Ethiopia - Day 3 (09/03/20) - Fiche to Debre Berhan via Addis Ababa

For some reason best known to Abel, it was decided that we would retrace our steps to Addis Ababa, where we would have lunch at the Ghion Hotel, and then continue to Debre Berhan, our base for the next two nights. A ringtail Pallid Harrier seen soon after leaving Fiche was followed by a couple of roadside stops on the Sululta Plain, including one where we’d stopped on Saturday morning. These were reasonably successful, the first producing two each of Lanner Falcon and Tawny Eagle plus Blue-winged Goose,White-winged Cliff Chat, Yellow Bishop and our only African Black Duck and White Wagtail of the trip, while the second was notable for closer and more prolonged views of at least three Abyssinian Longclaws plus African Stonechat, Augur Buzzard, Blue-winged Goose, Cattle Egret, Common and Green Sandpipers, Grey Wagtail, Malachite Kingfisher, Moorland Chat, Northern Wheatear, two Ortolan Buntings, eight Red-throated Pipits, Thekla Lark and Yellow Bishop. 

A few birds in the trees from the terrace at the Ghion Hotel included Abyssinian Slaty Flycatcher, Montane White-Eye, Swainson’s Sparrow, Tacazze Sunbird and Willow Warbler while a brief stop a few kilometres before Debre Berhan was notable for four White-winged Cliff Chats and a Black-headed Siskin. 

In Debre Berhan we stayed in the Getva Hotel, a welcome improvement on the C-Lale.  

Abyssinian Longclaw (endemic), Sululta Plain, Ethiopia

Blue-winged Goose (endemic), Sululta Plain, Ethiopia