KENYA: Wajee Bird Sanctuary

Set on a steep sloping hillside, the 22 acre Wajee Bird Sanctuary harbors one of Kenya’s most endangered birds, Hinde’s Pied Babbler; named after Sidney Hinde, a British naturalist and early twentieth century Provincial Commissioner in Kenya, it is one of only a handful of Kenyan endemic avian species.

On our way down the track through the woods we stopped for Cape Robin Chat, Ruppell’s Robin Chat, Tropical Boubou, a juvenile White-starred Robin, Chin-spot Batis and Yellow-whiskered Greenbul. These were all new trip birds so it was exciting. As we neared the Mongoose Glade (above), in the lower section of the sanctuary, Red-cheeked Cordon-blues could be seen on the trail, and to everyone’s relief, babblers were heard. Now we could track them down! Actually they were very cooperative this morning with at least four Hinde’s Babblers (below) showing very well as they moved from one side of the glade to the other.

After viewing the babblers to our satisfaction we moved on to look at a Jackson’s Three-horned Chameleon that George, our driver, had found, well camouflaged on a vine. As we began our walk back up, a pair of Ayer’s Hawk-Eagles were tussling with each other over the peak of the sanctuary.