We departed early from Nairobi for a longish transfer to Aberdare National Park near Mount Kenya. We broke the journey at a holiday lodge where we birded the gardens for around thirty minutes finding several new species including Ruppel’s Starling, Grey-headed Bushshrike, Black-headed Oriole, Speke’s Weaver and very distant Northern White-crowned Shrikes. Continuing onwards we arrived in time for a delicious lunch at the country club. In the extensive verdant and floriferous grounds we were entertained by Olive Baboons, nectaring Sunbirds and other common species. A Cape Robin-Chat posed obligingly for Tim.
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| Olive Baboon |
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| Cape Robin-Chat |
We had planned a walk around the grounds here, but there was a light rain shower and we were running late, so instead headed to the entrance to the National Park. Whilst paperwork was completed we enjoyed a bonanza of small birds feeding along the fence line and on the seeds of roadside vegetation. Tiny Waxbills and Bronze Mannikins were busy feeding, but difficult to see well at a distance. More easily seen was an incredible casqued Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, with an enormous bill perched at the top of a nearby tree.
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| Silvery-cheeked Hornbill |
Within the park birding was quite difficult, with many birds partially hidden in the dense undergrowth, but some spectacular and colourful birds were seen including a wonderful Doherty’s Bush-shrike. There were good numbers of Speckled Mousebirds and these became regular sightings over the course of the holiday. A Scaly Francolin wandered across the track with a family of chicks in tow and a Pin-tailed Whydah also performed well, flying back and forth in front of the van, with its long tail trailing downwards. A tiny Hunter’s Cisticola was considered a good find by the more experienced birders who had visited Africa before and were looking for new species - unlike us where virtually every bird was a new tick! It looked rather like a female Blackcap.
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| Scaly Francolin |
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| Speckled Mousebirds |
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| Doherty’s Bushshrike |
It was almost dusk as we finally arrived at our accommodation, named The Ark. This wonderful place was located next to a watering hole and salt lick, attracting much wildlife. On our arrival a family of Elephants had come to drink, and a Cape Buffalo nibbled the grass with at least eight Red-billed Oxpeckers sat on its back. A forest hog, with three piglets in tow was at the back of the pool. A Hyena was watching and kept moving towards them, and was then joined by another, then another, and then still another. Every time the mother moved the piglets ran to keep under her belly, but it was not looking good as night fell. After our evening meal, we returned to the glazed indoor viewing deck overlooking the pool, which was now lit up. Snipe, Yellow-billed Ducks and a family of Egyptian Geese were on the pond and Blacksmith’s Plover scurried purposefully at the margins. A pair of Hares bounded into view, then a mongoose appeared. All the while a single Cape Buffalo continued to feed and an occasional Hyena ran across the clearing. It was enthralling, but we had a 5.30 am start the following morning so we eventually had to reluctantly tear ourselves away.
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