Afrotropical birds

Africa is the world's second-largest Continent At about 30.2 million km² (11.7 million sq mi) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area. In this land lies unique avifaunal. The Afrotropical region includes Madagascar, southern Arabia, and all of Africa south of Sahara. Isolated by water as well as by sand- the vast Sahara and Arabia Deserts- the region has many endemic bird families and is second to the Neotropical region ( S. america) in the number of spe ies. Although much of the  region is relatively warm, it is also dry, receiving only about a half as much rain as  as South America. As a result, a great proportion of the region is covered by desert, scrub, grassland, and savanna, and the areas of tropical rain forest are somewhat more restricted than those of Neotropics. Although mountainous regions are present, there is no major chain  comparable to Andes, with its tremendous diversity of altitudinal zones. All of these factors undoubtedly contribute to lower species diversity of the region compared to the Neotropics (1,560 versus3,300). The drier climate hosts relatively  few water birds, but great diversity of terrestrial and seed eating birds. The different climate zones of Africa exists roughly as a series of latitudinal belts that become more open and drier farther from the equator. The eastern and the southern thirds of the continent , however , are  raised into wide plateaus 3,000 feet (1,000m) or more above sea level. Approximately 37% of the Afrotropical region is above 3,000 feet, compared to less than 17% of the Neotropical region. Around the equator, in the western two-thirds of the continent, is the low land tropical rain forest of the Congo basin. As in the Amazon basin, the dry, cool glacial period of the Pleistocene created a series of refugia here, which are though to have served as centers of species diversification across the east-west axis of todays equitorial tropical forests. Farther from the equator , and in parts of the plateau regions, are vast areas of open woodlands, savvannas and grasslands. Characteristics birds of the grassy areas are cisticolas ( small, drab, insectivorous warblers). Lynes/wailing cisticola Weavers ( a diverse group of colorful seed-eaters, many of which weave large complex nests). golden weaver Waxbills (another group of colourful seed-eaters).  Common waxbill Bustards large, heavy-bodied, flat headed birds with long legs and necks. They often  assume bizarre posture during their elaborate courtship display. kori bustard Cousers are slender, plover like ground that sometimes cool their eggs or young by partially burying them in sand or by bringing water to the nest in their breast feathers. heuglins courser Bird Families endemic to the Afro-tropical region  Struthionidae (Ostrich): the largest living bird, this familiar ratite of deserts and savannas is almost entirely herbivorous; Ostriches breed communally, with several females laying eggs in the same nest. Common Ostrich Balaenicipitidae (shoebill): a large, stork-like water bird with a huge, shoe-shaped, hooked bill for seizing big fish. Shoebill Scopidae (Hamerkop): a stork-like water bird whose shaggy, crested nape and stout, tapering bill make the head appear hammer-shaped. hamerkop Sagittariidae (Secretary-bird): a long-legged bird of prey that stalk the savannas on foot for snakes, other small vertebrates, and large insects. Secretary bird Coliidae (mousebirds or colies): long-tailed birds that climb through vegetation using their stout hooked beaks; they frequently perch in  "chin-up position" hanging vertically down from a branch. Speckled mousebird Musophagidae ( turacos): noisy arboreal relatives of cuckoos that run squirrel- like along branches; the plumage is soft green (one of the few green pigments known from birds),  blue, or grey, often with red on the wings. Phoeniculidae (woodhoopoes): sociable birds with glossy, dark plumage and long tails; woodhoopoe nest in tree cavaties and breed cooperatively- with additional adult birds helping the parents to tend the nest. Green woodhoopoe Lybiidae ( African barbets): small, colourful, stocky birds with large somtimes serrated, beaks; they dig their nest cavities in trees, earthen banks, or termite nests. Red&yellow barbet Picathartidae (rockfowl): dull colored birds with colorful, bare heads; they hop along the rain forest floor in rocky areas and nest colonially. Grey necked rockfowl Promerapidae (sugarbirds): two long-billed, long-tailed, nectar feeders that specialize on Protea plants on the mountainous slopes of South Africa. Cape sugarbird Also endemic to the Afrotropical region are the guineafowl, six species that form subfamily Numidinae within the pheasant family (Phasianidae). Crested Guineafowls  Sample birding itinerary Dates:          28 July–2016-12 August 2016 Leader:        Mbui wa Gitau with BSH team. Group size: Min 6, Max 12 w/ 2 leaders Destination: Kenya with extensions to Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania.

This exciting tour complements our highly successful northern and western Kenya tour and gives participants the opportunity to see several highly localized endemic birds as well as many species not seen in the rest of the country. There will also be many opportunities to watch mammals.

Detailed Itinerary:

Day 1 Arrive at the Airport, Later transfer to the Pan Africa Hotel for one night. Welcome and Safari Briefing will be conducted on this day.

Day 2 Today we will spend the whole day in the fabulous Nairobi National Park which lies within the shadows of the city. With highland forest, Acacia woodland, rocky escarpments, open grassland, large ponds and small streams, this park is home to a wide variety of birds and mammals. Nairobi National Park is without a doubt the best place in Kenya to see the endangered Black Rhino, and we have a very good chance of locating this impressive species together with many of the other mammals.

Days 3–4 Morning transfer to Amboseli Game Reserve in southern Kenya for a two-night stay at the lovely Tukai Lodge. Before making our way to the south, we will look for a number of birds in the highlands. Before reaching the Amboseli Game Reserve we will pass through some dry scrub country to do some more birding. Amboseli Game Reserve is home to a wide variety of birds and mammal species and is also one of the best places in the world to observe the spectacular Mt Kilimanjaro, which towers more than 19,000 feet above the plains. We will also see many animals in Amboseli.

Days 5–6 After breakfast we will transfer to Tsavo West National Park for a two-night stay at Ngulia Lodge. En route we will be making several birding stops of which Hunter's Lodge and Kibwezi Forest are the most notable. Tsavo West is one of the largest parks in the world and is also one of the wildest areas left on the planet. The park consists of many habitat types, but thick bush country is the most prevalent. During our stay in Tsavo West we will see many birds and animals

Day 7 Today will be spent further exploring the vast Tsavo West National Park en route to the Taita Salt Lick Lodge for a one-night stay. We may be able to add several more bird species to our lists during the course of the day. During the evening hours several different mammal species can be seen coming in and drinking at the water hole behind the lodge. In the past these have included African Civet Cat and Striped Hyena amongst others.

Day 8 In the morning we will explore two small forest patches in the Taita Hills. The Taita Hills are home to several endemics and these will be the targets of our visit. African Crowned Eagle, Hartlaub's Turaco, African Emerald Cuckoo, Striped Pipit (rare), Stripe-faced and Placid Greenbuls, Orange Ground-thrush (uncommon at best), Taita Thrush (a rare endemic), Black-backed Puffback, Taita Apalis (an uncommon endemic), Yellow-throated Woodland-warbler, African Stonechat, African Dusky Flycatcher, White-starred Robin, Red-winged Starling, Taita White-eye (endemic), Eastern Double-collared Sunbird, Brown-backed Mannikin and the tiny Yellow-bellied Waxbill are just some of the many highland forest species we hope to find in this unique area. In the late afternoon we will transfer to the nearby Tsavo East National Park for a one-night stay at Voi Safari Lodge.

Day 9 The morning will be spent birding in Tsavo East National Park, followed by an afternoon transfer to Shimba Hills Lodge on the southern coast for a two-night stay. Somali Ostrich, African Openbill, Harlequin Quail (seasonal), Black-chested and Brown Snake-eagles, African Harrier-hawk, Rüppell's Griffon-vulture, Striped Kingfisher, Diederik Cuckoo, Banded Martin, Golden Pipit, Chestnut-backed Sparrowlark (seasonal), Fork-tailed Drongo, Wattled Starling, Yellow-bellied Eremomela, Brown-crowned Tchagra, Chestnut Weaver, Red-billed Quelea, African Silverbill and the elegant Eastern Paradise-whydah are some of the birds we may see. Cheetah and Hunter's Hartebeest are both present in Tsavo East, but are rarely encountered. Otherwise the mammals found here are similar to those found in Tsavo West.

Day 10 All day will be spent in the Shimba Hills National Reserve. This reserve is mostly thick coastal forest, which is broken up in areas by forest glades. Birds that can be located within this lush habitat include Ayres's Hawk-eagle, Black Goshawk (Great Sparrowhawk), African Cuckoo-hawk, Palm-nut Vulture, Crested Guineafowl, Red-necked Francolin, Tambourine Dove, Fischer's Turaco, Yellowbill, Mosque Swallow, Mottled and Bat-like (Bohm's) Spinetails, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, White-throated Bee-eater (seasonal), Trumpeter and Silvery-cheeked Hornbills, Brown-breasted, White-eared and Green Barbets, Eastern Green Tinkerbird, Yellow-throated Longclaw, Flappet Lark, Black Cuckoo-shrike, Tiny and Sombre Greenbuls, Terrestrial Brownbul, Siffling and Croaking Cisticolas, Black-headed Apalis, Green-backed Camaroptera, Forest Batis, Black-bellied Starling, Eastern Olive Sunbird, Green-headed Oriole and the lovely Dark-backed (Forest) Weaver. Mammals that can be seen in the picturesque Shimba Hills are Western Black-and-white Colobus (local), Lesser Galago or Bushbaby (sometimes on top of the dinner table), Red-bellied Coast Squirrel, Common Genet, the majestic Sable Antelope, Red Duiker and the shy Suni. Occasionally an African Civet Cat or even a family party of Bush Pigs will visit the swamp behind the Lodge at night.

Day 11 In the morning we will drive further south along the coast to the small town of Shimoni. Several specialities can be found along this drive and these include Lizard Buzzard, Little Sparrowhawk, Red-necked Falcon, Broad-billed Roller, Brown-hooded Parrot, Black-collared Barbet, Northern Carmine and Madagascar Bee-eaters (seasonal), Black Coucal, Ethiopian Swallow, Coastal Cisticola, White-browed Robin-chat, Collared Palm-thrush, Purple-banded Sunbird, Golden Palm-weaver, Black-winged and Zanzibar Red Bishops, Common Waxbill and Bronze Mannikin. In the afternoon we will transfer north to the town of Watamu for a three-night stay at Ocean Sports Hotel. This offers a very nice view of the Indian Ocean and the cool breeze off the water can be quite refreshing!

Days 12–13 We will spend two days exploring the Arabuko–Sokoke Forest. Birds to be expected within this forest reserve are Southern Banded Snake-eagle, African Goshawk, Thick-billed Cuckoo, Scaly-breasted, Lesser and Pallid Honeyguides, Mombasa and Green-backed (Little Spotted) Woodpeckers, Common Scimitarbill, Mangrove Kingfisher, Narina Trogon, Sokoke Pipit (endangered), Yellow-bellied and Fischer's Greenbuls, Red-tailed Ant-thrush, Green-backed Camaroptera, East Coast Akalat (endangered), Red-capped Robin-chat, Bearded Scrub-robin, Four-coloured Bush-shrike, Pale Batis, Little Yellow Flycatcher, Blue-mantled Crested-flycatcher, Scaly Babbler, Plain-backed and Amani Sunbirds, African Golden Oriole, Chestnut-fronted Helmetshrike and the poorly known endemic Clarke's Weaver (endangered). In the evening we will be searching for several nocturnal species such as Sokoke Scops-owl (endangered), African Barred Owlet, African Wood-owl and the colourful Fiery-necked Nightjar. Four-toed and Golden-rumped Elephant Shrews (the latter being critically endangered) are both found in the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, but are very shy and difficult to see. Occasionally during our night outings we find nocturnal mammals, such as White-tailed Mongoose, Honey Badger or even the stunning Caracal. Of course it helps to have a little bit of luck with these! Another site we will visit during our stay in the Watamu area is Mida Creek. This is a tidal mudflat with scores of waders present. Birds of note in this area are Greater Flamingo, Dimorphic Egret, Crab Plover (sometimes more than 100 individuals), Lesser and Greater Sand-plovers and Terek and Curlew Sandpipers.

Day 14 On our last morning we will visit the Sabaki Estuary north of Malindi town. This area is usually teeming with waders and waterfowl. Some of our target species here are Great White and Pink-backed Pelicans, Madagascar Pratincole, Black-winged Stilt, Pied Avocet, White-fronted Plover, Sooty and Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Lesser and Greater Crested Terns, Saunders's Tern and African Skimmer. Rarities pop up in this area all the time and it is exciting to think of what we may find. In the latter part of the morning we will try and find the extremely local Malindi Pipit. After our birding is finished we will depart on an early afternoon flight from Malindi Airport back to Nairobi. We will be met by drivers at the airport and then transfer to the Pan Afric Hotel to freshen up for the evening flight back home.

Day 15End of the tour. Extension to Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia and Tanzania birding can also be arranged.

General Information The climate is generally hot. Accommodation standards are good with en-suite in all rooms except Shimba Hills Lodge where each floor shares separate Ladies and Mens bathrooms. Food is of European standard. Transport is by minibus and the road conditions vary from excellent to extremely rough and dusty. There are special health requirements. Visas are required and cost either £15 in advance or $25 in Kenya. Only a moderate degree of fitness is needed. Photographic opportunities are excellent.

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