All images DEAN SMITH using Nikon Coolpix 995 with an Optolyth TBS 80 HD

NICK RANSDALE

Leader NEGUSSIE TOYE negussiet@yahoo.com

With 342 bird species in under nine days, Ethiopia is an ideal destination for a short-range trip. With 30 odd endemics, some African species difficult to see elsewhere, and many birds quite approachable, it makes for a birder and digiscoper's paradise. With this illustrated triplist I've added some info on species, etc that may be of use; it's a pretty concentrated trip. 

Highlights were really too numerous to mention, but here's some personal favourites;

SADDLE-BILLED STORK, WHITE-BACKED DUCK, LITTLE SPARROWHAWK, MARTIAL EAGLE, 30 WATTLED CRANES, LESSER JACANA, NARINA'S TROGAN, DOUBLE-TOOTHED BARBET, HALF-COLLARED KINGFISHER, ABYSSINIAN GROUND THRUSH, AFRICAN HILL BABBLER, SPOTTED CREEPER, SOMALI GOLDEN-BREASTED BUNTING, AFRICAN FIREFINCH, RED-HEADED WEAVER, VIOLET-BACKED STARLING, SUPERB STARLING and THICK-BILLED RAVEN.

Obviously not all of these are particularly rare. This triplist is an example what of what can be seen in November. Reference to other trip reports suggests we did pretty well overall; some things seem virtually guaranteed, e.g. five bustard species, others, typically owls, hit and miss. However, the chances seem good whichever way it goes; our trip was good, but a week after we left Awash another group saw Arabian Bustard there.

White-browed Sparrow-weaver	White-collared Pigeon (endemic)

Three-banded Plover	Wattled Ibis (endemic)

Salt's Dik-dik	Beisa Oryx

Negussie Toye is an excellent guide. He worked tirelessly to get our group a good list - not easy whilst at Awash. There had been no rain there for eleven months; it was parched. Species were relatively hard to come by. Fortunately we seemed to compensate with exceptional birds elsewhere.

One potential problem was the high birder to guide ratio; our trip was full (16). In reality this rarely proved a problem, mainly because of the nature of the habitat. Only on one occasion, whilst on a steep, narrow trail at Wondo Genet did it prove frustrating. In fact, any species missed by anyone there were picked up later in the trip.

Blue-naped Mousebird	Grey Kestrel

Yellow Wagtail ssp beema	Wattled Cranes

Black and white Colobus	Mourning/Schalow's Wheatear lugubris sp.

ITINERARY

FRIDAY 15/11 - Evening flight Heathrow to Addis via Rome.

SATURDAY 16/11 - Gefersa Reservoir.

SUNDAY 17/11 - Addis to Awash, via Lake Chelekleka.

MONDAY 18/11 - Awash NP, including Kudu Valley and Awash River.

TUESDAY 19/11 - Awash to Lake Langano, via Lake Ziway.

WEDNESDAY 20/11 - Lake Langano, then to Wondo Genet via Lake Abijatta.

THURSDAY 21/11 - Wondo Genet.

FRIDAY 22/11 - Wondo Genet, then to Lake Awasa.

SATURDAY 23/11 - Lake Awasa to Addis, via Lake Ziway, etc

SUNDAY 24/11 - Addis local then midday flight to London.    

Yellow-billed Stork	Black-crowned Crane

Perhaps the ideal combination here would be 'ETHIOPIAN ENDEMICS' 10-day tour with 3-day Awash extension. This would cover most of the places we did, plus the Bale Mountains for Simien Wolf, Spot-breasted Plover, etc and Debre Libanos/Solulta Plains.

Wattled Cranes at Abijatta-Shalla NP

Lake Chelekleka

Part 2 - Species List