the Birds uf utd da r mh ae Volume 8, no. 1 * July 2000 ISSN 1023-3679 Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1: July 2000 Contents Biditorial coo ccise lacgecsacssacandes coecdeetooeg bebesdiniendats acess 1 Birding in... Kot: 0:00.38.) sneeseeseeteteee eesti ee 2 Birding in... Ndara Ranch «......5....d..scessen sees csveeenteseeoversqesstessereset ¥ Kenya Birds of thie Web? ........c.cic..csseecosesessepstinascdbtsssesssesaeccstesceetsss 8° News from Kenya and abroad Ornithology Department ........:.:...5.icccscscssessecessescerssseeseesoesessucusset-ssasaes oe 9 Natrare K €inya oc... snctecsccteesseecduchaveees cacesecton-snesteseotsorers tteseees sea eer 23 World Birdwatch 799 05. 2.c.c. sc cccsecseossteectestescasetersasdesoecesesssentssso-ee 30 BirdLife Intemational «............cs00cesedesseoseesavasssnsesdevcesseesvessereseresomsncesc er 39 RECOLAS 6.5. scccgchsetinsenocuginduecinendcietetasisas olde ak passed eee 44 OVEN VIEW 2.5. ccscdesstescshsnetescovebestesoteucsedeoseretatenssel-Gntistiee eaten ne rr 45 Aftotropteal Species: ..1........0.0.[.cSiase-ceoecbentoseecee-tenbcssteosereets eee 47 Palaearctte mil ota nts 25.0.1 ccctsacsceessesteses cs sosessaevs-eots-tcstieeac eee eo 57 Breeding TecOrdS .:......siss0s.80-ictesoekectesterioneotaaes nantes ee Ss) Fe PAtadany osiiscsscscnsnsdscedeececsssecotsnesonenedvodvoohinvntocdceosass ceeesesecsesetoieae eect arr 67 Notes Booted Eagle again at Tudor Creek «.........1..:.:ssssecsssSoesecesedecereeceseses--2 68 A tescued ‘African Goshawk: «.........ccs.csenaisstiede steccine ee eae 69 It’s getting dark and there’s nowhete to sleep -...:5.-.-2.c:ccecccee eee 69 Chawia Forest in millenia Crisis) ......5.2..:006.20s00: Gere sseseseeee ee 70 Grey-crested Helmet-shrikes: indications of breeding at Lake Oloidien, Nai vasa .siciescnosthee ep SR Stason st, sandsascbec-nsiccenedeeerecere oem oe eer 72 Gtey-olive Greenbul in Nairobi Arboretum ....::..:cszsccos2-oeceee-e-22e0e-+-20e- 72, Nesting along Nairobi stteets).......-.....t.c:t-cciese-.s.cieceeen ee 74 Over-summering Northern Pintails at Lake Solat .2..2.:0..-.2tecececoecececee 74 Red-chested Cuckoo at Ndara Ranch, Voi ........).:0..:0cc0ess-0steteeesse 75 Observations on foraging and breeding in the Red-throated Tit, an East African endemic .........28¢.c.0:c2c5sees-cee-seeess 18 African Swallow-tailed Kites at Lake Oloidien «.............csssecsead2--seseceeceesee oe 78 Ornithological exploration in the northern forests of Kenya ..........seeseseee 72 Waterbird counts in Kenya, July 1999 and January 2000...........cessececeeeeseeees 85 Notes fot Comteibutors :...:.0cesiep:-censstessaestvsroessedantieneeescssntiien sco ee ee 88 Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 1 Editorial Kenya Birds is eight years old. Up until now it has been read by a relatively lim- ited circle: birdwatchers (of all levels of interest and experience) in Kenya and a few abroad. Last year, the Bird Commit- tee decided that Kenya Birds should, from vol. 8, be distributed to all members of Nature Kenya. We warmly welcome all our new readers and hope that you will find something to interest you in this and future issues, whether or not you have a personal enthusiasm for birds. Kenya Birds’ content has not changed — this re- mains a magazine about birds, birdwatching and bird conservation. However, we ate always happy to receive suggestions on what you would (and would not) like to see published. We are also happy that Kenya Birds should evolve to suit better its new, broader readership. If you can accompany your suggestions with some material for publication, then even better (see the ‘notes for contribu- tors’ at the back of this issue). We have already taken the opportu- nity, in this issue, to make some small changes in style and format. The layout of Kenya Birds has always been very sim- ple, the emphasis being on content and clarity rather than fancy design. This hasn’t changed, but a few features have been dusted off and modernised. We hope you find these changes improve ap- pearance and readability — but once again, feedback is very welcome. The last eight years have seen many advances in our understanding of Ken- ya’s birds. However, the more we find out the more new puzzles seem to emerge. Also, it becomes more and more obvious that many of our birds face very seflous and urgent conservation prob- lems. If there is any hope that we can do something about these problems, it is be- cause of the enormous upsurge in inter- est in birds (and the wider environment) over that same eight years. We hope that Kenya Birds has played some small part in encouraging this interest: we need your support to keep on doing so. It is a cliché, but true nevertheless, that the young birdwatchers of today will deter- mine whether our birds (and other biodiversity) have a tomorrow. This issue includes news up to July 2000. The records date from around Au- gust 1998 to the time of World Birdwatch in October 1999, plus a few particularly interesting older observa- tions. World Birdwatch produced a huge number of exciting records, and these are taking a long time to process — the delay being made worse by our records officer in the Ornithology Department going on study leave. We intend to bring records as far as possible up to date in the next Kenya Birds. That issue will also have an update on new species for the Kenya list, and revisions to the list of Red Data book species (as BirdLife International publishes ‘Birds to Watch 3’). Before signing off, we would like to say ‘thanks’ to Mark Mallalieu for edito- tial help, and to Duncan Butchart for al- lowing us to reproduce his superb line drawings from the “Ecological Journal’ nos. 1 and 2. These publications, by the Conservation Corporation, Africa, also include many interesting natural history notes: we hope to publish some of the bird material for a wider audience in fu- ture Kenya Bards. In the meantime — good birding! Leon Bennun and Colin Jackson Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 Birding in... Koru Neil Willsher c/o Homa Lime Co., Private Bag, Koru Where is Koru? A good question, and for most people a difficult one to an- swert. Koru is _ situated Muhoroni Town in the sugar belt on the edge of Mt Tinderet, at the entrance to the Nyando Valley. It lies on the bound- ary of Nyanza and Rift Valley Prov- inces. It is an excellent place to bird and ideal for people wanting to visit the wetlands of Ahero, Lake Victoria, and the South Nandi, Mau or Kakamega Forests, all of which are within an easy drive. Homa Lime Co. owns land in Koru and this farm is a perfect base for birding. The altitude of the area ranges from 1400-1700 m and the climate is fairly hot and humid with annual rainfall averaging around 1600 mm. Over 250 close to species have been recorded to date and the scenery is stunning. Getting around is very easy on an excellent network of well-graded farm tracks and footpaths. The birdlife in the area is spectacular. Some of the more special birds seen in- clude the Little Sparrowhawk. African Hawk Eagle, Common Quail, Blue- spotted Wood Dove, Eastern Grey Plantain Eater, Ross’s Turaco, Blue- headed Coucal, African Wood Owl, Broad-billed Roller, Common Schimitarbill, Black-billed Barbet, Red- throated Wryneck, Brown Babbler, Dark-capped Yellow Warbler, African Moustached Warbler, Yellow-Bellied Hyliota, Black-headed Batis, Northern Puffback, Black-headed Gonolek, Cop- per Sunbird, Black-billed Weaver, Black Bishop, Fan-tailed Widowbird, Fawn- breasted Waxbill and Steel Blue Whydah. At night the sounds of the Scops and African Wood Owl may of- ten be heard, together with the liquid whistle of the Montane Nightjar. Vegetation is varied due to cropping and different soil conditions in the area. The birding described below is split into sections. based upon habitat and the birds you can expect to see. | The gardens One of the most spectacular features of Koru are the gardens, which are perched on a hill overlooking the rest of the farm. These have been created over the last 30 years and it is here that a guest cottage is situated (see below). Varieties of plants are varied, including both local and exotic trees and shrubs: Podocarpus, Milletia, various acacias, figs and crotons, Tipuana, Jacaranda, Palms, Frangipani, Flamboyant, Habiscus, Bougainvillea, Bottle Brush, Oleander, Michelia, Thevetia, Heliconia, Duranta and Hamela among others. Thanks to this enormous variety of plant life, many bird species have nested here, including African Green Pigeon, Ring-necked and Red-eyed Doves, Speckled Pigeon, Brown Parrot, Ross’s Turaco, a pair of Verreaux’s Eagle Owls, African Palm Swift, Little Swift, Speckled Mousebird, Double-toothed and White-headed Barbets, Grey Wood- Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 3 pecker, Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Lesser Striped Swallow, African Pied Wagtail, Common Bulbul, African Thrush, Northern Black Flycatcher, Red-faced Crombec, White-bellied Tit, African Blue Flycatcher, African Para- dise Flycatcher, Common Fiscal, Black- capped Tchagra, Common Drongo, Greater Blue-eared Starling, Copper and Searlet- chested headed Sparrow, am Black-headed Vike ~t/ #; % and Red- headed Weav- ers, Red-billed Firefinch and Bronze Mannikin. — Klaas’s Cuckoo is found alongside Diederik Cuckoo, which respec- tively appear to favour the Bronze Sunbird and Baglafecht Weavers as fos- ter parents. Other birds in evidence but as yet not recorded as breeding are Kastern Grey Plantain-eater Levaillant’s Cuckoo, White-rumped Swift, Wood- land Kingfisher, Cardinal Woodpecker, Wire-tailed Swallow, Yellow-throated Leaflove, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Grey- backed Cameroptera, Grey-capped War- bler, Sulphur-breasted Bush Shrike, Tropical Boubou, Black Cuckoo-shrike and Ruppell’s Long-tailed Starling. With all the colour and pollen in the gardens other sunbirds to be found include Col- lared, Western Violet-backed, Variable, Purple-banded, Northern Double-col- lared, Amethyst and Green-headed. At Ross’s Turaco LE Y= ; U SS certain times of the year, just after the rains, the Red-chested Cuckoo is a com- mon sight, often being noisily pursued by the White-browed Robin Chat which seems to be a favoured victim. In the eyes of some, the gardens are a perfect table imine well and they are therefore patrolled by the S hawk, African Goshawk and Little Sparrow- hawk. Sugar plantations and borders On flatter ground where soils $2) are reasonable the main crop Ses grown is sugarcane. These lush green plantations are the fa- vouted haunt of the Red-col- \* lated Widowbird, Fan-tailed Widowbird, Fawn-breasted Waxbill, Common Waxbill, Blue- headed Coucal, Jackson’s Golden- backed Weaver and the Yellow and Black Bishops. The sugar is bisected by grassy tracks to allow field maintenance, == on which it is easy to observe Common Quail, Plain-backed Pipit and Yellow- throated Longclaw. Once every 18 months the sugarcane is burnt and har- vested, and the resulting open fields at- tract Black-bellied Bustards, African Wattled and Senegal Plovers along with hundreds of migrating White and Abdim’s Storks and the occasional soli- tary Black Stork. The Eurasian Marsh Harrier can also often be seen quarter- ing these areas. Other visitors are the occasional Pied and Northern al Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 Wheatear, flocks of Yellow Wagtails and mixed groups of Barn Swallows and Common House Martins that ‘jam’ the telephone wires. Sugarcane borders and stream lines Between the cane fields and along the farm roads there is a lot of waste ground with thickets comprising mainly lantana and guava. In these semi-perma- nent ‘hedge-rows’ can be found the White-browed Coucal, Blue-naped Mousebird, Black-lored, Arrow- marked and Brown Babblets and _ Black- headed Gonolek. The Red-billed Quelea is an occasional visitor greed- ily eyeing maize planted in adjacent farms. At certain times of the year the Black-and-white Cuckoo seems to adopt these’ hedges\" asi its home. A number of sea- sonal and permanent stream beds are to be found. Thick vegetation extends up to 25 m on either side, which may include naturalised lantana and guava but also various species of Acacia and Ficus, Albizia grandibracteata, Phoenix reclinata, Syzygium guineense and a large se- lection of woody shrubs. Birds found in these areas include African Emerald Cuckoo, Grey-throated and Yellow- billed Barbet, Slender-billed and Yellow- whiskered Greenbul, White-browed Verreaux’s Eagle Owl Scrub Robin, African Moustached War- bler, Red-faced, Singing and Winding Cisticolas, White-chinned Prinia, Yellow White-eye, Common and _ Black- throated Wattle-eye, Black-billed and Grosbeak Weavers. At night the distant sounds of the Scops and African Wood Owl often originate from these areas. Dams and wetlands A number of small dams have been constructed along some of these water courses. Some of these ate sutrounded _ by tivetine scrub, but where they are bordered by sugarcane fields a selection of indigenous and exotic trees and shrubs have been planted. In some of the dams, water lilies have been introduced. Birds commonly recorded here are the Little Grebe, Sacred Ibis, Little and Yellow-billed Ferets, Grey and Black-headed Herons, Hamerkop, Grey Crowned Crane, Black Crake, Green and Wood Sandpipers, African Pygmy, Striped and Giant Kingfisher and the Cape Wagtail. Occasional visitors include the Long- tailed Cormorant, Little Bittern, Black- crowned Night and Common Squacco Herons, African Open-billed and Yellow-billed Storks, | Red-knobbed Coot, Fulvous Whistling Duck, Egyptian Goose, Northern Shoveler and Lesser Flamingo. Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 5 Semi-open hillsides Hillsides have two types of vegetation. Kither they are cleared for grazing, with some temaining trees such as species of Acacia, Albizia, Croton, Terminatia, Combretum, FErythrina, Ficus, Bauhinia, Kigeha and Markhamia, ot they ate cov- ered with deciduous woodland compris- ing various genera, including the species listed above, with woody undercover, interspersed with open glades where soil is poor. Certain areas are planted out with Ewcalyptus or Casuarina trees. Some of these plantations have an underbrush of mixed woody herbs and some smaller trees, while others are cleared under the canopy to allow graz- ing. In these areas the ground cover comprises grasses, mainly of Hyparrhenia and Imperata species. These hillsides provide rich pickings, with flocks of Cattle Egrets following the cattle, Hadada Ibis, Scaly Francolin, Helmeted Guineafowl, Tambourine Dove, both the Blue-spotted and Emer- ald-spotted Wood Doves and occasion- ally the Namaqua Dove, Broad-billed Roller, Green Wood Hoopoe, Common Scimitarbill, Black-and-white Casqued Hornbill, Black-billed and Spot-flanked Barbets, Red-fronted and Yellow- rumped Tinkerbirds, Greater and Lesser Honeyguides, Red-throated Wryneck, Nubian Woodpecker, both the Black and White-headed Saw-wing, Pale Fly- catcher, Dark-capped Yellow Warbler, Buff-bellied Warbler, Black-throated Apalis, Black-headed Batis and Holub’s Golden and Spectacled Weavers. Other seasonal visitors to these wooded slopes are the Common Buzzard, Eurasian Hobby, Lesser Kestrel, Eurasian, Afri- can and Red-chested Cuckoo, Eurasian, White-throated and Madagascar Bee- eaters, three roller species (Eurasian, Li- lac-breasted and Rufous-crowned), Hoopoe, Crowned Hornbill, Tree Pipit, Spotted Flycatcher, Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Olivaceous Warbler, Yellow-bellied Hyliota, Red-backed and Grey-backed Shrikes, Brown-capped Tchagra, Black- backed and Northern Puffbacks, three otioles (African Golden, Eurasian Golden and Black-headed), and the Violet-backed Starling. Koru plays host to many other inter- esting birds. These include Marabou Stork, Laughing Dove, Bare-faced Go- away Bird, Mottled, Nyanza and Horus Swifts, Little Bee-eater, Banded and Af- rican Rock Martins, Red-rumped and Mosque Swallows, African Grey Fly- catcher, Pied Crow, Stuhlmann’s, Superb and Wattled Starlings, Red-billed Oxpecker, Lesser Masked Weaver, Steel- blue Whydah, Pin-tailed Whydah, Afri- can Citril, and Brimstone and Yellow-fronted Canaries. This incredible array of birdlife is also seen by others as a source of food. It is not surprising that the following ar- ray of raptors has been seen: African Cuckoo Hawk, Bat Hawk, Bataleur, Black-chested Snake Eagle, Brown Snake Eagle, Great Sparrowhawk, Shikra, Gabar Goshawk, Augur Buz- zatd, Long-chested Eagle, Martial Ea- gle, African Hawk Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Wahlberg’s Eagle, African Fsh Eagle, Black Kite, Black-shouldered Kite, Pygmy Falcon and Lanner Falcon. 6 Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 Where to stay Homa Lime has its own guest cottage capable of offering full board accom- modation. There are two double rooms, both with en-suite bathrooms, a living room, veranda and kitchen. The cottage is situated on the farm residential com- pound in one of the most stunning gar- dens in Kenya. Also on offer are two tennis courts, a swimming pool and horse riding. Bookings can be made by calling Homa Lime on 0341-51064/65/ 72 and asking for Mrs Brooks. Getting there Visiting Koru requires your own trans- port. The route is the main road from Nairobi to Kisumu, turning off at the bottom of the escarpment past Kericho in the direction of Muhoroni. The road from Nairobi is generally good and four wheel drive is not necessary. Fuel is available in Muhuroni (7 km) and Kericho (52 km). A detailed map of the route is available upon request when making a booking. Nearby areas of interest Koru is ideal for anyone interested in viewing the birds of Western Kenya, ei- ther as a stop off on route or as a base. Excellent birding localities within easy reach are Lake Victoria, Ahero Rice Scheme, South Nandi Forest, Kakamega Forest and the Mau Forest in Kericho. Brown Snake Eagle Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 i Birding in... Ndara Ranch, Voi Marlene Reid, P O Box 80429, Mombasa Ndara Ranch is 2 km from the Nairobi- Mombasa toad, about 17 km from Voi in the direction of Mombasa, looking onto the Sagalla Hills. It is basically a cattle ranch but has a lodge with accom- modation in small bungalows. There is a pretty good restaurant, cold beers and sodas, and a small, very clean swimming pool. The proprietors and staff are friendly and welcoming. However, as a keen birder, the thing that attracts me most to Ndara is the excellent bird watching. It is situated on the edge of Tsavo East National Park but is not re- stricted by park rules, so one can take lovely walks through the bush where a wide variety of birds can be seen. Even a lazy sojourn by the pool or a gentle stroll around the garden yields a wonderful number of birds. Ndara must be one of the easiest places in Kenya to observe Hunter’s Sunbird. On occasion, up to 10 males can be seen flitting on the Euphorbia hedge like so many jewels. Better than Aladdin’s cave. White-crested Helmet-shrikes click their way round the trees and Golden- breasted Starlings are regular visitors. Other species occurring in and around the garden include White-bellied Go- away-bird, Black-throated Barbet, Red- trumped and Lesser Striped Swallows, Spotted Morning Thrush, Bare-eyed Thrush, Chin-spot Batis, Brubru, Grey- headed Bush-Shrike, Black-headed Ori- ole, Black-bellied § Sunbird Red-headed Weaver. and The duetting of the Slate-coloured Boubou constantly echoes from under the surrounding bushes which, during migration seasons, ate thronged by birds. Plenty of warblers from Europe and Asia to challenge identification skills, not to mention Sprossers, Night- ingales, and Irania if you are lucky. Eurasian, Blue-cheeked and Somali Bee- eaters also pass through at varying times and there is often a profusion of Little Bee-eaters drinking at the pool with swallows and swifts in the later after- noon. A sprinkler used during a dry sea- son morning will attract a regular babble of avian bathers. Overhead there are always raptors on careful watch and a Bateleur will regularly drop by to see if a tasty snack lurks unawares. Other Afrotropical species in the bush-land include Black-and-white Cuckoo, Abyssinian Scimitarbill, Red- fronted Warbler, Rosy-patched Bush- Shrike, Green-winged Pytilia, Blue-capped Cordon-bleu, Somali Golden-breasted Bunting and, at the right time of year (around May) if you get really lucky, Steel-blue Whydah, making Ndara a place where (with the exception of Broad-tailed Paradise) the whole range of whydahs can be seen. Then there are the surprise visitors, such as the Somali race /ort# of Lilac- breasted Roller — perhaps things got too hot at home. About 150 species are regularly seen at Ndara. A concentrated study of the 8 Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 area over a longer period thanI am ever Staying there able to manage would can ape double Kenya resident rates of accommodation that number. The management are al- are very reasonable: at the time of writ- ing, KSh 1,800 for a double room, half board. There are other varying rates to suit different pockets, including ‘bed only’ at KSh 600 per person. There is also a camp site. A stop-over at Ndara fF! on a trip to Mombasa makes a welcome break from the perils of the dreadful road, and even a special trip is well worthwhile. Ndara can be contacted on tel 0147-30463/30207 or Box 3 Voi. Pick-up, transfers and game drives can also be arranged from the Lodge. ways happy to hear of new birds to add to the list. v5 Bateleur Kenya Birds on the web? No, we haven’t yet put together a website for Kenya Birds (though it will defi- nitely feature on the new Nature Kenya site — check out www. naturekenya.org very soon). ‘Kenyabirds’ is a UK-based site (named before the designers knew about our publication) that contains various species checklists, updates on inter- esting recent sightings, and photographs of a variety of Kenyan birds. Visitors will also now find sample articles from ‘Kenya Birds’ itself and records reported to the EANHS Bird Committee. Designer Helen Harris writes: “We started building the site last year after our fifth birding trip to your coun- try. Our main driver was the lack of information on the internet specifically re- lating to Kenyan birdlife. We were aware that many people visit for the “Big 5’ but felt that people were missing out on the opportunity to see a diverse and fascinating avifauna.” We couldn’t agree more! The site is an entirely amateur and non-profit ven- ture, and can be found at www.kenyabirds.org.uk. Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 9 News from Kenya and abroad Ornithology Department Ringing at Kindani, Meru _ On 10—12 March 2000, members of the Nairobi Ringing Group ringed at Kindani Camp, on the southern border of Meru National Park. ‘The trip was in- tended to update the avifaunal inven- tory of the park and its environs. The group consisted of Mark Mallalieu, who is also the patron of the Nairobi Ring- ing Group, Mr and Mrs Jeffrey James, Chris Hill, John Musina, Michael Macharia and George Eshiamwata. We arrived on 10 March and after pitching nets that same evening were pleased to catch a Willow Warbler and a Black- throated Wattle-eye. On the morning of 11 March, nets were unfurled at 06:00 h. After four rounds 22 birds from 12 species were caught and ringed. Of particular inter- est among the Afrotropicals were Grey- olive Greenbul, Peters’s Twinspot and Golden Palm Weaver, with Nightingale, Marsh Warbler and Garden Warbler among the Palaearctic migrants. At 10:00 h we furled nets and spent the test of the day birding in the park. In- teresting species spotted included Madagascar Bee-eater, Broad-billed Roller, White-eared Barbet, Croaking Cisticola, Isabelline Wheatear, Taita Fis- cal and Black-bellied Sunbird. We tried to spot the Taita Falcon that was sup- posed to be nesting on one of the rock outcrops in the park interior, but with- out luck. Back at camp, we shifted the nets to other sites not far away. After five rounds the next morning a total of 40 birds from 15 different spe- cies had been caught and ringed. We wete excited to catch a Black-bellied Sunbird, and no fewer than ten Jameson’s Firefinches! We also had Northern Brownbul, Yellow Bishop and Zanzibar Sombre Greenbul. After furling the nets we decided to walk along the perimeter fence of the park on the Kindani side. Among the species seen were Yellow-bellied Greenbul, White-winged Widowbird and African Penduline Tit. The high point came when, with the aid of a tape, we located a group of Hinde’s Babbler. The group intercepted us and continued calling persistently from the lower canopy of the Tithomia diversifolia bushes. The next day was to be our last, and as usual nets were opened at dawn. In the first round we had the White- browed Robin Chat — needing careful checking to distinguish it from Ruppell’s Robin Chat. Also new on the ringing list that day were Brown-hooded and Pygmy Kingfisher, a white morph A fri- can Paradise Flycatcher, and Black-and- white Mannikin. Over the morning we ringed a total of 43 birds from 18 spe-_ cies. As we were leaving for Nairobi, a Martial Eagle was spotted aloft in the sky just near the park’s main gate, as if to bid us goodbye. We certainly left convinced of Meru National Park’s sta- tus as an Important Bird Area (IBA). 10 Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 Many thanks to Mark Mallalieu for sponsoring the NRG’s participation, and to the Kenya Museum Society for its continued support of the Group. — Michael Maina and George Eshiamwata, Ornithology Department, P O Box 40658, Nairobi, Kenya Nairobi Ringing Group at Athi River | Two days after the onset of the first rains, on the weekend of 8 April 2000, the Nairobi Ringing Group again visited the School for Field Studies at Athi River to demonstrate bird ringing. Our frequent visits to SFS, where we always use the same net positions, al- most qualify it as another “constant ef- fort’ study site that we could use to monitor bird movements and seasonality. The iandscape was still brown but re- cent rains had brought down a lot of Palaearctic warblers, which were noisily singing in the bushes all around. We caught Marsh Warbler, Upcher’s War- bler, Common Whitethroat, Garden Warbler and Willow Warbler, as well as three Spotted Flycatchers. Four out of the 25 Afrotropical species captured were ‘old’ birds that we had caught in previous years — unfortunately, all 12 of the migrants were ‘new! — Titus: Imboma, Ornithology Department, P O Box 40658, Nairobi, Kenya More lower Tana forest fragments surveyed The lower Tana River forests are lo- cated in Coast Province in Tana River District. They form an Important Bird Area because of the threatened birds they contain (such as East Coast Akalat and Spotted Ground Thrush) among an impressive range of special coastal for- est species. The forests’ cover around 3,700 ha in total but they are frag- mented into around 71 distinct sites. As part of the World Bank/GEF Tana River Primate National Reserve project, — the department’s forest team is survey- ing the 16 fragments that fall within the reserve, with a total are of around 1,000 ha. Last year four fragments (Mchelelo, Mnazini North, Mnazini South and Congolani Central) were surveyed. In February 2000, we visited Guru North, Guru South and Makere West frag- ments. As well as looking at the bird community, the team assessed vegeta- tion structure. All the fragments showed considerable impact from peo- ple, especially Makere West. This was reflected in the birds — no threatened species was recorded at any site, and there were very few forest undergrowth birds in Makere West. On the other hand, Retz’s Red-billed Helmet-shrike, not located in 1999, turned out to be a relatively common species in Makere. Guru North and Guru South were in better condition than Makere and held a good range of coastal forest birds, in- cluding the near-threatened Fischer’s Turaco. Pel’s Fishing Owl was also sighted in Guru North, one of the smallest forest fragments so far sur- veyed. Detailed reports on both the 1999 and 2000 are available from the Ornithology Department. — George Aymutete, Ornithology Department, P O Box 40658, Nairobi. Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 11 Hot off the press Two new Ornithology Department re- search reports are now available: No. 36: Prekminary avifaunal surveys in the lower Tana River Forests: Guru North, Guru South and Makere West (Amutete, G. & Eshiamwata, G.), 2000. No. 37: Monitoring of waterbirds in Kenya, July 1999 and January 2000. (Nasirwa, O. & Owino, A.), 2000. These (and most other reports from no. 14 onwards) are available in the Nature Kenya office. Students and staff Congratulations to Mwangi Githiru and Kiptoo Kosgey for successfully defend- ing their MSc theses at Kenyatta and Moi Universities, respectively. Fabian Musila (Sokoke Pipit), Mburu Chege (Egyptian Vulture), Ronald Mulwa (Taita White-eye) and Edward Waiyaki (Taita Thrush) are all through with fieldwork and now analysing data and writing up their theses. In January 2000 Joseph Oyugi took up a PhD scholar- ship at the University of Illinois at Chi- cago (where two other East African ornithologists, Norbert Cordeiro and Gitogo Maina, are already studying). Also in January, Jean Githaiga and Kariuki Ndang’ang’a left for Cape Town, having been awarded MacArthur Fellowships to study for the MSc in Conser- vation Biology there. Intern Benard Okeyo was awarded a scholarship to study for his MSc in wetland management in Ger- many, and Evans Okong’o was selected as the Africa intern for 2000 in the Ramsar Convention Bureau (in Gland, Switzerland): congratulations to them both. John Musina is the new IBA Research Fellow, taking on Kariuki Ndang’ang’a’s role, while Alfred Owino has been appointed as a Research Scien- tist to help fill the gap left by Oyugi’s departure. Some of the collaborative work be- ing done by the Department is men- tioned below. Staff were also kept busy with fieldwork in Laikipia for our study of how land-use changes affect bird communities (see Kenya Birds 7: 3). More time was spent at Mpala Ranch in Feb- ruary and May 2000, continuing the long-term ringing study initiated by Dr Jim Lynch (see Kenya Birds 7: 107). Thanks to the interns who have helped with our work since the last Kenya Birds, namely Bernard Amakobe, Fred Barasa, George Eshiamwata, Jas- per Kiritka, Michael Maina, Nicodemus Nalianya, Philip McOsano, John Musina, Benard Okeyo, Evans Okong’o and Dan Omolo. Wings across frontiers Researchers from other countries con- tinue to link with the Ornithology De- partment to carry out fundamental bird Von der Decken’s Hornbill 12 Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 studies. Some of this work is outlined below, together with field updates from the Kenyan researchers who have taken part. All in the family: domestic roles among Grey-capped Social Weavers One major goal of behavioural ecology is to understand the diversity of forms of societies found in nature. Why, for example, do some birds breed as soli- tary pairs and others in dense colonies? Why do some defend territories while others do not? Why do a small minority of birds (about 3% of the world’s spe- cies) live with their relatives in family- based societies, and why do only a few percent of these form groups com- posed of many families. Our study investigates the family structure and family dynamics of one such co-operatively breeding bird, the Grey-capped Social Weaver (GCSW), in Laikipia district. We are investigating the ecological and social factors that shape the different forms of family structure in GCSWs. This bird species is particularly inter- esting because it shows great variation in its social organisation. It may live in simple (‘nuclear’) families, in complex (‘extended’) families, or in colonies composed of several family units. The sparrow-weavets of East Africa live only in nuclear families, sociable weav- ers of South Africa always live in big colonies with as many as 60 families in a single compound nest, and GCSW fall somewhere in between. A new series of evolutionary models, known as reproductive skew theory, try to predict how reproduction is shared within groups of relatives. In other words, they predict when different fam- ily structures will occur. They do so based on such factors as the expected — success of independent breeding, the total reproductive productivity of fami- lies breeding together, and the genetic relatedness among different family members. | A ‘high skew’ society is one in which reproduction is monopolised by one or just a few dominant individuals. A ‘low skew’ society is one where reproduction is more equally shared, with most or all individuals reproducing. Among East African birds, Green Wood-hoopoes and Arrow-marked Babblers are exam- ples of species where the dominant pair monopolises breeding. In other words, they live in high skew, nuclear family groups. White-fronted Bee-eaters and Superb Starlings, on the other hand, are species in which most females of repro- ductive age breed at the same time. They live in low skew, extended family groups. Why these different patterns? Our study aims to answer this ques- tion. Among the social weavers, we will measure the costs and benefits to indi- viduals of living in different types and sizes of family groupings (1.e. their nest- ing success and survival). Once the ba- sic links between family structure and these costs and benefits are known, we can try to manipulate them experimen- tally and see how this affects the family structure. The final result of this work should be better models for explaining Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 13 the social evolution of family-living birds, as well as other vertebrates in general. — Svephen Emlen and Nataha Demong, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-2702, USA, e: ste1 @cornell.edu. Social weaver searches On 19 March 2000, Fred Barasa and I travelled to Nanyuki to join Stephen Emlen and Natalia Demong at the Mpala Research Centre. Stephen and Natalia, from the Ornithology Labora- tory at Cornell University, USA, were taking a first look the local Grey-capped Social Weavers and Superb Starlings to see if they would be suitable for a study of so-called ‘reproductive skew’. Both of these species are known to be co-op- erative breeders, which means that ‘ex- tra’ birds assist to rear the young. The family structure can be very variable, making them ideal for reproductive skew studies. Initially, we expected to concentrate on the starlings, because we had trapped and ringed them already around the Centre. However, the social weavers turned out to be more promising. Grey- capped Social Weavers are small coop- eratively-breeding birds that build clusters of nests on a single or many Acacia trees. The birds prefer to nest in short trees of about 48 m_ height. Their nests, like those of sparrows but unlike those of other weavers, are thatched rather than woven. During this reconnaissance visit, we found a number of birds breeding on the ranches closer to Nanyuki, which are neat Mount Kenya and seem to have mote rain and cloud early in the season. Further away from the mountain, on Mpala and neighbouring ranches, there was no sign of breeding, but the birds were seen carrying nesting materials and building and renovating old nests. The reconnaissance visit was positive — the social weavers seemed suitable for a study of reproductive skew. We re- turned to Mpala in May for bird moni- toring work at the centre and spent an extra eight days (from 16—24 May 2000) ringing Grey-capped Social Weavers on Mpala and Segera Ranches in Laikipia District. The idea was to colour-band and blood-sample as many social weav- ers as possible while they were foraging near their nests during the breeding sea- son. At other times of the year the birds forage far from their nests and are very hard to catch. Mpala and the surrounding ranches contain two main soil types, red and ‘black cotton’. A mixture of acacia spe- cies (A. brevispica, A. etbaica, A. gerrardit, A, mellifera, A. nilotica and A. xanthophloea) is found on the red soils, while the black cotton is mainly domi- nated by one species, the ‘whistling thorn’ A. drepanolobium. Within Mpala Ranch we found no active nests in the black soil area. We therefore confined our work to the red soils where the birds were observed breeding. There may have been additional sites with ac- tive breeding colonies in this area, which we were unable to sample due to limitations of time. Segera Ranch is mostly a black cotton soil area, hence dominated by ‘whistling thorn’. 14 Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 Using mist nets, we captured birds in identified sites. Co-ordinates of the sites were plotted using a GPS. The bearings of sites that were already es- tablished could be easily identified on the map. Captured birds were ringed with both metal and colour rings. Three colour rings were put on the left leg and a metal and colour ting was attached on the right leg. Each bird received a unique colour-ring combination, which Black-capped Social Weavers . will be of use during later field observa- tions. ‘Super glue’, a strong liquid adhe- sive, was used to seal the colour bands. As well as the usual measurements and moult scores, we noted the presence or absence of a brood patch, an indication of breeding condition in individual birds. Blood samples for DNA analysis were also extracted before the birds were released. This involves carefully puncturing the main wing vein with a surgical needle and capturing a drop or two of blood in a capillary tube. These samples can later be used to assess sex (it is difficult to tell males and females apart in any other way) and, for breed- ing birds, to work out who are the real parents of the chicks. Before pitching the nets, we had to take into account the directions in which the birds flew in and out of the trees and the wind. Timing was also crucial. It was best to open the nets while the birds were away in the very early morning, since they usually re- turned in a flock at around 07:00 h. We selected two sites on Segera Ranch, both on the black cotton soil. Four sites were sampled on the ted soil within Mpala Ranch. Most of the sites wete associated with hu- man activities — such as housing, cattle dips, en- ~~grounds. The red soil sites all had other weaver spe- cies nesting in the same trees, including Black- capped Social Weavers, Chestnut Weavers, Vitelline Masked Weavers and Chestnut Sparrows. Over- all we captured and banded 157 Grey- capped Social Weavers, as well as a number of other species. We saw Chestnut Sparrows Passer eminibey being chased from the nest by the Grey-capped Social Weavers, an in- dication that they probably are using the weavers’ old and abandoned nests. The birds were not nesting in the black cotton soil on Mpala Ranch, where colonies have been seen in the past. Most of the colonies we saw else- where had some connection to human Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 15 activities on the ranches. As well as in- creasing safety from predators for nest- ing birds, this may improve access to water. During our survey the area was still dry from a prolonged drought, and natural water points had dried up: the Mpala black cotton soil area might have been abandoned for this reason. Thanks to the Mpala Ranch manage- ment for taking good care of us during our stay, and for land-owners for per- mission to work on their properties. The following members of the Orni- thology Department and Nairobi Ring- ing’ Group, took. patt bin \ the reconnaissance and ringing work: George Amutete, Fred Barasa, Titus Imboma, Silvester Karimi, Michael Maina, John Musina and Nicodemus Nalianya. — Titus Imboma and Fred Barasa, Ornithology Department, P O Box 40658, Nairobi, Kenya. A bustard family tree The bustards (family Otididae) are a charismatic group, and have always at- tracted people’s attention. They were once deemed royal game because of their stately appearance: in modern times, extensive hunting has resulted in many species becoming threatened. Yet despite all the ecological and conserva- tion attention directed at them, their evolutionary relationships still remain unclear. This project aims to work out these relationships. The bustards ate mainly an African group — 21 of the world’s 25 species occur on this continent. No- one is quite sure how many bustard spe- cies there are, and several groups of closely-related species are not well stud- ied. This project uses several independ- ent sets of data, including genetic and morphological characters, to examine possible relationships among the differ- ent bustards. The distribution of the bustards mitr- rors that of the arid areas. They are thus ideal candidates for examining the bio- geography of the African continent and looking at evolutionary patterns across dry zones. In particular, this project ex- amines the separation between the dry zones in the north-east and south-west of the continent. Several species have populations in both these arid areas. Fieldwork in Kenya, during which fresh specimens were obtained and the museum collection was examined, was undertaken in August/September 1999. Preliminary findings suggest that the widely separated populations of several species found in both the north-east and south-west may actually be separate species. Using molecular clock tech- niques, the project will calculate the ap- proximate time when these species split off from each other. The conservation of bustards is cur- sister rently a focus of much attention. The project’s work on genetic differentiation and population structure, including the clarification of species complexes, will provide insight prioritisation and management. — Callan Cohen, Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa, e: batis@iafrica.com into conservation 16 Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 What larks! Understanding a distinctive Old World family The larks (family Alaudidae), are an an- cient and highly distinct family of birds with no apparent close relatives. They are mainly an Old World group. Out of the currently accepted 84 species, 67 oc- cur in Africa, and 52 are endemic to the Afrotropics. Lark species richness is greatest in the semi-arid and arid re- gions of the continent. The two pri- mary centres of endemism are: e the north-east arid zone (Kenya, Ethiopia & Somalia) where 17 of the 35 currently recognised species are endemic or near-endemic; ¢ the south-west arid zone (South Af- rica, Namibia & Botswana), where 19 of the 23 currently recognised spe- cies ate endemic or near-endemic. These two widely separated dry zones are both ancient and very stable regions. They have common biological origins and their separation has driven the speciation of arid-zone animals and plants. Cryptic species Traditionally, taxonomy has been based on the appearance and measurement of different” "patts “or (the “body (‘morphometric’ characters). However, larks have ‘cryptic’, camouflaging plum- age. They also vary a great deal even within species and genera. In such based = on morphometric characters are often in- cases, classifications adequate and may even be misleading. Molecular techniques provide an objec- tive way of revealing variation that may be hidden if one looks just at appear- ance. In southern Africa, despite de- tailed taxonomic treatment in the past, recent genetic analyses suggest a great deal of hidden diversity among larks. Genetically, behaviourally and ecologi- cally distinct species have been previ- ously lumped together because they happen to look alike. For example, on- going research suggests that the so- called Long-billed Lark Morafra curvirostris is actually made up of five distinct species. Species are the units of conservation and biodiversity. They need to be accu- rately and appropriately defined before population numbers, population trends and conservation action can be as- sessed. About one-fifth of Africa’s larks are currently considered globally threat- ened or near-threatened. The group re- quires much greater conservation attention. Project objectives (1). To sample as many as possible of the north-east arid zone lark taxa, to assess their taxonomic status and identify ‘cryptic’ species and sub-species for conservation put- poses. (2) To focus attention on larks that are globally threatened or near-threat- ened, and/or highly localised, and accurately determine their distribu- tion, habitat preference, diet and regional conservation status. (3) To reconstruct the evolutionary history and biogeography for the north-east arid zone lark taxa, us- ing a combination of genetic, mor- phological and behavioural data. Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 Aim Barred Owlet (4) To compare the evolution of the north-east and south-west lark complexes. An understanding of the evolutionary history of areas with many endemics is vital to forming long-term conservation plans. Progress so far The evolutionary history and relation- ships of Africa’s arid zone larks are be- ing examined through sequencing part of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome-b gene. The majority of the southern African lark complex has al- ready been collected and sequenced; only further samples from the north- east arid region and North Africa are required. The genetic taxonomic meas- ute will be combined with evidence from morphological and behavioural characters (e.g. song vocalisations, dis- play flights, foraging technique, repro- ductive behaviour) to provide a multi-disciplinary assessment of the taxa present in the complex. Two field seasons have been spent in Hast Africa. The first (1998) was in Tan- zania, where the focus was on collect- ing, the second (August-September 1999) mainly in Kenya. We collected nine lark taxa at various localities within Kenya, mainly near Shaba, Naro Moru and south of Nairobi. The many speci- mens that are stored in the museum will also be used to supply morphological and plumage variables. For those spe- cies that cannot be collected, the Na- tional Museums of Kenya is supplying vital tissue and/or feathers from study skins to plug the gaps. DNA extraction and sequencing work is _ currently underway at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. — Keith Barnes, Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa, e: kbarnes@ botzoo.uct.ac.za Blackcaps help unravel migration secrets Many bird species that breed in Europe and Asia migrate to southern countries at the end of the breeding season. Mi- gration requires several changes in be- haviour and physiology. These are controlled by a number of factors, in- cluding hormones produced by various glands in the body. However, it is not at all clear how these hormones actually control bird migration. In this project, we ate studying the relationship be- tween migratory behaviour and hor- mone levels by comparing migrant and non-migrant populations of Blackcaps Syhia atricapilla. 18 Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 The migratory behaviour of Black- caps is among the best known of any bird, thanks to the long-term work by Peter Berthold and his collaborators. In this species, populations breeding in north-eastern Europe are long-distance migrants that winter in East Africa. There is only one ‘pure’ resident popu- lation of Blackcaps, on the Cape Verde islands. These Cape Verde Blackcaps do not show migratory restlessness at the times when birds of other populations do. We want to compare the migratory behaviour and the hormonal profile be- tween resident Cape Verde Blackcaps and migrant ones, during periods when the migrants show migratory activity. This means looking at birds from north-eastern Europe in the northern autumn and from East Africa in spring. In particular, we will record the migra- tory restlessness of birds of both populations during the autumnal migra- tory period and take blood samples to measure the levels of gonadal hor- mones (androgens and oestrogens), me- latonin and corticosteroids. This will allow us to distinguish factors that are correlated with migratory behaviour from those that are controlled by annual cycles. From 19 Februaty to 6 March 2000 I worked with Fred Barasa of the Orni- thology Department, and other col- leagues from Germany, to capture Blackcaps in an area of woodland around the Mountain Rock Hotel, near Naro Moru, on the western slopes of Mt Kenya. Many Blackcaps were heard singing in the forest along the Burguret River, but they were scarce or absent in the surrounding dry woodland. The birds were caught with mist-nets with the aid of song playback. Nets were usually placed along low bushes or fences on the edge of the forest. We caught roughly equal proportions of the two subspecies wintering in Kenya, Syhia atricapila atricapilla (57%) and S. a. dammholzi (43%). The sub-species dammbolzi is usually paler above and whiter below than atricapilla, but some birds were difficult to classify. At cap- ture the birds weighed between 16.5 and 22.25 g. All the males were lean, with an average fat score of just 0.5 on a QO-8 scale. Most of the birds were moulting. Immediately after capture the birds were housed in special cages, composed of a wooden plate on which three U-shaped metal frames were in- serted. A white cotton sack formed the sides and the top of the cage. We fed the birds a mixture of com- mercial dry insect food, boiled eggs and banana, along with live mealworms. Many birds had to be force-fed to begin with; those that did not start feeding by themselves were released after two days. On 8 March, 28 Blackcaps were transported to Mombasa by plane and the following day made the long flight to Europe (though this time not under their own steam!), landing at Munich, Germany. All the birds survived the journey, though unfortunately one died during the following night, probably due to the stress of transport. After a 10-day quarantine, the birds were placed in individual cages equipped with activ- ity recorders. At the time of writing (April 200), the birds had fattened to an average weight of 25 g and showed Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 19 nocturnal migratory restlessness. Blood sampling to allow measurement of the circulating levels of hormones should start shortly. — Leonida Fusani, Research Centre of Ornithology of the Max-Planck Society, Department of Biological Rhythms and Behaviour, von-der-Tann Strasse 7, B- 82346, Andechs, Germany What makes temperate and tropical warblers tick? Why ate tropical and temperate bird species so different? For instance, tropi- cal birds have much smaller clutch sizes than comparable temperate ones, and tend to have higher survival rates. When compating tropical and temperate bird species it is particularly interesting to in- clude long-distance migrants, because they experience both tropical and tem- perate environments. Recent studies also suggest that long-distance migrants are probably descended from ancestors that lived in the tropics. The warblers in the genera Sy/za and Parisoma ate a group of species espe- cially well suited for this comparison. Sylvia includes familiar birds such as the Blackcap, Whitethroat and Garden War- bler, while Parisoma includes the Brown and Banded Parisomas in Kenya. Mo- lecular studies indicate that these two genera are really one and the same thing — but with some species that are tem- perate residents, others that are tropical residents, and others that are long-dis- tance migrants. The project aims to compare the biogeography, morphology, ecology and life-history of Sy/ia/Parisoma species with these different life-styles. Quite a lot is already known about the resident and migratory species that breed in Eu- rope. Much less is on record about the parisomas, and the Kenyan part of the project involves detailed ecological studies of both the Brown and Banded Parisomas, P. /ugens and P. boehmi respec- tively. The project is co-ordinated by Dr Katrin Bohning-Gaese from the Uni- versity of Aachen in Germany. Katrin and assistant Silke Schmidt were in Kenya during April/May 2000 to make initial project arrangements and find suitable sites for studying both the parisomas. Reconnaissance turned up two good sites: Olorgesailie Prehistoric Site for P. boehmi and Madrugada Farm, Kabarak, for P. /ugens. Both species are rather local and thinly spread, but this is especially so for the Brown — the re- connaissance trip showed it to be confined almost entirely to stands of large Acacia abyssiniua ot \\ . 4 Escarpment Forest, an Im- portant Bird Area that forms the southern extension of the Aberdares forest. It lies 48 km north of Nairobi in Lari Division. The Nairobi-Nakuru highway forms its western border, with a thin strip of forest extending and running parallel to the road from Kyabe to Uplands forest. To the east the forest extends to Kagwe and Nyaduma locations. On the northern side, the forest joins the Kinale forest which together with Kieni, Kamae and Raggia forests form the Kikuyu forest block, esti- mated to be over 38,000 ha. Due to the large size of the for- est, KENVO members divided themselves into three groups and selected a few forest sub-blocks within Kinale, Kerita and Uplands for the bird-watching. On 2 October, the sub-groups were each assigned a forest sub-block to bird under a more experienced birdwatchert. The areas covered were Kijabe forest and Bathi dam, Kerita/Kambaa and Manguo swamp. After a long day walk- ing, all the groups converged at Gatamaiyu fishing camp where they put up for night. The camping was fabu- lous. The members chased their fatigue with folk tales and songs round the fire. Paradise Flycatcher They had the chance to recap the day’s activities as well as planning for the following day. They could not avoid the fun of making their food in the forest in the middle of the night. Indeed several members wished ‘if only the night was longerss The next day everyone was up by six ready for birding. There were no divisions this time: everyone covered a single block, Gatamaityu. The exercise was lovely and KENVO tegisters its ap- preciation for being considered to participate. We would like to thank the Nature Kenya through the Sites Conservation Officer and WBW coordinator for the support and made sure no needy members missed the ‘millenium WBW’. — David Kuria, KENVO, P O : Box Matathia, Kenya, é: davekenvo@hotmail.com ...at Nakuru On the biggest days of the year for birders, the World Birdwatch weekend of 2—3 October, the Friends of Nakuru were able to visit various bird watching sites within Nakuru town. Our first stops were the Bahati and Ndondori forests. Bahati is situated about 26 km from Nakuru town whereas the Ndondori forest is approxi- mately 30 km in the opposite direction. Both support dry highland forest on loamy soils, with the Chania River flow- 32 Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 ing through Bahati forest. They are great sites for bird watching. Come back to Nakuru town and travel to Langalanga. On your way to the sewage works is a dam named Hamerkop. It is situated south-west from the town centre, about 6 km away. I named it Hamerkop because that is the first bird I saw there! During the World Birdwatch week- end the dam was approximately 60 me- tres on each side, but it enlarges in rainy periods. It was first formed during the El Nifio rains and seems originally to have been a quarry. Come to the interesting part: Pied Wagtails shaking their tails, Spurwinged Plovers clicking itk-k-k-kitk-k-k-k-... I managed to identify 16 different species here but there could have been more. I do see the need to protect and con- serve our environment for the good of our birds. It is of great importance that we in our club are enlightened and mo- tivated to deal with bird conservation is- SUES. During this weekend I discovered birdwatching as one of the most inter- esting, adventurous and educational ac- tivities I have ever taken part in and I am proud of it. — Moses Mwangi, Friends of Nakuru, c/o Hyrax Hill Museum, P O Box 2183, Nakuru ...and on the north coast Ten minutes to five in the morning and the alarm’s going off — why on earth is it set for THIS time? Hang on... that’s a Water Thick-knee calling off in the distance. NICE! That’s a first for Turtle Bay. Oh yes — thats why the alarm’s gone off! Of World course, it’s Birdwatch 799 and that’s a pretty neat bird to start off with!! And so it began. I had arranged (or thought I had — !) to meet Yassin at the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Station at 5:30 am, so grabbed a glass of passion fruit juice from the dining room, filled my water bottle and headed for Gede. It was still dark when I arrived and there was Yassin — but dressed in his KWS uniform and clearly on duty and there- fore not in a position to be dashing off birding anywhere — ah! Looked as though none of the other guides was able to join me immediately either. Oh well, would have to make do without help until Jonathan M is free after lunch and just get on to Lake Chemchem, in- land from Malindi, my first port of call. Whilst talking to Yassin an African Goshawk came over calling ‘tchip! tchip! tchip!...” — yo! another good one for the list and with Common Drongos waking up too, things were getting go- ing. Lake Chemchem it was then and a fast and furious drive to get there as soon as posible, ignoring the weavers flying over as I knew I’d get those later. Stopped in vain to scan a pool by the road for a crake but ended up giving a lift to a lad and his two kid brothers — “leo ni World Birdwatch and all around the world today people are watching birds to raise awareness about the im- portance of conserving them —”. I’m not sure if he really got the message or whether it was just yet another ‘mad mzunge babbling on about something odd that wazungu do — if only I'd had one of the guides with me. Still, they appreciated the lift! Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 33 Lake Chemchem and about 06:20 now. Not bad timing, Weather a bit overcast, not too muggy, but not a lot of birds calling. Into the gulley leading down to the lake, and on the ball for anything moving. A sudden flash of blue accompanied by a high, thin piping snapped off from the bush in front of me — an African Pygmy Kingfisher — yes! Another neat bird, and two minutes later something perched on a bare tree top, a dove of some sort? No! A Little Sparrowhawk casually assessing the new morning — this is going to be good! Push on down through the scrub watching for any of the scrub species — a Bare-eyed Thrush or Black-headed Batis would be nice. No joy on those but a family party of Scaly Babblers were getting going with their raucous babbling and there were the ubiquitous Zanzibar Sombre Greenbuls (‘zombies’ to some birders!) singing from the tops of bushes and the Black-headed Weav- ers I’d ignored earlier. I combed the Za Hamerkop thickets in search of anything else — Amethyst Sunbird was a nice one to add and in a dense bush near the water’s edge a White-browed Robin Chat was letting loose with bursts of song, On nearing the lake shore, something large flopped across the clearing and landed on the outer branches of a big old baobab — something different and definitely interesting! It was a medium- sized raptor with a slight crest, heavy blotching underneath and odd propor- tions that made me do a double-take to start with before recognising it as a juv Cuckoo Hawk, another nice bird!! This was going to be a great day! To the lake itself therefore and a rapid knocking- off of all the waterbirds that it was heaving with including African Pygmy Goose, Southern Pochard, and a bunch of herons, ibises and storks. Nothing unusual except for a swallow perched on a stick out in the middle of the lake which, when grilled through the “scope, turned out to be an Ethiopian Swallow — my first for Chemchem. Time was marching on and I had to get going so I followed the edge of the lake around the promontory and out to the patch of reeds where I'd seen Lesser Swamp Warbler before. En route I had good views of Northern Brownbul and Black- bellied Sunbird and as I reached the reeds a burst of scratchy Alcrocephalus warbler-like song confirmed that the Lesser Swamp Warbler was indeed still there and obviously keen to be added to the list! That was it for Chemchem as it was getting on 34 Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 for 9:00 am I’d dipped on the parrot, thrush and batis but got some other goodies and, as I scrambled back up the path towards the car, had an African Green Pigeon give it’s squabbling call — yo! Keeping a sharp eye out on the sky for any raptors (and worth it: a Long- crested Eagle appeared soaring high over the cashew nut trees), I headed for Lake Baratum, slightly further inland from Chemchem and towards the Sabaki River. I needed Great Cormo- rant and African Darter here and Blue- naped Mousebitrd in the dry scrub around the lake. It only took ten min- utes to stop at the top of the slope, nip down to the point overlooking the lake and scan around; not only did I get those three but a Common Moorhen moseying around the lilies was a nice bonus! From here I had planned to do some exploring near the river edge. I had once seen from a plane that there was some ‘bush’ not far from Baratum be- side the river and figured it could hold some interesting stuff, so headed off in seatch of it. Things look a little differ- ent from ground level rather than 1,000 feet up, so I wasn’t so sure as to where I was going, but nosed my way along a deeply rutted track to where it tailed out next to what was indeed thick bush. Thankfully a path faded off into the bush meaning I wouldn’t have to make my own way through the thorns, so I donned my cap, grabbed ‘scope, bins and notebook, and made off along the trail. It was now a bit late to get the full blast of bird song and activity so it was a matter of picking out something new that didn’t mind the heat so much, and there wasn’t much! The ubiquitous Tropical Boubou was singing, Zanzibar Sombre Greenbul the same... there was not a lot else going on but I figured I should persevere. The path followed the edge of the thick bush with open, cleared bush on the other side contain- ing some patches of long, rank grass. Just as I was beginning to think Id wasted some precious time here, some- thing small, dinky and with a bright flash of orange zipped out of the grass to my right and shot away to drop into the grass again some 20 m further from the path accompanied by a distinctive ‘zeeet’ call. What the heck was itP There was nothing for it but to hunt it down, though the chance of seeing it in that grass pretty dismal. Pushing through the grass I kept a sharp look out for the “Zeeting Orange Flash’ — from its size and behaviour it had to be a small finch or waxbill but I couldn’t think of anything around here that looked or sounded like that. “Zeeeeet!!’ and another flash and it was up and away, this time further off. I managed to get a bit of a look at it however and yes, it really was orange on the underparts with a red rump — Zebra Waxbill?? Never heard of it around here before... I hung around in the hope of seeing it again and sure enough, it came zipping back and dropped once more into the long grass. I didn’t get to see it on the ground, but had enough views of it in flight to pin it down as a Zebra Waxbill, known at the coast from only a handful of now fairly old records. Wel/ worth was Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 35 the heat and lack of other birds! En route back to the car a thrush of some sort was singing half-heartedly from the middle of a hot bush, a Spotted Morn- ing Thrush — yo! And, hold on! What was that far-carrying, rolling, bubbling call from high up? Eurasian Bee-eaters? Those would be the first of the year and yes, I trace the source of the sound and count eight birds high up over the shambas — the migration is really get- ting going! Now that it was hot, the best habitat to go for was wetland, so Lake Jilore on the north-western corner of the forest was my next target. Driving there along the Malindi-Tsavo road I was rewarded with a pair of Trumpeter Hornbills dip- ping across the trees, showing the white trailing edge to their wings. Nothing else however and I reached Jilore and parked under a big mango tree next to the small bridge. It was midday now, so I stuck my notebook on the roof of the cat while I guzzled some water, then ex- tracted the ‘scope and camera etc. be- fore climbing out, locking up and heading down to the lake edge some 200 m away — followed by the usual complimentary trail of children. There were a good number of birds there as usual, including five or six hundred White-faced Whistling Duck and a few new species for the day — White- winged Tern, eight Pink-backed Pelican, Three-banded Plovers and a few Barn Swallows. I put my hand in my bag to get out my notebook only to realise that I had foolishly left it on the roof of the car. Some secondary school students who had come down five minutes after me said they'd seen it there, so I figured it would be safe enough and took some time to show the kids some birds through the ’scope, creating squeals of delight and amazement. It was by now 1:00 pm and time for lunch, so back to the car to get the notebook and con- tinue — but disaster! It wasn’t there! I Crowned Hornbill couldn’t beheve that it had been stolen — a half-filled note book, for goodness sake? Worth practically nothing to who- ever took it but stuffed with records and information for me that ten million shillings couldn't replace — ARGHHHH!! There was a man on a bike up ahead so I leapt into the car and chased after him only to miss him turn down a side path. I ended up driving some kilometres further on asking eve- ryone I met if they’d seen the book, but to no avail. It had gone. There was nothing for it but to carry on as I was wasting precious birding time, so I headed back eastwards and dived into the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, taking the road that runs through the middle 36 Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 rather than facing the badly churned-up Tsavo road I had used earlier. It also meant that I should be able to pick up a few more species. Sure enough, where I stopped for a bite to eat in the mixed forest I had Eastern Nicator and Black- headed Apalis. Most birds however were sensible enough to be taking a si- esta, so it was time to head back to Gede to check on the other groups and meet Jonathan M. Just before leaving the forest there is a slightly open patch, and as I reached it a large bird swooped across and perched near the edge — yes! another good species: Crowned Hornbill and then, even better, a beaut of a Woolly-necked Stork perched nearby! From there it was a short hop to Gede to find Jonathan waiting for me and to learn that all the others were still out and doing well. I took the track past the Nature Trail and plantation into the forest station and wasn’t expecting much as it was so hot — but there sit- ting out in the middle of the recently cleared bit of plantation was a largish bird of prey with heavily barred under- parts and a slight crest — it was my sec- ond African Cuckoo Hawk for the day, an adult this time! I was on about 130 species by now and we were heading north to look for birds in the drier, denser thorn bush be- tween the Sabaki and Tana Rivers. Jonathan had recently bought a plot at Marereni some 40 km north of Sabaki and we intended to camp here and see what we could find. First though, a quick dash into Watamu to collect a) some camping gear and more water and b) a new notebook (!) — for this we had to go through Gede village and yes! there they were, the resident Mottled Spinetail for the list! This done it was to Malindi (screeching to a halt en route to pick up a dot in the sky — a Wahlberg’s Eagle soaring high overhead) where it was Feral Pigeon and Feral Lovebird to add, in between buying some bread and milk for our supper and breakfast — af- ter all, we were going birding not for luxury camping! We carried on — Long-tailed Fiscal at the site I know for them near Malindi, White-rumped Swift at Sabaki bridge, Lilac-breasted Roller on the telegraph wires, and something else on top of a telephone pole — hang on, that looked interesting, chuck out the anchors and back up — yes! a Bare- eyed Thrush of all things, which Vd dipped on at Chemchem! Just beyond Mambrui is a site where I'd had the rare Superb Starling feeding young on one occasion (rare? Well, at least on the coast it’s a bird we get excited about!). Jonathan had bought some toffees to supplement the bread and milk diet and he gave one to me just as we passed Mambrui. We had just slowed right down at the starling site and were keenly chewing toffee and scanning the bushes for them when I noticed that my toffee had developed a crunchy bit... “Interesting toffees these,’ I thought only to think again and have a look and find half one of my teeth cosily embed- ded in the toffee — or at least a huge filling! Ah. Now what? Well, it wasn’t painful and we still had a whole day to go and what’s a crater in a tooth to a birder anyway?! So it was “Toothless’ and Jonathan now who motored on — Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 and we didn’t find the Ay startling, though there wete Red-billed Buffalo Weavers. That wasn’t the end of the fun. To cut a long story shortish, it was dusk by the time we reached Marereni, and J. had only been to his shamba once before, and the roads looked a little different then...! As a result we sailed past the track and drove on 20- 30 km to real bush country. It looked exciting, but we were told ‘Ai! Don’t sleep here, Auna shifta ming by a lone matatu that rat- tled past us. It did mean though that we got Collared Pratincole and one of our target bush-country species, Von der Decken’s Hornbill. We eventually found a track that kind of headed the right di- rection, and finally at around 8:30 pm reached a patch of now badly ham- mered and chopped about woodland some 5—10 km off the tarmac. Here we set up the tent and mosquito net for the night and made some chai. As we were sipping it, there came the sound of a gentle trill — an African Scops Owl — and another, and another — until there were six calling at the same time. There was also the African Wood Owl and then another quiet-ish brief whistle, fol- lowed by a short trill — surely it had to be a White-faced Scops Owl! The only way to confirm was to go and find it, so, atmed with torch, bins and cassette recorder, we ventured forth along the track the way we’d come shortly before. Not far along it something suddenly 1: fp 37 African Scops Owl took off from the road in front of us and floated around to land again a | bit further on — a night- jat, but which one? A cateful approach and keeping the torch stead- ily on the bird I so nearly caught it, literally about two inches arghh! But at least I got a away good view and could confirm it as a Slender- tailed Nightjar with the slightly elongated central tail feathers. The gentle whistle and trill was con- tinuing so we homed in. It took us off the track and through a shamba towards a lone tree that had so far been spared the axe. There wasn’t any moonlight but in the light of the stars we could even- tually make out a small figure on an ex- posed branch and when I switched the torch onto it — YES!! It really WAS a White-faced Scops Owl!! Glory!! What a stonker of a bird! We were able to get really close and get crippling views of it and, as a teal bonus, make some good recordings of its call. It was then back to camp and to sleep ready for what the next day might bring. It was just getting light, the African Scops Owl had been calling for a while from before dawn, and it was time to head out and see what we could find of interest in this tiny patch of remaining woodland. It was surprisingly quiet in fact and we saw and heard relatively lit- tle —- Carmine Bee-eaters overhead, Common Scimitarbill, Narina Trogon 38 Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 and Black-headed Apalis were the best. We did have a Northern White-crowned Shrike, however, an- other of the species we were look- ing for here and then, as we reached camp, a Violet-backed Starling to- gether with a Greater Blue-eared Starling and a black morph of Black-and-white Cuckoo! VERY nice! We broke camp and set off back to the main road, now in daylight so we could see where we wete going. Not far eer from the woodland was a beautiful area of rank grass with Acacia and other trees which looked like it should hold some good stuff — but again was peculiarly quiet though we lo- cated Siffling Cisticola and Mangrove Kingfisher. On, therefore, back to the tarmac and southwards to find Malindi Pipit just beyond Gongoni before hit- ting Sabaki. Eyes skywards proved pro- ductive again with a Black-chested Snake Eagle for the list a little north of Gongoni. The pipit was a cinch to find as I now knew the place well, having found them breeding there, but the Great Spotted Cuckoo in a low bush near the pipits and Great Sparrowhawk cruising over were a major bonus! Sabaki at last, but the tide was still right up high and not so good for wad- ers. It was also really hot and windy but we headed out all the same over the dunes to check the back pools first. Saunders’s Tern, Black-winged Stilt, Ruff, Sanderling, Lesser Flamingo, Grey Plover were all added pretty fast and then as the water receded we ventured forth into the mud. Last year it was only a couple of inches deep, but since then channels had been filled to almost waist-deep in places. One had to step very catefully to avoid _ sink- ing...! We reached the main wader- feeding areas and it didn’t take too long to turn up a Broad-billed Sandpiper followed by 10 others — a ‘lifer’ for Jonathan which was neat. Terek Sandpiper, and a range of terns: Caspian, Lesser and Greater Crested and more Saunders’s and one Ruddy Turnstone made up the tally for the es- tuaty. Nothing exceptionally unusual, but then one can’t expect it every time! We now had three or four hours of day- light left to play with and were still go- ing strong though [’m not sure Jonathan knew what had hit him with this ‘manic birding’ lark! The plan was now to head to Arabuko Swamp on the © northern edge of the forest. A team had visited the previous day but we would check it out in case something had come in overnight. It was definitely a good decision for, as we reached the water’s edge, a Martial Eagle cruised ovethead being mobbed by an African Harrier Hawk who then got hammered by the Martial! It was joined a few min- utes later by a second Martial and the two of them circled lazily in the sky be- fore drifting off eastwards. A careful Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 39 scan of the water turned up a couple of Southern Pochard, a species that is not meant to occur very much at the coast but which we’ve had around in small numbers ever since El Nifo. Also added was a small flock of Black-bellied Starlings that chased over the trees just behind us, and some Black-and-white Mannikins popped up in the shamba beside the pool — both species we’d missed so far. It was slowing down a bit so we thought we’d head last of all for the ‘African Broadbill Site’ at the end of the Elephant Track in the forest in the hopes of adding that and a few more forest species to our tally. As we turned up the track away from the water back to the car another, smaller raptor ap- peared overhead giving cracking views of its buffy russet underparts as it hov- ered not far away — a beaut of a juve- nile Ayre’s Hawk Eagle — YO! So finally into the forest for the last few minutes of daylight. Halfway there, we met the minibus donated by Turtle Bay Beach Club for the weekend, with one of the Forest Guide teams led by Alex on their way back from Jilore, hav- ing had a great time it seemed. Just 300 Mirpetote swe jmeb them. 4.) Peters Twinspot zipped up off the track in front of us and ducked into the wall of forest undergrowth beside the road. A jime species to have at this time of day! What a day, what a weekend — and it still wasn’t over! The end of the El- ephant Track can be quiet sometimes but today it wasn’t — we got there and moved slowly down a few hundred me- tres, finding Fischer’s and Tiny Greenbul, Blue-mantled Crested Fly- catcher, Red-capped Robin Chat, and East Coast Akalat one after the other and then, just as it was getting dark— YES! there it was, the unmistakable ‘brrrrrrrp!’ of an African Broadbill trill- ing its wings in display. WHAT a way to finish and what a stonking bird to be our species no. 208 for the weekend. — Colin Jackson, Mwamba Bird Observatory, P O Box 383, Watamu. BirdLife International Successful BirdLife International World Conference The Malaysian Nature Society (MNS), BirdLife’s Partner in Malaysia, genetr- ously hosted the BirdLife Global Part- nership meeting and World Conference in October 1999, These events brought together nearly 500 people from more than 100 coun- tries with the aim of exchanging experi- ence, skills and resources on conserving birds and to agree upon a set of pro- grammes for the BirdLife network over the next four years. This programme is outlined in the new strategy, BirdLife 2000. Workshops were held on conserva- tion issues including birds as indicators, bird trade, protected areas and IBAs and a series of discussion groups relat- ing to funding the BirdLife Programme. During the World Conference there wete several symposia including ones on ‘Birds, biodiversity and people’, and 40 Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 ‘Birds as barometers of environmental change’. Nature Kenya was intensively involved in this work — Paul Matiku (Network and Advocacy Manager), Solomon Mwangi (Sites Conservation Officer) and Shriti Rajani (Executive Officer) all co-convened workshops, and Leon Bennun (NK Chairman) gave a symposium presentation on Impor- tant Bird Areas for biodiversity conser- vation. Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan, Honorary President of BirdLife at- tended the events. As well as chairing one of the symposia, she gave two key- note addresses and led a press confer- ence announcing new figures on the state of the world’s birds. An exciting event was the Conserva- tion Fair where more than 88 organisa- tions involved in the BirdLife Partnership hosted stands showing ex- amples of their conservation work. The principal external sponsor of the event was the Japanese Fund for the Global Environment, and other major sponsors were the Swedish Interna- tional Development Agency and the Danish Co-operation for Environment and Development. The meeting venue, the Awana Ho- tel, lies in the Genting Highlands a little north of Kuala Lumpur. The hotel is surrounded by fragments of sub- montane forest, and in between the heavy schedule of meetings there was a chance to become acquainted with some of the wonderful forest avifauna of south-east Asia. Spectacular and col- ourful fruit pigeons, malkohas, hornbills, tree-swifts, Asian barbets, woodpeckers, minivets, nuthatches, whistling-thrushes, flowerpeckers and spiderhunters abounded, and certainly left participants with a taste for seeing more! Penguins in peril In the early hours of 23 June 2000 the iron ore carrier Tveasure sank in South African waters off the Western Cape, approximately 20 km north of the im- portant African Penguin colony on Robben Island and about 40 km south of the colony on Dassen Island. Both Robben and Dassen Islands are protected areas and are classified by BirdLife International as Important Bird Areas (IBAs). Robben Island is a World Heritage Site. Between them the islands host about 21,000 breeding pairs, in excess of 50,000 adult African Penguins; some 40% of the world population of the species. June is peak breeding season for African Penguins off western South Africa and it is esti- mated that perhaps 20,000 chicks were being brooded or fed at these two lo- calities. The Treasure had 1,300 tons of fuel oil on board. Escaped oil began wash- ing ashore on Robben Island on 25 June and had surrounded Dassen Island by 28 June. RSPB staffer Chris Harbard de- scribes the efforts to clean up and re- lease the oiled birds: “A massive warehouse in the indus- trial area of Cape Town is an unlikely place to see thousands of endangered seabirds, but for the African Penguin it is a temporary home that offers a chance for its future survival. Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 41 It is difficult to describe the scene as you enter the vast warehouse at Salt River. A pungent fishy aroma assaults you immediately and standing on an ob- servation platform you can get a feel for the enormity of the situation. Hundreds of yellow-clad people are busy around hundreds of blue circular “swimming pool’ containers which stretch into the distance. In every one of these contain- ers huddle dozens of penguins, most of them looking dejected and many still caked in oil. At the entrance of the warehouse a human chain is passing in boxes of fish to a storage area because every one of these penguins has to be fed each day. Ten tons of fish are con- sumed daily. This vision of hell is the result of the sinking of the iron ore carrier, T7eas- ure which on 22 June 2000 found itself in difficulties and requested entry to port at Cape Town. The port authorities refused as the ship was considered un- seaworthy. In the early hours of 23 July, as a tug began to tow it back out to sea, the towrope broke and the boat sank between Robben and Dassen Islands — home to 40 per cent of the world’s Af- tican penguin population. The boat’s fuel tanks ruptured and an estimated 400 tonnes of heavy fuel oil spewed out into the sea, forming large slicks. Thou- sands of penguins became oiled. The African Penguin, known also as the Jackass Penguin because of the donkey-like braying noise it makes, was much more plentiful 100 years ago when the population numbered about 1.5 million birds. Now a mere 150,000 birds remain, concentrated on islands like Robben and Dassen and increas- ingly vulnerable to oil pollution inci- dents with so many ships and tankers passing the Cape coastline. Seabirds al- ways suffer when there are oilspills but as penguins cannot fly and spend their time at sea on the surface, they will al- ways get covered in oil when a spill hap- pens near a colony. When oiled they immediately head for the nearest land, in this case the two islands. The South African National Founda- tion for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) immediately readied itself for the arrival of the oiled birds. The International Fund for Animal Welfare offered their help at the clean- ing centres and hundreds of volunteers were immediately called for to collect and clean the birds. The main centre at Salt River was a reception area for the oiled birds where they were first cleaned. Initially the birds were given some glucose solution to help rehydrate them and an injection of vitamins. The oil was cleaned off first by mixing it with cooking oil and then using a standard household deter- gent. Toothbrushes were used to ensure that every feather got cleaned. Birds were then placed under heater lamps to dry them. As the cleaning process also removes all of the natural oils which make the birds waterproof, they must be given time for this to return. The Table View depot contained pens and pools to which the birds were moved for further washing and monitoring by vets. The sight of these birds being let into a pool of clean water where they can splash 42 Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 and preen, brings a smile to the face as they clearly enjoy the sensation. The horrifying statistics make grim reading: more than 500 volunteers were needed to run the operation; about 500-700 birds could be cleaned each day; by 10 July 23,000 birds had been collected for cleaning and 3,000 birds had been fully cleaned; by 12 July the first 500 were ready for release. Back on the islands there were fur- ther problems. How do you stop more penguins getting oiled every time they go out to sea and what do you do with young birds whose parents are being cleaned? The answer was what became the world’s biggest ever evacuation of birds. On Dassen Island the penguins are concentrated at the breeding colonies. Staff from Cape Nature Conservation fenced in these areas to stop birds leav- ing. The clean penguins could be easily rounded up, placed into transportation boxes and carried to a waiting helicop- ter, funded by WWF-South Africa. A quick flight to the mainland and they could be transferred to trucks for trans- portation to a release site about 500 miles away at Port Elizabeth where the clean waters at Algoa Bay are ideal. The swim back takes about three weeks, enough time, it was hoped, to enable all oil to be removed from the area. The whole operation was an incredible struggle involving world experts on oil, salvage, penguin conservation, and bird welfare. Considering that a badly oiled penguin costs R2,000 to clean, 10 tons of fish were consumed each day; each helicopter flight and truck hire is expen- sive — the final reckoning will run into tens of millions of rands. The rescue was made only made possible through the generosity of people who gave up time and offered resources. It was a model of international co-operation.” » [The first evacuated penguin, a radio- tagged bird called ‘Peter’, arrived back on Robben Island on 19 July. In mid July, around 20,000 more penguins still remained to clean — a task that was likely to take two months or more.| First White-winged Flufftail nest found In the central Ethiopian highlands, re- cent work at two marshes which hold the only known breeding population of the endangered White-winged Flufftail Sarothrura ayresi has resulted in the excit- ing discovery of the first nest and eggs. The nest, found by Yirmed Demeke of the Ethiopian Wildlife and Natural History Society (BirdLife in Ethiopia) and Barry Taylor of the University of Natal, South Africa, was in a flooded meadow with grass, sedges and butter- cups. The globular nest was situated in dense vegetation and was woven of growing grass blades and small sedges with a short side entrance. The three eggs were pute white, like those of other flufftail species. Once discovered, the surroundings were restored to as natural a condition as possible and a visit six days later revealed a full clutch of five eggs. This long-awaited discovery should facilitate the search for breeding habitat and nests in South Africa, the only other country where this species occurs regularly. Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 43 o ‘ 2. MLNS t G “hs The known global population of White-winged Flufftail is only 750 birds, the majority of which occur in Ethiopia at the two known breeding sites. These sites ate located on state-run farms which are about to be privatised. As there is no restriction on the use to which a purchaser may put the proper- ties, there is the danger that the wetlands could be modified or even drained in the near future. Ethiopian Government and NGO personnel are being approached in an effort to alert them to the international importance of the two sites and to lobby for the pres- ervation of their wetland habitat. Crazy ants threaten Christmas Island’s endemic birds The Yellow Crazy Ant Auxoplolepis Lracilipes 1s causing major problems for the ecosystem of Australia’s Christmas Island and threatening the survival of the five endemic birds found there. Crazy Ants, .so-called because of their frenetic movements, have been ac- cidentally introduced to other islands across the tropics whete they have in- vaded native’ ecosystems, sometimes Silvery-cheeked Hornbill with devastating effects. On Christmas Island the Yellow Crazy Ants are killing the native Red Land Crabs. The crabs feed on leaf litter and the seedlings of rainforest trees, but in areas of high Crazy Ant infestation the crabs are eliminated and dense carpets of seed- lings appear, with unknown implica- tions for future forest composition. However, a more obvious impact of Yellow Crazy Ants is their habit of farming sap-sucking scale insects. High infestations of these cause stress to rainforest trees, causing canopy dieback. This could have a pronounced affect on birds like the endemic, vulnerable Abbott’s Booby Papasula abbotti which nests in the tops of forest trees. An- other, more direct impact of the ants is that they actively prey on the native in- sects and birds living on the island. The implications of the invasion for Christmas Island are presently unclear, but rapid changes in the habitat, deple- tion of food resources and interference with nesting, particularly the direct pre- dation of nestlings, must all be bad news for the island’s birds. 44 Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 Records compiled by Colin Jackson P O Box 383 Watamu This section exists for the publication of. in- teresting observations and for updates to A Bird Atlas of Kenya (Lewis & Pomeroy, 1989). All contributions are welcomed. If you are sending in records for Kenya Birds, please consider the following guidelines. For (non- breeding) records of Afrotropical, oceanic and Palaearctic birds, please send in any ob- servations with notes that you think are of interest, e.g, early or late dates for Palaearctic and intra-African migrants, unusual records for your area, or any unusually large or im- pressive movements of birds. We are keen to publish information of this kind. Records with information other than simply a list of birds are particularly interesting and valu- able, e.g. “male singing from bush”, or “4 seen in flock of Barn Swallows...”, or “single adult and 2 immatures roosting with other terns” etc... The Editors will select records for publication according to the space avail- able. A// records are useful for supplement- ing the computerised database of the Bird Atlas held in the Ornithology Department, National Museums of Kenya, through which our knowledge of bird distribution and seasonality in Kenya will be improved. For breeding records, those of confirmed breeding are useful for ALL species, even the most common ones; records of probable breeding (nest-building, courtship etc.) are only needed for rare species or ones where there are few breeding records. For defini- tions of and codes for “confirmed” and “probable breeding”, see Kenya Birds Vol. 5(2) p. 82. Interesting records will be pub- lished here and the others stored by the EANHS for analysis of breeding seasons, success rates, habitat requirements etc. You are strongly urged to fill in a Nest Record Card at the same time. Much more detail can be recorded on a card, and if your record can be added to the card collection then it has permanent value. Cards can be obtained free of charge from the EANHS Nest Record Scheme Organiser (see back page). For all records, including breeding records, please be as detailed as possible about dates and locations. If you have sightings from places not easily found on the map, please take the trouble to give the latitude and longitude of the site to as much precision as you can (preferably the nearest second of arc or better). We can then use this information as we update A Bird Adtas of Kenya. Supporting details and descriptions are always welcome for unusual records and make publication more likely (see Kenya Birds Vol. 4(2), p. 84 for suggestions on how to submit a record). Records of certain species are particularly requested for inclusion in this report. These species are indicated by the codes ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘X’ in the new Checkiist of the Birds of Kenya (third edition, 1996; available for KSh 100/= from the Nature Kenya office). Records should be sent to the Records Officer at the Ornithology Depart- ment, National Museums of Kenya. For particularly unusual sightings, supporting de- tails (i.e. field notes, photographs, etc.) will be needed for scrutiny by the EANHS Rari- ties Committee before the record can be ac- cepted. Key to records For new atlas records, the species number as given in the atlas is placed in brackets after the name: e.g. Whinchat (A# 653). The new records themselves are indicated in square brackets. Codes are: pres, present (first Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 45 record); post pres, present (first post-1970 record); prob, probable breeding; conf, con- firmed breeding; post conf, confirmed breeding (first since 1970); e.g. [conf 25B] indicates that the species is confirmed as breeding (and is therefore also present) in square 25B. All records are from 1997 unless otherwise indicated. Where scientific names are not stated (here and elsewhere in Kenya Birds) the English names follow the Checklist of the Birds of Kenya (2rd edition), EANHS, Nairobi 1996. Overview This report covers a relatively long pe- riod, with most records from 1999 up to October and a few from 1998. One or two are particularly interesting older records. World Birdwatch ‘99 records from October were so profuse that they will be published together in the next edition of Kenya Birds. One of the out- standing features of the report yet again is the number of new Atlas records for even some common species — leaving no doubt that there is still a lot to be discovered about the distribution and status of our birds in Kenya: keep send- ing in your records! Especially interest- ing have been records from areas that are rarely visited by birders, and there- fore have poor coverage, such as Wenje (breeding Saddle-billed Stork and Red-necked Falcons) and Kipini on the Tana River, and the Nguruman es- carpment (Schalow’s Turaco and Grey-crested Helmet-shrikes). Meru has become a focus of birding attention (‘manic birding’?!) over the past year and a large number of new and interest- ing records have been reported from there, including range extensions. Swal- low-tailed Kite, Banded Snake Eagle, Peter’s Twinspot, Grey-olive Greenbul, Yellow-bellied Greenbul, Ashy Flycatcher are just some of these and more are being discovered on al- most every visit. Some serious birding on Rukinga Ranch and Mt Kasigau near Tsavo East and the Taita Hills has re- sulted in a lot of new records for QSD 101D. Bat Hawk, Ovambo Sparrowhawk, African Hobby, Com- mon Button Quail, Freckled Night- jar, Pallid Honeyguide and Striped Pipit stand out as some of the most in- teresting species, the sparrowhawk and pipit being the most restricted and un- common. The Mt Kasigau records stem from an expedition that was made there specifically to survey the birds of this poorly-known mountain. There are of course a number of globally and regionally threatened spe- cies in Kenya and it is always good to receive records of these birds. The re- markable 19 Great Crested Grebe on Elmenteita in Jan *99, with the earlier reports of juveniles amongst them, and the site for Hinde’s Babbler on a cof- fee estate near Thika are both good news. The count of 256 African Darters on the coast is encouraging for a species that is classed as ‘Regionally Vulnerable’ on the Regional Red Data List especially as it has significantly de- clined in numbers in Kenya over the past 10-15 years. Both this species and the grebe are threatened by the increase in gill-net fishing in the water bodies where they survive. African Finfoot is another Regionally Vulnerable species, reported this time from three widely spaced localities including the Tana River, one of those ‘still-to-be-fully-ex- 46 Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 plored’ sites... Lesser Flamingo are threatened due to their restricted nest- ing sites and habitat, so the records from Dandora Ponds and Sabaki River Mouth are interesting and possibly sug- gest that their normal, preferred feeding areas might not be in such good shape? The White-tailed Tropicbird seen offshore Watamu is one of those spe- cies that any land-locked birder surely dreams of seeing. If you talk to the fishermen who go offshore regularly (every day!), they report seeing this and other pelagic species more often than the literature might suggest. However, try spending a day at sea yourself and all too often you draw an almost total blank... just how much Tusker do fish- ermen drink?! Having said, that the Eurasian Scops Owl that decided to hitch a lift on a deep-sea fishing boat in Oct ‘99 was too close to be mistaken for anything else and is one of those bi- zatre records that will get discussed by birders on more than one occasion! Also unusual was the Fox Kestrel that African Darter was found going to roost on a highland cliff surrounded by forest — very dif- ferent to the usual arid-country habitat it is normally found in. A small number of this species has also apparently de- cided they like Lake Nakuru NP and taken up residence on the cliffs at its southern end. It would seem that birders no longer have to trek to Lokichogio to tick this beautiful falcon! The Pygmy Sunbird in Shaba Game Reserve is a very interesting observation for a rare species that is really Ugan- dan/Sudanese in range. Another north- ern species, the Abyssinian Roller, put in a more southerly appearance on Menengai just north of Nakuru town — a dazzling species that again, every birder surely aches to see! Palaearctic migrant records were relatively few over this period, the most interesting being the owl already men- tioned and the stunning migration of around 2,000 Amur Falcons through Tsavo West NP, along with a scattering of other migrant falcons. Tufted Duck seemed to show a slight in- flux over the 98/99 me season Ai oD bed Honey Buzzards were also well repre- sented — it might be that this latter spe- Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 47 cies has been somewhat overlooked in the past. The inland records of Bar- tailed Godwit are unusual and con- versely the Barred Warbler ringed in Watamu is not so common on the coast. Very few records of early arriving migrants were submitted, the Common Rock Thrush in Meru on 1 October being the most interesting one. It would be good to recetve more records of eatly arriving and late departing mi- grants, so please let us have them! Finally, there were a number of rare breeding records — rare in that the spe- cies is hardly ever observed breeding even though it might be regularly seen. The African Snipe nest at Lake Ol’Bolossat was located during an in- tensive study of this species; the Greater Painted-snipe records are only the second and third confirmed- breeding atlas square records in 30 years and the Common Button Quail nest at Baringo was found through an expe- rienced nest hunter’s dedication. The one other very notable breeding record is of the Spotted Creeper, more so in that it is from a location other than the well-known Sirikwa one, though in the same general area — another site for ‘twitchers’ to try! Afrotropical species (Records are from 1999 unless indicated.) Great Crested Grebe: 8+ with at least 2 juvs, south end of L. Elmenteita, 6—12/12/98, FN; 19 on L. Elmenteita, 23/1, NWC; an exceptional number on Elmenteita for a species that has drastically declined over the last 10-15 years. Black-necked Grebe: 300+ on L. Elmenteita, 6—12/12/98, FN Little Grebe (A# 2): [pres 101D] Rukinga Ranch, Voi, 7-8/7/98, FK, ES; [pres 88D] Amboseli NP, 19/10, SP e¢ a/, Audubon’s Shearwater: 1 c. 5 km off Watamu, 20/10, MM White-tailed Tropicbird: single adult with full tail streamers watched for c. 15 min over and around boat, 10-15 km offshore from Watamu, 7/1, LP — a beautiful pelagic spe- cies that is said to be seen fairly often, but rarely actually reported. Long-tailed Cormorant: swimming and div- ing in shallow water over old reef, Bamburi Beach, 12/2, FN — this species is not com- monly seen in sea water. African Darter: 30+ in small groups includ- ing imms, Tana River Delta, 25—-30/10/98, FN, KNd; Githumbwini Estate, Thika, 17/ 1, PLO; Windsor Golf & Country Club, IND /2 PRs SPS INNP M/Z, |S eal; 1 pair at Hyena Dam, NNP, 30/1, SE & WE; Misasara Farm, Kiambu, 18/4, PLO; count of 25670n' I jilore, ASE 7/3, C)syD) 1) B — the last is an exceptional number of darters on one relatively small patch of wa- ter. Frigatebird sp. (probably Greater): single female circling above the beach and adja- cent scrub, Watamu 25/12/98, JI Little Bittern (A# 26): single bird, Loresho Ridge, Univ. of Nbi, 4/10/98, FN; Githumbwini Estate, Thika, 17/1, PLO; 1 ad tace payesii, Burch’s Camp, Naivasha, 5/ 2, SE & SC; [pres 37A] Luwus pond, be- tween Marich Pass & Nasolot NR, 4/4, Nature Kenya members. Dwarf Bittern (A# 27): [pres 88D] Kimana Wildlife Sanctuary, Kimana, 17—-19/10/98, MA, SP, BrW; single individual, City Park, Nbi, 15/11/98, FN; 1 in plain view for about 48 Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 1 hr, 27/12/98, Ngulia, Tsavo W. NP, JI; ad. responded to call, ASE, frog ponds, 3/1, SE, WE — this rare Afrotropical migrant heron has been recorded at Negulia previously hav- ing been attracted to the lodge lights at night. Little Egret (A# 35): [pres 88B] Kibwezi, 10/ 98, LF; 350 at Usengi, L. Victoria, Siaya, 16/ 7, MM Western Reef Heron: flock of four, L. Magadi, 31/1, FK, JM, SP, JO — this spe- cies is uncommon inland so to have four together is very unusual. Black Heron (A# 37): [pres 26B] Loyangalani, L. Turkana lake shore, 15/9/ 98, YA & Sibiloi NP; [pres 91A] Tana River Delta, 25—30/10/98, FN, KNd Common Squacco Heron (A# 31): [pres 101D] Rukinga Ranch, Voi, 7-8/7/98, FK, ES Green-backed Heron (A# 34): [pres 101D] Rukinga Ranch, Voi, 7-8/7/98, FK, ES Dimorphic Egret: L. Chemchem, Malindi, 16/1, CJ, JMw, RAM, & again 12/2, CJ, JJ, JD; Shimoni, 31/10/98, SB et a/, — the sta- tus of this species is not fully understood due to the difficulty of separating especially the white form from the Little Egret. The Chemchem records are of note as these are on an inland fresh-water lake and not a ma- rine habitat as is more usual for what we know of the species. Yellow-billed Egret (A# 38): [pres 88B] Hunter’s Lodge, Kiboko, 20—21/9/98, DoA, NH, SP, JO Great Egret (A# 39): [pres 37A] Suam River, West Pokot, 19—20/10/98, PH e¢ a/; Luwus pond, between Marich Pass & Nasoslot Game Reserve, 4/4, Nature Kenya mem- bers. Goliath Heron (A# 42): [post pres 88D] Imbirikani, Loitokitok, 5/10/98, DM Black-headed Heron (A# 43): [pres 91D] Tana River Delta, 25—30/10/98, FN, KNd Saddle-billed Stork: 12+ mostly imms, Tana River Delta, 25—30/10/98, FN, KNd; sin- gle bird on ‘Whistling Duck Ponds’, ASF, Gede, 3/3, AF Glossy Ibis (A# 56): [pres 88B] Kibwezi, 10/ 98, LF; [pres 102B] L. Chemchem, Malindi, 16/1, CJ, JonM, RAM and again 12/2, L. Chemchem, CJ, JJ, JD; 110 on area flooded by broken sewer, Thika, 24/7, MM — this species is probably more regular on the freshwater wetlands just inland from the coast than was previously thought. African Spoonbill (A# 57): [pres 88D] Kimana Wildlife Sanctuary, Kimana, 17—19/ 10/98, MA, SP, BrW Greater Flamingo: 3 at Dandora Sewage Works, Nbi, 13/1, NWC — a rarely re- corded species around Nairobi. Lesser Flamingo (A# 60): [pres 88D] Kimana, Amboseli NP, 19/10/98, SP e¢ a/; overt 200, Dandora Sewage Works, Nbi, 13/ 1, NWC; 3,000 counted at Sabaki River mouth during NWC, 31/1 and 2,500 still present July 99, CJ — this species is basi- cally restricted to the Rift Valley. Both these records are therefore unusual though con- ditions at Sabaki have clearly become favour- able for the flamingos as it would appear the population is more-or-less resident there now. White-faced Whistling Duck (A# 62): [pres 88D] Kimana, Amboseli NP, 19/10, SP ez al. White-backed Duck: 98 on Limuru ponds, 25/1, SE, BW, SC; 141 counted Arabuko Swamp, ASF, Gede, 27/1, NWC — these are large numbers and both sites have proven to be good for this species Knob-billed Duck (A# 66): [pres 88D] Kimana, Amboseli NP, 19/10/98, SP e¢ a/. Cape Teal (A# 69): [pres 88D] Kimana, Amboseli NP, 19/10/98, SP et al. Hottentot Teal (A# 77): [pres 88D] Kimana, Amboseli NP, 19/10/98, SP et a/. Maccoa Duck: single bird Dandora Sewage Works, 13/1, NWC; 1 male, Limuru pond, amongst several male Southern Pochard, 25/1, SE, BW,SC Aftican Cuckoo Hawk: a juv. with ad, Loresho Ridge, Nbi, 17/2, WMB; pair, New Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 49 Muthaiga, Nbi, 5/4; ad. Madunguni Forest, Kakuyuni, Malindi, Aug. ‘99, WC, CJ; im- matute grooming about 15—20m away, later joined by adult, Bahati Forest, Nakuru, 29/ 8, BC imm beside L. Chemchem and ad in plantation of ASF, 4/10, CJ Bat Hawk (A# 138): [pres 101D] Mt Kasigau, Rukanga, & surrounding villages, 6-8/98, MKE; 2 catching bats, TARDA guest house, Gamba, nr. Minjila, Garsen, 25-30/10/98, FN, KNd African Swallow-tailed Kite: 1, Meru NP, 21/2, MM; up to 5 in L. Nakuru NP, 22— 23/10, and 2 at L. Baringo, 25/10, C&LH Banded Snake Eagle: 1, Meru NP, 2/10, MM — scarce and very local, this species is even more uncommon in the eastern side of the country. African Harrier Hawk (A# 94): [post pres 62D] North Kinangop, 4/10/98, LAB African Marsh Harrier (A# 98): [pres 88D] Amboseli NP, 19/10/98, SP ef a/; 1 soaring over old rice paddies, Gamba, nr. Minjila, Garsen, 25—30/10/98, FN, KNd; 1 ad, NNP, 26/12/98, SE, WE; 1 juv, Limuru pond, 25/1, SE, BW, SC — the coastal record is of note as this species is not com- mon along the coast. Grasshopper Buzzard: 1 in valley sitting on the road 27/12/98, Ngulia, JI; another sin- gle bird near Mtito Andei, Tsavo West NP, 27/11/98, CJ; 4 birds near KWS Training Institute, Naivasha, 20/11, JB, NS — this is not a common species, and is even more unusual in the Rift Valley. Mountain Buzzard (A# 116): [pres 101D] Mt Kasigau, Rukanga, , 6-8/98, MKE — this is the most easterly record in Kenya and quite isolated but is not entirely surprising in that the species occurs on other ‘forest islands’ such as Kulal and Chyulu. African Hawk-Eagle: Kuku FSC, Kimana, Loitokitok, 18/10/98, HH et al. African Goshawk (A# 108): [post pres 51D] Kaaga forest, behind Kemu, Meru, 2/5/98, MR e¢a/; [pres 101D] Mt Kasigau, Rukanga, & surrounding villages, 6-8/98, MKE Shikra (A# 110): [pres 61A] Homa Lime Co., Koru, 31/12/97, NW Little Sparrowhawk (A# 109): [pres 101D] Mt Kasigau, Rukanga, & surrounding vil- lages, 6-8/98, MKE; [post pres 88B] Hunt- et’s Lodge, Kiboko, 20-—21/9/98, DA, NH, SP, JO; 1 pair, Sagalla rd 10-13 km from Voi turn off, before Sagalla town, 1/1, SE, WE Ovambo Sparrowhawk (A# 105): [pres 101D] Mt Kasigau, Rukanga, & surround- ing villages, 6-8/98, MKE Great Sparrowhawk (A# 104): [pres 88D] Kuku FSC, Kimana, Amboseli NP, 17—20/ 10/98, SP e¢ al; [post pres 51D] Kaaga for- est, behind Kemu, Meru, 2/5/98, MR ez a/. — the Kimana record is quite isolated for this species though it is found on the slopes of Kilimanjaro. African Hawk Eagle 50 Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 Lizard Buzzard (A# 115): [pres 101D] Rukinga Ranch, Voi, 7-8/7/98, FK, ES; Mt Kasigau, Rukanga, & surrounding villages, 6-8/98, MKE Taita Falcon (A# 145): [pres 52C] single observed at Elsa’s Kopje, Meru NP, 3/10, MM — this rare falcon is little known and this is a new site for the species. African Hobby (A# 151): [pres 101D] Rukinga Ranch, Voi, 7-8/7/98, FK, ES — this is a good record for this uncommon and mostly western species. Greater Kestrel: Longonot—Naivasha road, 10/2, JS, HH & SP Fox Kestrel (A# 157): [pres 62B] 1 flew in to roost on sheer cliff face, Karura Falls, Aberdares NP, at 17.45 hrs, 30/12/98, MM — this is a very odd record in the highlands for a species that is known as a bird of arid and semi-arid country. There is also a small number that have apparently taken up resi- dence along the cliffs in the southern end of L. Nakuru NP, having now been seen there regularly over a period of a year or more (BF). Blue Quail: 1 flushed twice from rough marshy ground in coffee estate west of Thika, 2/1, MM, JJ — cf. article in Kenya Birds 7; a single male, Mungatsi, 17/7, MM — this species was once recorded far more often than it is today, making these two records particularly interesting. Record sub- mitted to Rarities Committee. Common Button-quail (A# 181): [pres 101D] Mt Kasigau, Rukanga, & surround- ing villages, 6-8/98, MKE; Rukinga Ranch, Voi, 10/98, FK, ES Buff-spotted Flufftail: Kakamega Forest, 15-16/10/98, DM et al. African Water Rail (A# 190): [post pres 63C] Githumbwini Estate, Thika, 9/8, PLO Baillon’s Crake: single on 5/7/98 & 1 ad and 1 juv at Endashant swamp on 9/7/98, MM —as with most rallids, a secretive and rarely reported species; there was no evidence of local breeding however. Striped Crake: 4 flushed Endashant swamp, 9/7/98, MM — a scarce intra-African mi- grant with possibly a small breeding popu- lation — there have only been a handful of records from Kenya, so four together is par- ticularly notable. Allen’s Gallinule (A# 199): [pres 37A] sin- gle bird feeding along edge of swamp, base of Marich pass road in very swampy area, 23/12, SE, WE, MS; up to 8 observed dur- ing Jan—Mar “99, Arabuko Swamp, ASE, CJ, ASFGA; Sabaki River, Malindi, 22-25/7, TS, FGG; many fully fledged juvs seen, “clap your hands & hundreds took to a long flight over the reeds”, many old nests seen, Kampi ya Samaki, 4/7 JC. Purple Swamphen (A# 198): [pres 102B] single bird on Arabuko Swamp, 30/1, MR and again 11/2, CJ — this record is well out of range for the species which tends to be found on inland waters being rare on the coast. Red-knobbed Coot (A# 197): [pres 88B] Kibwezi, 10/98, LF — this record is rela- tively isolated but not entirely surprising as the species is known to move extensively. Grey Crowned Crane: about 140 birds, Delamere Estate, Naivasha 6/2, FN African Finfoot (A# 202): [pres 91C] Ozi, Tana River Delta, 25—30/10/98, WK; sin- gle bird, few sightings, Naro Moru River, Nanyuki, 25/1, JM — Nato Moru is one of the better known sites to find this uncom- mon and secretive species; 1 at Kindani river camp, just outside western border of Meru NP, 20/2, MM Kori Bustard: 6 birds, Amboseli NP, 26/7/ 98, WV Hartlaub’s Bustard (A# 204): [pres 101D] Rukinga Ranch, Voi, 10/98, FK, ES Lesser Jacana (A# 212): [pres 102B] single bird first seen 9/1 on Arabuko Swamp, ASF, and later seen irregularly through the year, CJ, ASFGA — this has become a good site to find this elusive and little-known bird. Long-toed Plover (A# 215): [pres 50C] Lake Solai, 25/2, FN Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 51 Sput-wing Plover (A# 218): [pres 60C] the common plover along the lake shore, sew- age treatment works, and edges of Ondago Swamp, Homa Bay town near Kendu Bay, 3-4/5, FN — this species has shown a re- markable expansion in range over the past decade, now being quite common in areas where it never used to occur. Black-headed Plover (A# 219): [post pres 37B] S Turkana NR, 6/4, Nature Kenya members African Green Pigeon (A# 340): [pres 101D] Mt Kasigau, Rukanga,, 6-8/98, MKE. ‘Tambourine Dove (A# 335): [pres 101D] Mt Kasigau, Rukanga,, 6-8/98, MKE. Emerald-spotted Wood Dove (A# 337): [pres 37B] S Turkana NR, 6/4, Nature Kenya members. Olive Pigeon: River Ndareta, Nguruman Escarpment, 11/12/98, LN; NMK grounds, Nbi, 13/7/98, LAB, SP, SMw — a highland species that is not often recorded in Nbi. Red-headed Lovebird: [pres 48C] 1 pair, Sio River, Mumias, 21/12/98, SE, WE —a very restricted species in Kenya, found only around Busia and along the Uganda border. Schalow’s Turaco (A# 356): [post pres 74D] a single bird observed several times feeding in fruiting trees, River Ndareta, Nguruman Escarpment, 11/12/98, LN — this record is from a population on higher ground thought possibly to be separate from those lower down to the north-west in the Mara region. Previously considered conspecific with Livingstone’s Turaco of southern Af- rica. Hartlaub’s Turaco: River Ndareta, Nguruman Escarpment, 11/12/98, LN; flock of 8, Naivasha, 17/7/98, ZM; group of 25+ calling persistently and raucously in canopy of forest, Race Course Forest, Nbi, LSS) Bare-faced Go-away Bird: River Ndareta, Neuruman Escarpment, 11/12/98, LN — this record is one of the most easterly in Kenya for this not particularly common species. Levaillant’s Cuckoo: Kongelai Escarpment, Kapenguria, 26/9/98, HH e¢a/; single black phase bird at Gamba, nr. Minjila, Garsen, 25-30/10/98, FN, KNd — quite a late record for the coast; 1 ad near Mpata Safari Club, top of Ololua escarpment, Masai Mara, 20/12/98; 1 Sagalla Hills, 3km from Sagalla town, 1/1, SE, WE Thick-billed Cuckoo (A# 370): [pres 101A] 1 observed banging insect against branch, pair later seen circling over forest, Fururu forest fragment, Taita Hills, 26/3/98, MG — see Kenya Birds 7: 71. Black Cuckoo (A# 366): [pres 62D] Kieni Forest, on road to river on murram track, 10/12/98, FN; Kaaga forest, behind Kemu, Meru, 2/5/98, MR ef a/.; Marich Pass Field Study Centre, Kapenguria, 5/4, FN, WO, SP Red-chested Cuckoo: Ndara Ranch, Voi, Jan ‘99, MR — this species is supposedly present in this area during the rains; this individual was recorded in the dry season. Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo: 1 ad Kieni for- est, 5+ birds heard calling at dawn & dusk, 24/1, SE, BW, SC — an infrequently seen species, this is a good site for it. African Emerald Cuckoo: [pres 62D] Gatamaiyu Forest, Lari, 3/10/98, P&KP Pearl-spotted Owlet: Kuku FSC, Kimana, Loitokitok, 18/10/98, HH African Barred Owlet (A# 390): [pres 114C] Shimoni, 10/98, M&SH — this local and uncommon species is also easily overlooked due to its obscure nature and preference for dense habitats. Freckled Nightjar: [pres 101D] Mt Kasigau, Rukanga, & surrounding villages, 6—8/98, MKE — a local and uncommon resident, this species is known from the nearby Taita Hills. Plain Nightjar (A# 402): [pres 91A] 1 on toad at Gamba, nr. Minjila, Garsen, 25—30/ 10/98, FN, KNd; ad female ringed, Brachystegia woodland, Nature Reserve, ASF, 6/1, CJ, TJB — one of our Afrotropical 52 Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 migrants from the northern tropics and still poorly known. Dusky Nightjar (A# 400): [post pres 74A] 1 ad in bushed grassland, Siana Springs tented camp, 18/12/98, SE, WE; 1 at Mwea Na- tional Reserve, 20/2, SE, BW Slender-tailed Nightjar (A# 406): [pres 101D] Mt Kasigau, Rukanga, & surround- ing villages, 6-8/98, MKE Nyanza Swift (A# 421): [pres 101D] Mt Kasigau, Rukanga, & surrounding villages, 6-8/98, MKE — this is the most easterly record for this species though it has been recorded on Taita Hills and in Tsavo on odd occasions. Forbes-Watson’s Swift: 400-500 in loose flock fairly high over Cynometra forest of ASF, Jilore, just before dusk with several coming down low over trees sometimes call- ing at same time, 4/12/98, CJ, also 20-30 over Sand Quarry Pools, ASF, 18/12, CJ, JJ White-rumped Swift (A# 422): [pres 114C] Shimoni, 31/10/98, SB e¢ al. Narina Trogon (A# 428) [pres 101D] Mt Kasigau, Rukanga, & surrounding villages, 6-8/98, MKE; [pres 88B] Kibwezi, 10/98, LF African Pygmy Kingfisher (A# 435): [pres 101D] Mt Kasigau, Rukanga, & surround- ing villages, 6-8/98, MKE Abyssinian Roller: 3 in low Acaaas, Turkwell, at Italian irrigation scheme, Sigor, 23/12/ 98, SE, MS, WE; at least 2 feeding on in- sects fleeing a grass fire in farmland together with Lilac-breasted Rollers White Storks, Abdim’s Storks, Black Kites and Lesser Kes- trels, Kabarak, Nakuru-Bogoria rd, 9/1, FN — a stunning, uncommon visitor further S from north-western Kenya: the Kabarak record is particularly noteworthy. Violet Wood-Hoopoe (A# 460): [pres 101D] Mt Kasigau, Rukanga, & surrounding vil- lages, 6-8/98, MKE uncommon eastern species that is easily confused with Green Wood-Hoopoe and therefore probably overlooked. another local and Abyssinian Ground Hornbill (A# 468): [pres 37C] Pair with 1 young, Sigor, Kapenguria, 18/9/98, JBa — another un- common visitor from the north, this being as far S as it reaches. Hemprich’s Hornbill: ad calling from top of an Acacia, Kongelai escarpment, 24/12/ 98, SE, MS, WE White-eared Barbet: Pair, Meru forest, 20/ 9, 1 present 1/10, MM Hairy-breasted Barbet: single bird calling from high canopy, Kakamega Forest, deep in Zimmerman’s plot, 27/11/98, SE, WilO, BW — only found in Kakamega in Kenya. Moustached Green Tinkerbird (A# 492): [pres 62C] “Irees’, Murungaru, N Kinangop, 6/9/98, LAB — the forest in this area has been severely reduced and degraded so it is interesting to find this species still occur- ring here. Red-fronted Tinkerbird (A# 493): [pres 37A] Suam River, West Pokot, 19-20/10/ 98, PH; Marich Pass, 5/4, SP Red-and-Yellow Barbet: Carnivore PBP, Nbi, 17/3, WMB — this bird must have been a wanderer as it is not a usual Nbi spe- cies. Pallid Honeyguide (A# 505): 2 birds regu- larly seen singing beside plantation, Gede Forest Station, ASF from July 98 and a fur- ther 2 ringed (while 2 still singing) on 30/ 10/98, CJ; Siana Springs Camp, SE Masai Mara, 12/2, SE, TP; [pres 101D] Mt Kasigau, Rakanga, surrounding villages, 6— 8/98, MKE — this is a fairly widespread species but relatively rare and difficult to locate. Cassin’s Honeybird: 1 ad feeding in canopy at forest edge, Kakamega pump house trail, 22/12/98, SE, WilO — this is an even rarer honeyguide and there have been few recent records. Wahlberg’s Honeybird (A# 509): [pres 101D] Rukinga Ranch, Voi, 10/98, FK, ES; 1, first creek below the Ngong Hills on Magadi rd, 2/5, MM Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 53 Bearded Woodpecker (A# 520): [pres 37A] Suam River, West Pokot, 19—20/10/98, PH; Marich Pass FSC, 3/4, Nature Kenya mem- bers. Brown-backed Woodpecker: 1 pair feeding in Combretum/Terminaha woodland, Kongelai escarpment, 24/12/98, SE, MS, WE — this species is also regularly seen around Nairobi. African Broadbill: 1 ad feeding like a wood- pecker then resting on open branches, Kakamega Forest, Ikuywa River area, 20/ 12/98, SE | Grassland Pipit: [post pres 103A] Sabaki River mouth, Malindi, 16/1, CJ, JonM — this is in fact the commoner pipit species at this site but is often taken for the Malindi Pipit. Striped Pipit (A# 820): [pres 101D] Mt Kasigau, Rakanga, & surrounding villages, 6-8/98, MKE; 1 ad flushed from rocky area, landed in a small bush, Taita hills, Vuria, 31/12/98, SE; WE — both of these are encouraging reports for a species with a very restricted national range and for which we have relatively little information. Golden Pipit: 3-4 along boundary td near L. Jilore, ASF, 7/3, CJ, TJB, JD — an uncom- mon visitor to the coastal strip. Zanzibar Sombre Greenbul: 1, Del Monte Estate, Thika, 2/1, and 1—2 intermittently from 9/10-28/11 feeding on Croton fruits in Thigiri Ridge garden and adjacent Karura forest, Nbi, MM — this species is common at the coast but inland is much harder to find; the Nbi record is particularly unusual. Grey-olive Greenbul (A# 629): [pres 52C] Kindani river camp, Meru NP, 1 on 20/2, 2 on 22/2, and 1, Kampi ya Nyati, Meru NP, 2/10, MM — this rare and secretive greenbul has been thought to occur ‘in Merw’ but this is the first substantiated record. The October record confirms its resident status. A note has been written for Scopus. Northern Brownbul (A# 628): [pres 37A] Suam River, West Pokot, 19—20/10/98, PH; Martich Pass FSC, 3/4, Nature Kenya mem- bers. Yellow-bellied Greenbul (A# 621): [pres 52C] Kindani river camp, Meru NP, 2 on 20/2, 1 on 22/2; 1—2, Meru forest, 19/9, and a single at Kampi ya Nyati, Meru NP, 2/10, MM — a scarce species inland due largely to destruction of its thicket habitat for cultivation. African Hill Babbler: River Ndareta, Neguruman Escarpment, 11/12/98, LN. Black-lored Babbler (A# 597): [pres 74C] Sarova-Mara, Masai Mara, 21/8/98, AA Brown Babbler (A# 602): Suam River, West Pokot, 19—20/10/98, PH; [post pres 37A] Marich Pass FSC, 3/4, Nature Kenya mem- bets. Hinde’s Babbler: 1 in Grevillea/ Lantana hedge at Del Monte Estate near Nanga Es- tate turning, Thika, 27/12/98; 2 relocated at same site, 2/1, MM — good news to find a new site for one of our threatened en- demic species (see the note on p. 9). Mountain Illadopsis: pair foraging and call- ing from low within the forest, responded to recording, Ikuywa River crossing, Kakamega Forest, 21/12/98, SE, WilO Pale-breasted Illadopsis: pair calling in un- dergrowth at very close range, Kakamega Forest, 29/11/98, SE, WilO, BW Brown-backed Scrub Robin (A# 657): [post pres 62B] Naro Moru River Lodge, 14/3, SP — the first record for this area in 30 or SO years. Eastern Bearded Scrub Robin (A# 659): [post pres 101D] Mt Kasigau, Rukanga, 6— 8/98, MKE. — this is a common coastal species known from only one or two inland sites. It is thought to have declined in this area, this being the first record in nearly 30 years. Little Rock Thrush (A# 652): [pres 75D] ad at first main bridge, Magadi Rd, 16/1, SE, WE — this is just into the northern edge of the Atlas square, the bird most probably being from the Ngong Hills population. 54 Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 African Thrush (A# 676): [pres 61A] Homa Lime Co., Koru, 30/11 & 31/12/97, NW Spotted Ground Thrush: single bird, Nature Trail, ASF, 19/10, MM Abyssinian Ground Thrush: River Ndareta, Neguruman Escarpment, 11/12/98, LN African Dusky Flycatcher (A# 782): [pres 101D] Mt Kasigau, Rukanga, 6-8/98, MKE Southern Black Flycatcher (A# 788): [pres 101D] Mt Kasigau, Rukanga, & surround- ing villages, 6-8/98, MKE Ashy Flycatcher (A# 758): [post pres 101D] Mt Kasigau, Rukanga, 6-8/98, MKE; [pres 52C] 2 birds at Kampi ya Nyati, Meru NP, 2/10, MM — the Meru record represents a significant range extension north and east for this species. African Grey Flycatcher (A# 793): [pres 62C] KWSTI grounds, Naivasha, 6—12/12/ 98, FN Lead-coloured Flycatcher (A# 787): [pres 37A] Marich Pass FSC, Kapenguria, 5/4, FN, WO, SP, JH — local and uncommon but known to occur in the Marich Pass area; this record would be of the nominate race plumbeus. African Reed Warbler (A# 691): [pres 37C] Saiwa Swamp, Kitale, 29/1/98, CJ, JSt, IM Brown Woodland Warbler (A# 712): [pres 62C] “Trees’, Murungaru, N Kinangop, 6/ 9/98, LAB — a species of highland forest habitat, common in the Aberdares (62D), this location is just into square 62C. Cinnamon Bracken Warbler (A# 684): [post pres 62C] “Trees’, Murungaru, N Kinangop, 6/9/98, LAB — as for the previous spe- cies. African Moustached Warbler (A# 709): [pres 89C] one singing from tops of reeds in the swamp, nr. Ngulia, Tsavo E NP, 27/ 12/98, JI — this is right on the eastern edge of the species’ range. Wing-snapping Cisticola (A#717): [pres 62C] “Irees’, Murungaru, N Kinangop, 6/ 9/98, LAB — a montane grassland species that just ‘creeps’ into this atlas square. Yellow-breasted Apalis (A# 750) [pres 101D] Mt Kasigau, Rukanga, 6-8/98, MKE. Red-fronted Warbler (A# 747): [pres 37A] Turkwell, Sigor, 4/4, Nature Kenya mem- bets Red-faced Crombec (A# 771): [pres 101D] Mt Kasigau, Rukanga, & surrounding vil- lages, 6-8/98, MKE Green-capped Eremomela: 1 bird on the main track through ASE, 20/2/89; 4 birds along same track, 5/2/90, DF — these are old records but as the species has not been reported for the past 4-5 years, worth pub- lishing “for the record’. Montane White-eye (A# 938): Mt Kasigau, Rukanga, & surrounding villages, 6-8/98, MKE; [pres 74D] River Ndareta, Nguruman escarpment, 11/12/98, LN — the race on Mt Kasigau is the “Taita White-eye’, consid- ered by many as a separate species endemic to Taita and Kasigau. Yellow White-eye (A# 937): [pres 37A] Suam River, West Pokot, 19—20/10/98, PH Spotted Creeper: single bird, Cherengani Hills, Kapenguria, 10/9/98, JM — this very restricted species is becoming harder to find as its habitat is being severely reduced. Black-and-white Flycatcher: single female on 20/2 and pair 21/2, Kindani river camp, Meru NP, MM Pygmy Batis (A# 800): [pres 101D] Rukinga Ranch, Voi, 10/98, FK, ES Black-throated Wattle-eye (A# 803): [post pres 62C] ‘Trees’, Murungaru, N Kinangop, 6/9/98, LAB; [pres 101D] Mt Kasigau, Rukanga,, 6-8/98, MKE Grey-crested Helmet-Shrike: group of c. 8, NW side of L. Nakuru 10/1; 6 with at least 1 imm, shore of L. Nakuru nr. Wildlife Clubs Hostel 6/2, FN; [post pres 74D] flock of 3, River Ndareta, Nguruman escarpment, 11/12/98, LN — this threatened species is now being seen fairly regularly in Nakuru NP but there are few properly documented recent records from the Ngurumans. Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 55 Northern White-crowned Shrike (A# 874): [pres 75B] Inyonyori, sw of Olepolos Coun- try Club, Magadi rd, 20/9/98, Nature Kenya-PLO; [pres 91D] Tana River Delta, 25-30/10/98, FN, KNd — the former record is only just inside the atlas square, being within the Rift Valley where the habi- tat is better for this species. Pringle’s Puffback: 1 in dense bush, Meru NP, 3/10, MM Grey Cuckoo-Shrike: single bird in mixed feeding party with barbets, sunbirds and weavers, Shimba Hills NP, 22/8, CJ — only once previously recorded here (May 1990) and once on nearby Mrima Hill (Nov 1983), these birds are thought to be wanderers from the population in the Usambara Mts in N Tanzania. Green-headed Oriole: single bird on 19/2/ 89; another on 4/2/90; 1 3/2/91 and 1 on 28/1/95; all seen in Brachystegia woodland along Kararacha track in ASF, DF — an- other species that is very infrequently re- ported from the north coast. Piapiac: 6, Lake Basin Development Author- ity farm, Alupe, Busia, 15/7, MM, JJ — this interesting crow is not often reported. Kenrick’s Starling (A# 876): [post pres 51D] 6, Meru Forest, 19/9, 10 there on 20/9 and one on 1/10, MM Waller’s Starling: River Ndareta, Nguruman Escarpment, 11/12/98, LN Splendid Starling: ad F, Satwa Swamp NP, 22/12/98, SE, MS, WE — this is a scarce species now which is found in Kenya be- tween Oct and May. Bronze-tailed Starling: a pair at Kongelai Escarpment, 24/12/98, SE, MS, WE Ruppell’s Long-tailed Starling: single bird in mixed forest just in from main road, Mida entrance, ASF, 8/6, CJ — this species is rare on the coast and is the first record for ASE Shelley’s Starling (A# 888): 3 birds, 2 in ad plumage, other possibly moulting, 10-15 km before Sala gate, Tsavo East NP, Malindi— Tsavo East road, 5/1, SE, WE; [pres 103A] 3 birds together beside L. Chemchem, Malindi, 31/1, 20 incl. some with partial juv plumage, L. Chemchem, 12/2; [pres 102B] single bird in scrubland just inland from Turtle Bay Beach Club, Watamu, 17/2; 12 feeding in fruiting tree along Malindi-Sabaki River road, 21/2; CJ — a very interesting species, this bird is an erratic non-breeding visitor from its breeding grounds in Ethio- pia and Somalia Aug—March, and has only been reported once previously from the coast (Sept 1978). Having a number of flocks around the Malindi-Watamu area is therefore very unusual. Also reported at that time were flocks of Wattled Starling, an as- sociation that has been noted before. Sharpe’s Starling: River Ndareta, Nguruman Escarpment, 11/12/98, LN Magpie Starling (A# 895): [post pres 91D] flocks widespread, Kipini, Tana River mouth, 25—30/10/98, FN, KNd; 50+ birds, Nasolot NR, West Pokot, 23/12/98, SE, MS, WE Wattled Starling: flock of over 1,000 at dam, Lewa Downs, Isiolo, 14-15/6/98, WO, MB — this species is known to flock out of the breeding season, but this is a remarkable number. Yellow-billed Oxpecker (A# 900): [pres 101D] Rukinga Ranch, Voi, 10/98, FK, ES Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird (A# 906): [pres 37A] Marich Pass FSC, 4/4, Nature Kenya members. Pygmy Sunbird (A# 903): [pres 51B] a pair including a male in full breeding plumage, Shaba GR, 12/9/98, DKR — this dry-coun- try sunbird is a rare wanderer to Kenya, thought to migrate to northern Somalia from NE Uganda and SE Sudan; there have only been a handful of Kenyan records and this one is an exceptional easterly extension of its Kenyan range. Violet-breasted Sunbird: 1 moulting male, Gamba, nr. Minjila, Garsen, 25—30/10/98, FN, KNd; at least 5 males and 3 females, neat Sabaki River mouth parking area, 4/1, SE, DN, WE 56 Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 Orange-tufted Sunbird: [pres 48C] 1 pair, Sio river, Busia, foraging low in bushes near river, 21/12/98, SE, WilO, WE — an inter- esting record of a little-known species. Beautiful Sunbird (A# 920): [pres 37B] S. Turkana NR, 6/4, Nature Kenya members Golden-winged Sunbird (A# 926): [pres 37A]| Weiwei irrigation scheme, Sigor, Cherangani, 3/4, Nature Kenya members House Sparrow (A# 992): [pres 91A] Gamba, nr. Minjila, Garsen, 25—-30/10/98, FN, KNd Chestnut Sparrow (A# 994): [pres 101D] Rukinga Ranch, Voi, 10/98, FK, ES Grey-capped Social Weaver: Metro Cash & Carry, Embakasi, Nbi, 14/7/98, SP Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver (A# 1003): [pres 37A] Marich airstrip, 4/4, Nature Kenya members Compact Weaver: pair foraging low in tall grass near papyrus, Lelekwe river crossing, Mumias, 21/12/98, SE, WilO, WE Little Weaver (A# 957): [post pres 37B] S. Turkana NR, 6/4, Nature Kenya members Spectacled Weaver (A# 962): [pres 88B] Kibwezi, 10/98, LF Taveta Golden Weaver (A# 944): [pres 88D]: Kuku FSC, Kimana, Loitokitok, 18/10/98, HH et al. Lesser Masked Weaver (A# 953): [pres 101D] Mt Kasigau, Rukanga, & surround- ing villages, 6-8/98, MKE Red-billed Quelea (A# 986): [pres 37B] S. Turkana NR, 6/4, Nature Kenya members; [pres 114C] Shimoni, 10/98, M&SH Red-headed Quelea: single male seen at close range in same maize field as Black- winged Red Bishops, Nyangwesa on Homa Bay-Kendu Bay rd, 4/5, FN — a species for which there are fairly few recently docu- mented records. Yellow-crowned Bishop: c. 100 on ground flooded by broken sewer, Thika, 21/7, and 50 on 28/11, MM Jackson’s Widowbird: Loresho Ridge, Nbi, 17/2, WMB Grey-headed Negrofinch (A# 1005): [post pres 62C] on the way to Eburu, Naivasha 5/7, ZM Peter’s Twinspot (A# 1013): [pres 101D] Mt Kasigau, Rukanga, & surrounding villages, 6-8/98, MKE; [pres 52C] a pair, Kampi ya Nyati, Meru NP, 2/10, MM — the first record of this species from the Meru area since the 1930s, when FE Jackson mentions it being there in his book. This is right at the northernmost limit of its Afrotropical range. Green-backed Twinspot (A# 1014): [pres 101D] Mt Kasigau, Rukanga, 6-8/98, MKE — this is quite a widespread species but sur- prisingly hard to see. Brown Twinspot: 1 male and 1 juv foraging on ground at the edge of thicket, Lelekwe river crossing, Mumias, 21/12/98, SE, WilO, WE : Jameson’s Firefinch (A# 1021): [pres 101D] Mt Kasigau, Rukanga, & surrounding vil- lages, 6-8/98, MKE; Rukinga Ranch, Voi, 10/98, FK, ES Crimson-rumped Waxbill (A# 1031): [post pres 101D] |] Mt Kasigau, Rukanga, & sur- rounding villages, 6-8/98, MKE Black-rumped Waxbill: 1 in drained and cultivated swamp SE of Lake Kanyanboli, Siaya, 16/7, MM, JJ — one of our rarer waxbills that was discovered in Kenya only as recently as 1969. Black-faced Waxbill (A# 1035): [pres 101D] Rukinga Ranch, Voi , 7-8/7/98, FK, ES Black-cheeked Waxbill (A# 1035): [pres 101D] Mt Kasigau, Rukanga, & surround- ing villages, 6-8/98, MKE; Rukinga Ranch, Voi, 10/98, FK & ES; [pres 75B] Inyonyort, sw of Olepolos Country Club, Magadi rd, 20/9/98, Nature Kenya-PLO Purple Grenadier (A# 1027): [pres 101D] Mt Kasigau, Rukanga, & surrounding vil- lages, 6-8/98, MKE; [post pres 37B] S. Turkana NR, 6/4, SP, WO Zebra Waxbill: 10 in grassland west of Thika, 2/1, MM Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 57 African Silverbill (A# 1044): [pres 101D] Mt Kasigau, Rukanga, & surrounding villages, 6-8/98, MKE Grey-headed Silverbill (A# 1045): [post pres 62C] KSWTI grounds, 6—-12/12/98, FN; Green Park Golf Club, Naivasha, 2, ZM; [pres 62A] Lake Elmenteita, 11/12/98, FN Bronze Mannikin (A# 1041): [pres 37A] Weiwei irrigation scheme, Sigor, 3/4, Na- ture Kenya members — this is the most northern record in Kenya for this well- known species. Thick-billed Canary: Nairobi Race Course, Nbi, 15/7/98, WMB Palaearctic migrants (Records are from 1999 unless indicated.) Black Stork: NNP, 6/2, SP e¢ a/. Northern Shoveler (A# 78): [pres 61A] Homa Lime Co., Koru, 30/11/97, NW Tufted Duck (A# 78): 1 female, Limuru Pond, 25/12/98, SE, WE; [pres 51C] Lewa Downs, 14/2, KM — an uncommon mi- grant duck, this appeared to be a good year for them. Osprey: [post pres 63C] Bendor Coffee Es- tate, Thika, 15/11/98, PLO; Githumbwini Estate, Thika, 17/1, PLO Eurasian Honey Buzzard: [pres 48C] 1 typi- cal ad, Lelekwe river crossing, Mumias, 21/ 12/98, SE, WE, WilO; 1, Del Monte Es- tate, Thika, 2/1, MM; 2 typical ads ASF, 5/ 1, SE, DN, WE; single bird, ASK, 14/2, JJ, DN; 1, Meru NP, 3/10, and 1 over Thigiri Ridge, Nbi, 30/10, MM Eurasian Marsh Harrier (A# 97): [pres 61A] Homa Lime Co., Koru, 31/12/97, NW Booted Eagle: Nguruman Escarpment, 11/ 12/98, LN; pale phase birds in the major falcon movement at Ngulia, Tsavo West NP, 26/11/98 NRG — see under Amur Falcon for more details. Peregrine Falcon: single bird heading north c.80 m offshore from point of Ras Ngomeni, north of Malindi, 21/3, CJ, JD Amur Falcon: in the region of probably over 1,500 birds moved through southwards be- tween dawn and 14:30, in flocks of 50-— 120+, at times ‘peppering’ the sky there be- ing so many; amongst them were a handful of Eurasian Hobbies and at least 1 Lesser Kestrel, Ngulia, Tsavo West NP, 26/11/98, NRG — Tsavo can be excellent for its mi- grant raptors, but this is an awesome number of falcons at one time for anywhere in Kenya. Sooty Falcon: Karura Forest, Nairobi, 24/3, WMB; 2 over Nakuru—Naivasha rd near L. Elmenteita, 10/4, MM Lesser Kestrel: Kabarak, Nakuru—Bogoria rd, flock of about 20-40, feasting on insects fleeing a grass fire in farmland together with White Storks, Abdim’s Storks, Black Kites, Lilac-breasted & Abyssinian Rollers, 9/1, FN Little Ringed Plover: singles at Nakuru Sew- age, Nakuru, 10/1, NWC, and YMCA, Naivasha, 24/1, NWC Temminck’s Stint: YMCA, Naivasha, 24/1, NWC Curlew Sandpiper (A# 243): [pres 101D] Rukinga Ranch, Voi, 10/98, FK, ES Broad-billed Sandpiper: Max count of 23 birds, Sabaki River mouth, 31/1, NWC Black-tailed Godwit: Amboseli NP, 19/10/ 98, SP et al. Bar-tailed Godwit: a single at L. Elmenteita, 23/1, NWC; 3 birds L. Ol Bolosat, Ol Kalau, 2/2, NWC — mainly a coastal species and never numerous, “Barwits’ are an even less common bird inland. Spotted Redshank: 9 birds all in winter plum- age, foraging with Little Stints and Ringed Plovers in wetland, Ahero Rice Scheme, nr Kisumu, 20/12, SE, WE — this is an unu- sual number of a relatively uncommon spe- cies. Green Sandpiper (A# 262): [pres 101D] Mt. Kasigau & surrounding villages, 6-8/98, 58 Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 MKE; Rukinga Ranch, Voi, 10/98, FK, ES; lone bird, Carnivore PBP, Nairobi, 29/8, FN Terek Sandpiper (A# 264): [pres 26B] L. Turkana lake shore, Loyangalani, 15/9/98, YA Heuglin’s Gull: [pres 91D] Kipini, Tana River Delta, 25-30/10/98, FN, KNd Black-headed Gull: single first-year bird, Malindi Harbour, 17/1, CJ Sandwich Tern: 3 birds in winter plumage resting on a sand bar, Sabaki river mouth, 4/1,SE, DN — an uncommon migrant tern along the coast, Sabaki is a good place to find them (and many other rarities!) Saunders’s Tern: Sabaki River, 22—25/7/98, TS — these will have been “over-summet- ing’ or non-breeding birds. Eurasian Cuckoo (A# 368): [pres 91D] Kipini, Tana River delta, 25—30/10/98, FN, KNd; Kuku FSC, Kimana, Amboseli NP, 17—20/10, SP ef al. Eurasian Scops Owl: a smallish owl with bright yellow eyes, almost certainly this spe- cies, landed on the awning frame of the fish- ing boat “Pussycaf and sat there for about 5 minutes, within a metre or two of the skip- per, Paul, some 6 km offshore from Watamu, October 799, (reported to CJ). — this is a rare Palaearctic migrant owl, but turning up on a boat offshore at this time of the year, it could hardly have been anything else! Blue-cheeked Bee-eater: [pres 51C] Timau, Nanyuki, 2, RoC Eurasian Roller: in just 10 mins, 83 birds seen moving north 50—200 m over Brachystegia woodland in a band c.1 km wide, ASF, Gede, PAVERS AD) Common House Martin (A# 563): [pres 75C] Nguruman Escarpment, 11/12/98, LN Tree Pipit: Ngulia, Tsavo West NP, 22/10/ 98, GCB —a relatively early record for this species. Red-throated Pipit: single bird, Sabaki River mouth, 28/3, CJ Yellow Wagtail (A# 830): [pres 101D] Rukinga Ranch, Voi, 10/98, FK, ES White Wagtail: YMCA, Naivasha, 22/1, NWC Common Rock Thrush (A# 651): Ngulia, Tsavo West NP, 21/10/98, GCB; [pres 37B] South Turkana NR, 6/4, Nature Kenya members; 1, Meru NP, 1/10, MM Rufous Bush Chat: a pair, Dandora Sewage Works, 13/1, NWC Common Redstart: 1 female, flat wooded area on top of Olololoo escarpment, NW Masai Mara GR, 14/2, SE, TP Semi-collared Flycatcher: a single Ficedula flycatcher most likely to be this species seen at the Forest Station, Kakamega, 13/12/98, MM Spotted Flycatcher (A# 780): [pres 37A] Weiwei irrigation scheme, Sigor, 3/4, Na- ture Kenya members Icterine Warbler: 1 bird, Siana Springs camp, SE Masai mara GR, 12/2, SE, WE, TP — there is known to be a small wintering popu- lation of this uncommon species in Mara. Barred Warbler (A# 705): [pres 102B] first- year male ringed, Plot 28, Watamu, 5/3 and one (the same? — no ring noted but right leg not clearly seen) seen in bushes in front of house, 19/3, CJ, JD — an uncommon species on the coast Wood Warbler: 1 bird on 31 January 1993. on main track through ASF Nature Reserve; 3171/93 1DF Red-backed Shrike (A# 857): [pres 37A] Marich Pass FSC, Kapenguria, 5/4, Nature Kenya members Eurasian Golden Oriole (A#573): Negulia, Tsavo West NP, 21/10/98, GCB — a rela- tively early record for this species; Carnivore PBP, 18/11/98, WMB; [pres 37A] Marich Pass FSC, Kapenguria, 3/4, Nature Kenya members Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 59 Breeding records The Nest Record Scheme is really be- ginning to take off again with a tremen- dous response from those birders out in the field. A great deal many more con- tributors have taken part (78 as com- pared with 50 for the last Kenya Bards) and as a result we have an amazing total of 593 nest record cards submitted over the past year or so covering 157 species. The new card seems to be proving it- self and we trust that the explanations given in Kenya Birds vol. 7 will have helped those who weren’t quite sure how to complete a card. Please do give us feedback on the card and/or the ex- planation — we are keen to improve the system as much as possible to make it more efficient and enjoyable. All those who submitted over five catds are listed below with the number of cards they completed and returned. Jeffory Coburn certainly has to be commended with an incredible 170 cards submitted — here must be a man who is both dedicated and talented at finding nests! Zachary Methu with 61 cards submitted has also done a fantas- tic job — but a// those who contributed are greatly appreciated. Many submitted records of more unusual birds for which we have very little information on their breeding habits. These are par- ticularly interesting to see — though records of common birds are equally valuable! Jeffory Coburn 170 Zachary Methu 61 Julius Mwangi 29 Neil Wilsher 22 Friends of Nakuru 18 Kimtai Korir 18 Mercy Njeri 16 Fleur Ng’weno 14 Bernard Chege 10 Nick Nalianya 10 Peter Kamau Mwangi 10 Nature Kenya Wednesday Morning Birdwalk (WMB) Francis Njuguna Kuru Harvey Croze Ronald Mulwa Andrew Mwangi Waweru Dennie Angwin Bernard Mburu Japheth Mwok Titus Imboma Fidel Kyalo & Edwin Selempo Francis Gitau Nganga James Wainaina Gathitu Shailesh Patel NWNWBWNWAIN NY CO OO OO 9 Five and less: Abdi Anti, Alice Mackay, Andy Sprenger, Anthony Wandera, Beth Kiragu, Charles K. Kahihia, Charles M., Dominic Kamau Kimani, Dominic Lopanu, Dorrie Brass, Edwin Selempo, Elizabeth Oluoch, Esther Mwangi, Esther W. Gathitu, Esther Wangui, Faridah Noor ce a/, Fred Munyekenye, Friends of Kinangop Plateau, Geoffery M Macharia, Geoffrey Irvine, Graham Fairhurst, Imre Loefler, Jacktone Akelo, Janet Wood, Julius Arinaitwe, Kariuki Ndang’ang’a, Ken Makori, KWSTI, M. Kioko, Maina Kuria, Marlene Reid, Martin Kahindi, Mary Mwihaki, Michael Maina Macharia, Narinder Heyer, Nature Kenya Pot-luck Outing (PLO), North Lake Bird Trackers, Patrick Gichuki, Patrick M Karimi, Paul Kirui, Peter Burke, Philip Keter, Rashid A. Malibe, Simon Kiiru Joakim, Simon Makau, South Lake Bird Watchers, Stephen Wamiti, Tom Butynski & David Negala. Tony Potterton, Trelss McGregor & Wayne Vos. 60 Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 Blank Nest Record Cards (NRCs) are available upon request (see above) — we have just reprinted a new batch, so supplies are now plentiful. A small note to make concerning completing NRCs — if juveniles are observed being fed by an adults, please note down the number of juvenile birds involved under ‘young seen, Out nest’. Records of interest (Records are from 1999 unless indicated.) Common Ostrich (A# 1): [post conf 50A] 6 young seen on flood plain, L. Baringo, 30/ 12/97, JC; 1 male with large nest, Ol Choro Oirua Wildlife Association, NE Mara, 15/ 10, DA Great Crested Grebe: ad with several juve- niles, southern tip of lake, L. Elmenteita, 11/12/98, FN, also seen 19/1. Little Grebe: Ads with young recorded in June, Aug and Nov around Nbi, and Sept on L. Naivasha, DA, JC, WMB; Greater Cormorant: ads courting & mating, 8/98, WMB and large colony of about 8 nests with 14 young in each nest, 19/8/ 98, 3 ad incubating, 14/4, MN, Hillcrest School, Langata, Nbi Long-tailed Cormorant: 6 nests in Combretum paniculutum with ad incubating, 19/8/98, WMB and 6 nests (the same?) with ad incu- bating, 3 young seen outside nest, 14/4, MN, Hillcrest School, Langata, Nbi African Darter: 2 young which could just about fly, might have bred at L. Baringo due to flooded Acacia woodland, Kampi ya Samaki, L. Baringo, 4/7, JC Goliath Heron: 5 fledged young on lake shore, Kampi ya Samaki, L. Baringo, 4/7, JC; 2 young in nest near fishing boats, L. Naivasha, 11/98, MMM; 1 young in nest, 9/98, L. Naivasha, RC Black-headed Heron (A# 43): [conf 100B] over 30 fledged young seen begging for food, 16/7/98, Taveta, FK & ES; [conf 79C] 2 young ones, capable of leaving nest, 27/7/98, Ntuneni, Wenje, Tana River, RAM Hamerkop: nest complete & ad carrying food, 22/8, Murungaru, North Kinangop, FJK Saddle-billed Stork: 1 young out of nest alone 2/8/98, 1 young being fed by ad near lake 24/8/98, 1 young flying with ad near lake 1/9/98, Waruro, Wenje, Hola, nr Tana River Primate Reserve, RAM — very good to receive breeding records of one of our less common species of stork. Marabou Stork (A# 58): [conf 50A] birds at all stages of breeding, 30/12/97 again on 3/7, Kampi ya Samaki, Lake Baringo, JC; [pres conf 61A] 5 nests with eggs being in- cubated in the town centre, 20/2, Kericho, KK; ad building nest & carrying nesting material, Hunter’s Lodge, Kiboko, 20/9, PLO; ad mating, courting and nest build- ing, L. Naivasha, 21/9, JC — this species used only to breed in one or two limited locations but appears to be spreading and breeding in small numbers over a wider range. Yellow-billed Stork: 3 young begging for food, L. Naivasha, 15/7, ZM African Spoonbill: 3 nests, ad incubating in two, ad feeding a chick in the third, 19/8, WMB EANHS, and about 10 ad sitting & incubating, with several young out of nest, 14/4, MN, Hillcrest School, Langata, Nbi. White-backed Duck: pair with 5 ducklings, pond near Thika, 12/7/98 & 3 broods of 3,3 and 1, Limuru Pond 26/7/98, MM Red-billed Teal: single ad with 9 young c. 1 week old, 26/9, only 8 chicks 17/10, Lewa Downs, KM Black-shouldered Kite: 4 recently fledged young near nest, rat & mouse skins and skel- etons found in nest, Tarabete, Naivasha, 3/ 8, ZM African Cuckoo Hawk: ad with juvenile, Loresho Ridge, 1/2, WMB African White-backed Vulture: bird seen carrying nesting material, Tsavo East Na- tional Park, 4/8, FK — vulture numbers Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 61 have suffered in this part of Kenya, so all breeding records are very good news. African Harrier Hawk (A# 94): [conf 61A] juv begging for food, Kipsamoo, Nandi, 14/ 4, KK; single juv begging for food out of nest, Green Park GC, Naivasha, 3/6, JuM African Fish Eagle: 6 active nests reported from Naivasha — an indication of the im- provement in breeding success at this well- known site for the species. Martial Eagle: 4-week old chick in nest be- ing fed by female, NNP, 14/9, MV Red-necked Falcon (A# 148): [conf 79C] juv being fed by ad, 23/8/98, Ntuneni, Wenje, Tana River, RAM — relatively few breeding records have been reported of this quite elusive and interesting species. Grey Kestrel (A# 153): [post conf 50A] 2 downy young in nest, continually harassed by Egyptian Geese trying to use the same nest, 15/3, Kampi ya Samaki, L. Baringo, JC — the species is normally considered a ‘wanderer’ to the Rift Valley, it being more a western species; to have it breeding at this site is therefore particularly interesting. Crested Francolin (A# 167): [conf 50A] 4 white eggs being incubated, 30/12/97, West Bay, Kampi ya Samaki, L. Baringo, JC; 4 downy young following ad, Tsavo East NP, 4/8, FK Common Button-quail (A# J he 181): [conf 50A] 3 eggs be- yo ll ing incubated in nest, Kampi ya Samaki, L. Baringo, 1/10/98, JC — a secretive and skulking species and not reported from Baringo for over 25 years. African Water Rail: 1 young accompanied by adult, Githumbwini Estate, Thika, 9/8/98, PEO© Black Crake (A# 193): [conf 88B] 1 downy with adult out of nest, 20/9, Hunter’s Lodge, Kiboko, PLO; [conf 63C] 1 juv accompa- nied by ad, Githumbwini Estate, 9/8/98, PLO; 2 chicks with ad, Game Ranching Ltd., Athi River, 7/8, TM, WV AWN Purple Swamphen (A# 198): [post conf 63C] 2 juvs with ad, 17/1, Githumbwini Estate, Thika, PLO; 2 almost fully fledged juvs with parents, L. Baringo Club, 4/7 JC Lesser Moorhen (A# 200): [conf 76C] 1 juv with feathers in pin found crawling & fall- ing on dam edge vegetation, 14/7 Game Ranching Ltd., Athi River, WV & TM Kori Bustard (A# 209): [conf 50A] 1 almost fully grown juv with ad, Kampi ya Samaki, West Bay, L. Baringo, 10/5, JC African Jacana (A# 211): [conf 102B] 2 juvs with feathers still in pin, 25/10/98, sand quarry pools, Arabuko Sokoke Forest, Gede, CJ Greater Painted-snipe (A# 213): 1 almost fully grown young juv with ad, Kampi ya Samaki, West Bay, L. Baringo, 10/5, JC; [conf 88C] 4 juvs of ad size foraging with ad, 1/7, Amboseli NP, WV — being an elu- sive species there are relatively few breed- ing records submitted so these are particu- larly useful. Water Thick-knee: 2 eggs being incubated, Kampi ya Samaki, West Bay, L. Baringo, 11/ Swe: Spotted Thick-knee (A# 275): [conf 50A] 2 eggs being incubated 16/3, nest later de- stroyed by flash floods, 18/3; 1 egg being incubated, 10/5; 1 downy young out of nest 10/5 — all 62 Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 at Kampi ya Samaki, West Bay, L. Baringo, je Heuglin’s Courser: 5 nests found with eggs and one family of 2 chicks with ad, 3, 5 and 10; Kampi ya Samaki, L. Baringo, JC Long-toed Plover (A# 215): [conf 50A] many feathered young with ad 31/12/97, Kampi ya Samaki, Lake Baringo, JC Blacksmith Plover (A# 217): [conf 50C] 3 eggs in nest, Lake Solai, Solai, 12/7, MKa Spur-winged Plover (A# 218): [conf 51C] 2 young being defended by ad 23/7, Lewa Downs, KM Black-headed Plover: 3 young in nest, 31/ 12/97; nest with 3 eggs, 17/3 —all at Kampi ya Samaki, L. Baringo, JC Crowned Plover (A# 220): [prob 50A] ad displaying, 30/12/97, West Bay, Kampi ya Samaki, L. Baringo, JC African Snipe (A# 250): [post conf 62A] 1 egg in nest, 2km south of Githunguthu Pri- mary School, L. Ol’Bolossat, 27/7, KN — this is only the third atlas square since 1970 where this secretive species has been re- corded as confirmed breeding, Black-faced Sandgrouse: Kampi ya Samaki, L. Baringo, JC; 4 juvs out of nest in front of big bush-fire, 15/7, Tsavo East, ES & FK; 1 juv, few days old, Tsavo East NP, 4/ SUES Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse: ad male shelter- ing newly hatched young, 17/3; 1 egg in nest, later destroyed by flash floods, 17/3, 2 juvs out of nest, Kampi ya Samaki, West Bay, L. Baringo, 8/5, JC Yellow-throated Sandgrouse (A# 322): [conf 88C] 1 male & fem. With very fluffy chick about one-third grown, 3/8/93, Amboseli NP, DA African Green Pigeon: nest from which 2 young fledged, Ololua ridge, Karen, Nbi, JW Emerald-spotted Wood Dove (A# 337): [conf 62C] 1 egg being incubated in nest; 2 eggs in another nest in another pomegran- ate tree 12/7, L. Elmenteita, JC Speckled Pigeon (A# 324): [conf 61A] 1 young in nest under metal cover used to protect electronics for satellite dish c. 60 ft up! Homa Lime Co., Koru, 20/11/97, NW Red-eyed Dove (A# 330): [conf 60D] nest with three out of four young successfully fledging, along Migori-Kisii rd. junction to Homa Bay, 20/6—23/7, EO African Mourning Dove (A# 329): [prob 62A] ad mating and building nest, road from Nakuru to L. Baringo, near Nakuru, 25/9, Jc Feral Lovebird: ad courting & building nest, 16/3, Kampi ya Samaki, L. Baringo, JC — this escaped cage bird is becoming more and more widespread in Kenya from its main establishment site at L. Naivasha. Ross’s Turaco (A# 361): [prob 61A] 2 ad spent 1 week building nest, female sat for 1 week, then not seen again, Homa Lime Co., Koru, 4, NW White-bellied Go Away Bird: 2 chicks in nest and later fledged, 13/10 & 17/10, Lewa Downs, KM Klaas’s Cuckoo: successfully parasitised Vari- able Sunbird nest 20/5-3/6, Upper Hill, Nbi, FN Diederik Cuckoo (A# 374): [conf 61A] young calling to be fed out of nest, Homa Lime Co., Koru, 7/98, NW; 1 feathered young being fed by ad Tawny-flanked Prinia, Kasarani, Naivasha, 26/5, NLB White-browed Coucal (A# 377): [conf 26D] 2 light pink eggs in nest in Balanites aegyptiaca, 18/11/97, Kurungu, foot hills of Mount Nyiru, KN African Barred Owlet: young heard calling from nest, 5 miles SW of Marafa, NW of Malindi, 15/11/95, TB, DN Verreaux’s Eagle Owl (A# 387): [conf 50A] 1 eggs being incubated on old Hamerkop’s nest, 5/7, Lake Baringo, JC; [prob 61A] ad seen courting in palm tree, in Dec. seen every day together, Homa Lime Co., Koru, 4/12/ 97, NW Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 63 African Wood Owl (A# 389): [post conf 75B] 2 downy young with adult, 23/12, Nbi Race Course, WMB — amazing that this frequently recorded owl has not been re- ported breeding around Nbi since pre 1970! Fiery-necked Nightjar: 2 eggs in nest, Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, Gede, 18/4, CJ, TJB Slender-tailed Nightjar (A# 406): [post conf 50A] 2 eggs being incubated, 30/12/ 97; 2 young just hatched 31/12/97; nest with 2 eggs, 8/5; 2 feathered young out of nest, 8/5; 2 downy young out of nest, about 1 week old, 7/5, 1 egg being incubated, 1/10, all at Kampi ya Samaki, West Bay, L. Baringo, JC Blue-naped Mousebird (A# 427): [conf 62C] nest observed from being built to hav- ing 2 hatched young, Green Park GC, Naivasha, 14-28/6, ZM Hoopoe: 3 young seen leaving nest, 6/5; 5 naked young in nest, ad seen carrying food, 7/7, Kampi ya Samaki, West Bay, L. Baringo, JC — this is an average size of clutch, some nests containing up to 9 eggs. White-headed Wood-hoopoe (A# 461): [conf 38D] 3 ad seen bringing food items, 1 stays in or around nest and takes food from other 2. Food includes plant bugs, grasshop- pers & spiders. Plant bugs most common, 20/4, Leroghi forest, Maralal, KN; young coming out of hollow in tree to be fed by ad, Buyangu, Kakamega Forest, 4/7, NN Green Wood-hoopoe (A# 459): [conf 114A] 2 ads taking food to nest, Mwaluganje Trav- eller’s Camp, Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctu- aty, Kwale, 28/12/98, CJ, TJB Southern Ground Hornbill: ad building nest and later feeding young, L. Sonachi, Naivasha, 13/3-30/4, DL; 1 young being fed by ad, 27/9, Kaibibich, Cherangani Hills, HH e¢ al, Von der Decken’s Hornbill (A# 470): [conf 114A] ad seen taking food to nest hole, Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary, Kwale, 28/ 12/98, CJ, TJB Crowned Hornbill (A# 474): [conf 79C] 2 young fed by ad with seed & fruit, 5/8, Wenje shopping centre, Wenje, RAM Grey-throated Barbet: 1 young being fed out of nest, Homa Lime Co., Koru, 15/2, NW Red-fronted Tinkerbird (A# 493): [conf 102B] ad feeding young out of nest, 12/2, L. Chemchem, 12/2, CJ, JJ, JD Wire-tailed Swallow: 2 chicks in nest, later watched fledging, Sarova-Mara Camp, Masai Mara, 1-15/8/98, AA Ethiopian Swallow (A# 554): [post conf 51C] nest with 3 eggs observed through to juvs returning to roost after fledging, Lewa Downs, Isiolo, 17/6—13/7, VM Angola Swallow: ad carrying food, Ndunyu Njeru, Kinangop, 3/6, FJK Red-rumped Swallow: ad seen entering nest, 4 &9/5, 3 eggs in nest, later seen at bottom of tree, broken. One contained a chick, nest taken over by Little Swift which threw out the eggs, Green Park GC, Naivasha, 17/5, ZM Rock Martin: ad entering nest carrying food, 17/1, Murungaru, North Kinangop, AMW Sharpe’s Longclaw: nest watched from building through incubation of 2 eggs to fledging, Kirima, North Kinangop, 6-27/6, JWG — one of our threatened Kenyan endemics and always good to receive suc- cessful breeding records. Yellow-whiskered Greenbul: single juv be- ing fed by ad in undisturbed part of forest, Karura Forest, Nbi, 21/2, FN — we receive relatively few records of this common for- est greenbul. Common Bulbul (A# 609): [conf 102B]a very recently fledged juv. accompanied by 2 ad, 1km W of Turtle Bay Beach Club, Watamu, 13/6, CJ Rufous Chatterer: 3 eggs in a nest in Bougainvillaea against building, Kampi ya Samaki, L. Baringo, 16/3, JC East Coast Akalat: 1 pair seen building nest which was found on ground near a large rotten log, mainly consisted of large dry brown leaves, ASF, 4/1, SE, DN, WE 64 Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 Cape Robin Chat: nest with 1 chick which was seen fledging, Murungaru town, Naivasha, 5-21/7, AMW; single chick in nest with addled, unhatched egg, 12/7, Makumi Dam, N. Kinangop, CK; 1 ad feeding 1 young out of nest, 5/1, Aberdare NP, Nyeri, DB White-browed Robin Chat: ad incubating 2 eggs 10/4, 1st egg taken by Red-chested Cuckoo although unable to lay in the nest, 2nd taken by rat, 20/4, Homa Lime Co., Koru, NW Stone Chat: 2 young in nest later seen fledged, Kirima, 27/4-3/5, FG; second nest with 2 young later seen fledged and begging from ads, Kirima, North Kinangop, 17—20/6, JWG; 2 fledged young being fed by male, Rocco Farm, Naivasha, 20/6, ZM Abyssinian Black Wheatear: 2 young in nest, Green Park GC, Naivasha, 22/4, JuM; nest with 3 young successfully fledged, Green Park GC, Naivasha, 7/4-4/5 & same ads building new nest about 20 m away from previous one 4/5 with a further 3 young later seen in nest 25/6, ZM African Dusky Flycatcher (A# 782): [conf 61A] single juv being fed by ad, Samoei, 20/ 6, and another at Bear’s Club, 29/6, Nandi Hills, KK Little Rush Warbler: 2 eggs in nest, near Elsamete jetty, L. Naivasha, 11/98, MMM — nests are not often reported for this se- cretive species Hunter’s Cisticola: ad seen carrying food and agitated near nest, 26/6, nest deserted, 27/ 6, Kirima, North Kinangop, JWG Winding Cisticola (A#740): [conf 103A] ad carrying large green grasshopper & calling in agitated way, 9/8, Sabaki River mouth, Malindi, CJ Tawny-flanked Prinia: ad feeding juv Diederik Cuckoo, Kasarani, Naivasha, 26/ 5, NLB Yellow-breasted Apalis (A# 750): [conf 74A] 2 young being fed by ad, 16/8, Masai Mara conservation area, JM — this is a wide- spread species yet there ate relatively few atlas squares where it has been reported breeding Red-fronted Warbler (A# 747): [conf 101D] ad cautiously approaching nest with food, nest contents not seen, 7/9, Rukinga ranch, Maungu, FK & ES; ad incubating, West Bay, Kampi ya Samaki, L. Baringo, 1/10, JC Northern Crombec: 1 feathered young in nest, ad carrying food, L. Baringo, 1/10, JC Red-faced Crombec (A# 771): [conf 76C] ad feeding fully fledged young, 7/9/97, Game Ranching Co., Athi River, WV Yellow-bellied Eremomela (A# 764): [conf 62C] nest with 1 egg, later deserted with egg absent — depredated? 20-30/5, Green Park GC, Naivasha, ZM; [post conf 50A] 2 incu- bated eggs, hatching, West Bay, Kampi ya Samaki, L. Baringo, 1/10, JC Buff-bellied Warbler: 3 eggs in nest, Kampi ya Samaki, West Bay, L. Baringo, 8/5, & 4 naked young in nest, L. Baringo, 1/10, JC Taita White-eye (A# 938): [post conf 101A] 2 young seen flying day after nest was seen, 6/12/98; 2 young being fed by ad, 13/12/ 98; Mbololo, Taita Hills, and [conf. 101D] ad carrying food, but very careful not to in- dicate /show nest to observer, 15/12/98, Mt Kasigau, RM Yellow White-eye: fledged young begging, ad carrying food, 28/12/98, Mwok’s Farm, Churman, Kapenguria, JM Spotted Creeper: 1 ready to fledge young in nest, ad carrying food, Mwok’s Farm, Churman, Kapenguria, 21/1, JM — this is a very encouraging record as this species is extremely local in Kenya; the only other regular site at Sirikwa has been heavily de- graded to the extent that the creeper may not survive long there. Black-headed Batis (A# 798): [conf 102B] ad carrying food to nest, L. Chemchem, Malindi, 12/2, CJ, JJ, JD Grey-crested Helmet-shrike: juv following two ad, L. Nakuru NP, 6/2, FN, CN Black Cuckoo-shrike: male chasing female flitting from tree to tree, Tusks Restaurant, Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 65 Limuru rd, Nbi, 30/7, EOm — this species is both a resident breeding bird as well as an Afro-tropical migrant. This record suggests the birds observed may have been prepar- ing to breed; the normal breeding season is Mar—Apr or Oct—Dec so this one in July is unusual. Common Drongo (A# 566): [conf 114A] ad incubating, nr Mwaluganje Traveller’s Camp, Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary, Kwale, 28/ 12, CJ, TJB; single young being fed by both ad, Rocco Farm, Naivasha, 20/6, ZM Black-headed Oriole (A# 568): [post conf 101D] 1 imm accompanying ad, Kasigau, 20/8, ES; 2 young being fed in Acacia, 13/ 1, Green Park GC, Naivasha, ZM Greater Blue-eared Starling: 2 young with ad in an old woodpecker’s nest, Green Park GC, Naivasha, 12/4, JuM Hildebrandt’s Starling (A# 889): [conf 88C] 1 young being fed amongst several ads, Ol Tukai, Amboseli NP, 3-8/8/93, DA Superb Starling: 2 young in nest, ad African Harrier Hawk destroyed nest & took 1 chick, while being mobbed by 5 ad Superb Star- lings; 20-30 mins. later, Harrier Hawk came back & took the other chick! 4/11/98, Green Park GC, Naivasha, ZM; 2 young in nest being harassed by an Egyptian Vulture, 30/3, Green Park GC, Naivasha, MN Amani Sunbird: single juv. fed by ad male in canopy, Kararacha, ASF, 9/6/98, CJ; 1 fledg- ling begging for food, 4/2, in Brachystegia, ASF, JD Collared Sunbird (A# 902): [conf 37C] 2 young being fed by ad out of nest, 25/12/ 98, Mwok’s Farm, Kapenguria, JM Hunter’s Sunbird (A# 931): [conf 51C] 2 young in nest being fed by ad male, 18/10/ 98, Lewa Downs, KM Variable Sunbird: pair raised a Klaas’s Cuckoo in May-June. As soon as it fledged, other birds stripped the nest of its materials, destroying it. Within a month, built another c. 1 m from the first, incubated for some time, then abandoned it, Upper Hill, Nbi, FN — an interesting piece of behaviour Purple-banded Sunbird (A# 913): [conf 101D] 1 fledged young begging, Taita Ranch, Maundu, 8/7, FK & ES Tacazze Sunbird (A# 924): female incubat- ing with male seen agitated nr nest, 26/12/ 98, Mwok’s Farm, Kapenguria, JM; [prob 62A] nest complete, ad seen entering nest 2/5; ad seen leaving nest, contents not seen, 1 & 2/6, Bahati Forest, Nakuru, BC; 2 young in nest, Mbirithi Primary School, North Kinangop, 23/6, FoK — there are relatively few breeding records for this species. Golden-winged Sunbird: nest with 1 egg 14/ 6-1/7, Kirima, Kinangop, DKK House Sparrow (A# 992): fledged young begging for food, Kinamba, Kirati, Naivasha, 2/5, EWG; [conf 60D] nest with 2 young successfully fledged, 20/6—21/7, along Migori-Kisii rd. junction to Homa Bay, Rongo, EO; Nbi breeding records from: June, July, Aug, SP, MN, WMB, DA Chestnut Sparrow (A# 994): [conf 62C] 1 juv unable to fly well, 2/10/98, Green Park GC, Naivasha, ZM Yellow-spotted Petronia (A# 995): [conf 26D] a pair of birds entering nest in turns catrying food, 19/11/97, Kurungu, South Horr, KN Grosbeak Weaver (A# 970): [conf 62C] male & female feeding fledged young, Eburru Forest, Gilgil, 18/7, ZM Holub’s Golden Weaver: 2 young seen leav- ing nest and being fed by ad 24/12/98, ad building nest, male with NMK ring, 20/3, garden on Karura forest edge, Muthaiga, Nbi, HC — the tinged adult is probably a bird from NMK grounds where Nbi Ring- ing Group have been actively ringing. Dark-backed Weaver: ad observed going in & out of nest, Buyangu, Kakamega Forest, 22/7, NN Red-headed Weaver (A# 969): [conf 61 A] first brood raised 16/11—12/12/97, birds built second nest alongside old one & raised young, Mar—Apr 98; in May 98 built 2 nests finishing 2nd at month end, building breed- 66 Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 ing May-June, young heard in nest 18/7, Homa Lime Co., Koru, NW; [conf 74C] ad fixing up old nest 13—-24/10/98 nest com- plete, ad entering nest and agitated near nest, 30/10/98, Sarova Mara camp, AA Grey-headed Negrofinch: ad carrying nest- ing material over a marshy area, Nandi Tea Estate Ltd., Nandi, 7/7, KK — there are relatively few breeding records for this spe- cies and this appears to be the only record for this region over 1800 m. Yellow-bellied Waxbill: ad carrying food & entering nest 24/12/98, Mwok’s Farm, Kapenguria, JM Yellow-rumped Seedeater (A# 1058): [conf 62C] nest with 3 chicks, Green Park GC, Naivasha, 17/5, JuM; 2 ads feeding 2 juvs, 18/6, nest with 3 young 18/6, 2 fledged leav- ing 1 to follow, 25/6; 1 juv fed by ad 14— 16/9, Green Park GC, Naivasha; ZM Contributors for vol. 8.1: MA, Moez Ali; YA, Yusuf S Ali; DA, Dennie Angwin; DoA, Doris Agol; AA, Abdi Anti; ASFGA, Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Guides As- sociation; GCB, Graeme Backhurst; SB, Sheelagh Ballard; JBa, Julia Barnley; JB, Jonathan Baya; LAB, Leon Bennun, NLB, North Lake Birdtrackers; WMB, Nature Kenya Weds. Morning Birdwalk; TJB, Tansy Bliss; DB, Dorrie Brass; MB, Mike Bridgeford; TB, Tom Butyinski; NWC, National Waterfowl Census; RoC, Rose Caldwell; BC, Bernard Chege; RC, Reuben Chege; JC, Jeffory Coburn; SC, Sam Covarrubias; HC, Harvey Croze; JD, Jeff Davis; SD, Sue Deverell; SE, Steven Easley; WE, Wayne Easley, MKE — Mt Kasigau expedition; BF, Brian Finch; DF, David Fisher; AF, Andrew Foley; LF, Louise Fordyce; EWG, Esther W. Gathitu; JWG, James Wainaina Gathitu; CG, Cecilia Gichuki; FG, Francis Gitau Ng’ang’a; MG, Mwangi Githiru; FGG, Field Guide Group; PH, Philip Hechle; HH, Harold Henry; M&SH, Maia & Simon Hemphill; NH, Narinder Heyer; JH, Jeremy High; C&LH, C&L Huxley; JI, Jasdev Imani; CJ, Colin Jackson; JJ, Jeffrey James; CK, Charles Kahihia; MKa, Martin Kahindi; FJK, Francis Njuguna Kiiru; DKK, Dominic Kimani; FK, Fumio Kinoshita; PK, Paul Kennedy; WK, Willy Knocker; WeK, Welling- ton Kombe; KK, Kimtai Korir; FK, Fidel Kyalo; DL, Dominic Loponu; MMM, Michael Maina Macharia; RAM, Rashid A. Malibe; MM, Mark Mallalieu; IM, Ian Marshall; BM, Bernard Mburu; DM, David T Meijo; TM, Trelss McGregor; ZM, Zachary Methu; KM, Kevin Mulai; RM, Ronald Mulwa; JonM, Jonathan Mwachongo; JMwa, John Mwangi; JMw, Joseph Mwangi; JM, Japheth Mwok; PKM, Peter Kamau Mwangi; NN, Nico Nalianya; KN, Kariuki; Ndang’ang’a; KNd, Kuria Ndung’u; DN, David Ngala; CN, Catherine Ngarachu; FN, Fleur Ng’weno; LN, Leo Niskanen; MN, Mercy Njeri; JO, Jennifer Oduori; WiO, Wilberforce Okega; WO, Willis Oketch; EO, Elizabeth Oluoch; EOm, Eric Omondi; SP, Shailesh Patel; LP, Leonard Paul; P&KP, P&K Plumbe; PLO, EANHS ‘Pot Luck’ Outing; AP, Tony Potterton; TP, Terry Pottle; MR, Marlene Reid; NS, Nixon Sajita; ES, Edwin Selempo; MS, Maurice Sinyereri; JS, John Steadman; JSt, John Stott; TS, Terry Stevenson; MV, Munir Virani; TV, Tristan Voorspuy; WV, Wayne Vos; CW, Charles Waihenya; W, Wamiti; AMW, Andrew Mwangi Waweru; BW, Brown Waweru; BrW, Brian Williams; NW, Neil Wilsher; JW, Janet Wood. Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 67 Abbreviations ASF — Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, Malindi / Kilifi; FSC — Field Study Centre; GC — Golf Club; KWSTI — Kenya Wildlife Service Training Institute, Naivasha; NP — National Park; NNP — Nairobi National Park; NR — National Reserve; NWC — National Water- fowl Census; PBP — Carnivore Proposed Biodiversity Park, Nairobi; N — north; E — east; S — south; W — west; rd — road; ad — adult; juv — juvenile. Erratum Correction to Kenya Bérds vol. 6, p. 48: Blacksmith Plover (A# 217): [pres 62C] Game Ranching Co., Athi River, 3/4, WV & T™ The QSD should be 76C, not 62C. However, this record. is indeed a new Request for feathers I am working on a detailed identification guide to the feathers of European birds. It will illustrate and describe the feathers of nearly all 500 European species up to the Urals and Caucasus on about 800 pages in the format 24 x 34 cm. For each species a full set of primaries, secondaries and tail feathers plus a selection of cov- erts and body feathers will be shown in colour. For this the feathers are mounted on standardised grey cardboard and scanned in. The species accounts will be on the facing page of the corresponding illustra- tions and will describe the feathers in de- tail. We showed the concept to many ornithologists. They were all enthusiastic because there is no book yet that illus- trates so many details of the plumage that are normally hidden to view. There are many areas of application for this book, for example identification of the prey of taptors and identification of bird strike remains after collision with aircraft. The book will be probably published by Lynx Edicions, who ate well-known for their respected series ‘Handbook of the Birds of the World’. For most species we can borrow the necessary feathers from museums. Only a few species are still missing. Among them ate Baillon’s Crake Porzana pusilla, Caspian Plover Charadrius asiaticus, Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus, Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis, Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina, Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga and Olive-tree Warbler Hz7ppolazs olivetorum. Since we cannot pluck museum skins for this project, we have to rely on the feathers of birds that are found in bad shape and have no other use or are only needed for their skeletons. Kenya Birds teadets might sometimes find dead specimens of these species on the road or under high-tension wires. If you do, please would you keep the feath- ers for this project? It would be sufficient to pluck the feathers of both wings and the tail and put them into a paper enve- lope to dry, if possible together with a few sample feathers from the flanks, back, breast and head. Feathers can be sent through the National Museums of Kenya, Ornithology Department, or directly if that is easier. Thank you! — Gabriel Hartmann, Station 24, NL-6063 NP Vlodrop, The Netherlands 68 Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 Notes Booted Eagle again at Tudor Creek Further to my report of a Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus at Tudor Creek in February 1998, the same bird (1 swear) appeared in the same palm tree on the morning of 11 December 1999. It ap- peared weary and seemed to be trying to warm up or dry its plumage as it flew into nearby trees and spread itself out in the sun with wings fully opened. It stayed in this position for quite some time. Duty called and I had to leave off observing but on 14 December it was again present at 07:10 h, madly preening before the day’s work began. It reap- peared again at dusk and flew onto its favourite branch in the same palm and started its rigorous evening preening. 21 December saw it back again rather ear- lier than usual, carrying a small bird which it proceeded to eat, after- watds scraping its talons with its bill and then carefully cleaning its bill on the palm fronds. Some Pied Crows appeared in the area which is in itself fairly rare. For the next week the eagle was around, usually appearing at dusk and disappearing as soon as the sun got too hot. The Common Bulbuls began to get wind of its presence (probably be- ing its favourite prey) and could usually be relied upon to sound the alert. On 29 December it appeared, again carrying a small bird in its tal- ons, chased by the Pied Crows. Un- able to land, it proceeded to eat its prey on the wing but finally managed to land in the palm and finish its meal. The crows were not so easily shaken off however, and the eagle was having some difficulty balancing on its branch due to a very strong wind. Eventually the crows forced it to take off and carried on chasing and harassing it. It was not much bigger than the crows and al- though a cleverer flier, turning and sometimes flying upside down to evade them, eventually it obviously decided “enough is enough” since it flew off and has not reappeared since. I do hope it got clean away and will return to its favourite perch again. An interesting note is that though the House Crows occasionally flew menacingly at it, the eagle never seemed Common Bulbul Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 69 much threatened by them. On the few occasions when they did half-heartedly chase it they soon gave up, unlike the Pied Crows which were extremely tenacious and aggressive. Yet the Pied Crows get chased out of the area again and again by the House Crows. Strange! — Marlene Reid, P O Box 680429, Mombasa A rescued African Goshawk It was on 3 January 2000, after all the festivities, and the city was still calm. I was walking along Harambee Avenue in the late afternoon hours when I was at- tracted by a number of security men. I became curious... and although curios- ity killed the cat, this time it saved the African goshawk. Ne taptor.... which was after its prey when it collided with the Marshalls House wall and fell down. As it was evidently unable to fly I thought it was suffering from concus- sion. Other indications that the bird was unwell was that it had fluffed its feath- ets, was breathing in slowly and out fast, an unconscious raptor, had partially closed eyes and was quiet and unresponsive. After parting with KSh 20 which the security men loudly demanded, I wrapped it in my jumper, covering the head as this quietens the bird and watching out for the talons as they are really dangerous, bearing in mind that the bird was more frightened than I was so it might be likely to strike. On reaching home I placed it in a ventilated box that was large enough to allow it to stand comfortably. The fol- lowing morning I took it to the Orni- thology Department at the Museums. It had already regained consciousness. Nicodemus Nalianya, Martin Kahindi, George Eshiamwata and I ringed it as an immature African Goshawk, with ring number 68907 and a red colour band. It weighed 199 grammes, with a wing length of 221 millimetres and the primaries and secondaries slightly worn. Then we released it to go wild! It was a nice start for the Nairobi Ringing Group, as it was the first bird of the millennium to be ringed. So can we call the African Goshawk a ‘millen- nium bird’? I would love to hear your suggestions! — Peter Kamau Mwangi, P O Box 41469, Nairobi, Kenya. It’s getting dark and we’ve nowhere to sleep... Bronze Mannikins are so common that we take little notice of them and hardly ever see anything written to celebrate their existence. In Dar es Salaam they used to build nests in my bathroom lou- vres and I paid little attention to them. Since moving to Tudor, Mombasa, I have been compelled to take much mote notice of them as they try to live on my verandah and sometimes in my lounge, almost as members of the fam- ily. I have now come to the conclusion that they are absolutely mad (which fits in well with the rest of my family mem- bers), as well as fascinating. 70 Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 When we first moved in, they in- vaded the lounge, maybe because the flat had been empty for a year or so and they saw it as a whole new stamping ground. They spent hours and hours bringing their nesting materials onto the curtain rail where it would drift gently down behind the TV. This seemed to faze them and at the end of each day there would be an empty cur- tain rail and a pile of grass on the floor. They have also tried to build in our Gloriosa and Petria, with varying degrees of success. Nests cover the whole range of building techniques, from stable and moderately stable down to the very never flimsy and it never seems clear which birds actually own the nest. They never Chawia Forest in Chawia is the third biggest fragment of the small and isolated forests which to- gether compose the biodiversity hot spot known as the Taita Hills. The hills are located in south-east of Kenya, 25 km west of Voi town in Taita Taveta District. These are the northern-most representatives of the diverse and highly threatened Eastern Arc mountain forests of Kenya and Tanzania. Because these forests collectively cover such a tiny area (just a few hundred hectares), every one is extremely valuable. Chawia occupies an area of about 50 ha. Even more than the other frag- ments, it is an island in an ocean of hu- man settlements, plantations and livestock-rearing activity. This creates a sharp conflict between immediate hu- man needs and the conservation of this fragment. manage more than one nest despite the large number of birds. It seems that they spend all the day- light hours flying backwards and for- wards between the various trees feeding and only look for roosting places in a big panic once the light starts to fade. At this time, the whole flock goes abso- lutely mad, dashing around the veran- dah, climbing into the nest (if there is one, or on the bare trellis if there is not), often one bird piled upon another. Much fighting and flighting goes on, so much that sometimes the nest falls from its precarious perch, fortunately so far without loss of life. — Marlene Reid, P O Box 80429, Mombasa millennial crisis Among the critically-endangered endemics are three beautiful, multi-col- oured aviators, the Taita Thrush Turdus (olivaceus) hellerr, aita Apalis Apals (thoracica) fuscigularis) and ‘Taita White- eye Zosterops (pologaster) silvanus. The pressure that they have to bear comes from gtazing, firewood collection and indiscriminate, small-scale loggers who use hand-operated but quite powerful wood-saws. All the above has been well high- lighted and warned upon by different organisations and researchers. What merits mention is a recent public baraza held in October 1999 by the local Dis- trict Officer and District Forestry Officer, with many other stakeholders but sadly excluding the endemics. It was decided to form a local community- based committee of elders who will as- Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 (4 sist the forest guard in protecting and conserving Chawia. A good idea? But it was also decided that the local people be allowed to col- lect dead logs — only — from the for- est floor. Anybody, even a layman like me, could predict the impact of this on the forest itself and the magnitude of disturbance to the forest-dependent birds, not mentioning the trampling of rare plants and insects. Furthermore the For- est Guard was instructed be- fore the meeting not to harass that class of firewood collec- torss/ Ingeffect.; the Forest Guard was stripped of his only powers, becoming a toothless watch-dog who could only stand to one side - and witness the destruction. In short, this is a death knell for Chawia Forest fragment, and who knows maybe even the other frag- ments. RES He ios Te cay, Nowadays nobody fears carrying a panga or saw. Women have now formed groups, under banners of church activ- ity of course, and on a daily basis come out of the forest with very heavy bun- dles of firewood. This is mostly indig- enous and not dry and rotting but wet and bleeding from fresh cuts. A good days harvest comprises many cubic me- tres. You are welcome for a Saturday af- ternoon spectacle if you do not believe me! There is a complete upset of the socio-economic life style of the ‘other’ forest dependents, with the birds obvi- ously panicked and not feeding but fighting off stress. In a 20 square metre oS seatonn Be eee eS, CTR x area there will probably be three paths made by firewood collectors or timber loggers. It is a common phenomenon to meet with the local ‘buffalo’ (cattle!) pa- tiently grazing on your research transects deep in the forest. This is how it looks from the ground. How long it will take for us to lose biodiversity in the Taita Hills (see ee previous Kenya Birds)? Very little time in- deed at this rate. Someone somewhere should sit up and listen if at all our community believes in the word poster- ity. Both stake-holders in the Chawia saga have a strong case to present: peo- ple, with their cultural and socio-eco- nomic activities and their livestock on the one hand, and the endemic plants, insects, birds and other forest-depend- ent species on the other. With unsus- tainable use at this level, neither side is going to benefit. This needs a strong and well-calculated management effort by the protector of this precious scrap of forest, Kenya’s Forest Department. — Bernard Amakobe, Ornithology Depart- ment, P O Box 40658, Nairobi, Kenya. 72 Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 Grey-crested Helmet-shrikes: indications of breeding at Lake Oloidien, Naivasha Grey-crested Helmet-shrikes have not been recorded nesting in the Naivasha area since May 1884 (Lewis & Pomeroy 1989). On 21 September 1999 at about 11:30 h I saw a flock of fifteen of this species together at Mundui Estate, north-west of Lake Oloidien. Eight of them flew towards the south-west. Among the remaining seven, one bird started flapping its wings and appar- ently soliciting copu- lation. In no time, she mated with an- other, and rfe- peated the performance three times be- fore the group gee" A oer moved out of sight I was well able to see all that they were doing as I was not more than 10 m from the birds, and us- ing a pair of Tasco 7 x 9-15 x 35 zoom binoculars. On 3 October, I found the birds again at the same place, and heard a call with which I was not familiar. This ap- peared to be coming from this flock, in Grey-crested Helmet-shrike which I noted three members with a different plumage. These birds had dirty-white underparts and brownish upper parts, with black visible in the background, a dark iris, dark legs and feet. These I took to be immatures, and in support of this, wiz, I was able to ob- sete hf: len wah = serve that they Pace ‘ “Fe “23 were being com- ge munally fed by sev- eral birds in full adult plumage. It would appear that these _ immature birds were about two weeks out of the nest. It is a 4 great pity that we were not able to find their nesting site to complete the finding, but this is a firm project for the next breeding season. This appears to be a firm record of breeding by this globally threatened species, believed not to have been seen in this area for several decades. — Abdi Anti, South Lake Bird Watchers’ Group, c/o P O Box 61, Sulmac, Kenya. Grey-olive Greenbul in Nairobi Arboretum After shifting its constant ringing ef- forts from Wasaa forest in Langata, the Nairobi Ringing Group (NRG) started work at the Nairobi Arboretum on 20 July 1998. On 16-17 October 1999 we had our fifth session of ringing at the site. Eight NRG members attended this particular session with two major objec- tives: (1) To have our new members get practical first hand experience of ring- ing (setting nets, extracting birds, processing and data recording); (2) to colour band whatever we netted. Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 73 We set seven nets in four clusters, two near the river and two near the main entrance. As we retreated back to our camp no one knew how exciting the following day would be. We indulged in lengthy discussions and jokes as we pre- pated our supper. By ten o’clock every thing was set and it was time to retire. The Nairobi Arboretum contains a mixture of indigenous and exotic trees and shrubs drawn from varying ecosys- tems. This diversity of flora is reflected in the diversity of birds — the site is rematkably rich considering its small size. Around the net lines the dominant plants included Tecla trchocarpa, _T. simpliifola, I. viridis, Phytolacca dioica, Albizia grandibracteata and Croton megalocarpus. During our visit the site was dry. The following day, nets were opened at 06:00 h. Our first ‘net-round’ tre- watded us with three Cabanis’s Greenbuls. However, the second round was received with a lot of excitement by the entire group. Four birds had been brought in from this round, a Grey- backed Camaroptera and three greenbuls. They were later carefully identified as Grey-olive Greenbuls Phyllastrephus cerviniventris. These wete lifers for the all the ringers present that day! Two of the greenbuls were re-traps that had originally been caught on 21 August 1999, during the third of the NRG ringing sessions at the arboretum. They had initially been mis-identified as Slender-billed Greenbuls — the retrap gave a chance to rectify this. All the greenbuls had similar fea- tures. As the name suggests, the general body colour was greyish-olive. Other main features included the reddish- brown tail, pinkish feet, yellowish-or- ange eyes, pale brownish beak and grey throat. With that good combination we readily distinguished these birds from the other greenbuls. Just in case, this time we took some photographs of the birds after processing. The three greenbuls were caught in the nets near the river. The same day, one of the members observed a small group of the same species foraging low on the riverbanks. According to ‘Birds of Africa’ and the “Bird Atlas of Kenya’, Grey-olive Greenbul is recorded from scattered lo- calities ranging from Meru, Tharaka, Thika, Lolterish, Mzima Springs and Kitovu to Bura. Zimmerman ef a/. record it as local in Thika and Kiambu districts, near Bura (Taita district), and in Tanzanian border areas. This is the first record for the Nairobi Arboretum (atlas square 75B) though the species is known from Nairobi National Park. We thank the Kenya Museum Soci- ety for their continued support of the Nairobi Ringing Group. — Nz¢codemus Natanya, Ornithology Department, P O Box 40658, Natrobi, Kenya 74 Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 Nesting along Nairobi streets Have you ever tried to bird watch in the city centre? Well, if not you should! I would like to share my delight in birds nesting along streets that are better known for muggers than birdlife. As we have spread over the world, covering it with buildings, birds have had to adapt to our changes. Many have fallen back before our advance, seeking new places to live. Others have begun to live with us, finding food and shelter in the city streets and buildings. Many birds go to towns or cities when condi- tions are hard. Pied Crows and Hadada Ibises though have become permanent city dwellers. In May 1999 there was a Hadada Ibis nesting on an acacia tree by Baden-Powell House behind County Hall. This pair was joined by another in February 2000. A Pied Crow nests on the Kenya Police headquarters communications aerial. The tree in which the Hadada Ibises have successfully nested is intact, but who knows what tomorrow will bring? Has anyone else seen one of these birds nesting on Nairobi streets? — Peter Kamau Mwangi, P O Box 41469, Nairobi Over-summering Northern Pintails at Lake Solai During the first ever waterbird census conducted at Lake Solai on 12 July 1999, we encountered a pair of North- ern Pintails at the lake. In Kenya, the Northern Pintail winters mainly from November to April on ponds, freshwa- ter and alkaline lakes in the Rift Valley and the western and central highlands. In the Palaearctic, the species prefers freshwater marshes, small lakes and riv- ets, ideally with dense vegetation cover, in open country and also coastal la- goons of brackish waters. It is an occa- sional visitor to south-east Kenya, including the Tsavo region and coastal estuaries. Previously, apparently over- summering single birds have occurred between May and July at Lake Naivasha, Nairobi and Limuru. Lake Solai is a seasonal marsh lo- cated 48 km north of Nakuru town and about 15 km south of Lake Baringo. It covets an atea of about 6.5 km? at an altitude of 1500 m. On a clear morning, at about 08:00 h, the Northern Pintails wete spotted at a distance of about 120 m from the shore, half a kilometre from the northern end of the lake. Ini- tially only the pale, greyish female had been spotted causing great confusion as to the bird’s identification. Only about a minute later did the male appear from behind some sedges. Its clear vertical white stripe descending behind the ear- coverts along its long neck could be seen from far. With the help of a 20x telescope, we took turns to confirm our observation. The pair was about 10 m from a group of four White-faced Whistling Ducks. The area was rather marshy with sparse sedges covering the atea between the shore and the birds. Other duck species also counted on the same one-kilometre section included Yellow-billed Duck and Red-billed Teal. — Kariuki Ndang’ang’a, Titus Imboma and Nicodemus Nalanya, Ornithology Depart- ment, P O Box 40658, Nazrobi, Kenya. Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 15 Red-chested Cuckoo at Ndara Ranch, Voi In January 1997 I sent in a record of a Red-chested Cuckoo Cuculus solitarius heard and seen briefly flying at Ndara Ranch, Voi (atlas square 101B). In January 1999 I happened to again be at Ndara and as soon as I arrived in the mid-afternoon I heard the unmistakable call. I was later walking around the area with two other birding friends and as we were walking out of the gate we all saw, in a nearby tree, a Red-chested Cuckoo. A rather dark bird, but unmis- takable. I often go birding at Ndara and only on these two occasions, at exactly the same times of year, have I recorded this bird. According to the ‘Bird Atlas of Kenya’ it is recorded from Tsavo East (square 101B) in the wet season. This was definitely not wet season on either occa- sion. — Marlene Reid, P O Box 80429, Mombasa Observations on foraging and breeding in the Red-throated Tit, an East African endemic Tits belong to the Family Paridae and are small, plump mostly black and white birds. Kenya has five of the 15 tit spe- cies found in Africa. The Red-throated Tit Parus fringillinus has only been te- corded in south-central and south-west- ern Kenya and in northern-eastern Tanzania. Although it is locally com- mon, it is listed as “‘near-threatened’ in Birdlife International’s world checklist of threatened birds. Little is known about the foraging behaviour and breeding biology of the Red-throated Tit. This article describes and discusses a few observations made on Game Ranching Limited land near Athi River and suggests conservation priorities. Foraging behaviour Like most tits, the Red-throated Tit is an extremely active arboreal bird, par- ticularly when feeding. The bird’s acro- batic abilities are sometimes seen as it hangs from a branch with one foot or holds on upside down whilst gleaning insects from leaves, twigs, bark or crev- ices. Its sharply hooked claws enable it to cling to smooth bark and the power- ful conical beak (well known to those who have extracted them from mist nets!) enables it to extract insect larvae from holes that many birds cannot reach. A closer observation of most dead acacia twigs and branches reveals nu- merous round holes in or below the peeling bark. These holes are made by long-horned beetles (Family: Cerambycidae) which lay their eggs in old or decaying wood. Red-throated Tits are often seen pecking at acacia twigs and branches. Are long-horned beetle larvae an important part of their diet? In the Athi River area, Red- throated Tits commonly forage in fever trees Acacia xanthophloea and adjoining thickets of whistling thorn Acacia drepanolobium. However, unlike many of the warblers that catch fast-moving in- 76 Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 sects among the live branches and leaves of the canopy, the tits move throughout the tree between dead branches and twigs, prising insects or grubs from holes and crevices. They also forage between and under lichens found on acacia trees, and peck open the leathery ‘pseudo-galls’ (or swollen thorn bases) of whistling thorn trees. Tits take about a minute to peck open the ‘pseudo-galls’ with their pow- erful beak, and seem unaffected by the swarming cocktail ants (Crematogaster sp.), although they frequently change position on the branch. The tits do not eat the adult ants, possibly because of the bad tasting volatile formic acid the ants produce when disturbed, but ex- tract the white larvae from the galls. Tit predation of ant larvae from whistling thorn galls appears significant since in most trees there are dead galls with holes clearly made by Red-throated Tits. Natural death and fire would account for the remainder of the dead galls in whistling thorn trees. The ant colonies on whistling thorn trees may represent a rich and reliable food source in an un- predictable climate for birds that can cope with the ants’ defensive mecha- nisms. Just how important are insects on whistling thorn trees in the diet of the Red-throated Tit and are the ranges of the tit and whistling thorns similar? When Red-throated tits breeding they are known to forage in mixed bird parties. The purpose of mixed foraging bird parties is not clear: it has been suggested that the birds benefit from the presence of many pairs of eyes to watch for predators such as raptors. I have noticed that Red- ALE LOE throated Tits are often followed by Ab- yssinian Scimitarbills when foraging on the Athi-Kapiti Plains. Both birds are slow flying and should be easy prey for small raptors. However, I have not seen either of the birds warn each other of danger or react to the behaviour of other birds nearby. Why do the scimitarbills follow the tits? Scimitarbills cannot open the galls but the tits can. The scimitarbill is bigger than the tit and chases the tit away once it has opened up the gall. The birds also for- age together in other acacias. Do both species benefit from this association? Breeding biology The breeding biology of the Red- throated Tit is poorly known and there are few breeding records. Many species of Afrotropical birds often breed in or after the rainy season when food sup- plies are more abundant. A bimodal rainfall pattern is common in large parts of the area frequented by the tit, the short rains falling between October and December and the long rains between March and May. On the Athi-Kapiti Plains the wettest month is November and the average annual rainfall is 485 mm. But the breeding records available for the Athi River area do not corre- spond to rainfall patterns and Kenyan breeding records span the months of January to September, with no more than two records for any one month. The birds therefore appear to be non- seasonal breeders. A non-seasonal breeding pattern would seem natural since rainfall (and presumably food availability) in the area is highly variable and erratic. Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 Td To understand the breeding patterns of the Red-throated Tit we not only need more breeding records but also need to know how dependent the spe- cies is on certain insect species in preparation for breeding, and how these food resources fluctuate with varying weather conditions. The only description available for a Red-throated Tit’s nest reads as follows: “a cavity behind the bark of a tree, lined with down and fibres”. On the property of Game Ranching Limited, Red-throated Tits nested under the cor- rugated iron roof of a well-used pit la- trine, in an old Lesser Striped Swallow Hirundo abyssinica nest. The parents regularly brought insects to the partially feathered chicks, but then pushed the chicks out of the nest for some reason. My attempts to put the chicks back into the nest failed. The concealed nature of the nests may explain the lack of nest records or descriptions. Territoriality has only been recorded for the Southern Black Tit Parus niger, but Red-throated Tits also appear to be territorial since males are often seen pecking furiously at their reflection in windows and car mirrors. Distribution in protected areas The protected areas within the species’ range include Nairobi National Park and the Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya and Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Arusha and Tarangire National Parks in Tanzania. If biodiversity is a conserva- tion priority for these protected areas, then surely this species should receive special attention. The first step would be to find out the bird’s habitat and breeding requirements. Preliminary ob- servations suggest that acacia wood- lands and particularly fever woodlands are important. Fever tree woodlands tree ate currently threatened throughout the tit’s range since they are illegally targeted for charcoal produc- tion. Conservation priorities These could include the following. 1. To maintain healthy fever tree woodlands, encourage landowners and managers of protected areas to burn at least a 30 m firebreak around the woodland, beginning 20 m out from the edge. This prevents fires sweeping through the woodlands too often and limiting regeneration by saplings. A 20 m unburned strip around the woodland also allows for expansion of the woodland. 2. Encourage people to look for the bird and send __breeding/nesting records to the National Museums of Kenya. 3. Protect the breeding sites from fire or other disturbances. 4. Nest boxes are readily accepted by tits. The provision of nest boxes in areas where trees or natural nest sites are lacking may encourage breeding. 5. Encourage students or scientists to monitor the population dynamics of the bird. 6. Encourage managers of protected areas to take an interest in the spe- cies’ conservation. — Wayne Vos, The School for Field Studies, P O Box 47272, Nairoli 78 Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 African Swallow-tailed Kites at Lake Oloidien On 4 November, 1999, around 11:15 h, as I was about my usual business of fol- lowing the Grey-crested Helmet-shrikes neat Lake Oloidien, Naivasha., I saw what at first looked like a medium-sized tern over Mundui grassland. I was sur- prised to see a tern in such a place. There were three of these birds flying and sometimes hovering. On closer ob- servation, I noticed the following. The birds’ general colour was pale grey on the upper parts, with white under parts. There was some black under the wings including the ‘elbow’ joint area. The bill was short and strong and unmistakably hooked like that of a raptor. The tail was deeply forked. I identified the birds as African Swallow- tailed Kites. As well as being an inter-African migrant this Martial Eagle bird, according to “The Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania’, is found in the Longonot and Suswa areas. Mundui is only some 20 km from Longonot, and the prevailing wind is from there to Mundui. In the course of sharing this infor- mation with Mrs Sarah Enniskillen of Mundui Estate, she informed me that she also had seen six birds meeting this description recently. Similarly Mr Don Turner tells me that he has seen them on his property in this area. I submit this report of a most inter- esting and not very common bird for the interest of other local bird watchers. — Abdi Anti, South Lake Birdwatchers Group, P O Box 61, Sulmac, Kenya. Kestrel research: Request for information George Amutete from the Ornithol- ogy Department and Anthony Van Zyl from the Transvaal Museum, South Africa have received funding from a Leslie Brown memorial award. This is intended to support a study of Common Kestrel breeding biology, as a follow-up to Anthony’s earlier study of kestrel time-energy budgets in rela- tion to latitude. Unfortunately, the fo- cal kestrel pairs at Baringo do not seem to have nested for some time now. Amutete would be pleased to hear, via the Ornithology Depart- ment, of any other sites where these birds could be breeding. Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 79 Ornithological exploration in the northern forests of Kenya Luca Borghesio'”, Kariuki Ndang’ang’a? & Peter Faull? 'C. Re Umberto 42, 10128 Torino, Italy, 2Ornithology Department, P O Box 40658 Nairobi, 3P O Box 40, Maralal The forests in the northern part of Kenya are wild places. We knew this of coutse, but when we started our survey things went worse than in our worst nightmares... First, a road accident in the Karissia Hills, near Maralal. Luckily, no major injuries, but our Land Rover was turned into a smashed (and empty) sardine tin. Then the El Nifio rains that persecuted us at Kulal, in November 1997, and again at Karissia, in April 1998. But bad luck can’t last forever. After this unpleasant start things have gone much better. The survey is now in its fourth year, and our field notebooks ate full of data. This article summarises the results of the field work we carried out from November 1998 to November 190) Mount Kulal, the forest in the desert Mt Kulal, on the south-east of Lake Turkana, lies in the middle of a desett. But on top of the 2,300 m high moun- tain there is enough moisture to sup- port an extensive forest. We had already visited Mt Kulal in 1997 (see Kenya Birds, vol. 7), but could not reach the north- ern section of the forest. This is sepa- rated from the southern section by a steep cliff, the remains of the crater of an ancient volcano. There is only one way to get there: on foot. So on 22 Oc- tober 1998 we left from the village of Loyangalani with a family of overloaded donkeys and four Turkana and Samburu guides. In two days of really hot walking we reached Toora, on the top of the mountain, where we camped for a few days. The forest was very dry at that time, and many bird species, in- cluding non-forest ones such as African Grey Flycatcher, were crowded among the trees looking for fruit and insects. The endemic form of white-eye, Zosterops (poliogaster) kulalensis, was in- credibly abundant, and we often saw flocks of tens or more at a time. One highlight of our stay was spotting a couple of Abyssinian Black Wheatears. These are the nominate Ethiopian sub- species, not the race /ugubris that lives in the Kenyan highlands. This confirms that Mt Kulal, placed as it is midway be- tween Kenya and Ethiopia, could func- tion as a sort of ornithological bridge between the two countries. On our way back to Loyangalani we camped for one night at a place called Soitolowark, where we were greeted by a flourishing population of scorpions and carpet vipers. Apart from this, the place was also home to several species 80 Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 of raptors, including Black-shouldered Kite, African Swallow-tailed Kite, Shikra, Steppe Eagle, Lanner, Eastern Pale Chanting Goshawk (one pair mat- ing), Red-necked and Pygmy Falcons, Common Kestrel and two pairs of Fox Kestrel occupying nest sites on the edge of a steep lava rock face. Njiru, the sacred mountain The Samburu people know where God lives: on top of Mt Njiru, at 2700 m al- titude. We climbed the mountain from several directions before finding the easiest access, a path starting from the village of Tum at 1400 m and winding up to the top. It was too narrow and steep for donkeys to pass, so we had to carry all our luggage (300 kg...) on our backs, with the help of ten Samburu porters. We camped on the edge of a very big glade, called Surkule, where a small stream runs and the cattle of sev- eral families of pastoralists graze all year round. Njiru is quite different from most other forests of North Kenya in that many people live there. Several large glades have been opened up and are occupied by groups of manyattas. Cattle and goats graze almost every- where, even in the dense forest, where they feed on the leaves of various trees and shrubs. The effects are noticeable. Large tracts of forests look very de- graded, with only large trees surviving, while saplings and shrubs have often been completely removed. Fires also seem common, as we witnessed our- selves. Birds seemed to be negatively af- fected by the lack of undergrowth and middle-storey vegetation, as our pre- liminary censuses showed. One has to ask how long the forests will survive if these trends continue. A hard climb up the Ndoto Hills The road that reaches the small village of Nkurnit, at the foot of the Ndoto Hills, is quite rough. But the walk from there up to the top of the mountain, at 2500 m, is much worse. It took us two days on 24 and 25 March 1999 to climb it, finding our way through the dense vegetation of the forest along a path that appeared to be used much more often by buffaloes than people. The Ndotos are too steep for cattle and goats to climb and human presence is very limited. As a result the forest is looks pristine and beautiful. As one walks encounters Encephalarctos tegulaneus, an. odd-looking tree that looks vaguely like a big palm. It is actually a member of the cycads, a group of one plants that has been around for over 200 million years and can really be con- sidered living fossils. Clearly, a detailed survey of the birds of the Ndotos would be difficult but very worthwhile, as it might yield interesting insights on the effects that human activities can have upon forest habitats. In the few days we spent there we were able to ob- serve several species of forest birds that had not been previously recorded in the area. These included some quite com- mon and widespread birds, like White- starred Robin and Cabanis’s Greenbul, which gives a clear idea of how few or- nithologists must have been there be- fore us... Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 81 Marsabit, the forgotten Park Among the protected areas of Kenya, Marsabit National Reserve is one of the least known and most rarely visited. Yet it is certainly worth a visit because it is wonderful: a large forest, well preserved and fascinating. Marsabit is a real inland island, lost in a ‘sea’ of desert. Clearly all the forest bird species there must have reached it by crossing a large ex- panse of completely unsuitable habitat. This explains why some very common and widespread species, such as White— starred Robin, are not found in the Re- serve. We spent three days at Marsabit, from 26 to 28 March 1999, and carried out a preliminary survey of the area, during which we liaised with the Park Authorities and looked for suitable campsites and places where mist-netting could be carried out in the future. We camped on the shores of a lake, aptly named Paradise, which occupies an old volcano crater. There in the misty mornings one could see buffaloes and baboons coming to the water for their daily drink, and hear the awesome noises of elephants walking among the trees. One dead elephant, killed by poachers, reminded us that even in pro- tected areas wildlife is not safe. But birds are not usually interesting to poachers, and they still seem to thrive there. We were able to find some previ- ously unrecorded species, including Af- rican Harrier Hawk and Nyanza Swift, but new records were not numerous, suggesting that the composition of the forest avifauna is already quite well known. The next step will be to carry out more detailed studies, including mistnetting and censuses that will pro- duce numerical estimates of the bird populations. ...and a relaxing vacation on the Karissia Hills We visited the Karissia Hills for the sec- ond time in October 1999. Comparing to our first visit, in 1998, when we found ourselves in a completely new habitat and pounded by the El Nifio rains, this time was a sort of vacation. No need to look for paths and camp- sites, (almost) no nasty surprises, just birds and forest. On one night we did receive a visit from a hungry big cat (very big, a lion) in search of an easy meal. Luckily, he decided that we were not easy enough. The forest was now very dry, as it had not rained for several months, and most of the birds seemed to have concentrated in the inner and wetter part of the forest. Here they ap- peared to feed mostly on wild fruit. Also, many Samburu pastoralists had led their cattle into the forest, thus bringing us some little trouble. Have you ever tried catching a cow in a mistnet? We did, and can advise against it. Altogether, it was a good stay. In twenty days of field work we managed to ring over 300 birds of 45 species at five different localities, from the edge up to the deepest parts of the forests, in places where there was hardly a trace of human presence. 82 Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 Records for the Bird Atlas of Kenya Little Egret: [pres 27D] Lake Paradise, Marsabit National Reserve, 27/03/99 Black-headed Heron: [pres 38D] Bauwa, south of Maralal, 19/10/99, [pres 26D] Kurungu, 10 km N of South Horr, 17/11/ 97 Secretary Bird: [pres 26D] Tum, 3/11/99 Brown Snake Eagle: [pres 38D] Bauwa, 18/10/99 African Harrier Hawk: [pres 27D] Marsabit NR, 28/03/99 Great Sparrowhawk: [pres 26D] Mount Njiru, 20/03/99 Mountain Buzzard: [pres 26D] Mount Njiru, 1/11/98; [pres 39A] Ndoto Hills 24/03/99 Steppe Eagle: [pres 26B] East of Loyangalani, 30/10/98 Booted Eagle: [pres 26D] S. Horr, 2/ 11/98; [pres 38D] Tilia Rocks, 15/5/ 98 Augur Buzzard: [pres 38B] Baragoi, 15/11/ 97 Long-crested Eagle: [pres 26D] Mount Nijru, 4/11/98 Eurasian Hobby: [pres 26D] Kurungu, 15 km N of South Horr, 16/11/97 Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse: [pres 26D] Tum, 223/99 Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon: [pres 38D] Loroki forest, several sightings, October 1999 Great Spotted Cuckoo: [pres 26D] Kurungu, 10 km N of South Horr, 18/11/97 Eurasian Cuckoo: [pres 26D] Mount Nijiru, 4/11/98 African Emerald Cuckoo: [pres 26D] Mount Njiru, 4/11/98 Spotted Eagle-owl: [post pres 26D] Tum, 3/ 11/98 Verreaux’s Eagle-owl: [pres 26D] Tum, 5/ 11/98 Pearl-spotted Owl: [pres 26D] Tum, 18/3/ 99 Star-spotted Nightjar: 26B], [pres Soitolowarak, East of Loyangalani, 29/10/ 98 Nyanza Swift: [pres 27D], Marsabit, 27/03/ 99; [pres 38D] Loroki for- est, several sightings, May 98 and October 99 Alpine Swift: [pres 26D] Mount Njiru, 19/03/99 Narina Trogon: : als [pres 26D] several sightings, Octo- ber 98 and March 99; [pres 39A] Ndoto Hills, 25/3/99 Eurasian Bee-eater: [pres 38D] Loroki forest, several sightings, Octo- ber 99 Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater: [post pres 26D], Mount Njiru, several sightings, March 99; [pres 39A] Ndoto Hills, 24/03/99 Eurasian Roller: [pres 38D] Bauwa, 23/10/ 99 Moustached Green Tinkerbird: [pres 39 A] Ndoto Hills, 25/03/99 Lesser Honeyguide: [post pres 38D] Loroki forest, 21/10/99 Eastern Honeybird: [pres 38D] Loroki for- est, 10/5/98 Masked Lark: [pres 26B] Loyangalani, 30/ 10/98 African Pied Wagtail: [pres 26D] Mount Njiru, 19/03/99 Grey Wagtail: [pres 39A] Ndoto Hills, 25/ 03/99; [pres 38D] Loroki forest, 14/10/99 Golden Pipit: [pres 26D] 25 km north of South Horr, 12/10/98 Tree Pipit: [pres 26D] Mount Njiru, 1/11/ 98 Yellow-whiskered Greenbul: [post pres 39A] Ndoto Hills, 25/03/99 Cabanis’s Greenbul: [pres 39A] Ndoto Hills, 25/03/99 Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 83 Eastern Nicator: [post pres 38D] Loroki forest, 6/05/98 African Hill Babbler: [pres 39A] Ndoto Hills, 25/03/99 White-starred Forest Robin: [pres 39A] Ndoto Hills, 24/03/99 Red-capped Robin Chat: [pres 38D] Loroki forest, 18/10/99 Ruppell’s Robin-chat: [post pres 27D] Marsabit, 27/03/99 Abyssinian Ground Thrush: [pres 27D] Marsabit, 27/03/99 Spotted Flycatcher: [post pres 38D] Loroki forest, 18/10/99 Dusky Flycatcher: [pres 39A] Ndoto Hills, 24/03/99 Willow Warbler: [pres 27D] Marsabit, 27/03/ 99; [pres 39A] Ndoto Hills, 24/03/99 Brown Woodland Warbler: [pres 39A] Ndoto Hills, 24/03/99 Cinnamon Bracken Warbler: [pres 39A] Ndoto Hills, 24/03/99 Tiny Cisticola: [pres 26D] Tum, 7/11/98 Boran Cisticola: [post pres 27D] 27/03/99 Tawny-flanked Prinia: [pres 39A] Nkurnit, 23/03/99 Grey Apalis: [post pres 39A] Ndoto Hills 24/ 03/99 Red-tailed Shrike: [pres 38D] Loroki forest, 24/10/99 Common Fiscal: [pres 26D] Mount Njiru, 19/03/99 Brown-crowned Tchagra: [pres 26D] Mount Njiru, 19/03/99 Grey-headed Bush Shrike: [pres 38D] Loroki forest, 15/10/99 Tropical Boubou: [pres 39A] Ndoto Hills, 24/03/99 Sharpe’s Starling: [pres 26D] Mount Njiru, 4/11/98; [pres 39A] Ndoto Hills, 25/03/ 99 Collared Sunbird: [post pres 39A] Ndoto Hills, 25/03/99 Eastern Double-Collared Sunbird: [post pres 39A] Ndoto Hills, 24/03/99 Tacazze Sunbird: [pres 38D] Poro, 20 km N of Maralal, 31/10/99 Malachite Sunbird: [pres 38D] Loroki For- est, 11/11/99 Somali Sparrow: [pres 38D] Maralal, 14/11/ DY Black-billed Weaver: [post pres 38D] Loroki forest, several sightings, October 99 Yellow-bellied Waxbill: [post pres 39A] Ndoto Hills, 24/03/99 Common Waxbill: [pres 38D] Poro, 20 km N of Maralal, 16/10/99 Crimson-rumped Waxbill: [pres 38D] Maralal, 14/11/97 Black-and white Mannikin: [post pres 38D] Bauwa, 20 km S of Maralal, 4/05/99 Yellow-crowned Canary: [pres 38D] Poro, 20 km N of Maralal 30/10/99 African Citril: [pres 38D] Poro, 31/10/99 Streaky Seedeater: [pres 39A] Ndoto Hills, 24/03/99 Breeding records Eastern Pale Chanting Goshawk: one pair mating, Soitolowarak [26B], 22/10/98 Mountain Buzzard: one pair on the nest on top of a Cassipourea malosana in dense for- est, Mt Kulal [26B], 16/12/97 Fox Kestrel: two pairs occupying nest sites, but presence of eggs or juveniles not contirmed, ota) lavie tock © face, Soitolowarak, east of Loyangalani [26B], 22/ 10/98 Olive Pigeon: one individual carrying nest material, Loroki forest [38D], 15/10/99 Hartlaub’s Turaco: one dependent young, Loroki forest [38D], 21/10/99 White-browed Coucal: one nest with 2 eggs in a shrub, Kurungu, 10 km N of South Horr [26D], 19/11/97 Speckled Mousebird: dependent juveniles fed by adults, Loroki forest [38D], 25/10/ 99 White-headed Woodhoopoe: a pair with one helper feeding young in a hole in a Podocarpus tree, Loroki Forest [38D], 20/04/98; de- 84 Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 pendent young out of nest, Loroki Forest, 9/05/98 Lesser Honeyguide: one individual flies re- peatedly around a nest of African Dusky Flycatcher, Loroki forest [38D], 21/10/99 Rock Martin: one active nest with one egg, under the eaves of the roof of a house, Gatab, Mount Kulal [26B], 21/11/97 Yellow-whiskered Greenbul: depending young out of the nest, Loroki forest [38D], 19/10/99 Mountain Greenbul: three pairs in courting behaviour, Loroki forest, 14-17/10/99 Northern Brownbul: several individuals car- rying nest material, Kurungu, 10 km N of South Horr [26D], 19/11/97 White-starred Robin: one dependent young out of nest, Mount Kulal [26B], 26/10/98 Olive Thrush: several individuals seen carry- ing nest material, Mount Kulal [26B], 29- 31/03/99; depending young out of the nest, Loroki forest [38D], 21-25/10/99 African Dusky Flycatcher: one nest under construction on a Podocarpus in deep forest, at about 16 m of height among ephiphytes, Loroki forest [38D], 21/10/99 Mountain Yellow Warbler: one individual carrying nest material, Loroki forest [38D], 15/10/99 Grey Apalis: one nest under construction on top of a Podocarpus tree, Loroki forest [38D], 15/10/99 Waller’s Starling: one individual carrying nest material, Loroki forest [38D], 15/10/99 Eastern Double-collared Sunbird: one male entering a nest under construction in a glade, Mount Kulal [26B], 27/10/98; another nest under construction, same locality, 28/10/ 98; one dependent young out of the nest, Loroki forest [38D], 15/10/99 Bronze Sunbird: one active nest on a Podocarpus tree in forest edge, Loroki forest [38D], 17/10/99 Golden-winged Sunbird: one individual car- rying nest material, in forest edge habitat, Loroki forest [38D], 17/10/99 Amethyst Sunbird: one nest with one egg on a Juniperus procera tree in the village of Gatab, Mount Kulal [26B], 24/11/97; one female building nest in forest edge, Mount Kulal, 12/12/97 Baglafecht Weaver: several active nests, Gatab, Mount Kulal [26B], November-De- cember 97; one nest under construction in a glade, Loroki forest [38D], 24/10/99 Black-billed Weaver: two nests under con- struction on low trees growing in glades in dense forest, Loroki forest [38D], 24/10/ 99 Brown-capped Weaver: one pair building nest, Loroki forest [38D], 10/05/98; another nest under construction, 12/05/98 Yellow-spotted Petronia: one nest with young in a tree hole, Kurungu, 10 km N of South Horr [26D], 19/11/97; another nest in a tree hole, Gatab, mount Kulal [26B], 30/11/97 Purple Grenadier: one nest with one egg, in the village of Gatab, Mt Kulal [26B], 29/ 14/97 Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 85 Waterbird counts in Kenya, July 1999 and January 2000 Oliver Nasirwa and Alfred Owino Ornithology Department, P O Box 40658, Nairobi In July/August 1999 and January/Feb- ruaty 2000, a total of 177 volunteers counted waterbirds in Kenyan wetlands as patt of the African Waterbird Census (AfWC). The coverage for July/August 1999 and January/February 2000 in- cluded several new sites. A full report is available from the Ornithology Depart- ment and a summary has been citcu- lated to all participants. This is a brief overview of the results. In July 1999, ten sites were counted: Lake Nakuru (and the two sewage treat- ment works), Lakes Solai and Ol’Bolossat, the five upper Tana River dams (Kamburu, Kindaruma, Gitaru, Kiambere and Masinga) and Mwea Irri- gation Scheme, which was _ being counted for the first time. The results ate summarised in the tables below. At Lake Nakuru, about 14,500 waterbirds were counted at the main lake and 4,600 at the two sewage treatment works. Lakes Solai and OlBolossat held ap- proximately 8,500 and 13,000 waterbirds respectively. Of the five up- per Tana River dams, Masinga Reservoir held the highest number of waterbirds, over 8,200. A record of over 10,000 waterbirds at Mwea Irrigation Scheme was impressive for this new site. Com- pared with the previous count in Janu- ary 1999, all the sites had low water levels. Far fewer flamingos were re- corded at Lake Nakuru than during any recent count. Waterbird numbers at Lake Ol’Bolossat and the five upper Tana River dams were lower than in 1999). In January 2000, 36 sites were cov- ered. Lakes OlBolossat and Turkana and the upper Tana River dams were not counted during this session, but three wetlands at the Kenya coast, Lakes Jilore and Bartum and Kilifi Creek, were counted for the first time. A small section on the northern side of Lake Baringo was also counted. Sites within the Rift Valley, including the Kinangop dams, held over 1,400,000 waterbirds of 86 species. Wetlands cov- eted within Nairobi and central Kenya held over 27,300 waterbirds of 69 spe- cies. The eight wetland sites at the Kenya coast, most of them inland, held a combined 22,000 waterbirds of 80 species. The four sites around Lake Victoria held over 4,600 waterbirds of 51 different species. Ex- cept at Dandora and Kenyatta Univer- sity sewage works, the water levels at all total of over sites covered in January 2000 were lower than in January 1999. Open mud flats characterised the shores of the Rift Valley lakes and coastal sites. Flamingos in the Rift Valley lakes to- talled over 1.3 million, slightly higher than the 1.2 million in January 1999. Lake Bogoria once again had the high- est number of flamingos (nearly 690,000), though this was less than in the previous year. Lake Elmenteita 86 Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 (over 590,000) and Magadi (over 21,000) ranked second and third respec- tively in flamingo numbers. Flamingos at Lake Nakuru, although still unusually few, increased considerably in January 2000 compared with July 1999. Dandora Oxidation Ponds had more waterbirds (especially ducks) compared with January 1999. Sabaki River Mouth and Nyamware Rice Field had the high- of waterbirds among wetlands covered at the Kenya coast and Lake Victoria wetlands respectively. Some interesting records from the counts overall were (July/August 1999) 12 Lesser Moorhen at Lake Ol’Bolossat and 31 Maccoa Duck at Mwea Irriga- tion Scheme, and (January 2000) two Great Crested Grebes and 13 Maccoa Ducks at Elmenteita, 77 Little Ringed Plovers at Lake Nakuru, three African Darters at Hillcrest Dam, a Pacific est numbers Golden Plover at Sabaki River Mouth, 341 White-backed Duck at Lake Chem Chem and 57 African Darter at Lake Bartum. Acknowledgements: again the waterbird count organisers (the Department of Ornithology, NMK) ate grateful to the volunteers who have over the years been such enthusiastic participants. We thank all those who generously provided vehicles and boats; Elsamere Field Studies Centre for counters’ accommodation; Delamere’s Camp for permission to count at Lake Elmenteita; the Tropical Biology Associa- tion for the loan of binoculars; and the many others who assisted in various ways. Financial support for the 1998/1999 counts came from the Ramsar Bureau’s Wetland Conservation Fund and the KWS-Nether- lands Wetlands Programme. The waterbird counts are a collaborative effort between the Department of Ornithology (National Mu- seums of Kenya), Nature Kenya and the Kenya Wildlife Service. Once Summary results: July 1999 and January 2000 waterbird counts (a) Rift Valley lakes and dams Wetland Lake Magadi Lake Naivasha Lake Oloidien Lake Sonachi Lake Elmenteita Lake Nakuru Nakuru Sewage Treatment Works Lake Solai Lake Bogoria Lake Baringo Kinangop dams Lake Ol’Bolossat Date No. birds No. species 30.01.00 25,208 29 23.01.00 12,862 74 22.01.00 6,088 44 22.01.00 3,079 14 22.01.00 595,901 53 09.01.00 35,253 55 11.07.99 14,472 56 09.01.00 8,927 40 11.07.99 4,642 26 09.01.00 8,692 46 08.01.00 693,242 31 15.01.00 156 38 12.07.99 8,486 5A 13.01.00 592 32 27.07.99 13,058 60 Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 87 (b) Wetlands around Nairobi Wetland Date No. birds No. species Dandora Oxidation Ponds 12.01.00 22,452 41 Fourteen Falls 16.01.00 44 16 Githumbwini Dam 16.01.00 145 30 Hillcrest Dam 19.01.00 42 10 Karen Country Club Pond 19.01.00 23 9 Kayole Sewage Ponds 12.01.00 75 12 Kenyatta University Sewage Works 26.01.00 547 24 Lake View Residence Pond 08.02.00 1,874 12 Langata Rd and AHV Church 19.01.00 57 14 Limuru Sewage Ponds 05.01.00 89 11 Manguo Floodplain 05.01.00 572 31 Nairobi National Park 19.01.00 626 B/ Sukari Ranch Dam 26.01.00 800 39 (c) Kenya coast Wetland Date No. birds No. species Arabuko-Sokoke Swamp 29.01.00 763 24 Kilifi Creek 20.02.00 589 22 Lake Bartum (Goshi) 29.01.00 368 20 Lake Chem Chem 30.01.00 3,389 35 Lake Jilore 30.01.00 1,092 38 Malindi Harbour 29.01.00 969 24 Mida Creek 29.01.00 6,767 27 Sabaki River Mouth 30.01.00 8,247 43 (d) Lake Victoria wetlands Wetland Date No. birds _No. species Dunga Beach 29.01.00 313 18 Hippo Point 29.01.00 157 14 Nyamware Rice Field 29.01.00 2,913 25 Sondu-Miriu River Mouth 29.01.00 1,248 6i// (e) Upper Tana River dams Wetland Date No. birds No. species Kamburu Dam 29.07.99 1,348 36 Kindaruma Dam 01.08.99 196 26 Gitaru Dam 30.07.99 82 15 Kiambere Dam 31.07.99 USor 35 Masinga Reservoir 02.08.99 8,293 43 Mwea Irrigation Scheme 03.08.99 10,797 50 88 Kenya Birds, Volume 8, Number 1, July 2000 Notes for contributors Kenya Birds welcomes contributions for pos- sible publication. Records and nest record cards should be sent to the Records Officer, Ornithology Department, National Muse- ums of Kenya, P O Box 40658, Nairobi (e: kbirds@africaonline.co.ke). Detailed instruc- tions can be found on p. 44 of this issue. Not all records can be published, as space is limited, but all properly dated and located records are valuable. Records are vetted be- fore publication and you might be asked to provide additional details. This is just to make sure that all the information in Kenya Birds is reliable — do not be offended if your records are queried! Other contributions may be notes or longer articles. Articles on good birding sites (“Birding in...”) are especially welcome — readers have much information to share. Most issues of Kenya Bzrds contain an article on a particular (globally or regionally) threat- ened species: contributions are encouraged. Shorter notes may deal with anything inter- esting (and ornithological) that you want to share with other readers — unusual behav- iour, exceptional sightings, birding tips, con- servation concerns... Please remember that Kenya Birds goes to a wide, general audience. Articles should be simply and clearly written with a minimum of jargon. Highly technical articles are best published elsewhere. Kenya Bzrds uses the English bird names in the “green? EANHS checklist for Kenya (third edition, 1996). (The English names in Zimmerman ¢é a/, ‘Birds of Kenya and northern Tanzania’ nearly all follow this list.) Scientific names are usually only included for birds not in the checklist, or where there might otherwise be some confusion. References to the literature can be included where needed but are dis- couraged. Standard reference works can be cited as shown below, and omitted from the reference list. Any other references should be given in full at the end of the text, using the format shown below. It’s easiest for the editors if you e-mail your contribution as an attached file — pref- erably in Rich Text Format. E-mail ad- dresses are on the inside back cover. Typed or clearly hand-written articles are also ac- ceptable, though we much prefer an elec- tronic version if available. We look forward to hearing from you! If you need to refer to any of the following standard reference works, use the citation shown in bold. There is no need to list these books in full at the end of your article. Most articles for Kenya Birds do not need elaborate references — if your material is highly technical, consider publish- ing it in Scopus or the EANHS Bulletin: Britton, P.L. (ed.) 1980. Bzrds of East Africa: their habitat, status and distribution. Nairobi: EANHS. [Britton (1980)| Brown, L.H. & Britton, PL. 1980. The breeding sea- sons of East African birds. Nairobi: EANHS. [Brown & Britton (1980)] Brown, L.H., Urban, E.K. & Newman, K. (eds) 1981. The birds of Africa. Vol. 1. London: Aca- demic Press. [Brown et al. (1981)] Fry, C.H., Keith, S. & Urban, E.K. (eds) 1988. The birds of Africa. Vol. 3. Lond on: Academic Press. [Fry et al. (1988)] Keith, S., Urban, E.K. & Fry, C.H. (eds) 1992. The birds of Africa. Vol. 4. London: Academic Press. [Keith et al. (1992)] Lewis, A.D. & Pomeroy, D.E. 1989. A bird atlas of Kenya. Rotterdam: Balkema. [Lewis & Pomeroy (1989)| Van Perlo, B. 1995. IWustrated checklist of birds of Eastern Africa. London: Collins. [van Perlo 1995] Urban, E.K., Fry, CH. & Keith, S. (eds) 1986. The birds of Africa. Vol. 2. London: Academic Press. [Urban et al. (1986)] Urban, E.K., Fry, C.H. & Keith, S. (eds) 1997. The birds of Africa. Vol. 5. London: Academic Press. [Urban et al. (1997)] Williams, J.G. & Arlott, N. 1980. A field guide to the birds of East Africa. London: Collins. [Williams & Arlott (1980)] Zimmerman, D.A., Turner, D.A., Pearson, D,. 1996. Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania. Halfway House: Russel Friedman. [Zimmerman et al. (1996)] iii Kenya Birds is published jointly by the Ornithology Department, National Museums of Kenya, and the Bird Committee of Nature Kenya (the East Africa Natural History Society — BirdLife in Kenya). Editors: Leon Bennun and Colin Jackson © Nature Kenya 2000 Kenya Birds is distributed free to members of Nature Kenya. Subscription rates for non-members are KSh 400/= (Kenya), USD 8 (Uganda/ Tanzania) and USD 12 (rest of world: airmail rate). Please make cheque or credit card payments (in any covertible currency) to ‘Nature Kenya’. Back numbers of most issues ate available: contact the Nature Kenya office. Contacts Notes and records for Kenya Birds The Editors, Kenya Birds, Department of Ornithology, National Museums of Kenya, P O Box 40658, Nairobi, Kenya, e: leon@africaonline.co.ke or colin.jackson@bigfoot.com For National Birdmap « nest record cards Department of Ornithology, National Museums of Kenya, P O Box 40658, Nairobi, e: kbirds@africaonline.co.ke, tel. 742161/31 ext. 243, fax 741424. www..museums.or.ke For Bird Committee ¢ birdwalks and excursions ¢ birding hotline * regional birding groups ¢ Kenya Birds and Scopus subscriptions Nature Kenya, P O Box 44486, Nairobi, e: eanhs@africaonline.co.ke, tel. 749957/746090, fax 741049. www. naturekenya.org Front cover illustration: Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill Bycanistes subcylindricus by Duncan Butchart. Back cover: Cinnamon-chested Bee-eaters Merops oreobates by Edwin Selempo, from Important Bird Areas in Kenya. Mlustration on p. 14 also by Edwin Selempo. All other illustrations in this issue © Duncan Butchart and reproduced by kind permission, from “Ecological Journal’ vols. 1 and 2, published by Conservation Corporation Africa. For more information, see www.ccafrica.com. Layout by Ornithology Department. Printed by Regal Press, Nairobi. SS SS ¥ gf SS. 1 EEE Poms SIN NE WR CLM, pp SSS WAGERS SS SK AWS . Vira X SQ SS ees S SS . %, mu MUSEUW? NE yi i Ip 4d! ae pe ‘gh, Y HATO LM 3 9088 00997 3017 — = NA s = ——, . oa _—— ee _ ——) Yaa - SS a pats WS SSNS SX Leg bb AL Gs eee tes Sir G7 iy! er AY is \ i CPCS on PSSSLe LEDEEELL EAS a at ae Gig Es yA Birllife INTERNATIONAL NatureKenya