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A Report from birdtours.co.uk

Tanzania Endemics and Rarities, June 2009,

Gary and Marlene Babic

Introduction

The purpose of this 26-day trip was to see as many of the endemics species, subspecies and rarities of Tanzania as possible. The tour was put together by Rockjumper Tours and led by Dave Hoddinott. Other members of our small group were Claes-Goran Cederlund, John Glendenning and Angie Pattison. The ground agent was Matumbezi Tours. They did a great job with the logistics, especially during the camping part of the trip. The drivers, Njono and Julius, were excellent drivers as well as spotters. Our local guide, Martin, was top-notch and located several of the key birds during the trip. After a start in Pemba, the mainland section of the trip started out in the southeast part of Tanzania and progressed to the north. The roads between major cities were fine, but once off these roads they disappeared in places. Of course, we were venturing “well off the beaten path” so this is not surprising.

Many of the birds we were trying to see are endangered and in remote locations; several have only been described within the last 15 years. Consequently, although we tried for as many as we could, we knew that realistically we would never see them all. However, we did see most of them, plus a few “extras”. Overall, we saw a total of 534 birds. This is not as large a sum as many birding tours to Tanzania have tallied, but our focus was on the specialties and not on birds that could be seen just as easily elsewhere.  We saw approximately 70 birds that are either Tanzanian endemics, or are only seen in Tanzania and remote parts of Malawi, Mozambique, or Zambia, as well as many subspecies that are possibly full species.

On most days we had breakfast at our hotel or camp site, then took along a pack lunch. We would then have our evening meal at the next stop. A few times the travel time was longer than expected and we had late suppers. The meals cooked for us at the camp sites were excellent. Some comments about meals at the various hotels are given in the Accommodations section.

We were in two Toyota 4WD Landcruisers during the entire mainland trip. They had hatches in the roof so we could stand up and look at birds and wildlife from inside. These proved to be effective “blinds” and we were able to get quite close to many birds. In the national parks, we were not allowed to leave the vehicles except at designated points so it was very handy to have this setup (all of the safari-type vehicles in the northern parks were like these). The vehicles were comfortable and sturdy. We only got stuck a couple of times in the Ulugurus on a terrible road, and had one tire low on air that we changed near the end of the trip. Tanzania is a big place, and even though we traveled on some good roads, we still spent a lot of time in transit between birding locations.

U.S. citizens require a visa, which we obtained by mail without any problems. The main flight from Europe or USA into Dar Es Salaam (universally referred to as “Dar”) is via Amsterdam on Lufthansa.

Birding Locations.

Although Pemba is a smaller island than its neighbor Zanzibar, there is a deep trench between Pemba and the mainland whereas no trench exists between Zanzibar and the mainland. It seems reasonable that this is why Pemba has several endemics not found on the mainland and Zanzibar has none. There are one or two flights per day to Pemba from Dar via 8 or 10 seat planes operated by ZanAir, sometimes stopping at Zanzibar (no one seemed to know when they would stop and when they would not).

The original plan was to visit the Ukaguru Mountains in addition to the itinerary we eventually took. However, the roads had been washed out and there was no access. This bit of bad luck did give us additional time at other places which we used to good effect.

The Uluguru Mountains, like the others in southeast Tanzania, are part of the Eastern Arc range. They rise strikingly from the surrounding plains. They apparently have been isolated a long time as several of the ranges have endemics not found on neighboring ranges or only in a few ranges. In addition to well-defined species, there are several distinctive subspecies which may very well be full species, and we tried to see as many of these as we could. The avifauna here is not well-studied so it seems likely that, with further study, some of the subspecies will eventually be found to be full species. There is good forest atop the Ulugurus, although lower elevations has been cleared for agriculture. There is no lodging, so our ground crew went ahead and cleared an area for our camp site that they called Tegetoro. A key endemic here is the Uluguru Bushshrike, which we did see, and many other limited-range species are also here.

The Kilombero River is a major river in the south, and its floodplain is the home to three endemics, Kilombero Cisticola, White-tailed Cisticola and Kilombero Weaver. Although we saw all three from just off the main road, they were undiscovered until the 1980s when a local doctor mentioned them to a visiting scientist. This does suggest that other new species may exist in other corners of Tanzania as yet unsurveyed by the birding community.

The Udzungwa Mountains is another range that rises from the plains. Access is via a long dirt road through agricultural fields. Upon reaching the end of the road, we walked 8 kilometers along a path that had just been cut by our ground team. The path was difficult, muddy in places, with many changes of elevation as we walked over crests and down to rivers, culminating with a stretch of calf-deep swamp.  There are several endemics here, but they are in different locations. At our first campsite at 1200 meters lives the Udzungwa Forest Partridge. This was famously discovered in the 1990s when a scientific team saw the feet of an unfamiliar bird floating in their stew! Although we stayed at the same camp site area “Matumbo” as they stayed when they located their live specimen, we did not see one – not surprising, since they are still hunted, and very likely had moved well away from our camp area as we noisily moved in. The second area for endemics is at a higher elevation of 1900 meters and was a difficult climb from our second camp, “Chui”, which was set up at 1500 meters. This higher-elevation area holds Rufous-winged Sunbird and Mrs. Moreau’s Warbler (the latter also found in the Ulugurus). Due to the difficult climb, we did not go to this area; the others did but were not successful in finding either of these rarities.     

Mikumi National Park is north of the Udzungwas and is mostly savannah with some light forest. This was our first encounter with big game such as elephants and giraffes, as well as pesky tse-tse flies. In addition to seeing a wide range of grassland birds, we saw several rare Honey Badgers that came into feed at our lodge.

The Usumbara Mountains are in the northeast corner of Tanzania, close to the coast. Because the east coast is within 50 km of the ocean, it has a wet climate; the west coast is sheltered and is dry. For this reason, the east and west slopes also have different specialties. The main birding location on the east slope of the Usumbaras is the Amani Forest Reserve. This is a mostly intact section of forest that ranges from 400 to 1200 meters, and different birds live at different elevations. We birded from the road at several locations and had great success, although we did have long quiet spells broken by frenzied activity when a flock came by. In order to reach the western slopes, you need to retrace the route down the east slope and drive around the southern end of the mountain range. This soon leads into a much drier climate. The drive from the Eastern to Western Usumbaras is long and we made an overnight stop at a hotel in the town of Same.

The western slope of the Usumbaras lies beyond Same. A winding and scenic drive through Lushoto leads to a tourist area. For birders, the main attraction is the Magamba Sawmill Road which, as expected, runs past the disused sawmill. A skulking endemic which we all eventually saw here is the Usumbara Akalat. We also saw the Usumbara Weaver, which we had also previously seen in the Ulugurus. This high-elevation location also held many specialties as noted in the daily itinerary.

From the Western Usumbaras the next stop was the Arusha National Park. One stop along the route is South Pare Mountain,  an isolated group of peaks and home to a distinctive subspecies of Mountain White-eye sometimes called South Pare White-eye, and also a distinctive and undescribed subspecies of Bar-throated Apalis, both of which we saw well.

The prominent feature of Arusha National Park is Mount Maru, an extinct volcano. The mountain affects the weather and consequently therefore there is a wet side and dry side, and a wide range of birds. As in the other national parks, no one is allowed out of the vehicles except at designated rest areas. About fifty kilometers from Arusha National Park is an area reffered to as “Lark Plains”, because six or seven species of lark can be found in this small area – including the endemic Beesley’s Lark.

Tarangire National Park is another park with mostly savannah, and is know for its high concentration of elephants. It was here we saw our only leopard. Because of its combination of excellent lodging and food, good birding and abundant wildlife, this was one of our favorite places.

Ngorongoro Crater is a 30 kilometer wide caldera that holds its own complete ecosystem, including what is reputed to be the highest concentration of big cats in Africa. We initially drove past, along the rim, on our way to Serengeti, and then returned for our last day when we explored the inside of the crater. We saw quite a few new birds here from our vehicles or at the rest areas, including Speke’s Weaver and Rosy-throated Longclaw.

Serengeti National Park is the legendary location of the great migration of wildebeest and zebra. We did get a great close-up view of some lions relaxing under a tree here. However, for us it was overall a bit of a disappointment bird-wise. There are miles and miles of dusty plains, with only the occassional sandgrouse or bustard in additon to the larger game. The very large herds of zebra and wildebeest only pass through at certain times, and we were there at the end of the northward migration. We did see a few herds here and there, but not the massive spectacles as on TV.        

Daily itinerary

Day 1, June 1. This was the first actual day of birding. We slept in late because of our late arrival the previous day. In the afternoon we met with our Rockjumper guide, Dave Hoddinott, for a walk around the hotel grounds and immediate scrub area outside. This was very productive despite the degradation and habitation. Among birds seen were Little Sparrowhawk, Brown-breasted Barbet, Black-throated Wattle-eye, Zanzibar Boubou, Ashy Starling (well outside of its normal range), Blue-capped Cordon-Bleu, Red-backed Mannikin, Village Indigobird, Pin-tailed Whydah, African Pipit, Fischer’s Sparrow-Lark,  and Reichenow’s Seedeater. Overnight at Mediterraneo Hotel, Dar Es Salaam.  

Day 2, June 2. The rest of the group joined us as we set off for Pemba. We encountered terrible traffic en route to the airport, but managed to catch our flight to Pemba via Zanzibar, arriving around 11AM. We made a short stop in the main town, where we saw Pemba White-eye, Red-winged Black Bishop, and a family of Java Sparrows. En route to our resort we saw African Harrier-hawk and Dickinson’s Kestrel. After lunch we were alerted to a group of Pemba Green-Pigeons on the grounds of our resort and were rewarded with long scope views – good luck as others have had difficulty finding them. In the evening we ventured to the forest preserve and, after a lot of stumbling through the forest trying to catch up with it, found a perched Pemba Scops-owl. Then we saw a second of a different color morph. So on our first day we had already seen all of the Pemba endemics. Overnight at Kervan Saray Beach Resort, Pemba.

Day 3, June 3. Although there is an early AM flight to Dar from Pemba, we were on a later flight because we needed to set aside the morning in case we had not seen the key birds yesterday. Because we had, we took the time to search out a few other specialties, and eventually located Mountain Buzzard, Black Sparrowhawk, Mangrove Kingfisher, and many Olive Sunbirds of the distinctive local subspecies. We then left Pemba on the eight-seater ZanAir flight, with Angie sitting in the co-pilots seat. Upon landing in Dar via Zanzibar we hit major traffic leaving the airport, and arrived in Morogoro at 10PM for a very late supper which was supposed to be awaiting us but which was not. Overnight at Morogoro Hotel, Morogoro.

Day 4, June 4. We left Morogoro at 8AM, later than planned because of a delayed breakfast. Our destination was a mission school that serves as the jumping-off point for entry into the Uluguru Mountains. The road to the school from the main road was terrible, and at places non-existent. The vehicles struggled and we did get stuck once. Fortunately it was dry – if the area had been wet, we never could have made it. Upon arrival at noon, we had our lunch and then began the 2-hour hike to the “Tegetoro” campsite at 1200 m. The first part of the hike was through fields, but the last part was through rocky forest and rough terrain the required quite a bit of scrambling. The ground crew had set up our sleeping tents and toilet and shower tents and had carried most of our belongings, so after a short rest we did some birding around the camp area. Among birds seen along the drive and walk in and at our camp site were Green Barbet, Livingstone’s Turaco, Retz’s Helmetshrike, Green-headed Oriole,  Placid Greenbul, Yellow-throated Woodland-warbler, White-winged Apalis, Sharpe’s Akalats, Bertram’s Weaver, Yellow Bishop, Red-collared Widowbird, Southern Citril,  and Yellow-fronted Canary. Overnight camping at Tegetoro.

Day 5, June 5. Overnight rain and some leaking tents made for a less-than-perfect start. However, this was made up for by the excellent breakfast cooked by the staff. The morning remained overcast but the afternoon was sunny. The birding was excellent all day although, as is normal in the forest, there were long slow periods followed by a passing flock. On this day we started to see some of the real specialties not often seen by birding tours: Uluguru Bushshrike, Black-fronted Bushshrike, White-tailed Crested Flycatcher, Uluguru Greenbul, Stripe-faced Bulbul, Black-headed Apalis, Dark Batis, Red-capped Forest Warbler, Loveridge’s Sunbird, and Usumbara Weaver. We enjoyed excellent food and had some relief that the tents had been repositioned. Overnight camping at Tegetoro.

Day 6, June 6. Overnight rain once again but everyone remained dry. After some birding around the camp site, we walked back to the mission school area. Once again the road was treacherous and we were stuck a few times before making it down to the main road. From there we headed north through Mikumi National Park and on to Iringa, arriving late at the excellent Riverside Camp where we enjoyed a great supper. Although this was mostly a travel day, we did stop along the way when we encountered some interesting birds. Among birds seen along the drive and at the Uluguru camp site were Pale-billed Hornbill, Von der Decken’s Hornbill, White-crested Helmetshrike, Zanzibar Red Bishop, Mountain Wagtail, Yellow-browed Seedeater, and Cinnamon-breasted Bunting. Overnight at Riverside Tented Camp, Iringa.

Day 7, June 7. A long day, driving from Iringa to the Udzungwa Mtns. Upon arrival at the end of the dirt road we made the difficult walk to the “Matumbo” camp at 1200 m. Among birds seen along the drive and the walk to the camp site were Dusky Turtle-dove, Brown-backed Honeybird, White-bellied Tit, Brown-headed Apalis, White-winged Widowbird,  Striped Pipit, Reichard’s Seedeater, and Golden-breasted and Cabanis’s Buntings. We arrived at the Matumbo camp near dusk, in time for some preliminary birding around the camp area. Overnight at Matumbo camp.

Day 8, June 8. This morning was our first effort for the Udzumgwa Forest Partridge. We ended up having a total of 12 of us, including local staff eager to “help”, trampling through the forest in search of this ultra-skittish bird.. We quickly realized our chances with such a group were slight, especially since it was not calling. We later learned that even the main local guide, a hunter who has lived in this area his entire life, has seen the partridge less than 10 times After a few hours we starting looking for other birds for which we had a more realistic chance. All of the birds in this area were very skittish and skulking, although we did get views of Spot-throat, White-starred Robin, and Iringa Akalat. In the afternoon we took a walk along some riverside areas. Among birds seen were Fulleborn’s Boubou, Red-capped Forest Warbler (also know as African Tailorbird), White-eyed Slaty-Flycatcher and Chapin’s Apalis. We also had our first view of an Angola Colobus, a stunning black-and-white monkey we would see at a few other places later in the trip as well.  Overnight camping at Matumbo camp.

Day 9, June 9. This morning we made another effort for the Udzungwa Forest Partridge, although in fact we were really on the lookout for any other forest birds. In particular we were trying for a view of Dapple-throat, which some had glimpsed the previous day. We did not see it or too much that was new. In the afternoon we walked around the swamp, saw Black-lored Cisticola and heard African Rail and Red-chested Flufftail, although neither showed. After supper we got a great look at African Wood Owl, which was a noisy evening companion for us during our stay here. Overnight camping at Matumbo camp.

Day 10, June 10. In the morning we made the long walk back to the end of the road where our ground staff had set up a camp area they called “Chui”. This means “leopard”, because they have been seen there – and we saw some fresh leopard scat to prove it! This camp was at 1500 meters and mostly surrounded by fields. We saw quite a few interesting grassland birds such as Marsh Tchagra, Uhehe Fiscal, Brown Warbler (Parisoma), Miombo Double-collared Sunbird, and Kipingere Seedeater. Overnight at Chui camp.

Day 11, June 11. This day the others made the hike up to try for Rufous-winged Sunbird and Mrs. Moreau’s Warbler. Our knees were too sore from the hike the previous day so we remained at the camp and mostly relaxed and walked around the immediate area. The group that did make the hike did not see either of the target birds although they did see a potential split, Mrs Moreau’s Sunbird. We saw our first African Olive Pigeon and African Harrier-hawk. Overnight at Chui camp.

Day 12, June 12. This was mostly a long driving day. From camp we took the long dirt road out to the main road back through Mikumi National Park and on to the western side of the Udzungwas. A stop under some baobabs attracted a curious group of local children and also we saw quite a few dry-country birds for the first time. Among them were Yellow-collared Lovebird, Meyer’s Parrot, White-bellied Go-away Bird, Purple (Rufous-crowned) Roller, Abyssinian Scimitarbill, Tanzanian Red-billed Hornbill, Spot-flanked Barbet, D’Arnaud’s Barbet, Nubian Woodpecker, Black-and-White Flycatcher, African Gray Flycatcher, White-breasted Cuckoo-shrike, Cut-throat Finch, Jameson’s Firefinch, Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah, and Southern Gray-headed Sparrow. We arrived in time for a shower before supper and overnight at the Udzungwa Mountain Guest House.

Day 13, June 13. This morning we drove two hours to the Kilombero flood plain and then onwards to the river itself for a boat trip. In addition to finding the three target endemics – Kilombero Cisticola, White-tailed Cisticola and Kilombero Weaver – we also saw Ayres’s Hawk-Eagle, African Skimmer, Livingstone’s Flycatcher, Miombo Blue-eared Starling, Red-headed Weaver, Red-headed Quelea, Fan-tailed Widowbird and Magpie Mannikin near Kilombero and along the road to our final destination of Mikumi National Park. Among non-birding highlights were a Giant Chameleon that one of the locals brought in, and several Honey Badgers that came into scraps after supper. Overnight at the Vuma Tented Camp

Day 14, June 14. In the morning we took a drive outside of Mikumi National Park to the eastern edge of the park, where there was a nice stretch of miombo forest. Here we saw a wide range of miombo specialties. In the afternoon we took a drive through the park itself, seeing a range of grassland specialties. Birds seen included Bohm’s Spinetail, Trumpeter Hornbill, Crested Barbet, Red-throated Wryneck, Eastern Nicator, Yellow-bellied and Green-capped Eremomela, Cinnamon-breasted Tit, Steirling’s Wren-warbler, Northern Pied Babbler, and Yellow-bellied Hyliota. Overnight at the Vuma Tented Camp

Day 15, June 15. Another long driving day, north from Mikumi National Park to the Amani Forest Preserve. This sits on the eastern slope of the Usumbaras, and the last twenty miles are on winding dirt / mud roads. This is the high-rainfall side of the Usumbaras, close to the Indian Ocean, and we had a lot of rain while we were here. We arrived at the Emau Hill Forest Camp, located at 1200m, at about 7PM, too late for birding although we did stop a few times along the way. This is a basic tented camp with common facilities, no electricity, and run by locals. Although basic, the food was good, and we were close to the birding areas we wanted to visit at 400 – 800 meters. Birds seen today were Southern Banded Snake-Eagle, Long-crested Eagle, Green-backed Woodpecker, Tiny Greenbul, Little Yellow Flycatcher, and Yellow-throated Longclaw. Overnight at the  Emau Hill Forest Camp.

Day 16, June 16. The morning was fine and we birded along some roads down the mountain. Rain came at about 11AM, and continued until about 5PM. As the rain let up, we made a try for the rare Long-billed Forest Warbler, at a place where our guide Martin had seen one previously. We walked back and forth, through intermittent rain, with no success. We were back at the vans, ready to depart, in near-darkness, when Martin decided to give the tape one last burst. And, lo and behold, we had a response and soon great views of this tailorbird-like bird. This was an amazing last-minute find. Other birds seen in the morning and late afternoon were Fischer’s Turaco, Half-collared Kingfisher, Forest Batis, Chestnut-fronted Helmetshrike, Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher, Long-billed Forest Warbler, Kretschmer’s Longbill, and Plain-backed and Uluguru Violet-backed Sunbirds., Overnight at the Emau Hill Forest Camp.

Day 17, June 17. Rain washed out most of the morning, although we did try to squeeze in some birding between the raindrops. In the late afternoon, we drove and then walked down a very muddy track to a potential area for the legendary Usumbara Eagle-owl, which our guide had not seen but which was reputed to be in the area. We had no luck, even though we heard some distant Olive Ibis and upon our return to the camp we had a Western Barn Owl! Other birds seen along the road, mostly during the morning, were Pale-breasted Illidopsis, Pallid Honeyguide, Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Kenrick’s Starling, and Banded Green Sunbird. Overnight at the Emau Hill Forest Camp

Day 18, June 18. We had a few hours this morning for birding in the Eastern Usumbaras before heading to the western side. Our guide said he knew of a tree where an Amani Sunbird could sometimes be seen, but no luck (this bird is more easily seen in Kenya despite being named for this site). Our last target bird was a true long shot, and we drove and walked along the roads for several hours in the vain hope that a passing flock might hold one. Suddenly, the guides pointed up at a couple of tiny birds flying high overhead and called “Usumbara Hyliota”. This was our target bird, and a quick play of the tape brought the pair back across the opening to a closer tree. Alas, they then flew off, giving us only a flight view and a quick perch high up in a tree. Not an “A” quality view, but certainly it was the bird. With great joy and relief we then drove down to the main road. At our lunch stop, we hit the jackpot when Dave played Eastern Green Tinkerbird, very rarely seen here and only rarely seen in nearby coastal Kenya.  Suddenly John shouted he saw one – it had flown in quietly, looked around, and then flew off – although only after we all had great views. Martin then brought us to an area where he had previously seen Collared Palm-thrush, which was also there. Our eventful day continued as we drove towards the Western Usumbaras, via Mombo and climbing up through the 1600 meter resort town of Lushoto. Among other birds seen at Amani or along the drive were Hartlaub’s Turaco, Mottled Swift, African Black Swift, Red-tailed Ant-thrush, Usumbara Double-collared Sunbird, Yellow (African Golden) Weaver, and Red-throated (Peter’s) Twinspot. Overnight at Muller’s Mountain Lodge.

Day 19, June 19. This morning we headed to Magamba Sawmill Road. We took a trail off the road down through some forest and made a loop several times in search of the local specialties. Along the forest trail we eventually all got views of Usumbara Akalat and White-chested Alethe, although this required quite a bit of effort. In the afternoon we returned to the sawmill road and saw African Hill Babbler, Usumbara Nightjar, Usambara Hyliota, Usumbara Akalat, Red-faced Crimsonwing, Streaky Seedeater, Brown Woodland-warbler, Somali Golden Bunting, and Mountain Bulbul. Overnight at Muller’s Mountain Lodge.

Day 20, June 20. A long day today with a few stops en route to Same. In the morning we had an excellent stop in some scrub where the longer we stayed, the more birds we saw. At lunch we stopped at a riverside lodge where we saw Taveta Weaver and Dodson’s Bulbul. After lunch, at the entrance road to South Pare Mountain, both vehicles were stopped by local police who claimed we did not have the proper “sticker” for something. After about 30 minutes they apparently determined we were not going to pay any “fine” and let us go. “Not having the proper sticker” then became a running joke whenever we passed other police stops. Once we drove high up South Pare Mountain to Choma Forest, we located South Pare White-eyes within 45 minutes; not so easily, but once we located some we saw quite a few. The local subspecies of Bar-throated Apalis was also there. Other birds seen at the various stops included  Eastern Chanting-Goshawk, Tawny Eagle, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Black-throated Barbet, Pygmy Batis, Pringle’s Puffback, Slate-colored Boubou, Pink-breasted Lark, Tiny Cisticola, Red-fronted Apalis (Warbler), Gray Wren-warbler, Scaly Chatterer, Golden-breasted and Fischer’s Starlings, Bare-eyed Thrush, Eastern Violet-backed and Hunter’s Sunbirds, Red-billed Buffalo-weaver, Vitelline Masked Weavers,  Purple Grenadier, and Southern Grosbeak-Canary,  Overnight at Elephant Motel, Same.

Day 21, June 21. Today we continued on from Same to Arusha National Park. We entered from the south, which is the wet side, where we drove through moist forests. Once we crossed the crest, we dropped into dry grassland. Birds seen along the route included Greater Flamingo, Black-faced Sandgrouse, Red-bellied Parrot, Eastern Black-headed Batis, Acacia Tit, Hunter’s Cisticola, Sharpe’s Starling, Tsavo Sunbird, Parrot-billed and Chestnut Sparrows, White-headed Buffalo-weaver, and Green Twinspot.  Overnight at Momella Wildlife Lodge.

Day 22, June 21. Because of a delayed breakfast, our intended start from Arusha to the “Lark Plains” was later than expected. We arrived at about 10AM and it was quite hot. We spread out, trying to find groups of larks scampering among the clumps of grass. We eventually located Red-winged Lark, Foxy Lark, Beesley’s Lark, and Short-tailed Lark, along with Yellow-necked Spurfowl, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Red-and-Yellow Barbet, Magpie Shrike, Taita Fiscal, Red-throated Tit, Banded Warbler (Parisoma), Mourning (Schalow’s) Wheatear, and Kenya Rufous and Swahili Sparrows. Unfortunately, it soon was too hot at Lark Plains and we missed Athi Short-toed Lark, also known from here. We continued on to Tarangire National Park, arriving in mid-afternnon, and had a nice drive through the park on our way to our very nice lodge. Overnight at Tarangire River Camp.

Day 23, June 23. Our route today was Tarangire National Park to Serengeti National Park via Ngorongoro Crater. We had some productive stops on our way to Ngorongoro, but after that we basically drove through the plains to our lodge in Serengeti. Birds seen included Coqui Francolin, Hildebrandt’s Francolin, Gray-breasted Spurfowl, Lesser Flamingo, Pygmy Falcon, Black-winged Lapwing, Double-banded Courser, Fischer’s Lovebird, Bare-faced Go-away Bird, Red-fronted Barbet, Buff-bellied Warbler, Silverbird, Eastern Double-collared and Golden-winged Sunbirds, Rufous-tailed Weaver, Cardinal Quelea, and Straw-tailed and Long-tailed Paradise Whydahs.  Overnight at Ndutu Safari Lodge.

Day 24, June 24. Today was a day of driving various parts of Serengeti. Birds seen were Goliath Heron, Secretarybird, Kori Bustard, Yellow-throated Sandgrouse, African Cuckoo, Red-fronted Barbet, Bearded Woodpecker, Black-lored babbler, Gray-capped Social-weaver, African Quail-finch and Gray-headed Silverbill, Overnight at Ndutu Safari Lodge.

Day 25, June 25. Today we drove to Ngorongoro through Serengeti National Park with a brief stop at Olduvai Gorge en route.  Most of the new birds seen today were seen after our arrival at Ngorongoro, and included Ruppell’s Vulture, Greater Kestrel, White-bellied and Black-bellied Bustards, Grey-crowned Crane, Mountain (Abyssinian) Nightjar, White-headed Barbet, Mountain Yellow Warbler, Lyne’s Cisticola, Pectoral-patch Cisticola, Northern Anteater-chat, Speke’s Weaver and Rosy-throated Longclaw  Overnight at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge.

Day 26, June 26. A relaxed departure as our flights from Arusha were in the evening. We spent a lot of time stopping at places along the way that looked similar to where we had seen Straw-tailed Whydah on our way up. At one stop, Martin gave a yell and we were treated to a beautiful perched Steel-blue Whydah, a great bird on which to end our trip.

Accommodations:

I have provided a “star” rating along with comments; however, I tried to rate each place on the same scale so some nice places may not have a high rating even if it was the best place around and fully met our needs. 

Mediterraneo Hotel, Dar Es Salaam, +255-2-22618359 – nice hotel right on the beach, and nice birding around the area. However, it was 45 minutes to the hotel from the airport without traffic, and about double that in rush hour. Considering this was basically a transit stop before we began our tour, there must be other options involving less traffic. 3 stars 

Kervan Saray Beach Resort, Pemba, +255-7-73176737 – there are not many choices on Pemba. This is a diving resort, right on the northern coast, and appeared to have (by far) the best lodging of any place we saw during our birding. Overall very comfortable with basic food. 3 stars

Morogoro Hotel, Morogoro, + 255-2-563270 – this is a large hotel with rooms in separate units with each having 4 or 8 rooms. The food was average, the rooms were fine, and I expect it is the best place in town. 2.5 stars.

Riverside Camp, Iringa, +255-787-111663 – it was a disappointment we arrived here late because we had some of the best food of this trip here, and the lodging was very nice in individual cabins. And there was very nice birding right around the camp. 3.5 stars

Udzungwa Mountain Guest House, Kilombero,  +255-7-84382541 – nice enough but basic, good enough for one night and anywhere with a shower was welcome after our camping. 2.5 stars.

Vuma Tented Camp, Mikumi NP, +255-2-22862357 – a great place in Mikumi National Park. Very nice rooms, good food, nice management. This is where we saw rare honey badgers coming in to leftovers. Good birding around the lodge and along the access road. 3.5 stars.

Emau Hill Forest Camp, Amami, +255-7-82656526  This is a basic lodge operated by locals. It is difficult to give this place a rating because it is certainly the best place in Amani but in absolute terms it is average at best. The rooms were nice tented rooms with two or three beds. Bathroom facilities were in an outside building. Showers were also at an outside building from hot water provided by the staff. Food was primarily vegetarian and very good. Our understranding is that the food is a main attraction here – other places to stay may be marginally better in terms of facilities but are worse for food. No electricity. Good access to the birding sites lower down. 2 stars.

Muller’s Mountain Lodge, near Lusotho, +255-2-72640204. A disappointment. It looks great and has a fabulous location in the mountains, but it never quite delivered. The box lunches were poor, and the meals we ate at the lodge were average at best and they often ran out of items. It looks like the kind of place where different management could move it to absolute top-notch. 2.5 stars.

Elephant Motel, Same, +255-2-72758193. A nice, clean hotel with A/C and good food that we used as a transit point. 3 stars.

Momella Wildlife Lodge, Arusha, +255-2-72506423. Certainly the disappointment of the trip. Apparently the John Wayne movie “Hatari” was filmed here 40 years ago and they have been milking that fact ever since to attract business. The rooms were poorly-maintained with little or no hot water, and the food was average at best. One big problem was they promised us an early breakfast but did not provide it, making us very late for our birding at Lark Plains. Considering Arusha NP is a major attraction, there must be better options nearby. 1star

Tarangire River Camp, Tarangire NP, +255-7-54372575. This was a great place, with nice rooms and excellent food, overlooking a dry riverbed where we saw quite a bit of game and birds from the lodge. 4 stars

Ndutu Safari Lodge, Serengeti, +255-2-72537015. A fine resort in the middle of the Serengeti Plains. Nice rooms, good food. Good base for exploring the surrounding plains. 4.5 stars.

Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge, Ngorongoro Crater, +255-2-72537032. Top-quality lodge with nice rooms and excellent food, atop the rim of Ngorongoro Crater with a spectacular view overlooking the crater. 5 stars

Bird List

The numbers following each name refer to the days when the bird was seen – for example “3,7” would mean that bird was seen on the 3rd and 7th day. “Special” birds, endemics and near-endemics – are in bold.

Ostrich (Struthio camelus) – 22,23,24,25, common in Serengeti
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) – 2, 21, 23
Reed (Long-tailed) Cormorant (Phalacrocorax africanus) – 13, 21
White-breasted Cormorant (Phalacrocorax lucidus) - 21
Great White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) - 23
Pink-backed Pelican (Pelecanus rufescens) – 13, 21
White-faced Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna viduata) – 2, 20, 21
White-backed Duck (Thalassornis leuconotus) – 2, 21
Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiacus) – 21, 22, 23, 24, 25
Spur-winged Goose (Plectropterus gambensis) – 21, 25
African Pygmy-goose (Nettapus auritus) - 2
Cape Teal (Anas capensis) – 23, 25
Yellow-billed Duck (Anas undulata) - 25
African Black Duck (Anas sparsa) – 10, 25
Hottentot Teal (Anas hottentota) - 25
Southern Pochard (Netta erythrophthalma) - 25
Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) – 21, 23
Lesser Flamingo (Phoenicopterus minor) – 23, 24, 25
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) – 13, 20, 21
Intermediate (Yellow-billed) Egret (Mesophoyx intermedia) – 2, 25
Gray Heron (Ardea cinerea) – 1, 13, 14, 20, 21, 23, 25
Black-headed Heron (Ardea melanocephala) – 2, 3, 7, 13, 15, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24
Goliath Heron (Ardea goliath) – only one in Serengeti - 24
Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) - 20
Great Egret (Ardea alba) – 2, 13, 14, 20, 21
Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) – 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 13, 19, 20, 21, 26
Dimorphic Egret (Egretta dimorpha) – 2, 3
Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides) – 13, 25
Madagascar Pond-Heron (Ardeola idae) – 2, 13
Striated Heron (Butorides striatus) – 2, 3, 13, 21, 23
Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) - 25
Hamerkop (Scopus umbretta) – 13, 14, 15, 21, 22
Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) – 13, 21, 25
Hadada Ibis (Bostrychia hagedash) – 3, 21, 22, 23
Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus) – 1, 2, 21, 22, 23
African Spoonbill (Platalea alba) – 21, 23, 25
Yellow-billed Stork (Mycteria ibis) – 13, 21, 25
African Openbill (Anastomus lamelligerus) – 13, 15, 19
Woolly-necked Stork (Ciconia episcopus) – 13, 18
Saddle-billed Stork (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis) - 13
Marabou Stork (Leptoptilos crumeniferus) – 6, 13, 14, 24
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) - 21
Black-shouldered (Black-winged) Kite (Elanus caeruleus) – 12, 15, 18, 23
Black Kite (Milvus migrans) – 2, 6, 13, 15, 19
African Fish-Eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer) – 7, 13, 21, 22
Palm-nut Vulture (Gypohierax angolensis) – 2, 3, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 23
Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus) – 24, 25
White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus) – 7, 13, 14, 15, 21, 23
Rueppell's Griffon Vulture (Gyps rueppellii) – only one at Ngorongoro - 25
Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotus) – 14, 15, 20, 23
Brown Snake-Eagle (Circaetus cinereus) – 6, 13, 14, 22, 23
Fasciated (Southern Banded) Snake-Eagle (Circaetus fasciolatus) – great views of two adults and a juvenile at Amani – 16, 17
Bateleur (Terathopius ecaudatus) – 6, 12, 13, 14, 15, 22, 23, 24
African Marsh-Harrier (Circus ranivorus) – 21, 25
African Harrier-Hawk (Polyboroides typus) – 11, 21, 25
Lizard Buzzard (Kaupifalco monogrammicus) – 12, 14, 20
Dark Chanting-Goshawk (Melierax metabates) – 6, 12, 14
Eastern Chanting-Goshawk (Melierax poliopterus) – 20, 22, 23, 24
Gabar Goshawk (Melierax gabar) – 13, 20, 22
African Goshawk (Accipiter tachiro), ssp pembarae on Pemba, nominate ssp on mainland – 2, 3, 17
Shikra (Accipiter badius) - 12
Little Sparrowhawk (Accipiter minullus) - 1
Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk (Accipiter rufiventris) – 7, 10
Black Goshawk (Sparreohawk) (Accipiter melanoleucus) – 3, 16, 17, 18, 20
Mountain Buzzard (Buteo oreophilus) – great view at Ngorongoro - 3, 7, 17, 18, 19, 25
Augur Buzzard (Buteo augur), both light and dark morphs seen – 6, 18, 20, 21, 25
Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax) – common in Serengeti - 22, 23, 24, 25
Verreaux's Eagle (Aquila verreauxii) - 13
African Hawk-Eagle (Hieraaetus spilogaster) - 7
Ayres's Hawk-Eagle (Hieraaetus ayresii) – 13, 22
Martial Eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus) – 12, 22
Long-crested Eagle (Lophaetus occipitalis) – common but still fantastic - 15, 17, 18, 24, 25, 26
Crowned Hawk-Eagle (Stephanoaetus coronatus) – 7, 9, 12, 19, 21
Secretary-bird (Sagittarius serpentarius)
Pygmy Falcon (Polihierax semitorquatus) – several, all at Lark Plains - 22
Eurasian (Common) Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) – 22, 25
Greater Kestrel (Falco rupicoloides) – a single fly-by in Serengeti - 25
Dickinson's Kestrel (Falco dickinsoni) – 2, 3, 14, 15
Red-necked Falcon (Falco chicquera) - 13
Lanner Falcon (Falco biarmicus) – 12. 21
Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris) – 13, 14, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25
Coqui Francolin (Francolinus coqui) – 23 – only a pair in Serengeti
Crested Francolin (Francolinus sephaena) – 6, 20, 21, 22
Hildebrandt's Francolin (Francolinus hildebrandti). Excellent view of this normally skulking francolin at the Riverside Camp - 23.
Yellow-necked Spurfowl (Pternistis leucoscepus) – most common spurfowl in Serengeti - 22, 23, 24, 25
Grey-breasted Spurfowl (Pternistis rufopictus) – a few “true” birds among many hybrids - 23, 24, 25
Red-necked Spurfowl (Pternsitis afer) – common in Tarangire – 14, 22, 23, 24
Harlequin Quail (Coturnix delegorguei) – one flushed - 10
Black Crake (Amaurornis flavirostra) - 24
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) – 2, 21, 25
Red-knobbed Coot (Fulica cristata) – 21, 25
Gray Crowned-Crane (Balearica regulorum) – magnificent in Ngorongoro Crater - 25
Kori Bustard (Ardeotis kori) – common and obvious in Serengeti – 23, 24, 25
White-bellied Bustard (Eupodotis senegalensis) - 24
Black-bellied Bustard (Eupodotis melanogaster) - 25
African Jacana (Actophilornis africanus) – 2, 13, 21
Greater Painted-snipe (Rostratula benghalensis) – only one in Tarangire - 23
Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) – 2
Water Thick-knee (Burhinus vermiculatus) – 12, 13
Spotted Thick-knee (Burhinus capensis) - 22
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) – 21, 23
Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) - 23
Double-banded Courser (Rhinoptilus africanus) – 23, 24
Collared Pratincole (Glareola pratincola) - 13
Kittlitz's Plover (Charadrius pecuarius) – 13, 21, 24, 25
Three-banded Plover (Charadrius tricollaris) - 22
Blacksmith Plover (Lapwing) (Vanellus armatus) – 14, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25
Spur-winged Plover (Lapwing) (Vanellus spinosus) - 21
White-headed (White-headed) Lapwing (Vanellus albiceps) - 13
Wattled Lapwing (Vanellus senegallus) – 14
Senegal Lapwing (Vanellus lugubris) – 2, 3
Black-winged Lapwing (Vanellus melanopterus) – 23, 24, 25
Crowned Lapwing (Vanellus coronatus) – 1, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) - 21
Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybridus) - 21
Gull-billed Tern (Sterna nilotica) – 21, 23, 25
African Skimmer (Rynchops flavirostris) – large flock on Kilombero River – 13, 21
Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles exustus) – 22, 23
Yellow-throated Sandgrouse (Pterocles gutturalis) - 24
Black-faced Sandgrouse (Pterocles decoratus) – 21, 22, 23, 24
Rock (Common) Pigeon (Columba livia) – 3, 4, 6, 12, 13, 15, 20, 26
Speckled Pigeon (Columba guinea) – 21, 22, 23, 24, 25
African Olive (Rameron) Pigeon (Volumba arquatrix) – 11, 21
Delegorgue's (Eastern Bronze-naped)  Pigeon (Columba delegorguei) – 16, 19, 21
Dusky Turtle-Dove (Streptopelia lugens) – 7, 10, 20, 25
Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis) – 6, 13, 15, 22, 23, 24, 25
African Mourning (Collared) Dove (Streptopelia decipiens) – 12, 21, 23, 24
Ring-necked Dove (Streptopelia capicola) – 6, 13, 14, 15
Red-eyed Dove (Streptopelia semitorquata) – 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12, 22, 25
Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove (Turtur chalcospilos) – 12, 15, 20, 23
Blue-spotted Wood-Dove (Turtur afer) - 12
Tambourine Dove (Turtur tympanistria) – 3, 18
Namaqua Dove (Oena capensis) – 1, 14, 21, 22, 23
African Green-Pigeon (Treron calva) – 15, 16, 17, 18, 23
Pemba Green-Pigeon (Treron pembaensis) – great perched views - 2, 3
Meyer's Parrot (Poicephalus meyeri) – 12, 24
Red-bellied Parrot (Poicephalus rufiventris) – 21, 22, 23
Brown-headed Parrot (Poicephalus cryptoxanthus) – 2, 3, 14
Fischer's Lovebird (Agapornis fischeri) – great views at Ndutu Lodge - 23, 25, 25
Yellow-collared Lovebird (Agapornis personatus) – another stunner - 12, 22, 23
Speckled Mousebird (Colius striatus) – 1, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23
White-headed Mousebird (Colius leucocephalus) - 21
Blue-naped Mousebird (Urocolius macrourus) – 1, 12, 12, 21, 22, 23
Schalow's Turaco (Tauraco schalowi) – 23, 25
Fischer's Turaco (Tauraco fischeri) – 16, 17
Livingstone's Turaco (Tauraco livingstonii) – 3, 10
Hartlaub's Turaco (Tauraco hartlaubi) – 19, 20
Purple-crested Turaco (Musophaga porphyreolopha) - 7
Bare-faced Go-away-bird (Corythaixoides personata) - 23
White-bellied Go-away-bird (Corythaixoides leucogaster) – 12, 20, 22, 23, 24
White-browed Coucal (Centropus superciliosus) – 12, 13, 14, 15, 22
African Cuckoo (Cuculus gularis) - 24
Klaas's Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx klaas) – 3, 15, 20
Dideric Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx caprius) - 13
Yellowbill (Ceuthmochares aereus) - 16
(Western) Barn Owl (Tyto alba) – a surprise at Emau Camp - 17
African Scops-Owl (Otus senegalensis) – one perched low in a daytime roost at Tarangire Lodge -  23
Pemba Scops-Owl (Otus pembaensis) –two color morphs - 2
African Wood-Owl (Strix woodfordii) – seen in Usumbaras, heard often - 9
Pearl-spotted Owlet (Glaucidium perlatum) – 12, 23, 24
African Barred Owlet (Glaucidium capense) – ssp ngamiense and scheffleri
Montane (Abyssinain) Nightjar (Caprimulgus poliocephalus) – 25
Usumbara Nightjar(Caprimulgus guttifer) - 19
Square-tailed Nightjar (Caprimulgus fossii) - 1
Mottled Spinetail (Telacanthura ussheri) – 12, 19, 22
Bat-like (Bohm’s) Spinetail (Neafrapus boehmi) - 14
African Palm-Swift (Cypsiurus parvus) – 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 22
Mottled Swift (Tachymarptis aequatorialis) – 18, 19, 20
African Swift (Apus barbatus) – 18, 19, 22
Little Swift (Apus affinis) – 1, 6, 18
Horus Swift (Apus horus) – 22, 23
White-rumped Swift (Apus caffer) - 19
Narina Trogon (Apaloderma narina) – 21, 22
Bar-tailed Trogon (Apaloderma vittatum) – 5, 8, 10
Half-collared Kingfisher (Alcedo semitorquata) – 16, 17
Malachite Kingfisher (Alcedo cristata) – 13, 14, 20
African Pygmy-Kingfisher (Ispidina picta) – always a treat - 20
Gray-headed Kingfisher (Halcyon leucocephala) – 1, 2, 3, 14, 20
Mangrove Kingfisher (Halcyon senegaloides) – noisy but hard to see on Pemba - 3
Brown-hooded Kingfisher (Halcyon albiventris) – 1, 7, 12, 13, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25
Striped Kingfisher (Halcyon chelicuti) – 3, 13, 14, 20
Giant Kingfisher (Megaceryle maxima) – 6, 16
Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) – 2, 13, 22
White-fronted Bee-eater (Merops bullockoides) – 13, 21, 22
Little Bee-eater (Merops pusillus) – 1, 6, 12, 13, 14, 15, 22, 23, 24, 25
Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater (Merops oreobates) – 20, 21, 23, 24
Madagascar (Olive) Bee-eater (Merops superciliosus) – 2, 15
African (Eurasian) Hoopoe (Upupa africana) – 12, 14, 22, 23, 24
Lilac-breasted Roller (Coracias caudata) – 6, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25
Rufous-crowned (Purple) Roller (Coracias naevia) – 12. 21
Broad-billed Roller (Eurystomus glaucurus) – 2, 3
Green Woodhoopoe (Phoeniculus purpureus) – 14, 17
Common Scimitar-bill (Rhinopomastus cyanomelas) - 6, 14
Abyssinian Scimitar-bill (Rhinopomastus minor) – 12, 22, 23, 24
(Northern) Red-billed Hornbill (Tockus erythrorhynchus) – 22, 23, 24
Tanzanian Red-billed Hornbill (Tockus ruahae) – 12, 24
Von der Decken's Hornbill (Tockus deckeni) – 6, 12, 20, 22, 24
Crowned Hornbill (Tockus alboterminatus) – 2, 3, 10, 12, 13, 14
African Gray Hornbill (Tockus nasutus) – 6, 13, 14, 20, 21
Pale-billed Hornbill (Tockus pallidirostris) – 6, 14
Trumpeter Hornbill (Ceratogymna bucinator) – 14, 16, 20
Silvery-cheeked Hornbill (Ceratogymna brevis) – 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
Southern Ground Hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri) – 6, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
White-eared Barbet (Stactolaema leucotis) – 4, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
Green Barbet (Stactolaema olivacea) – 4, 5, 8, 16, 17, 18
Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird (Pogoniulus bilineatus) - 18
Red-fronted Tinkerbird (Pogoniulus pusillus) – 1, 12, 17, 20
African Green Tinkerbird (Pogoniulus simplex) – one silent undividual came in for a quick look - 18
Moustached Tinkered (Pogoniulus leucomystax) – 4, 10, 17, 19
Red-fronted Barbet (Tricholaema diademata) – 23, 24
Spot-flanked Barbet (Tricholaema lachrymosa) – 12
Black-throated Barbet (Tricholaema melanocephala) ssp stigmatothorax – 20, 21
White-headed Barbet (Lybius leucocephalus) - 25
Black-collared Barbet (Lybius torquatus) – 6, 14
Brown-breasted Barbet (Lybius melanopterus) – 1, 4, 19, 20
Crested Barbet (Trachyphonus vaillantii) – a dramatic-looking bird - 14
Red-and-yellow Barbet (Trachyphonus erythrocephalus) - 22
D'Arnaud's Barbet (Trachyphonus darnaudii) – 12, 20, 21 also Usambiro Barbet (Tockus usambiro) - 24
Scaly-throated Honeyguide (Indicator variegatus) - 17
Pallid Honeyguide (Indicator meliphilus) – 17
Wahlberg's (Brown-backed) Honeyguide (Prodotiscus regulus) – 7, 14, 23
Rufous-necked Wryneck (Red-necked) (Jynx ruficollis) – a surprise find - 14
Nubian Woodpecker (Campethera nubica) – 12, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Golden-tailed Woodpecker (Campethera abingoni) – 14, 15
Green-backed Woodpecker (Campethera cailliautii) - 15
Cardinal Woodpecker (Dendropicos fuscescens) ssp hartlaubi – 13, 14, 18, 21
Bearded Woodpecker (Dendropicos namaquus) - 24
(African) Gray Woodpecker (Dendropicos goertae) ssp rhodiogaster – 23, 24
Olive Woodpecker (Dendropicos griseocephalus) - 5
Yellow Flycatcher (Erythrocercus holochlorus) - 15, 16, 17, 18
Livingstone's Flycatcher (Erythrocercus livingstonei) – north of normal range - 13
White-tailed Crested-Flycatcher (Trochocercus albonotatus) – 5, 7, 19
African (Blue-mantled) Crested-Flycatcher (Trochocercus cyanomelas) – a great pair - 16
African Paradise-Flycatcher (Terpsiphone viridis) – 2, 3, 16, 20, 21
Square-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus ludwigii) – 4, 5, 8, 9, 16, 17, 18, 19
Fork-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus adsimilis) – 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22
House Crow (Corvus splendens) – 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, 14, 15, 18, 20
Cape Crow (Corvus capensis) – 24, 25
Pied Crow (Corvus albus) – 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, 13, 15, 18, 20, 21, 22, 24
White-necked Raven (Corvus albicollis) – 4, 7, 10, 11, 12, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20
Green-headed Oriole (Oriolus chlorocephalus) – 4, 16, 17
African Black-headed Oriole (Oriolus larvatus) – 12, 14, 15, 20
African Golden Oriole (Oriolus auratus) – 4, 6, 17
White-breasted Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina pectoralis) - 12
Gray Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina caesia) – 4, 5, 8, 9, 16, 17, 18, 19
Black Cuckoo-shrike (Campephaga flava) – 1, 9, 17, 19, 20
Gray-backed Fiscal (Lanius excubitoroides) - 24
Long-tailed Fiscal (Lanius cabanisi) – 6, 13, 14, 23, 24
Taita Fiscal (Lanius dorsalis) – 22, 25
Uhehe Fiscal (Lanius marwitzi) – fantastic views of the distinctive facial pattern - 10
Common Fiscal (Lanius collaris) – 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Magpie Shrike (Corvinella melanoleuca) – 22, 24
White-rumped (Northern White-crowned) Shrike (Eurocephalus rueppellii) – 12, 21, 22, 24, 25
Brubru (Nilaus afer) – 7, 14, 23, 24
Pringle's Puffback (Dryoscopus pringlii) - 20
Black-backed Puffback (Dryoscopus cubla) – 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21
Marsh Tchagra (Tchagra minuta) – 10. 13
Black-crowned Tchagra (Tchagra senegala) – 6, 14
Brown-crowned Tchagra (Tchagra australis) – 12, 20, 22
Tropical Boubou (Laniarius aethiopicus) – 4, 10  25
Slate-colored Boubou (Laniarius funebris) – 20, 21, 22, 24
Zanzibar Boubou (Laniarius sublacteus) – 1, 19
Fuelleborn's Boubou (Laniarius fuelleborni) – hard to get good loooks at this skulker - 8
Rosy-patched Bushshrike (Rhodophoneus cruentus) ssp carthamagnmene – beautiful bird - 21, 22
Sulphur-breasted (Orange-breasted) Bushshrike (Telophorus sulfureopectus) - 21
Black-fronted Bushshrike (Telophorus nigrifrons) – side-by-side with Ulugura Bushshrikes - 5, 8, 9
Gray-headed Bushshrike (Malaconotus blanchoti) – 1, 21
Uluguru Bushshrike (Malaconotus alius) - 5
White (White-crested) Helmetshrike (Prionops plumatus) – 6, 12, 14, 15
Retz's Helmetshrike (Prionops retzii) – 4, 14, 15
Chestnut-fronted Helmetshrike (Prionops scopifrons) - 16
Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher (Bias musicus) – 12, 13
Short-tailed (Forest) Batis (Batis mixta) - 16
Chinspot Batis (Batis molitor) – 10, 12, 22, 23
Pale Batis (Batis soror) – 17, 18
(Easterm) Black-headed Batis (Batis minor) - 21
Pygmy Batis (Batis perkeo) – 20. 21
Dark Batis (Batis ultima) - 5
Black-throated Wattle-eye (Platysteira peltata) – 1, 15
Red-tailed Ant-Thrush (Neocossyphus rufus) – very skulking - 18
Abyssinian (Olive) Thrush (Turdus abyssinicus) - 25
African Bare-eyed Thrush (Turdus tephronotus) - 20
Kurrichane Thrush (Turdus libonyanus) - 14
White-chested Alethe (Alethe fuelleborni) – fleeting glimpses - 20
Kenrick's Starling (Poeoptera kenricki) – 17, 19
Waller's Starling (Onychognathus walleri) – common, often in large flocks - 4, 5, 10, 16-21
Miombo Blue-eared Starling (Lamprotornis elisabeth) – 13, 14, 15
Red-winged Starling (Onychognathus morio) – 4, 19, 20, 22
Slender-billed Starling (Onychognathus tenuirostris) – 4, 7
Rueppell's Glossy-Starling (Lamprotornis purpuropterus) - 24
Superb Starling (Lamprotornis superbus) – 13, 14, 21-25
Hildebrandt's Starling (Lamprotornis hildebrandti) – 22, 23, 24
Sharpe's Starling (Cinnyricinclus sharpii) - 21
Violet-backed Starling (Cinnyricinclus leucogaster) – 2, 3
Fischer's Starling (Spreo fischeri) – 20, 21, 22, 23
Golden-breasted Starling (Cosmopsarus regius) – unfortunately, only a single distant view - 20
Ashy Starling (Cosmopsarus unicolor) – notable sighting in Dar, well outside normal range - 1, 6, 12
Wattled Starling (Creatophora cinerea) – 22, 23, 24
Black-bellied Starling (Notopholia corruscus) – 3, 16, 17, 18
Yellow-billed Oxpecker (Buphagus africanus) – 22, 24
Red-billed Oxpecker (Buphagus erythrorhynchus) – 15, 25
Silverbird (Empidornis semipartitus) – 24, 25
Pale Flycatcher (Bradornis pallidus) - 14
African Gray Flycatcher (Bradornis microrhynchus) – 12, 20-25
White-eyed Slaty-Flycatcher (Dioptrornis fischeri) – 7, 8, 10, 21
Southern Black-Flycatcher (Melaenornis pammelaina) – 7, 14, 17
African Dusky Flycatcher (Muscicapa adusta) – 16-21
White-starred Robin (Pogonocichla stellata) – 8, 9 18, 19, 20
Sharpe's Akalat (Sheppardia sharpei) ssp usambarae – 4, 8
Usambara Akalat (Sheppardia montana) – very difficult but eventually seen OK - 19
Iringa Akalat (Sheppardia lowei) – this normally-skulking bird posed nicely - 8
Cape Robin-Chat (Cossypha caffra) – 11, 19, 20, 21
White-browed Robin-Chat (Cossypha heuglini) - 2
Red-capped Robin-Chat (Cossypha natalensis) - 18
Collared Palm-Thrush (Cichladusa arquata) - 18
Spotted Morning-Thrush (Palm-Thrush) (Cichladusa guttata) – 1, 21, 23
Red-backed (White-browed) Scrub-Robin (Cercotrichas leucophrys) – 12, 20, 21, 22, 24
African Stonechat (Saxicola torquatus) – 6, 7, 10, 12, 20, 22
Capped Wheatear (Oenanthe pileata) – 22, 23, 24, 25
Schalow’s Wheatear (Oenanthe schalowi) – 22, 23
Common (Mocking) Cliff-Chat (Thamnolaea cinnaminoventris) - 18
Familiar Chat (Cercomela familiaris) – 7
Northern Anteater-Chat (Myrmecocichla aethiops) - 25
Arnott’s Chat (Myrmecocichla arnotti) – dozens in miombo - 14
Plain (Brown-rumped) Martin (Riparia paludicola) – 21, 22, 25
Banded Martin (Riparia cincta) - 25
Gray-rumped Swallow (Pseudohirundo griseopyga) - 25
Rock Martin (Ptyonoprogne fuligula) – 4, 11, 17
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) - 20
Wire-tailed Swallow (Hirundo smithii) – 2, 13, 14, 15, 24
Lesser Striped-Swallow (Hirundo abyssinica) – 1, 3, 4, 6, 13, 14, 15, 20
Mosque Swallow (Hirundo senegalensis) – unusually large flock of 100+ birds - 20, 22
Red-rumped Swallow (Hirundo daurica) – 6, 18 20, 23, 24, 25
Black Sawwing (Psalidoprocne pristoptera) – 4, 6, 9, 14, 19, 20, 25
Dark-capped (Common) Bulbul (Pycnonotus tricolor) – 1, 4, 6-17, 20-24
Shelley's Greenbul (Andropadus masukuensis) – 5, 8, 9, 16, 17, 19
Eastern Mountain Bulbul (Andropadus nigriceps) – 19, 20
Uluguru Greenbul (Andropadus neumanni) - 5
Stripe-faced Greenbul (Andropadus striifacies) – 5
Little Greenbul (Andropadus virens) – 16, 17, 18
Somber Greenbul (Andropadus importunus) – 1, 18, 20
Yellow-bellied Greenbul (Cholorcichla flaviventris) - 19
Placid Greenbul (Phyllastrephus placidus) – 4, 9, 18
Dodson’s Bulbul (Phyllastrephus dobsoni) – 20, 21
Northern Brownbul (Phyllastrephus strepitans) – 1, 20, 21
Yellow-streaked Bulbul (Phyllastrephus flavostriatus) – 9, 15, 16, 18
Tiny Greenbul (Phyllastrephus debilis) ssp albigula – 14, 18
Eastern (Yellow-spotted) Nicator (Nicator gularis) – 13, 16
African Yellow White-eye (Zosterops senegalensis) ssp eurycritotus – 4, 7, 9, 10, 12, 16, 18, 19
Pemba White-eye (Zosterops vaughani) – 2, 3
Broad-ringed (Montane) White-eye (Zosterops poliogaster) – 25 - also South Pare White-eye (Zosterops winifredae) - 21
White-breasted (Abyssinian) White-eye (Zosterops abyssinicus) - 20
Red-faced Cisticola (Cisticola erythrops) - 17
Singing Cisticola (Cisticola cantans) – 10. 21
Coastal Cisticola (Cisticola haematochephala)
Trilling Cisticola (Cisticola woosnami) – 7, 12
Hunter's Cisticola (Cisticola hunteri) – 21, 25
Black-lored Cisticola (Cisticola nigriloris) – 9, 10, 11
Kilombero Cisticola (Cisticola sp.) – easy to see from the main road - 13
White-tailed Cisticola (Cisticola sp.) – this one required a trek into the fields - 13
Rattling Cisticola (Cisticola chinianus) – 1, 14, 20, 22, 23, 24
Lyne’s Cisticola (Cisticola distinctus) – a single bird at Ngorongoro - 25
Winding Cisticola (Cisticola galactotes) – 6, 22, 25
Croaking Cisticola (Cisticola natalensis) – 14, 20
Siffling (Short-winged) Cisticola (Cisticola brachypterus) - 7
Tiny Cisticola (Cisticola nana) - 20
Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis) – 2, 14
Desert Cisticola (Cisticola aridulus) - 24
Pectoral-patch Cisticola (Cisticola brunnescens) - 25
Tawny-flanked Prinia (Prinia subflava) – 4, 7, 14, 17, 22
Bar-throated Apalis (Apalis thoracica) ssp griseiceps and parensis – 6, 20
Buff-bellied Warbler (Phyllolais pulchella) - 23
White-winged Apalis (Apalis chariessa) – 4, 5
Yellow-breasted Apalis (Apalis flavida) – 1, 2, 12, 15, 20, 21
Chapin's Apalis (Apalis chapini) – 8, 9
Black-headed Apalis (Apalis melanocephala) – 6, 8, 9, 15, 18, 19
Brown-headed Apalis (Apalis alticola) -  7, 10
Red-fronted Warbler (Apalis) (Urorhipis rufifrons) – 20, 21
Green-backed Camaroptera (Camaroptera brachyura) – 2
Grey-backed Camamoptera (Camamoptera brevicaudata) – 12, 18, 24
Gray Wren-Warbler (Calamonastes simplex) - 20
Stierling’s Wren-warbler (Calamonastes buttoni) - 14
African (Little Rush) Bush-Warbler (Bradypterus baboecala) - 8
Cinnamon Bracken-Warbler (Bradypterus cinnamomeus) - 19
Moustached Grass-Warbler (Melocichla mentalis) - 6
Lesser Swamp-Warbler (Acrocephalus gracilirostris) - 13
African (Dark-capped) Yellow Warbler (Chloropeta natalensis) – 13, 20
Mountain Yellow Warbler (Chloropeta similis) - 25
African Tailorbird (Red-capped Forest Warbler) (Orthotomus metopias) – great views - 5, 19
Long-billed Tailorbird (Long-billed Forest Warbler) (Orthotomus moreaui) – unexpected - 16
Yellow-bellied Eremomela (Eremomela icteropygialis) – 14, 22, 24
Green-capped Eremomela (Eremomela scotops) - 14
Northern Crombec (Sylvietta brachyura) - 21
Red-faced Crombec (Sylvietta whytii) – 12, 14, 23, 24, 25
Kretschmer's Longbill (Macrosphenus kretschmeri) – skulking but eventually cooperative - 16, 18
Yellow-throated Wood-Warbler (Woodland-Warbler) (Phylloscopus ruficapilla) – 4, 5, 7, 19, 20
Yellow-bellied Hyliota (Hyliota flavigaster) - 14
Usumbara Hyliota (Hyliota usuambarae) – a pair high above in flight and perched briefly - 18
Brown Warbler (Parisoma) (Sylvia lugens) - 10
Banded Warbler (Parisoma) (Sylvia boehmi) – 22, 23
Spot-throat (Modulatrix stictigula) – only one good view of this skulker - 8
Pale-breasted Illadopsis (Illadopsis rufipennis) ssp distans – another skulker - 17
Scaly Chatterer (Turdoides aylmeri) – yet another skulker - 20
Black-lored Babbler (Turdoides melanops) – 23, 24
Northern Pied-Babbler (Turdoides hypoleucus) ssp rutensis – 14, 22
African Hill-Babbler (Pseudoalcippe abyssinica) ssp stierlingi - 19
Arrow-marked Babbler (Turdoides jardineii) – 12, 13, 14
White-bellied Tit (Melaniparus albiventris) – 7, 20
Rufous-bellied (Cinnamon-breasted) Tit (Melaniparus rufiventris) ssp pallidoventris - 14
Red-throated Tit (Melaniparus fringillinus) – 22, 23, 24
Somali (Acacia) Tit (Melaniparus thruppi) - 21
African Penduline-Tit (Anthoscopus caroli) – 13, 14, ssp sharpei (aka Buff-bellied Penduline-Tit) - 24
Singing Bushlark (Mirafra cantillans) – only a single bird - 22
Red-winged Lark (Mirafra hypermetra) – most common lark on Lark Plains - 22
Rufous-naped Lark (Mirafra africana) ssp athi – 23, 24, 25
Flappet Lark (Mirafra rufocinnamomea) – 7, 13
Foxy Lark (Calendulauda alopex) – common on Lark Plains - 22
Beesley's Lark (Chersomanes beesleyi) – great views of several birds - 22
Fischer's Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix leucopareia) – 1, 14, 21, 22, 23, 24
Red-capped Lark (Calandrella cinerea) – 24, 25
Pink-breasted Lark (Calendulauda poecilosterna) – 20, 21
Short-tailed Lark (Pseudalaemon fremantlii) – close views of several pairs - 22
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) – 1, 12, 13, 18, 20, 21, 24, 25
Kenya Rufous Sparrow (Passer  rufocinctus) – 22, 23, 24, 25
(Northern) Gray-headed Sparrow (Passer griseus) – 1, 20, 21, 22
Parrot-billed Sparrow (Passer gongonensis) - 21
Swahili Sparrow (Passer suahelicus)- 22, 23, 24
Southern Gray-headed Sparrow (Passer diffusus) - 12
Chestnut Sparrow (Passer eminibey) – 21, 22, 23, 24
Yellow-spotted Petronia (Petronia pyrgita) – 7, 12, 13, 14
Yellow-throated Petronia (Petronia superciliaris) - 20
Green-winged Pytilia (Melba Finch) (Pytilia melba) – 12, 13, 20
Green-backed (Green) Twinspot (Mandingoa nitidula) – one juvenile - 21
Red-faced Crimson-wing (Cryptospiza reichenovii) – 19, 20
Red-throated (Peters's) Twinspot (Hypargos niveoguttatus) – tough to get views of this ground-lover - 18
Red-billed Firefinch (Lagonosticta senegala) – 13, 24
African Firefinch (Lagonosticta rubricata) – 20, 21
Jameson's Firefinch (Lagonosticta rhodopareia) - 12
Blue-breasted Cordonbleu (Blue Waxbill) (Uraeginthus angolensis) – 12, 13, 14
Red-cheeked Cordonbleu (Uraeginthus bengalus) – 12, 20, 22
Blue-capped Cordonbleu (Uraeginthus cyanocephalus) – 1, 12
Purple Grenadier (Uraeginthus ianthinogaster) – 20, 21 25
Yellow-bellied Waxbill (Estrilda quartinia) – 4, 6, 10, 17, 18, 19, 25
Common Waxbill (Estrilda astrild) – 4, 9, 11, 12, 16, 18, 19
Black-cheeked (Black-faced) Waxbill (Estrilda erythronotos) – 21, 23
Zebra (Orange-breasted) Waxbill (Amandava subflava) - 13
African Quailfinch (Ortygospiza fuscocrissa) – great views of a flock bathing - 24
Gray-headed Silverbill (Odontospiza griseicapilla) - 24
Bronze Mannikin (Spermestes cucullatus) - 4
Red-backed Mannikin (Lonchura nigriceps) – always in large groups - 1, 17-21
Magpie Mannikin (Lonchura fringilloides) - 13
Java Sparrow (Padda oryzivora) – established on Pemba - 2
Cut-throat (Amadina fasciata) – fabulous views – 12, 24
Village Indigobird (Vidua chalybeata) – 1, 13, 22
Purple Indigobird (Vidua purpurascens) – 4, 10, 16, 17, 20
Steel-blue Whydah (Vidua hypocherina) – a great last-minute find by Martin - 26
Straw-tailed Whydah (Vidua fischeri) – fantastic full breeding plumage males - 23, 26
Pin-tailed Whydah (Vidua macroura) – 1, 4, 6, 16, 17, 20
Eastern (Long-tailed) Paradise-Whydah (Vidua paradisaea) - 23
Broad-tailed Paradise-Whydah (Vidua obtusa) – put on quite a show with its flowing tail - 12
African Pied Wagtail (Motacilla aguimp) – 12, 21, 22
Mountain Wagtail (Motacilla clara) – 6, 17, 19, 20
Yellow-throated Longclaw (Macronyx croceus) – 15, 24
Rosy-throated Longclaw (Macronyx ameliae) - 25
Striped Pipit (Anthus lineiventris) - 7
African Pipit (Anthus cinnamomeus) – 1, 2, 23, 24
Plain-backed Pipit (Anthus leucophrys) - 24
Long-billed Pipit (Anthus similis) - 25
Bush Pipit (Anthus caffer)
Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver (Bubalornis niger) – 20, 22, 23
White-headed Buffalo-Weaver (Dinemellia dinemelli) – 21, 22, 24
Speckle-fronted Weaver (Sporopipes frontalis) – 22, 23, 24
White-browed Sparrow-Weaver (Plocepasser mahali) ssp melanorhynchus – 13, 14, 21, 22
Rufous-tailed Weaver (Histurgops ruficauda) – 22, 23, 24
Gray-headed Social-Weaver (Pseudonigrita arnaudi) - 24
Baglafecht Weaver (Ploceus baglafecht) – 6, 10, 16, 21
Lesser Masked-Weaver (Ploceus intermedius) - 12
Bertram's Weaver (Ploceus bertrandi) –  4, 10
Spectacled Weaver (Ploceus ocularis) – 1, 4, 6
Black-necked Weaver (Ploceus nigricollis) – 12, 20
African Golden-Weaver (Ploceus subaureus) - 18
Taveta Golden-Weaver (Ploceus castaneiceps) - 20
Kilombero Weaver (Ploceus burnieri) - 13
Vitelline Masked-Weaver (Ploceus vitellinus) – 20, 23, 24
Village Weaver (Ploceus cucullatus) – 15, 18
Speke's Weaver (Ploceus spekei) - 25
Forest (Dark-backed) Weaver (Ploceus bicolor) – 5, 8, 9, 15, 16, 17, 18
Usambara Weaver (Ploceus nicolli) – 5, 19
Red-headed Weaver (Anaplectes rubriceps) - 14
Cardinal Quelea (Quelea cardinalis) – 23, 24
Red-headed Quelea (Quelea erythrops) – 13, 23
Red-billed Quelea (Quelea quelea) – 14, 20
Black Bishop (Euplectes gierowii) – all bishops were in great breeding plumage - 23
Black-winged (Red) Bishop (Euplectes hordeaceus) – 2, 3, 4, 5, 12, 13, 18
Zanzibar Bishop (Euplectes nigroventris) - 6
Yellow Bishop (Euplectes capensis) – 4, 6, 11, 14, 15
Fan-tailed Widowbird (Euplectes axillaris) - 13
White-winged Widowbird (Euplectes albonotatus) - 7
Red-collared Widowbird (Euplectes ardens) – 4, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13
Grosbeak (Thick-billed) Weaver (Amblyospiza albifrons) – 4, 7, 16, 21
Plain-backed Sunbird (Anthreptes reichenowi) – 16, 18
Western Violet-backed Sunbird (Anthreptes longuemarei) – 12, 14
Kenya (Eastern) Violet-backed Sunbird (Anthreptes orientalis) – 20, 21
Uluguru Violet-backed Sunbird (Anthreptes neglectus) – 16, 17, 18
Banded (Green) Sunbird (Anthreptes rubritorques) - 17
Collared Sunbird (Anthreptes collaris) – 9, 15, 16, 17, 18
Amethyst Sunbird (Nectarinia amethystina) – 17, 19, 20
Scarlet-chested Sunbird (Nectarinia senegalensis) ssp guttaralis – 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 22, 23, 24
Hunter's Sunbird (Nectarinia hunteri) – 20, 21
Variable Sunbird (Nectarinia venusta) – 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 23
Olive Sunbird (Nectarinia cyanomitra) ssp obscura – 3, 9, 10, 17, 18
Eastern Double-collared Sunbird (Nectarinia mediocris) – 23, 25
Usumbara Double-collared Sunbird (Nectarinia usumbaricus) – 18, 19, 20
Loveridge's Sunbird (Nectarinia loveridgei) – relatively common endemic - 5, 6
Tacazze Sunbird (Nectarinia tacazze) – almost missed it at Ngorongoro - 26
Bronze Sunbird (Nectarinia kilimensis) – 7, 10, 11, 22, 23
Golden-winged Sunbird (Drepanorhynchus reichenowi) – fabulous bird - 23, 25
Malachite Sunbird (Nectarinia famosa) – 7, 10, 11, 24
Mariqua Sunbird (Nectarinia mariquensis) – 22, 24
Purple-banded Sunbird (Nectarinia bifasciata) – 16, 17, 18
Tsavo Sunbird (Nectarinia tsavoensis) – 21
Pemba Sunbird (Nectarinia pembae) – 2, 3
Beautiful Sunbird (Nectarinia pulchella) – 12, 14
Southern (East African) Citril (Serinus hyposticutus) – 4, 6, 12, 16, 17
Yellow-fronted Canary (Serinus mozambicus) – 4, 12
White-bellied Canary (Serinus dorsostriatus) ssp maculicallis – 1, 20, 23, 24, 25
Brimstone Canary (Serinus sulphuratus) – 7, 10
Southern Grosbeak-Canary (Serinus buchanini) – 20, 21
Reichard's Seedeater (Serinus reichardi) – 7, 14
Streaky Seedeater (Serinus striolatus) – 19, 21, 24
Yellow-browed Seedeater (Serinus whytii) – 7, 10, 11
Kipingere Seedeater (Serinus melanochroa) - 10
Reichenow’s Seedeater (Serinus reichenowi) – 1, 12, 20
Cinnamon-breasted Bunting (Emberiza tahapisi) – 6, 12
Golden-breasted Bunting (Emberiza flaviventris) – 7, 13
Somali Bunting (Emberiza poliopleura) - 20
Cabanis's Bunting (Emberiza cabanisi) – 7, 12, 14
A few additional birds were heard by the group but not seen by anyone:
African Rail, Red-chested Flufftail, and Olive Ibis
A few others were seen by at least one other member of the group, but not by both of us:
Evergreen Forest-Warbler, Somali Crombec, Dappled Mountain-Robin (Dapple-throat), and Synnerton’s Robin

A large selection of mammals was seen, among them:

Yellow-winged Bat, Pemba Flying-fox, Angola Colobus, Iringa Red Colobus, Olive Baboon, Yellow Baboon, Blue Monkey, Vervet Monkey, Cape Hare, several types of ground squirrels, several types of rats and mice, Spring-Hare, Crested Porcupine, Bat-eared Fox, Golden Jackal, Black-backed Jackal, Honey Badger, Slender Mongoose, Dwarf Mongoose, Banded Mongoose, Spotted Hyena, Small-spotted Genet, Blotched Genet, Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Rock Hyrax, Tree Hyrax, African Elephant, Burchell’s Zebra, Black Rhinoceros, Hippopotamus, Warthog, Maasai Giraffe, Thomson’s Gazelle, Grant’s Gazelle, Steenbok, Kirk’s Dik-dik, African Buffalo, Eland, Waterbuck, Hartebeest, Blue Wildebeest, Topi, and Impala.    

 

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