KENYA – The Road to the Mara

Brian Finch and I headed down the road to the Mara in search of Karamoja Apalis, a species which he found here in Kenya 6 years ago. They are fond of low Whistling Thorn Acacia’s (left) and we spent the better part of 5 hours walking numerous tracts of habitat that had previously been seen in. The only problem is that there may only be a pair, and we could not find one!

Along the drive which in some place was very dusty was saw many Fischer’s Sparrow Larks, Lesser Kestrel, Tawny Eagle, Augur Buzzard, Kori Bustard, Secretary Bird, Common Rock Thrush and three wheatears, Northern, Isabelline and Capped.

The Aloe Vera was in bloom, so for about a 2 week period, sunbirds are having a field day visiting the plants for nectar. We manage to see no fewer than 8 species – Variable, Bronzy, Scarlet-chested, Amethyst, Malachite, Marico, Beautiful (right) and Golden-winged.

We certainly covered a deal of area and it surprising what an be found in this rather plain habitat. There were numerous African Grey Flycatchers, Speckled-fronted Weavers, Fawn-coloured Larks and Grey-headed Social-Weavers. We tracked down and good views of the small Desert Cisticola and came across Southern Grosbeak Canary, Silverbird, Yellow-bellied Eremomelas, Rufous-naped Lark, Arrow-marked Babblers, Grey-backed Camaropetra, White-bellied Canary, Usambiro Barbet, Buffy Pipit, Pangani Longclaw (below), Coqui Francolin and Yellow-throated Sandgrouse.