30th November 2019 - Ferring Rife

A walk along Ferring Rife in the morning produced a brief Black Redstart at Brook Lane Caravavn Park and a pair of Peregrines hunting over the Northern end of the rife.

26th November 2019 - Coalhouse Fort, Essex

Another visit to Coalhouse Fort today was productive. The main interest coming from the paddocks seen here were two Twite and a Water Pipit as well as 20 Chaffinch, 20 Linnet, 12 Meadow Pipit and 20 Goldfinch.

The mudflats were lively with 2027 Dunlin, 1650 Avocet and 13 Bar-tailed Godwit being the main birds of interest. Whilst out on the river was a single Gadwall (possibly my first here) and a redhead Goosander which flew west. A superb male Marsh Harrier was active over the saltings whilst a few Stonechat and four Cetti's Warblers occupied the SSSI area.

24th November 2019 - Dell Quay, Pennington Marshes and The Burgh

First port of call was Dell Quay, it was a fine crisp morning but it was pretty misty. We managed to find the Long-tailed Duck but sadly it was miles off and showed poorly in the mist. It seemed to be associating with a female Goldeneye and redhead Red-breasted Merganser. Also of note in the channel were two Little Grebe, a Great Crested Grebe, a Grey Heron, a Grey Plover, four Curlew, two Greenshank, c50 Brent Goose and 2 Mute Swan.

We moved onto Pennington to look for the Semipalmated Sandpiper which the previous day had been showing well in its favoured area of Oxey Lagoon. Upon arrival 20 Golden Plover and a Ruff flew over the car park. We headed to Oxey Lagoon where we found our second Long-tailed Duck of the day, this bird was offering great views and was brilliant to watch. We walked a small distance to where the Semipalmated Sandpiper had been favouring but there was no sign. Birds of note here included singles of Spotted Redshank, Dunlin and Greenshank. Unsure on what to do we went for a large walk to try and locate the Semipalmated Sandpiper although despite our best efforts and walking all the way round to Normandy Marsh we could not find it.

Long-tailed Duck, Oxey Lagoon ,Hampshire

We headed back to West Sussex and on our way home we stopped at The Burgh. We scanned from Burpham Triangle and saw two Common Buzzard, a Red Kite and a Kestrel. Whilst the field opposite the 'metal gate' held eight Grey Partridge.

Frustratingly it was one of those days where nothing seemed to go as planned!

19th November 2019 - Coalhouse Fort, Essex

An early morning visit to Coalhouse Fort this morning produced a Twite. The bird was commuting between the saltings and the bushes on the sea wall. This is the second year running I have recorded this species at this site. Other sightings of note included two Marsh Harriers, seven Corn Buntings and a Kittiwake.

Twite, Coalhouse Fort, Essex

12th November 2019 - Denton, East Sussex

Whilst away in Ethiopia we received news of a Great Bustard at Beachy Head which stayed a couple of hours before flying off strongly west. Surprisingly before our arrival home the bird was relocated by a non-birder on The Downs between Denton and Bishopstone and news got out via a local residents Facebook group.

Having flown in from Ethiopia the previous evening (11th Nov) I was pretty knackered but due to jet lag I woke up at 4am so decided to head to Denton. I arrived before it was even light and sat in the car and had some breakfast and as the sun was coming up walked to the field where it had been frequenting. As the light improved slightly it soon became apparent that the bird was still present and showing reasonably well. It was great to see this species on the rolling landscape of The Downs where it looked relatively at home.

This bird is part of a reintroduction in Wiltshire and was released there in August last year. This bird hatched from an egg originating in Spain. The bird was also bearing a red ring on the left leg with the code '92'.

Great Bustard, Denton, East Sussex

Ethiopia - Day 3 (03/11/19) - Awash National Park, Lake Ziway and Abidjatta-Shalla National Park

We started the morning with an early breakfast and we did some birding around our accommodation at Awash Falls Lodge. We didn't have particularly long due to a long drive ahead to Ziway but birds of note included an African Fish Eagle perched on top of the trees above the falls, a Giant Kingfisher which flew down river and a Yellow-billed Stork passed overhead. On our way back to the main gate we added an Isabelline Wheatear and Abel spotted a Golden-backed Jackel which showed nicely however as Dad and I were in Car 2 we only obtained brief views. Just as we were leaving the Jackel I picked up a ringtail Pallid Harrier over the bushveld but it didn't hang around. A bit further up the track we also added an Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill which showed nicely in a bush on the side of the road.

As we left Awash National Park next stop was a small town just on the outskirts where we stopped in a local cafe to have a smoothie which we were informed was infamous. Our drivers dropped us off and Abel walked us in and it was an experience to say the least. The smoothie was very nice but I felt that we wasted quite a lot of time which could've been spent birding elsewhere. We also had quite a lot of attention from the locals who were friendly but inquisitive. Whilst we waited on the side of the very busy and dangerous road for our drivers to pick us up we saw c20 Wattled Starlings and a flock of ten Great White Pelicans flew over the town. Our drivers picked us up and we were on our way to Ziway. Birds of note enroute included a Short-toed Snake Eagle, seven Fan-tailed Ravens and a Abyssinian Roller.

Abel our guide buying some local oranges

Our cars parked up in the local town near Awash for the infamous smoothie

Upon arrival in Ziway, we went to the Ziway Betelham Hotel for lunch and ordered food. We were then told we had 1 hour to walk down to the lake with Abel. We passed through the Haile Resort and the bushes here held a White-browed Sparrow Weaver, a Pectoral-patched Cisticola, two Beautiful Sunbirds, three Blue-breasted Bee-eater, three Village Weaver, a Ruppell's Weaver and two Speckled Mousebirds. Upon arrival at the edge of the lake we were greeted by a security guard who kindly allowed us access and a  vast array of waterbird species. Within c40m of us there were a Pied Kingfisher, two Long-tailed Cormorants, five Grey-headed Gulls, c5 African Jacanas, three Squacco Herons, a Malachite Kingfisher, a African Darter, c40 Great White Pelican, c20 Egyptian Geese, two Spur-winged Plover, a Little Egret, a Spur-winged Goose, a Woodland Kingfisher, three Great White Egrets, a Hamerkop, a Black-headed Wagtail and an African Snipe. Whilst a little further out there was a Whiskered Tern and a Western Marsh Harrier and three African Fish Eagles passed over. The stand out bird here though was a Northern Carmine Bee-eater - a bird I have wanted to see for a long time. Sadly we had to head back for lunch and on our way back we added two Grey-backed Fiscals and 30 Brown-throated Martins hawking overhead. Lunch was now served and we all tried a local dish which consisted of small bits of cooked meat with a side of bean sauce, not the best but it was food!

African Darter with fish, Lake Ziway, Ethiopia

Great White Pelicans, Lake Ziway, Ethiopia

Black-headed Wagtail, Lake Ziway, Ethiopia

It was now time to leave Ziway and our next stop of the day was at Abidjatta-Shalla National Park enroute we added our first Superb Starlings of the trip feeding on the side of the main road. We birded the bushveld here and the first bird we saw was a female Somali Ostrich. We moved around the corner to a waterhole where we found a Black-cheeked Waxbill as well as a Reichenow's Seedeater and two Warthog. Moving on a little further we had two White-rumped Swift pass overhead and grazing nearby were three Grant's Gazelles. We also spotted an African Harrier Hawk circling high and a pair of Von Der Decken's Hornbills were in a nearby bush. We approached some buildings and the bushes around them held three White-winged Blacktits, two Cut-throat Finch, a Pied Wheatear, an Upcher's Warbler and a Cardinal Woodpecker. The rest of walk was reasonably productive and before getting back to the cars we added Mouse-coloured Penduline Tits, a pair of Bearded Woodpeckers, a pair of Slaty Boubou (a bird we narrowly missed at Awash) and a Red-bellied Parrot. Whilst our guide showed us a roosting Barn Owl in an old water tower and a Steppe Eagle also passed over head.

Pied Wheatear, Abidjatta-Shalla National Park, Ethiopia

Slaty Boubou, Abidjatta-Shalla National Park, Ethiopia

Somali Ostrich, Abidjatta-Shalla National Park, Ethiopia

We had a short drive (c20 minutes) at the end of the day to the Sabana Beach Hotel located on the edge of Lake Langano. The accommodation was very good and the food was very nice although I wasn't feeling too good so went to bed for an early night.

Ethiopia - Day 2 (02/11/19) - Awash National Park

After a comfortable night sleep we had an early breakfast, I opted for the special omelette which was good and kept me going for the morning. Whilst eating breakfast Dad and I spotted our first Helemeted Guineafowl of the trip which flew past the waterfall as well as a Hadada Ibis and Goliath Heron (both flyovers). Everyone finished breakfast and we birded the same areas as the previous day apart from this time we headed further down the river from the waterfall and covered a small camp located close to the lodge which I think is occupied by local scouts.

The morning got off to a good start with a female Von Der Decken's Hornbill in the bushes just outside of the camp as well as a skulking Grey Wren-warbler. Whilst watching these a flock of 16 African Spoonbill flew over heading North. A bit further down the track we had a Crested Francolin run across the track and the Tawny Eagle was again present on the pylon. We were fast approaching the river and the first bird we saw here was a Wood Sandpiper as well as Grey-headed and Pied Kingfishers. A bit further down river we came across a patch of rocks which held two Spur-winged Plovers, two Common Sandpipers, two Senegal Thick-knee, two Egyptian Geese and a Greenshank and on the opposite bank were a Woodland Kingfisher affording nice views. Just a little further down river was a Hippopotamus which also showed nicely although we didn't want to get too close!

Tawny Eagle, Awash National Park, Ethiopia

After scanning the river for a while we gave the bushes behind a good search and this produced two White-rumped Babblers, a White-browed Coucal, two Pied Wheatears and a Gabar Goshawk. We slowly started heading back towards the scout camp and enroute we encountered a Pearl-spotted Owlet as well as seven Eurasian Hoopoes and three Red-fronted Warblers. 

Pearl-spotted Owlet, Awash National Park, Ethiopia 

Around the scout camp were three Paradise Whydah, three White-headed Buffalo Weaver, three Beautiful Sunbird, two Rufous Chatterer and a Blackcap. There was also a ridiculously showy Abyssinian Roller which was flying towards us and landing at our feet before flying back to its perch. We also noted a flock of 21 Yellow-billed Storks heading south over the camp.

Abyssinian Roller, Awash National Park, Ethiopia

The time was now around 08:30am and at the camp our drivers were waiting to take us on a game drive. It got off to a good start as just up the track from the camp was a Buff-crested Bustard in the middle of the road which luckily everyone saw. We then took a turning right about halfway back to the main gate and the cars soon came to an abrupt holt, we had spotted a flock of five European Turtle Doves only the second time Abel had ever seen this species in Ethiopia! A bit further on we also added a Rosy-patched Bushshrike and a cracking adult male Turkestan Shrike. We soon came to a rather large dead tree and perched at the top of here was a very smart African Pygmy Falcon and was soon replaced by a juvenile Blue-cheeked Bee-eater. We were heading to an abandoned camp which had a stunning view over the landscape and enroute birds of note included several Olive Bee-eaters, two Abyssinian Scimitarbills and singles of Desert Wheatear and Great Spotted Cuckoo. We also added our first and only mammal of the game drive which were two Salt's Dik-diks.

Rosy-patched Bushshrike, Awash National Park, Ethiopia

We had now arrived at the abandoned camp and got out to have a look at the stunning view and soon appeared a Mountain Buzzard affording nice views as well as a Yellow-breasted Barbet in the nearby bushes and around the abandoned and derelict buildings were three Blackstarts and a Pied Wheatear. We took a slow drive back towards Awash Falls Lodge for lunch as it was now getting too hot for birds. On our way back birds of note included seven Crowned Lapwing, Chestnut Sparrows, Somali Fiscal and three Black-headed Lapwing.

Blackstart, Awash National Park, Ethiopia

We had an enjoyable lunch and as it cooled down we headed back out but whilst everyone was staying in the cool I had a sneaky look at the waterhole we visited earlier in the day and added our only Crimson-rumped Waxbill of the trip whilst over the river a Giant Kingfisher passed through as well as two Hamerkops. 

Crimson-rumped Waxbill, Awash National Park, Ethiopia

A walk around the same area as the morning produced singles of Red-bellied Parrot and Bruce's Green Pigeon and on our way back to our accommodation Dad spotted a superb adult male Pallid Harrier - a great way to end the day!

Birding the Awash National Park, Ethiopia

Ethiopia - Day 1 (01/11/19) - Addis Ababa to Awash National Park

This blog recounts a very successful ten day trip to Ethiopia with Simon Carter, Bridget and Paul James (mum and dad), Alan Petherbridge, Julie and Malcolm Redford and Chris Wilson. My special thanks to Abel Belay Molla (our guide) and Brahim, Robin and Garry who guided, drove us around and looked after us impeccably. 

Our first day saw us land in Addis Ababa early morning after an overnight flight from Heathrow. We got through customs and immigration with no issues and as we stepped outside we saw Abel, Brahim, Robin and Garry waiting to greet us. Before we even left the airport car park we added our first species of the trip this was a female Tacazze Sunbird whilst feeding on the tarmac of the car park were Swainson's Sparrows and overhead there were Yellow-billed Kites kettling. We soon the left the car park and drove into Addis Ababa where we hit heavy traffic and exited the capital via a different route and we were on our way. On our way out of Addis Ababa we recorded our first endemic species of the trip which were to be three Wattled Ibis flying over the car. We also added Cattle Egrets, Marabou Storks and Hooded Vultures on our way out. Shortly after leaving Addis Ababa we had our first stop on the side of a road on the outskirts of the capital where we added a pair of White-winged Cliff Chat this species is endemic to Ethiopia and Eritrea. Also present here was our first Common Fiscal, Dusky Turtle Dove, Speckled Pigeon and Pied Crow of the trip. 

White-winged Cliff Chat, Outskirts of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

After our stop we drove for a little while before reaching the Caneth Hotel in the town of Adama. Here we had a quick refreshment stop and done some birding around the hotel grounds which was quite productive. Here we added c10 Blue-breasted Bee-eaters, Little Rock Thrush, African Paradise Flycatcher, Scarlet-chested Sunbird with a supporting act of Red-billed Firefinch, African Citril, Brown-rumped Seedeater and Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu. Whilst overhead we noted a couple of Rock Martins. 

Blue-breasted Bee-eaters, Caneth Hotel, Adama, Ethiopia

We pressed on and reached a viewpoint on the main highway which overlooked a lava outflow which was stunning. Here we added four Fan-tailed Raven and our first mammal of the trip, two Olive Baboons. 

Lava outflow, side of A1 Highway, Ethiopia

After another two hours driving along the A1 we arrived at Awash National Park and after some sorting out at the main gate (paperwork etc..) we were on our way to our accommodation. On our way down along the rough track we added our first Abyssinian Roller, Isabelline Wheatear and Isabelline Shrike sp. of the trip as well as three Black Scimitarbills. We arrived at our accommodation (Awash Falls Lodge) and were greeted with a welcome juice and shown to our rooms by the porters. The accommodation was basic but with all necessities (running water, electricity and a bed). I was itching at the bit to get out so dropped my bag off and headed off to the viewpoint overlooking the stunning waterfall. Visible from the viewpoint were seven Nile Crocodiles and a Vervet Monkey. Whilst in the bushes surrounding our accommodation was a cracking male Von Der Decken's Hornbill. 

Male Von der Decken's Hornbill, Awash Falls Lodge, Ethiopia

Everyone soon arrived and we headed out as group with Abel to do some birding. First stop was the small waterhole round the back of our accommodation this was productive and here we found an Emerald-spotted Wood Dove as well as a male Pied Wheatear much to my dads excitement given this was his biggest bogey bird worldwide. A Shikra also passed through upsetting upsetting the numerous Red-billed Quelia. We carried on our walk heading out of the camp and soon encountered an African Fish Eagle perched on the top of a tree near the falls and a bit further down the track were two Red-fronted Tinkerbird and single Ethiopian Boubou. Also nearby were two Black-billed Barbets and lone Nubian Woodpecker. We headed a bit further but light was running out but we came across a Tawny Eagle on the top of a pylon accompanied with nest as well as in some more nearby bushes two Eastern Plantain-eaters, single Red-billed Hornbill and three Mantled Guereza Monkeys. 

We arrived back at our accommodation and were greeted with a dinner which went down well after what had been a long day. On my way back to my room I heard a Verreaux's Eagle-owl but could not locate it despite a bit of searching. 

Sunset over Awash Falls, Awash National Park, Ethiopia