird, Slate-coloured Boubou and many other birds. The expansive plains were dotted with ungulates and as we drove we came across Grant’s and Thompson’s Gazelle, Impala, Burchell’s Zebra, Topi, Blue Wildebeest and more. Exploring the woodlands around Seronera we saw a large group of Elephant of varying ages. We watched as they milled about going about their business. A lone vehicle up ahead flashed his lights, we knew he was onto something good and as we made our way over there we were delighted to see a Leopard sprawled across the middle of the road. This was certainly better than the Leopard paw we had seen protruding from a cave earlier in the day!! It also wrapped up for me what must be the best Big Cat day I have ever had in the African bush. Paul, however, had one more wish. He asked Kevin (our excellent Safari guide) to find a Leopard up a tree with his paws dangling. The most elusive of all big cats lived up to its name as it sloped off into the bush and we headed back for drinks and dinner. Amazingly the next morning we went back into the same area and Kevin found the Leopard up the tree with its paws dangling!! What more could you ask for?
As we had seen many of the plains birds we headed towards Grumeti and the western corridor in search of some of the riparian woodland birds that are found only in this area. Here we added Meyer’s (Brown) Parrot, Grey-headed Social Weaver, Sulphur-breasted Bush Shrike, Holub’s Golden Weaver, White-bellied Tit, Rufous Chatterer, Brown-throated Wattle-eye, Eastern Grey Plantain Eater, Ashy Flycatcher, Usambiro Babet, Red-fronted Tinkerbird, Woodland Kingfisher and some magnificent Southern Ground Hornbill. In the evening we caught up with the Square-tailed Nightjar that was calling on the hill we were staying on.
Our last day in Tanzania was essentially a travel day, but we enjoyed two Lionesses walking alongside the road on our way out and a distant Cheetah. Our lunch stop at Gibb’s farm was productive with a few new trip birds including a stunning Grey-headed Warbler and Brown-headed Apalis in the gardens. On arrival at the coffee farm in Arusha that evening some 18 days after starting we were amazed to add another bird a Brown-breasted Barbet to the list in the gardens. It is amazing that there always seems to be something else to see when in a country as diverse as Tanzania! The tour drew to a close and we dropped some of the participants off while others stayed on for a night for their flights the next day ending a bumper trip of birds and beasts in Tanzania. Curt kindly found me a White-bellied Hedgehog that night, a very cute and nifty mammal and a great way to complete the trip.
This beautiful male lion prevented us from using the facilities at the toilet stop!
N. Tanzania Triplist
(Based on Clements)
Species Scientific name
1. Ostrich Struthio camelus
2. Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
3. Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus
4. Pink-backed Pelican Pelecanus rufescens
5. Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
6. Long-tailed Cormorant Phalacrocorax africanus
7. Gray Heron Ardea cinerea
8. Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala
9. Great Egret Ardea alba
10. Black Heron Egretta ardesiaca
11. Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia
12. Little Egret Egretta garzetta
13. Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides
14. Madagascar Pond-Heron Ardeola idae
15. Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
16. Striated Heron Butorides striatus
17. Hamerkop Scopus umbretta
18. Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis
19. African Openbill Anastomus lamelligerus
20. Black Stork Ciconia nigra
21. Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus
22. Saddle-billed Stork Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis
23. Marabou Stork Leptoptilos crumeniferus
24. Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus
25. Hadada Ibis Bostrychia hagedash
26. Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
27. African Spoonbill Platalea alba
28. Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber
29. Lesser Flamingo Phoenicopterus minor
30. White-faced Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna viduata
31. Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiacus
32. Spur-winged Goose Plectropterus gambensis
33. Comb Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos
34. African Pygmy-goose Nettapus auritus
35. Cape Teal Anas capensis
36. Red-billed Duck Anas erythrorhyncha
37. Hottentot Teal Anas hottentota
38. Southern Pochard Netta erythrophthalma
39. Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus
40. Black Kite Milvus migrans
41. African Fish-Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer
42. Palm-nut Vulture Gypohierax angolensis
43. Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus
44. White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus
45. Rueppell's Griffon Gyps rueppellii
46. Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotus
47. White-headed Vulture Trigonoceps occipitalis
48. Black-breasted Snake-Eagle Circaetus pectoralis
49. Brown Snake-Eagle Circaetus cinereus
50. Fasciated Snake-Eagle Circaetus fasciolatus
51. Bateleur Terathopius ecaudatus
52. African Harrier-Hawk Polyboroides typus
53. Lizard Buzzard Kaupifalco monogrammicus
54. Dark Chanting-Goshawk Melierax metabates
55. Eastern Chanting-Goshawk Melierax poliopterus
56. Gabar Goshawk Micronisus gabar
57. African Goshawk Accipiter tachiro
58. Little Sparrowhawk Accipiter minullus
59. Black Goshawk Accipiter melanoleucus
60. Mountain Buzzard Buteo oreophilus
61. Augur Buzzard Buteo augur
62. Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax
63. Wahlberg's Eagle Aquila wahlbergi
64. African Hawk-Eagle Hieraaetus spilogaster
65. Martial Eagle Polemaetus bellicosus
66. Long-crested Eagle Lophaetus occipitalis
67. Crowned Hawk-Eagle Stephanoaetus coronatus
68. Secretary-bird Sagittarius serpentarius
69. Pygmy Falcon Polihierax semitorquatus
70. Eurasian Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
71. Greater Kestrel Falco rupicoloides
72. Dickinson's Kestrel Falco dickinsoni
73. Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus
74. Coqui Francolin Francolinus coqui
75. Crested Francolin Francolinus sephaena
76. Hildebrandt's Francolin Francolinus hildebrandti
77. Yellow-necked Francolin Francolinus leucoscepus
78. Gray-breasted Francolin Francolinus rufopictus
79. Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris
80. Gray Crowned-Crane Balearica regulorum
81. Black Crake Amaurornis flavirostris
82. Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
83. Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata
84. Kori Bustard Ardeotis kori
85. White-bellied Bustard Eupodotis senegalensis
86. Buff-crested Bustard Eupodotis gindiana
87. Black-bellied Bustard Lissotis melanogaster
88. African Jacana Actophilornis africanus
89. Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
90. Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta
91. Water Thick-knee Burhinus vermiculatus
92. Temminck's Courser Cursorius temminckii
93. Double-banded Courser Smutsornis africanus
94. Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola
95. Long-toed Lapwing Vanellus crassirostris
96. Blacksmith Plover Vanellus armatus
97. Spur-winged Plover Vanellus spinosus
98. Black-winged Lapwing Vanellus melanopterus
99. Crowned Lapwing Vanellus coronatus
100. Wattled Lapwing Vanellus senegallus
101. Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola
102. Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula
103. Kittlitz's Plover Charadrius pecuarius
104. Three-banded Plover Charadrius tricollaris
105. White-fronted Plover Charadrius marginatus
106. Chestnut-banded Plover Charadrius pallidus
107. Mongolian Plover Charadrius mongolus
108. Greater Sandplover Charadrius leschenaultii
109. Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica
110. Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
111. Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis
112. Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia
113. Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus
114. Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola
115. Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus
116. Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
117. Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
118. Sanderling Calidris alba
119. Little Stint Calidris minuta
120. Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea
121. Ruff Philomachus pugnax
122. Gull-billed Tern Sterna nilotica
123. Lesser Crested Tern Sterna bengalensis
124. Great Crested Tern Sterna bergii
125. Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii
126. Common Tern Sterna hirundo
127. Saunders' Tern Sterna saundersi
128. Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus
129. White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus
130. African Skimmer Rynchops flavirostris
131. Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles exustus
132. Yellow-throated Sandgrouse Pterocles gutturalis
133. Black-faced Sandgrouse Pterocles decoratus
134. Rock Dove Columba livia
135. Speckled Pigeon Columba guinea
136. Rameron Pigeon Columba arquatrix
137. Delegorgue's Pigeon Columba delegorguei
138. Lemon Dove Columba larvata
139. Dusky Turtle-Dove Streptopelia lugens
140. African Mourning Dove Streptopelia decipiens
141. Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata
142. Ring-necked Dove Streptopelia capicola
143. Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis
144. Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove Turtur chalcospilos
145. Blue-spotted Wood-Dove Turtur afer
146. Tambourine Dove Turtur tympanistria
147. Namaqua Dove Oena capensis
148. Pemba Green-Pigeon Treron pembaensis
149. African Green-Pigeon Treron calva
150. Fischer's Lovebird Agapornis fischeri
151. Yellow-collared Lovebird Agapornis personatus
152. Meyer's Parrot Poicephalus meyeri
153. Brown-headed Parrot Poicephalus cryptoxanthus
154. Red-bellied Parrot Poicephalus rufiventris
155. Schalow's Turaco Tauraco schalowi
156. Fischer's Turaco Tauraco fischeri
157. Hartlaub's Turaco Tauraco hartlaubi
158. Bare-faced Go-away-bird Corythaixoides personatus
159. White-bellied Go-away-bird Corythaixoides leucogaster
160. Eastern Plantain-eater Crinifer zonurus
161. Klaas' Cuckoo Chrysococcyx klaas
162. Yellowbill Ceuthmochares aereus
163. White-browed Coucal Centropus superciliosus
164. Barn Owl Tyto alba
165. African Scops-Owl Otus senegalensis
166. Pemba Scops-Owl Otus pembaensis
167. Spotted Eagle-Owl Bubo africanus
168. Usambara Eagle-Owl Bubo vosseleri
169. Verreaux's Eagle-Owl Bubo lacteus
170. African Wood-Owl Strix woodfordii
171. Pearl-spotted Owlet Glaucidium perlatum
172. Sombre Nightjar Caprimulgus fraenatus
173. Donaldson-Smith's Nightjar Caprimulgus donaldsoni
174. Slender-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus clarus
175. Square-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus fossii
176. Bat-like Spinetail Neafrapus boehmi
177. African Palm-Swift Cypsiurus parvus
178. African Swift Apus barbatus
179. Little Swift Apus affinis
180. White-rumped Swift Apus caffer
181. Speckled Mousebird Colius striatus
182. White-headed Mousebird Colius leucocephalus
183. Blue-naped Mousebird Urocolius macrourus
184. Narina Trogon Apaloderma narina
185. Bar-tailed Trogon Apaloderma vittatum
186. Malachite Kingfisher Alcedo cristata
187. African Pygmy-Kingfisher Ispidina picta
188. Gray-headed Kingfisher Halcyon leucocephala
189. Woodland Kingfisher Halcyon senegalensis
190. Mangrove Kingfisher Halcyon senegaloides
191. Brown-hooded Kingfisher Halcyon albiventris
192. Giant Kingfisher Megaceryle maxima
193. Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis
194. White-fronted Bee-eater Merops bullockoides
195. Little Bee-eater Merops pusillus
196. Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater Merops oreobates
197. Madagascar Bee-eater Merops superciliosus
198. European Bee-eater Merops apiaster
199. Lilac-breasted Roller Coracias caudata
200. Broad-billed Roller Eurystomus glaucurus
201. Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops
202. Green Woodhoopoe Phoeniculus purpureus
203. Violet Woodhoopoe Phoeniculus damarensis
204. Common Scimitar-bill Rhinopomastus cyanomelas
205. Abyssinian Scimitar-bill Rhinopomastus minor
206. Red-billed Hornbill Tockus erythrorhynchus
207. E. Yellow-billed Hornbill Tockus flavirostris
208. Von der Decken's Hornbill Tockus deckeni
209. Crowned Hornbill Tockus alboterminatus
210. African Gray Hornbill Tockus nasutus
211. Trumpeter Hornbill Ceratogymna bucinator
212. Silvery-cheeked Hornbill Ceratogymna brevis
213. Southern Ground-Hornbill Bucorvus leadbeateri
214. White-eared Barbet Stactolaema leucotis
215. Green Barbet Stactolaema olivacea
216. Moustached Tinkerbird Pogoniulus leucomystax
217. Green Tinkerbird Pogoniulus simplex
218. Red-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus pusillus
219. Red-fronted Barbet Tricholaema diademata
220. Spot-flanked Barbet Tricholaema lachrymosa
221. Black-throated Barbet Tricholaema melanocephala
222. White-headed Barbet Lybius leucocephalus
223. Brown-breasted Barbet Lybius melanopterus
224. Red-and-yellow Barbet Trachyphonus erythrocephalus
225. D'Arnaud's Barbet Trachyphonus darnaudii
226. Scaly-throated Honeyguide Indicator variegatus
227. Greater Honeyguide Indicator indicator
228. Lesser Honeyguide Indicator minor
229. Pallid Honeyguide Indicator meliphilus
230. Wahlberg's Honeyguide Prodotiscus regulus
231. Nubian Woodpecker Campethera nubica
232. Cardinal Woodpecker Dendropicos fuscescens
233. Bearded Woodpecker Dendropicos namaquus
234. Gray-headed Woodpecker Dendropicos spodocephalus
235. Olive Woodpecker Dendropicos griseocephalus
236. African Broadbill Smithornis capensis
237. Singing Bushlark Mirafra cantillans
238. Rufous-naped Lark Mirafra africana
239. Fawn-colored Lark Mirafra africanoides
240. Pink-breasted Lark Mirafra poecilosterna
241. Pygmy Spikeheeled Lark Chersomanes beesleyi
242. Fischer's Sparrow-Lark Eremopterix leucopareia
243. Red-capped Lark Calandrella cinerea
244. Short-tailed Lark Pseudalaemon fremantlii
245. Plain Martin Riparia paludicola
246. Banded Martin Riparia cincta
247. Rock Martin Hirundo fuligula
248. Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
249. Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii
250. Lesser Striped-Swallow Hirundo abyssinica
251. Mosque Swallow Hirundo senegalensis
252. Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica
253. Black Sawwing Psalidoprocne holomelas
254. African Pied Wagtail Motacilla aguimp
255. Mountain Wagtail Motacilla clara
256. Yellow-throated Longclaw Macronyx croceus
257. Rosy-throated Longclaw Macronyx ameliae
258. Pangani Longclaw Macronyx aurantiigula
259. Striped Pipit Anthus lineiventris
260. Plain-backed Pipit Anthus leucophrys
261. African Pipit Anthus cinnamomeus
262. Long-billed Pipit Anthus similis
263. Gray Cuckoo-shrike Coracina caesia
264. Black Cuckoo-shrike Campephaga flava
265. Common Bulbul Pycnonotus barbatus
266. Shelley's Greenbul Andropadus masukuensis
267. Little Greenbul Andropadus virens
268. Sombre Greenbul Andropadus importunus
269. Eastern Mountain-Greenbul Andropadus nigriceps
270. Stripe-cheeked Bulbul Andropadus milanjensis
271. Yellow-bellied Greenbul Chlorocichla flaviventris
272. Placid Greenbul Phyllastrephus placidus
273. Yellow-streaked Bulbul Phyllastrephus flavostriatus
274. Tiny Greenbul Phyllastrephus debilis
275. Red-tailed Ant-Thrush Neocossyphus rufus
276. Orange Ground-Thrush Zoothera gurneyi
277. Olive Thrush Turdus olivaceus
278. Kurrichane Thrush Turdus libonyanus
279. African Bare-eyed Thrush Turdus tephronotus
280. White-chested Alethe Alethe fuelleborni
281. Red-faced Cisticola Cisticola erythrops
282. Singing Cisticola Cisticola cantans
283. Hunter's Cisticola Cisticola hunteri
284. Rattling Cisticola Cisticola chiniana
285. Ashy Cisticola Cisticola cinereolus
286. Winding Cisticola Cisticola galactotes
287. Croaking Cisticola Cisticola natalensis
288. Tiny Cisticola Cisticola nanus
289. Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis
290. Desert Cisticola Cisticola aridulus
291. Pectoral-patch Cisticola Cisticola brunnescens
292. Tawny-flanked Prinia Prinia subflava
293. Bar-throated Apalis Apalis thoracica
294. Yellow-breasted Apalis Apalis flavida
295. Chestnut-throated Apalis Apalis porphyrolaema
296. Black-headed Apalis Apalis melanocephala
297. Gray Apalis Apalis cinerea
298. Brown-headed Apalis Apalis alticola
299. Gray-capped Warbler Eminia lepida
300. Green-backed Camaroptera Camaroptera brachyura
301. Gray Wren-Warbler Calamonastes simplex
302. Cameroon Scrub-Warbler Bradypterus lopezi
303. Cinnamon Bracken-Warbler Bradypterus cinnamomeus
304. African Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus baeticatus
305. African Yellow Warbler Chloropeta natalensis
306. Mountain Yellow Warbler Chloropeta similis
307. Buff-bellied Warbler Phyllolais pulchella
308. African Tailorbird Orthotomus metopias
309. Long-billed Tailorbird Orthotomus moreaui
310. Yellow-bellied Eremomela Eremomela icteropygialis
311. Northern Crombec Sylvietta brachyura
312. Red-faced Crombec Sylvietta whytii
313. Kretschmer's Longbill Macrosphenus kretschmeri
314. Yellow-thr Wood-Warbler Phylloscopus ruficapillus
315. Brown Woodland-Warbler Phylloscopus umbrovirens
316. Brown Warbler Parisoma lugens
317. Banded Warbler Parisoma boehmi
318. Silverbird Empidornis semipartitus
319. Pale Flycatcher Bradornis pallidus
320. African Gray Flycatcher Bradornis microrhynchus
321. White-eyed Slaty-Flycatcher Melaenornis fischeri
322. Southern Black-Flycatcher Melaenornis pammelaina
323. African Dusky Flycatcher Muscicapa adusta
324. Ashy Flycatcher Muscicapa caerulescens
325. Gray Tit-Flycatcher Myioparus plumbeus
326. White-starred Robin Pogonocichla stellata
327. Sharpe's Akalat Sheppardia sharpei
328. Usambara Akalat Sheppardia montana
329. Cape Robin-Chat Cossypha caffra
330. White-browed Robin-Chat Cossypha heuglini
331. Red-capped Robin-Chat Cossypha natalensis
332. Collared Palm-Thrush Cichladusa arquata
333. Red-backed Scrub-Robin Cercotrichas leucophrys
334. African Stonechat Saxicola torquata
335. Capped Wheatear Oenanthe pileata
336. Northern Anteater-Chat Myrmecocichla aethiops
337. Mocking Cliff-Chat Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris
338. Brown-throated Wattle-eye Platysteira cyanea
339. Black-throated Wattle-eye Platysteira peltata
340. Short-tailed Batis Batis mixta
341. Chinspot Batis Batis molitor
342. Pale Batis Batis soror
343. Black-headed Batis Batis minor
344. Yellow Flycatcher Erythrocercus holochlorus
345. White-tailed Blue-Flycatcher Elminia albicauda
346. White-tailed Cr-Flycatcher Elminia albonotata
347. African Crested-Flycatcher Trochocercus cyanomelas
348. African Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis
349. Spot-throat Modulatrix stictigula
350. Scaly-breasted Illadopsis Illadopsis albipectus
351. African Hill Babbler Illadopsis abyssinica
352. Scaly Chatterer Turdoides aylmeri
353. Rufous Chatterer Turdoides rubiginosus
354. Black-lored Babbler Turdoides melanops
355. Arrow-marked Babbler Turdoides jardineii
356. White-bellied Tit Melaniparus albiventris
357. Red-throated Tit Melaniparus fringillinus
358. African Penduline-Tit Anthoscopus caroli
359. Plain-backed Sunbird Anthreptes reichenowi
360. Kenya Violet-back Sunbird Anthreptes orientalis
361. Uluguru Violetback Sunbird Anthreptes neglectus
362. Banded Sunbird Anthreptes rubritorques
363. Collared Sunbird Hedydipna collaris
364. Amani Sunbird Hedydipna pallidigaster
365. Western Olive-Sunbird Cyanomitra obscura
366. Mouse-colored Sunbird Cyanomitra veroxii
367. Amethyst Sunbird Chalcomitra amethystina
368. Scarlet-chested Sunbird Chalcomitra senegalensis
369. Hunter's Sunbird Chalcomitra hunteri
370. Bronze Sunbird Nectarinia kilimensis
371. E. Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris mediocris
372. Beautiful Sunbird Cinnyris pulchellus
373. Mariqua Sunbird Cinnyris mariquensis
374. Purple-banded Sunbird Cinnyris bifasciatus
375. Tsavo Sunbird Cinnyris tsavoensis
376. Pemba Sunbird Cinnyris pembae
377. Variable Sunbird Cinnyris venustus
378. African Yellow White-eye Zosterops senegalensis
379. Broad-ringed White-eye Zosterops poliogaster
380. White-breasted White-eye Zosterops abyssinicus
381. Pemba White-eye Zosterops vaughani
382. Green-headed Oriole Oriolus chlorocephalus
383. African Black-headed Oriole Oriolus larvatus
384. Gray-backed Fiscal Lanius excubitoroides
385. Long-tailed Fiscal Lanius cabanisi
386. Taita Fiscal Lanius dorsalis
387. Common Fiscal Lanius collaris
388. Magpie Shrike Corvinella melanoleuca
389. White-rumped Shrike Eurocephalus rueppelli
390. Brubru Nilaus afer
391. Black-backed Puffback Dryoscopus cubla
392. Black-crowned Tchagra Tchagra senegala
393. Brown-crowned Tchagra Tchagra australis
394. Tropical Boubou Laniarius aethiopicus
395. Black-headed Gonolek Laniarius erythrogaster
396. Slate-colored Boubou Laniarius funebris
397. Fuelleborn's Boubou Laniarius fuelleborni
398. Rosy-patched Bushshrike Rhodophoneus cruentus
399. Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike Telophorus sulfureopectus
400. Black-fronted Bushshrike Telophorus nigrifrons
401. Gray-headed Bushshrike Malaconotus blanchoti
402. White Helmetshrike Prionops plumatus
403. Chestnut-fr. Helmetshrike Prionops scopifrons
404. Square-tailed Drongo Dicrurus ludwigii
405. Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis
406. House Crow Corvus splendens
407. Cape Crow Corvus capensis
408. Pied Crow Corvus albus
409. White-necked Raven Corvus albicollis
410. Wattled Starling Creatophora cinerea
411. G. Blue-ear Glossy-Starling Lamprotornis chalybaeus
412. Rueppell's Glossy-Starling Lamprotornis purpuropterus
413. Golden-breasted Starling Lamprotornis regius
414. Black-bellied Glossy-Starling Lamprotornis corruscus
415. Superb Starling Lamprotornis superbus
416. Hildebrandt's Starling Lamprotornis hildebrandti
417. Violet-backed Starling Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
418. Fischer's Starling Spreo fischeri
419. Ashy Starling Spreo unicolor
420. Red-winged Starling Onychognathus morio
421. Waller's Starling Onychognathus walleri
422. Kenrick's Starling Poeoptera kenricki
423. Sharpe's Starling Pholia sharpii
424. Red-billed Oxpecker Buphagus erythrorhynchus
425. Yellow-billed Oxpecker Buphagus africanus
426. House Sparrow Passer domesticus
427. Rufous Sparrow Passer motitensis
428. Gray-headed Sparrow Passer griseus
429. Parrot-billed Sparrow Passer gongonensis
430. Swaheli Sparrow Passer suahelicus
431. Cape Sparrow Passer diffusus
432. Chestnut Sparrow Passer eminibey
433. Yellow-spotted Petronia Petronia pyrgita
434. Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver Bubalornis niger
435. Whiteheaded Buffalo-Weaver Dinemellia dinemelli
436. Speckle-fronted Weaver Sporopipes frontalis
437. Whitebrow Sparrow-Weaver Plocepasser mahali
438. Rufous-tailed Weaver Histurgops ruficauda
439. Gray-headed Social-Weaver Pseudonigrita arnaudi
440. Baglafecht Weaver Ploceus baglafecht
441. Spectacled Weaver Ploceus ocularis
442. Black-necked Weaver Ploceus nigricollis
443. African Golden-Weaver Ploceus subaureus
444. Holub's Golden-Weaver Ploceus xanthops
445. Taveta Golden-Weaver Ploceus castaneiceps
446. African Masked-Weaver Ploceus velatus
447. Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus
448. Black-headed Weaver Ploceus melanocephalus
449. Chestnut Weaver Ploceus rubiginosus
450. Forest Weaver Ploceus bicolor
451. Red-headed Weaver Anaplectes rubriceps
452. Red-billed Quelea Quelea quelea
453. Black-winged Bishop Euplectes hordeaceus
454. Yellow Bishop Euplectes capensis
455. Fan-tailed Widowbird Euplectes axillaris
456. White-winged Widowbird Euplectes albonotatus
457. Grosbeak Weaver Amblyospiza albifrons
458. Green-winged Pytilia Pytilia melba
459. Peters' Twinspot Hypargos niveoguttatus
460. Red-billed Firefinch Lagonosticta senegala
461. Jameson's Firefinch Lagonosticta rhodopareia
462. Red-cheeked Cordonbleu Uraeginthus bengalus
463. Blue-capped Cordonbleu Uraeginthus cyanocephalus
464. Purple Grenadier Uraeginthus ianthinogaster
465. Yellow-bellied Waxbill Estrilda quartinia
466. Crimson-rumped Waxbill Estrilda rhodopyga
467. Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild
468. African Quailfinch Ortygospiza atricollis
469. Bronze Mannikin Lonchura cucullata
470. Brown-backed Mannikin Lonchura nigriceps
471. Cut-throat Amadina fasciata
472. Village Indigobird Vidua chalybeata
473. Oriole Finch Linurgus olivaceus
474. African Citril Serinus citrinelloides
475. Black-throated Canary Serinus atrogularis
476. Southern Grosbeak-Canary Serinus buchanani
477. White-bellied Canary Serinus dorsostriatus
478. Streaky Seedeater Serinus striolatus
479. Thick-billed Seedeater Serinus burtoni
480. Somali Bunting Emberiza poliopleura
(Based on Kingdon 1997)
Angola Pied Colobus Colobus angolensis. Seen in both Usambaras.
Guereza Pied Colobus Colobus guereza. Few troops Arusha NP.
Yellow Baboon Papio cyanocephalus. Seen in West Usambaras.
Olive Baboon Papio anubis. Several places. First Arusha NP.
Vervet Monkey Cercopithecus aethiops pygerythrus. Common.
Pemba Green Monkey Cercopithecus a. nesiotes. Pemba Island.
Sykes Blue Gentle Monkey Cercopithicus nictitans stuhlmanni. Ngorongoro Highlands.
White-throated Gentle Monkey Cercopithicus nictitans spp. Usambaras.
Silver Galago Otolemur argentatus. Grounds of Hotel, Arusha.
Small-eared Galago Otolemur garnettii panganiensis. E. Usambara mtns.
Senegal Galago Galago senegalensis braccatus. Pemba Island.
Pemba Flying Fox Pteropus voeltzkowi. Endemic to Pemba. Saw hundreds in a roost tree.
Yellow-winged Bat Lavia frons. Common in drier bush. Very distinctive.
White-bellied Hedgehog Atelerix albiventris. Curt went out on the night of the 15th and found one for these beauties for me. He had seen 4 here when he stayed before the tour. I was most impressed.
Scrub Hare Lepus capensis. Fairly common.
Unstriped Ground Squirrel Xerus rutilus. Mkomazi.
Tanganyika Mountain Squirrel Paraxerus lucifer. Kilimanjaro
Red-bellied Coast Squirrel Paraxerus pappiatus. Lowlands of East Usambaras.
Ochre Bush Squirrel Paraxerus ochraceus. Mkomazi.
Golden Jackal Canis aureus. Fairly Common
Black-backed Jackal Canis mesomelas. Fairly Common.
Bat-eared Fox Otocyon megalotis. Three in the early morning near Ndutu.
Egyptian Mongoose Herpestes ichneumon. One animal seen in Ngorongoro Crater.
White-tailed Mongoose Ichneumia albicauda. Several seen on night drive near Same.
Spotted Hyaena Crocuta crocuta. Common in larger parks.
Common Genet Genetta genetta. Seen near Mkomazi on Pemba and at Ndutu.
Wild Cat Felis sylvestris. Seen nicely on nightdrive near Same.
Leopard Panthera pardus. The same animal seen twice, both times beautifully near Seronera and one seen poorly in a cave.
Lion Panthera leo. Several prides seen well. One magnificent male seen at close quarters.
Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus. Seen 4 times, twice with kills!
Black-necked Rock Hyrax Procavia johnstoni. Seen near Leopard cave in Serengeti.
Eastern Tree Hyrax Dendrohyrax validus. Heard only screeching in the Usamaras at night.
Elephant Loxodonta africana – Common in n. parks.
Boehm’s Common Zebra Equus quagga boehmi - Common in n. parks.
Hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibious – common in n. parks.
Warthog Phacochoerus africanus - Common in n. parks.
Giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis - Common in n. parks.
Buffalo Syncerus caffer – Common in n. parks.
Bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus – Arusha NP, Grumeti River, Serengeti.
Eland Taurotragus oryx. Just one animal in Ngorongoro.
Bush Duiker Sylvicapra grimmia. Mkomazi.
Harvey’s Duiker Cephalophus harveyi. Arusha NP.
Steinbuck Raphicerus campestris. Tinga Tinga. Again near Ndutu.
Kirk’s Dikdik Madoqua kirkii. Common throughout.
Bohor Reedbuck Redunca redunca. Mkomazi, Serengeti.
Defassa Waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus defassa. Ngonogoro Crater.
Thompson’s Gazelle Gazella rufifrons. Common throughout.
Grant’s Gazelle Gazella granti. Common in n. parks.
Impala Aepyceros melampus. Common in n. parks.
Topi Damaliscus lunatus topi. Common in n. parks.
Coke’s Hartebeest Alcelaphus buselaphus cokei. Common in n. parks.
Wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus. Common in n. parks.
Springhare Pedetes capensis
Striped Hyaena Hyaena hyaena
Gerenek Litocranius walleri
Slender Mongoose Herpestes sanguinea