KENYA November 1981: annotated trip list

I felt this was a good solid total for a three-week trip considering there were just the two of us on our first visit to Africa, and without local expert help except for one day with Terry Stevenson. We did, of course, have Dale Zimmerman's letters with directions, numerous i.d. tips, and xeroxed hand-outs, and copies of important i.d. papers (e.g., Turner & Zimmerman 1979). Dale's 28 day tour in the summer of 1981 had recorded 570 species, so 560 birds during our 23 day trip was a fine total. [We actually had closer to 21 days birding since the first and last day were basically travel days.] We did very well in the Kakamega Forest (104 species) but missed a number of small & unobtrusive birds elsewhere that are best found by voice. A few of our birds were not correctly identified with the field guide we then had (Williams & Arlott 1980) and were not sorted out under the publication of Zimmerman et al. (1996) more than a decade later. I did take a lot of photos, and these helped to confirm a number of identifications.

We spent the final five days of the trip visiting the coast and Sokoke Forest. The first of these days was an all-day drive through Tsavo East NP (2 new species only), then three days birding on the coast, and a travel day by air back to Nairobi. Dale Zimmerman had told us that "adding the coast" to our itinerary would net us about 50 species, but that we would likely miss about the same number of birds inland had we spent more time there. Dale's point seems to have been accurate. We added 46 species on the coast not seen elsewhere but 18 of these were waders, gulls, and terns, many of them not "lifers."

This topic recently got me thinking about the relative "value" of other spots on the trip in terms of unique species (excluding a handful of Eurasian migrants that we happened to see at but one spot). Of my 560 birds, some 283 (just over 50%) were found at more than one locale. So essentially we may consider half the birds on our trip to be "widespread" and/or "common."  The trip to the coast, as noted, added 46 (plus 2 enroute) for another 8% of the total. Of the inland areas visited, by far the most important in terms of adding new species was the Kakamega forest, with 54 birds (almost 10%) found only there. So with those locales, here is a complete list of what various sites added in terms of unique birds:

• Kakamega Forest    54 species (10 %)
• Sokoke Forest and coastal waterbirds  46 species ( 8 %)
• Samburu NP and dry thornscrub to & from 36 species ( 6 %)
• The Masai Mara plains & woodlands  30 species ( 5 %)
• Mt. Kenya and environs (incl. Naro Moru) 29 species ( 5 %)
• Lake Baringo (incl. day with T. Stevenson) 21 species ( 4 %)
• Lake Jipe & Tsavo West NP   18 species ( 3 %)
• Lake Victoria, esp. papyrus swamp  14 species ( 2.5%)
• Nairobi environs, incl. Nairobi NP  11 species ( 2 %)

Those species in brackets were seen by Steve Wilson but not by me. Those species that I photographed on this particular trip are marked by "[ph]" -- I did a lot of photography on this trip, mostly with a Nikon 300mm lens out the car window in the national parks. Many of the photos from this trip are on this website, often in family pages.

Tachybaptus ruficollis LITTLE GREBE  [ph]
 Good numbers on Nakuru, Navaisha, Lake Jipe, and pond at Limuru
Podiceps crestatus GREAT-CRESTED GREBE
 A few (2-3) on Lakes Nakuru and Naivasha

Phalacrocorax africanus LONG-TAILED CORMORANT
 Common on Lakes Baringo, Naivasha, and Jipe
Phalacrocorax lucidus GREAT (White-breasted) CORMORANT  [ph; right from Nakuru]
 Common at Lakes Nakuru & Naivasha, Lake Victoria at Kisumu; one at Mzima Springs

Anhinga rufa AFRICAN DARTER  [ph]
 One each at Mzima Springs & Lake Jipe

Pelecanus onocrotalus GREAT WHITE PELICAN
 Fifteen at Lake Nakuru, and 30 at Sabeki R. mouth
Pelecanus rufescens PINK-BACKED PELICAN
 A few (~5) on Lake Nakuru & Lake Baringo

Phoenicopterus ruber GREATER FLAMINGO  [ph]
 Small numbers (5-25) among Lessers at Bogoria/Nakuru
Phoenicopterus minor LESSER FLAMINGO  [ph]
 50,000 at Lake Bogoria & 500 at Lake Nakuru

Egretta ardesiaca BLACK HERON  [ph]
 Five were canopy-feeding on Lake Jipe
Egretta garzetta LITTLE EGRET  [ph]
 Common at Lakes Baringo, Nakuru & Naivasha, and 15 at Sabeki R. mouth
Egretta gularis WESTERN REEF-EGRET
 One dark-morph at Sabeki R. mouth
Egretta intermedia INTERMEDIATE EGRET  [ph]
 Several at Lake Baringo, fairly common at L. Jipe, and one in Masai Mara
Ardea cinerea GRAY HERON  [ph]
 Common on Lakes Baringo, Nakuru, Naivasha; sev. daily at Samburu, one over Kakamega Forest
Ardea melanocephala BLACK-HEADED HERON
 One in the Naro Maro grasslands and two at Salt Lick Lodge, Tsavo West
Ardea goliath GOLIATH HERON  [ph; right from L. Jipe]
 Samll numbers on Lakes Baringo & Jipe
Ardea purpurea PURPLE HERON  [ph]
 A few on Lakes Baringo & Jipe
Ardea alba GREAT EGRET  [ph]
 Common in wetlands throughout
Bubulcus ibis CATTLE EGRET  [ph]
 Common and widespread in grasslands and near water throughout
Ardeola ralloides SQUACCO HERON
 Several at Baringo, Jipe & Salt Lick Lodge
Butorides striatus STRIATED HERON
 Singles along rivers in Samburu & Masai Mara
Nycticorax nycticorax BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON
 One imm. at Naivasha, common at Lake Jipe

Scopus umbretta HAMERKOP  [ph]
 Our first was on Mt. Kenya at Mountain Lodge, then nest-building bird at Baringo

Plegadis falcinellus GLOSSY IBIS
 Common at Lake Baringo, and two on Lake Jipe
Bostrychia hagedash HADADA IBIS
 Widespread throughout from Nairobi NP to Mt. Kenya and beyond
Bostrychia olivacea OLIVE IBIS
 One short-tailed, crested, dark ibis in flight over Mountain Lodge
Threskiornis aethiopicus SACRED IBIS
 A few at inland locations (Naro Maro, L. Naivasha, Limuru pond) and 5 at Sabeki R. mouth
Platalea alba AFRICAN SPOONBILL  [ph]
 Good numbers at Lakes Nakuru & Jipe, along Tana River, and 10 at Sabeki R. mouth

Mycteria ibis YELLOW-BILLED STORK  [ph]
 Common at Lake Nakuru; others along Tana River and in Samburu NP
Anastomus lamelligerus AFRICAN OPEN-BILLED STORK
 Single bird on Lake Victoria in papyrus patch near Kisumu
Ciconia episcopus WOOLLY-NECKED STORK
 Singles in Samburu and at Salt Lick Lodge, Tsavo West
Ciconia ciconia WHITE STORK
 Flock of 50+ in Tsavo East, 15 flying over Kakamega, ten at Salt Lick Lodge & 1 at L. Bogoria
Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis SADDLE-BILLED STORK  [ph]
 After weeks of searching, a family group on last day at Salt Lick Lodge, Tsavo West
Leptoptilos cumeniferus MARABOU STORK  [ph]
 Widespread in open country, including hotel garden at Nairobi

Dendrocygna viduata WHITE-FACED WHISTLING-DUCK  [ph]
 Flocks (50-100) along Tana River, 50 at Sabeki R. mouth, and one in Samburu
Thalassornis leuconotus WHITE-BACKED DUCK
 20 on Limuru pond, three at L. Jipe
Oxyura maccoa MACCOA DUCK
 Ten of this local duck on Limuru pond
Alopochen aegyptiacus EGYPTIAN GOOSE  [ph]
 Common in rift valley lakes and on rivers in Samburu, Mara, and Amboseli
Plectropterus gambensis SPUR-WINGED GOOSE  [ph; right from L. Jipe]
 About ten along the shores of Lake Jipe
Nettapus auritus AFRICAN PYGMY-GOOSE
 A single male on Lake Jipe
Anas capensis CAPE TEAL
 Common at Lake Nakuru
Anas undulata YELLOW-BILLED DUCK  [ph]
 A few on Lake Naivasha, and numbers on Limuru pond
Anas sparsa AFRICAN BLACK DUCK  [ph]
 Pair along rushing river behind Naro Maro Lodge, flank of Mt. Kenya
Anas acuta NORTHERN PINTAIL
 Two on Lake Nakuru
Anas erythrorhyncha RED-BILLED DUCK
 Conspicuous at Lake Naivasha and Limuru pond
Anas hottentota HOTTENTOT TEAL
 Common at Lakes Naivasha & Jipe, and Limuru pond
Anas querquedula GARGANEY
 A few on Lake Jipe and at Sabeki R. mouth
Anas clypeata NORTHERN SHOVELER
 Ten or so on Lake Nakuru
Netta erythropthalma SOUTHERN POCHARD
 About 30 on high elevation Limuru pond

Pandion haliaetus OSPREY
 One along Lake Victoria shore, Kisumu

Machaerhamphus alcinus BAT HAWK
 One hunting bats daily at dusk over Uaso Nyiro River at "crocodile bar," Samburu Lodge
Elanus caeruleus BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE
 Singles in Nairobi NP and at Lake Nakuru
Milvus migrans BLACK KITE  [ph]
 Common in Nairobi and widespread Mt. Kenya to Mara, and a few near Malinde on the coast
Haliaeetus vocifer AFRICAN FISH-EAGLE  [ph; right in a tall river-edge tree in Samburu]
 On most interior lakes, at Limuru pond, and along major rivers in Samburu
Gypohierax angolensis PALM NUT VULTURE
 One with bare pink face & striking flight pattern at Lake Jipe
Neophron percnopterus EGYPTIAN VULTURE
 A few in dry thorn-scrub between Archers Post and Kisima, north of Samburu NP
Necrosyrtes monachus HOODED VULTURE  [ph]
 Found only in small numbers in Masai Mara
Gyps africanus AFRICAN WHITE-BACKED VULTURE  [ph]
 The abundant vulture on interior plains
Gyps rueppellii RUPPELL'S VULTURE  [ph]
 A few daily on Saburu & Mara plains; common vulture at Hells Gate near Naivasha
Torgos tracheliotus LAPPET-FACED VULTURE  [ph]
 Ten among 70 vultures at a carcass on the Masai Mara
Trigonoceps occipitalis WHITE-HEADED VULTURE
 Two near Cottar's Camp, Masai Mara
Circaetus pectoralis BLACK-CHESTED SNAKE-EAGLE
 A single bird in the Mara; in 1981 considered the local race of Short-toed Eagle C. gallicus
Circaetus fasciolatus FASCIATED SNAKE-EAGLE
 One in flight (DR only) over Sokeke Forest
Terathopius ecaudatus BATELEUR  [ph]
 Ffirst was at Nairobi NP but daily in open country thereafter, and 1 over Sokeke Forest
Circus aeruginosus WESTERN MARSH-HARRIER
 Single imm. over Limuru pond
Circus macrourus PALLID HARRIER
 Single imm. along shore of Lake Baringo
Circus pygargus MONTAGU'S HARRIER
 A male in the Mara
Polyboroides typus AFRICAN HARRIER-HAWK
 A couple in Brachystesia in the Sokoke Forest, another soaring over Kakamega Forest might be a first for the vicinity (Zimmerman 1972)
Kaupifalco monogrammicus LIZARD BUZZARD
 One in Brachystesia in the Sokoke Forest
Melierax metabates DARK CHANTING-GOSHAWK
 Seen daily at Lake Baringo but not found elsewhere
Melierax canorus PALE CHANTING-GOSHAWK  [ph]
 Widespread but sporadic in open country from Archers Post to the Mara
Melierax gabar GABAR GOSHAWK
 A single white-rumped hawk in flight at Hells Gate near Naivasha
Accipiter tachiro AFRICAN GOSHAWK
 A couple on several days in the Sokoke Forest
Accipiter badius SHIKRA
 One at Lake Baringo; a "possible" at Kakamega
Accipiter melanoleucus BLACK GOSHAWK
 One seen well two days in Kakamega Forest (DR only); called "Great Sparrowhawk" at the time
Buteo oreophilus MOUNTAIN BUZZARD  [ph]
 Single bird perched in canopy at Mountain Lodge, identified two years later from my photo upon publication of Vol. 1 of Birds of Africa (Brown, Urban & Newman 1982).
Buteo augur AUGUR BUZZARD  [ph]
 Widespread and common throughout open country
Aquila clanga GREATER SPOTTED EAGLE
 An adult in Samburu NP
Aquila rapax TAWNY EAGLE  [ph]
 A few most days in open plains or arid scub
Aquila nipalensis STEPPE EAGLE
 Sparsely but widely distributed across open plains in winter
Aquila wahlbergi WAHLBERG'S EAGLE
 Single bird in Samburu NP
Aquila verreauxi VERREAUX'S EAGLE
 A pair of these impressive eagles were shown to us by Terry Stevenson at L. Baringo cliffs
Hieraaetus spilogaster AFRICAN HAWK-EAGLE  [ph; right]
 One perched along Uaso Nyiro River, Samburu
Polemaetus bellicosus MARTIAL EAGLE  [ph]
 A few in Samburu & Tsavo East parks
Lophaetus occipitalis LONG-CRESTED EAGLE  [ph]
 Two in Nairobi NP, and then a few sporadically at numerous inland localities (inc. Kakamega Forest)

Sagittarius sepentarius SECRETARY-BIRD  [ph]
 Four in Nairobi NP

Polihierax semitorquatus PYGMY FALCON
 Several delightful pygmies daily in Samburu NP
Falco tinnunculus EURASIAN KESTREL
 A couple at Naro Maro, and daily in Masai Mara
Falco rubicoloides GREATER KESTREL
 A pair of this white-eyed species along road to L. Jipe, Tsavo West
Falco peregrinus PEREGRINE FALCON
 Singles near Lokua, at L. Nakuru, and over Kakamega Forest

Numida meleagris HELMETED GUINEAFOWL  [ph]
 Small numbers daily in Samburu NP and in the Mara
[Guttera pcherani CRESTED GUINEAFOWL
 Steve Wilson had a couple in dense Sokoke Forest undergrowth]
Acryllium vulturinum VULTURINE GUINEAFOWL  [ph]
 Many daily in Samburu NP

Francolinus coqui COQUI FRANCOLIN
 Three flushed in Brachystesia in the Sokeke Forest
Francolinus sephaena CRESTED FRANCOLIN  [ph]
 Very common in Samburu thornscrub
Francolinus squamatus SCALY FRANCOLIN
 Four in back country between Sotek & Ngorengore, the only birds of interest on this dismal ride
Francolinus hildebrandti HILDEBRANDT'S FRANCOLIN
 Pair near Cottar's Camp, Masai Mara
Francolinus leucoscepus YELLOW-NECKED SPURFOWL  [ph; top of this page]
 Common in thornscrub & grasslands from Samburu to Masai Mara
Coturnix delegorguei HARLEQUIN QUAIL
 Two buffy females flushed from oradside on the way to Lake Jipe, Tsavo West

Balearica regulorum GRAY CROWNED-CRANE  [ph; above right from the Mara]
 Just a few in Masai Mara and Amboseli parks

Amaurornis falvirostra BLACK CRAKE
 A few of this engaging active rail at Lakes Naivasha & Jipe
Gallinula chloropus COMMON MOORHEN
 Singles at Limuru pond and on Lake Jipe
Fulica cristata RED-KNOBBED COOT
 Very typical "mudhen" common at Lake Naivasha, Limuru pond, plus one at Lake Jipe

Neotis denhami DENHAM'S BUSTARD  [ph; below right]
 A lone bird 10 mi west of Ngorengore and north of Masai Mara; at the time we thought it might have been the rarest species of the trip as apparently considered very rare in Kenya
Ardeotis kori KORI BUSTARD  [ph]
 Sinlges in Amboseli NP and near Salt Lick Lodge, Tsavo West
Lophotis gindiana BUFF-CRESTED BUSTARD
 Singles on several days in Samburu, another in Tsavo West
Eupodotis senegalensis NORTHERN WHITE-BELLIED BUSTARD  [ph]
 Three in Nairobi NP grasslands
Lissotis hartlaudbii HARTLAUB'S BUSTARD
 Single male near Lake Nakuru presented i.d. problems; originally thought to be Black-bellied L. melanogaster

Actophilornis africana AFRICAN JAÇANA  [ph]
 Common on Lakes Baringo & Jipe

Numenius arquata EURASIAN CURLEW
 Sinlge on Mida Creek mudflats, and more at Sabeki R. mouth
Tringa erythropus SPOTTED REDSHANK
 A few at L. Jipe and at Mida Creek
Tringa stagnatilis MARSH SANDPIPER  [ph]
 A few (3-4/day) studied at L. Nakuru, Naivasha & Jipe, and 20 at Sabeki R. mouth
Tringa nebularia COMMON GREENSHANK  [ph]
 A few on inland lakes, and 30 at Sabeki R. mouth, plus more at Mida Creek
Tringa ochropus GREEN SANDPIPER
 Two in Samburu NP, and 3 at Mida Creek on the coast
Tringa glareola WOOD SANDPIPER  [ph]
 Noted widely in interior, and 50 at Sabeki R. mouth, plus more at Mida Creek
Tringa cinerea TEREK SANDPIPER
 As advertsied, a few were working the Mida Creek mudflats
Actitis hypoleucos COMMON SANDPIPER
 Singles on many inland streams; 25 at Sabeki R. mouth, plus more at Mida Creek
Arenaria interpres RUDDY TURNSTONE
 A few at Mida Creek at low tide
Calidris alba SANDERLING
 50+ at Sabeki R. mouth and many at Mida Creek
Calidris minuta LITTLE STINT  [ph]
 Fair numbers on inland lakes, and hundreds at Sabeki R. mouth & Mida Creek
Calidris ferruginea CURLEW SANDPIPER
 One at Lake Jipe, 40 at Sabeki R. mouth, plus many more at Mida Creek mudflats
Liicola falcinellus BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPER  [ph]
 One in basic plumage in roost at Sabeki R. mouth
Philmachus pugnax RUFF  [ph]
 Fair numbers on larger rift valley lakes, and dozens at Mida Creek
[Gallinago sp? unidentified SNIPE
 Steve Wilson had a snipe flush at Lake Naivasha but it went unidentified]

Dromas ardeola CRAB PLOVER
 Ten at Mida Creek at low tide

Burhinus vermiculatus WATER THICK-KNEE  [ph]
 A few wide-eyed birds along Lake Jipe shore

Himantopus himantopus BLACK-WINGED STILT  [ph]
 Recorded widely on interior lakes, and 15 at Sabeki R. mouth
Recurvirostra avosetta PIED AVOCET
 Five at Lake Nakuru were the only ones

Rhinoptilus africanus TWO-BANDED COURSER  [ph]
 Scattered cryptic birds along Lake Jipe shoreline
Rhinoptilus cinctus HEUGLIN'S COURSER
 Terry Stevenson took us to an adult with downy young on Lake Baringo; a very fine bird
Cursorius temminckii TEMMINCK'S COURSER  [ph]
 Three on short-grass Mara plains

Glariola pratincola COLLARED PRATINCOLE  [ph]
 A dozen or so resting along Lake Jipe shoreline

Pluvialis squatarola BLACK-BELLIED (Gray) PLOVER
 20 at Sabeki R. mouth
Charadrius hiaticula COMMON RINGED PLOVER
 Scattered at Samburu, Nakuru, Naivasha, and 50 at Sabeki R. mouth
Charadrius pecuarius KITTLITZ'S PLOVER  [ph]
 Seven were scattered along the Archers Post to Baringo road, another at Lake Jipe
Charadrius tricollaris THREE-BANDED PLOVER
 One on shore of Aruba Lake, Tsavo East NP
Charadrius marginatus WHITE-FRONTED PLOVER
 Ten at Sabeki R. mouth
Charadrius mongolus MONGOLIAN PLOVER (Lesser Sandplover)
 20 at Sabeki R. mouth plus 50+ at Mida Creek
Charadrius leschenaultii GREATER SANDPLOVER
 20 at Sabeki R. mouth, and 3 at Mida Creek
Charadrius asiaticus CASPIAN PLOVER  [ph; above right]
 Single bird on short-grass Mara plains, but not identified until years later from the photo. We had let it go as a "golden-plover" at the time....
Vanellus crassirostris LONG-TOED LAPWING  [ph; right]
 Eight of this unique species on Lake Jipe
Vanellus armatus BLACKSMITH LAPWING  [ph]
 Common & conspicuous on rift valley lakes
Vanellus spinosus SPUR-WINGED LAPWING  [ph]
 Widespread near water in the interior
Vanellus tectus BLACK-HEADED LAPWING
 A family group (3 ad., 2 juv) shown to us by Terry Stevenson at Lake Baringo
Vanellus senegallus WATTLED LAPWING
 A few on the Mara plains
Vanellus melanopterus BLACK-WINGED LAPWING  [ph]
 Tame in short-grass plains of the Mara
Vanellus coronatus CROWNED LAPWING  [ph]
 Ten in Nairobi NP and widely scattered across the Masai Mara

Larus hemprichii SOOTY GULL  [ph]
 Fifty or more in roost at Sabeki R. mouth
Larus fuscus LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL
 One imm. at L. Baringo & dozens in tern roost at Sabeki R. mouth; don't know what these are in current taxonomy
Larus cirrocephalus GRAY-HEADED GULL  [ph; below]
 Small numbers at Lake Naivasha only
Larus ridibundus BLACK-HEADED GULL
 A few on Lakes Baringo, Nakuru, and Naivasha
Childonias hybridus WHISKERED TERN  [ph]
 Single bird among White-wings at Lake Jipe
Chlidonias leucopterus WHITE-WINGED TERN  [ph]
 Quite common (50+/day) on all large inland lakes from Baringo & Victoria to L. Jipe
Sterna nilotica GULL-BILLED TERN
 Two over Lake Baringo, 3 on L. Nakuru, and a couple at L. Jipe
Sterna caspia CASPIAN TERN
 Seven in roost at Sabeki R. mouth
Sterna bergii GREAT CRESTED TERN
 Three in roost at Sabeki R. mouth
Sterna bengalensis LESSER CRESTED TERN  [ph]
 Fifty+ in tern roost at Sabeki R. mouth
Sterna hirundo COMMON TERN  [ph]
 Several hundred at Sabeki R. mouth, or at least that what we called them back in '81. These may have included some or many White-cheeked Terns S. repressa. Indeed, I had that listed as a lifer here at the time but later deleted it as uncertain. I suspect it was just fine. We saw numbers in United Arab Emirates in Mar 2001.
Sterna albifrons LITTLE TERN
 Two in tern roost at Sabeki R. mouth
Rynchops flavirostris AFRICAN SKIMMER  [ph]
 A half-dozen at tern roost at Sabeki R. mouth

Pterocles exustus CHESTNUT-BELLIED SANDGROUSE  [ph]
 Four seen in flight over the Mara were less than satisfactory, but later 200+ were watched coming to drink, early in the morning, at a small pool west of Amboseli NP
Pterocles decoratus BLACK-FACED SANDGROUSE  [ph]
 Small flocks at Uaso Nyiro R., Samburu, early in the monrning; 2 with flock at Amboseli pool
Pterocles lichtensteinii LICHTENSTEIN'S SANDGROUSE  [ph]
 Two found alongside the road in dry country at Samburu NP in mid-monring were among the most unexpected, and exciting, birds found on the trip.

Columba livia ROCK DOVE
 Introduced birds at Nairobi & Malinde; not counted in any totals
Columba guinea SPECKLED DOVE
 About 10 were found during the first day at Samburu
Columba arquatrix AFRICAN (Olive) PIGEON
 Three at Mountain Lodge, Mt. Kenya
Columba delegorguei DELEGORGUE'S (Bronze-naped) PIGEON
 Two flying over Mountain Lodge, Mt. Kenya
Streptopelia senegaliensis LAUGHING DOVE  [ph]
 Widespread, including the hotel garden in Nairobi, Nairobi NP,
Streptopelia decipiens AFRICAN MOURNING DOVE
 The white-eyed Streptopelia was rather common in dry country at Samburu & Lake Baringo
Streptopelia capicola RING-NECKED DOVE  [ph]
 Fairly common in scrubland and open forests throughout, including Brachystesia, Sokeke Forest
Streptopelia semitorquata RED-EYED DOVE
 The common resident dove throughout in open country, cut-over areas, and scrub
Turtur chalcospilos EMERALD-SPOTTED WOOD-DOVE
 One at L. Baringo, two nicely viewed at Cottar's Camp (but others only glimpsed in the Mara), and a couple in open country near Sokeke Forest
Turtur afer BLUE-SPOTTED WOOD-DOVE
 Dark, rufous-winged doves flushed in the Kakamega Forest on 2 of 3 days were this species on quickly-glimpsed pattern, range
Turtur tympanistria TAMBOURINE DOVE
 A few daily in the Kakamega Forest
Oena capensis NAMAQUA DOVE  [ph]
 A few scattered individuals of this classy dove were at Samburu, Nakuru, and Lake Jipe
Treron calva AFRICAN GREEN-PIGEON
 Two at Cottar's Camp in the Mara, and three well seen at Namanga River Hotel

Agapornis fischeri FISCHER'S LOVEBIRD
 Several in light woods on the Lake Navaisha shore were from a population that was introduced there (and has since somewhat hybridized with Yellow-collared Lovebird A. personatus); because it is introduced, this species is not counted in totals. In truth it is a Tanzanian endemic
Poecephalus gulielmi JARDINE'S PARROT
 Small groups at Mountain Lodge on Mt. Kenya, and at Naro Maro Lodge, base of Mt. Kenya; more up along the Sirimon Track into Mt. Kenya NP
Poicephalus rufiventris RED-BELLED PARROT  [ph]
 A small flock (~6) in Samburu NP

Colius striatus SPECKLED MOUSEBIRD  [ph]
 Widespread in interior light woodlands including Nairobi NP, L. Nakuru, edges of Kakamega Forest, and Masai Mara
Colius leucocephalus WHITE-HEADED MOUSEBIRD  [ph]
 Small numbers in Samburu
Colius macrourus BLUE-NAPED MOUSEBIRD  [ph]
 A few in Samburu NP, a small flock (15) eating figs behind Lake Baringo Lodge, and a few in Tsavo East NP

Tauraco livingstonii LIVINGSTONE'S TURACO
 Two seen in flight, and others heard, on the Mara River; four seen nicely at Governor's Camp
Tauraco schuetii BLACK-BILLED TURACO
 One in the Kakamega Forest at the Ikuywa R. bridge
Tauraco hartlaubi HARTLAUB'S TURACO
 One at Naro Maro Lodge, base of Mt. Kenya
Musophaga rossae ROSS' TURACO
 One impressive bird at Governor's Camp in the Masai Mara
Corythaixoides leucogaster WHITE-BELLIED GO-AWAY-BIRD
 One in Samburu, several around L. Baringo, and one in Amboseli NP
Crinifer zonurus EASTERN GRAY PLAINTAIN-EATER
 Three at Kisumu on the shores of Lake Victoria; my notes say "wonderful big silly birds."
Corythaeola cristata GREAT BLUE TURACO  [ph]
 Up to 6/day in the Kakamega Forest at the Ikuywa R. bridge area

Cuculus solitarius RED-CHESTED CUCKOO
 One of this inter-African migrant seen in flight in Brachystesia in the Sokoke Forest. We were unaware of previous records here so I have details in my notes.
Cuculus gularis AFRICAN CUCKOO
 One male identified at Lake Aruba, Tsavo East NP, and a close-barred African/Common Cuckoo flew by at the Thika grasslands
Chrysococcyx klaas KLAAS' CUCKOO
 One in thickets at Kisumu, Lake Victoria
Chrysococcyx cupreus AFRICAN EMERALD CUCKOO
 A common sound in the Kakamega Forest; females seen a couple times
Ceuthmochares aereus YELLOWBILL (Green Coucal)
 One-a-day in the Kakamega Forest, and a couple in Brachystesia in the Sokoke Forest
Centropus superciliosus WHITE-BROWED COUCAL  [ph; right below in Tsavo]
  Several in Samburu, a few at Lake Baringo and Lake Victoria, more in Tsavo East, and one in Brachystesia in the Sokoke Forest

Tyto alba BARN OWL
 One seen after dark in open country near Sokoke Forest
Bubo africanus SPOTTED EAGLE-OWL  [ph]
 One at a day roost behind Lake Baringo Lodge
Bubo lacteus VERREAUX'S EAGLE-OWL
 One seen around the lighted waterhole at night at Mountain Lodge, and another seen both nights at Salt Lick Lodge around the flood-lit pond
Strix woodfordii AFRICAN WOOD-OWL
 One at a day-roost in Afazelia woods in the Sokoke Forest where it was mobbed by small birds

Caprimulgus clarus SLENDER-TAILED NIGHTJAR
 Three or each evening at dusk over the river in front of Samburu Lodge

Cypsiurus parvus AFRICAN PALM-SWIFT
 A few daily in Samburu NP, and over open country near Sokoke Forest
Tachymarptis aequatorialis MOTTLED SWIFT
 Some 50 were among the hordes of Nyanza Swifts at Hells Gate
Apus apus COMMON SWIFT
 A flock over Samburu Lodge was thought to be these migrants, ten were among swifts watched from the Baboon Cliffs, L. Nakuru, and others were foraging over Lake Jipe
Apus niansae NYANZA SWIFT
 An estimated 1000 birds were cruising along cliffs at Hells Gate near Naivasha
Apus barbarus AFRICAN SWIFT  [ph]
 The commonest swift from the Baboon Cliffs, Lake Nakuru, where it was slightly smaller than Common Swift, and its blackish upperwing coverts and primaries contrasted with browner secondaires
Apus affinis LITTLE SWIFT
 Widespread, including over the hotel garden at Nairobi, in Nairboi NP, Tana R. crossing, at the River Hotel in Namanga, over Lake Jipe, and near Sokoke Forest
Apus horus HORUS SWIFT
 At least 1, and probably more, over the hotel garden at Nairobi
Apus cafer WHITE-RUMPED SWIFT
 A dozen over the hotel garden at Nairobi, a pair nesting at Samburu Lodge (and more seen at Samburu), and several at the River Hotel, Namanga

Apaloderma narina NARINA TROGON  [ph]
 One photo'd at Naro Maro Lodge, base of Mt. Kenya, and another in Brachystesia habitat in the Sokoke Forest
Apaloderma vittatus BAR-TAILED TROGON
 A couple in the Kakamega Forest; seen well & taped

Alcedo cristata MALACHITE KINGFISHER  [ph]
 One photographed in Samburu, two more at Lake Baringo, and another at Mzima Springs, Amboseli
Ispidina picta AFRICAN PYGMY-KINGFISHER
 One in the Buffalo Springs part of Samburu
Halycon leucocephala GRAY-HEADED (Chestnut-bellied) KINGFISHER  [ph]
 A few daily in Samburu, one at Lake Baringo, and scattered elsewhere (e.g., Masai Mara, Mzima Springs)
Halycon senegaliensis WOODLAND KINGFISHER
 One bird at Cottar's Camp, Masai Mara
Halycon senegaloies MANGROVE KINGFISHER
 One in Brachystesia in the Sokeke Forest
Halycon albiventris BROWN-HOODED KINGFISHER
 One glimpsed at Naro Maro Lodge, base of Mt. Kenya, and another seen nicely at Aruba Lake, Tsavo East NP
Halycon chelicuti STRIPED KINGFISHER  [ph]
 Two in Nairboi NP, and several more in Masai Mara
Megaceryle maxima GIANT KINGFISHER
 One along river at Naro Maro Lodge, base of Mt. Kenya, and another in the Kakamega Forest
Ceryle rudis PIED KINGFISHER  [ph]
 A few on Lake Baringo, one at Kisumu on Lake Victoria, and several more at Lake Jipe

Merops bullockoides WHITE-FRONTED BEE-EATER
 A pair at Hells Gate near Naivasha
Merops pusillus LITTLE BEE-EATER
 Five in Nairboi NP, and then more in the Mara, Tsavo and elsewhere
Merops oreobates CINNAMON-CHESTED BEE-EATER  [ph; right]
 Six at Mountain Lodge and ten at Naro Maro Lodge, 5 on the Nanyuki-Isiolo Hwy enroute to Samburu, and several around the Kakamega Forest
Merops revoilii SOMALI BEE-EATER
 Several (7) in Samburu
Merops albicollis WHITE-THROATED BEE-EATER
 Two along edge of Lake Victoria at Kisumu, and one along the river at the River Hotel, Namanga
Merops persicus BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATER
 Small group at Lake Baringo, one in Kakamega Forest & fair numbers at Lake Victoria edge
Merops ornatus EUROPEAN BEE-EATER
 Three at Naro Maro Lodge with more in open land from Kakamega Forest to Lake Victoria, and common in open plains of Tsavo West
Merops nubicus NORTHERN CARMINE BEE-EATER
 One in open country near the Sabeki River on the coast

Coracias garrulus EUROPEAN ROLLER  [ph]
 Two along the Nanyuki-Isiolo Hwy towards Samburu, and then common in open plains of Tsavo West
Coracias caudata LILAC-BREASTED ROLLER  [ph]
 Samll numbers in Samburu, a couple at Lake Nakuru, more in the Mara; a spectacular bird, esp. in flight
Coracias naevia RUFOUS-CROWNED ROLLER
 Two at Lake Baringo
Eurystomus glaucurus BROAD-BILLED ROLLER  [ph]
 One photo'd in Brachystesia in the Sokoke Forest

Upupa africana AFRICAN HOOPOE  [ph]
 One in the hotel garden at Nairobi, more in Samburu and Lakes Baringo & Nakuru

Phoeniculus purpureus GREEN WOODHOOPOE
 Three on one day in Samburu
Phoeniculus bollei WHITE-HEADED WOODHOOPOE  [ph]
 Four in the Kakamega Forest
Rhinopomastus cyanomelas COMMON SCIMITARBILL  [ph]
 A pair at Lake Nakuru
Rhinopomastus minor ABYSSINIAN SCIMITARBILL
 Two in thornscrub west of Archers Post enroute to L. Baringo

Tockus erythrohynchus RED-BILLED HORNBILL  [ph]
 Common in Samburu, more at Lake Baringo
Tockus flavirostris EASTERN YELLOW-BILLED HORNBILL  [ph]
 Failry common in Samburu, another at Lake Baringo
Tockus jacksoni JACKSON'S HORNBILL
 Two at Lake Baringo
Tockus deckeni VON der DECKERN'S HORNBILL  [ph]
 A group of 5 west of Archers Post in thorn scrub enroute to Lake Baringo, a pair in Tsavo West, and a group of 8 in Tsavo East NP
Tockus alboterminatus CROWNED HORNBILL  [ph]
 One daily in the Kakamega Forest, and a few (one photo'd) in the Sokoke Forest
Tockus hemprichii HEMPRICH'S HORNBILL
 Pair at Lake Baringo
Tockus nasutus AFRICAN GRAY HORNBILL  [ph; right in the Mara]
 Two in the Buffalo Springs area of Samburu, more in the Masai Mara and in Tsavo
Ceratogymna bucinator TRUMPETER HORNBILL
 Three in Brachystesia in the Sokoke Forest
Ceratogymna brevis SILVERY-CHEEKED HORNBILL
 A pair at the Gedi ruins near Malinde
Ceratogymna subcylindricus BLACK-AND-WHITE CASQUED HORNBILL  [ph]
 A dozen along the Ikuywa River in the Kakamega Forest
Bucorvus leadbeateri AFRICAN GROUND HORNBILL  [ph]
 A pair of these prehistoric birds were photo'd in the Masai Mara

Gymnobucco bonapartei GRAY-THROATED BARBET
 Two in the Kakamega Forest
Buccanodon olivaceum GREEN BARBET
 Heard daily throughout the Sokoke Forest but not seen until an evening trip w. of Ganda
Pogoniulus duchaillui YELLOW-SPOTTED BARBET
 A few (2-6) daily in the Kakamega Forest
Pogoniulus pusillus RED-FRONTED TINKERBIRD
 One in scrubby forest at the Sabeki R. mouth
Pogoniulus chrysoconus YELLOW-FRONTED TINKERBIRD
 One at the Sunset Hotel, Kisumu
Pogoniulus bilineatus YELLOW-RUMPED (Golden-rumped) TINKERBIRD
 Heard commonly in open woodlands (e.g., Nairboi NP); individuals seen at Mountain Lodge & at Naro Maro Lodge on Mt. Kenya; common in the Kakamega Forest
Tricholaema lacrymosum SPOT-FLANKED BARBET
 One at Cottar's Camp and another elsewhere in the Masai Mara, and another at the River Hotel, Namanga
Tricholaema diadematus RED-FRONTED BARBET  [ph]
 One eating figs in tree behind Lake Baringo Lodge
Tricholaema melanocephalum BLACK-THROATED BARBET
 A couple at Lake Baringo
Lybius guifsobalito BLACK-BILLED BARBET
 Three scoped from our balconey at Sunset Lodge, Kisumu
Lybius leucocephalus WHITE-HEADED BARBET
 A pair in the Keekorek woods, Masai Mara
Lybius bidentata DOUBLE-TOOTHED BARBET
 One at Governor's Camp in the Mara; my notes say only "super fine!"
Trachyphonus purpuratus YELLOW-BILLED BARBET  [ph]
 Three in the Kakamega Forest
Trachyphonus erythrocephalus RED-AND-YELLOW BARBET  [ph]
 Our first was in the Buffalo Springs vicinity of Samburu, but others were scattered throughout the interior, including the Mara, Amboseli, and Tsavo; one disappeared into a hole in a termite mound (they nest in such substate)
Trachyphonus darnaudii D'ARNAUD'S BARBET  [ph; right is the "Usambiro Barbet" in the Mara]
 A pair in thornscrub on the Archers Post to L. Baringo Road were of the nominate race; a black-billed bird near Cottar's Camp in Masai Mara was of the race usambiro, then considered a separate species "Usambiro Barbet." The status of these birds is still unsettled (see Zimmerman et al. 1996)

Indicator minor LESSER HONEYGUIDE
 A mid-sized plan honeyguide seen in Brachystesia in the Sokoke Forest
Indicator conirostris THICK-BILLED HONEYGUIDE
 Two mid-sized honeyguides without a loral spots or malar stripes were in the Kakamega Forest

Campethera nubica NUBIAN WOODPECKER
 Two in Nairboi NP, one in thornscrub on Archers Post to L. Baringo Rd, several more in Samburu, and a pair at Lake Navaisha
Campethera abingoni GOLDEN-TAILED WOODPECKER
 One in Samburu was our only one
Campethera cailliautii GREEN-BACKED (Little Spotted) WOODPECKER
 One in Brachystesia in the Sokoke Forest
Campethera nivosa BUFF-SPOTTED WOODPECKER
 One in the Kakamega Forest
Dendropicos fuscescens CARDINAL WOODPECKER  [ph]
 One at Lake Baringo
Mesopicos xantholophus YELLOW-CRESTED WOODPECKER
 A couple in the Kakamega Forest
Mesopicos goertae GRAY WOODPECKER
 A pair in the Masai Mara
Thripias namaquus BEARDED WOODPECKER
 A pair at Cottar's Camp, Masai Mara

Smithornis capensis AFRICAN BROADBILL  [ph]
 One obliged us for photos in the Kakamega Forest

Erythrocercus holochlorus YELLOW FLYCATCHER
 One in Nairboi NP, and common in the Sokoke Forest where the sweet song in oft-heard
Elminia longicauda AFRICAN BLUE-FLYCATCHER
 Several daily inside Kakamega Forest, and others in woods in the Masai Mara
Trochocercus cyanomelas AFRICAN CRESTED-FLYCATCHER
 A few of this neat, perky flycatcher in mixed species flocks in Afazelia in the Sokoke Forest
Terpsiphone virids AFRICAN PARADISE-FLYCATCHER
 A female in Nairboi NP; two at Naro Maro Lodge, base of Mt. Kenya; daily in Kakamega Forest, including a full-tailed male, and another male in woodland in Tsavo West NP

Dicururus ludwigii SQUARE-TAILED DRONGO
 One at Naro Maro Lodge, base of Mt. Kenya; another along the Sirimon Track into Mt. Kenya NP; several at low levels in the Kakamega Forest
Dicururus adsimilis FORK-TAILED DRONGO  [ph]
 Widespread: a couple at the hotel garden in Nairobi, 2 in Nairboi NP, fairly common in Samburu, common at Lakes Baringo & Jipe, and the "Velvety-mantled Drongo" was in the canopy in the Kakamega Forest

Corvus capensis CAPE ROOK
 One at Naro Maro Lodge, base of Mt. Kenya
Corvus albus PIED CROW  [ph]
 Common in open country: at the hotel garden in Nairobi, at L. Nakuru, in the town of Kakamega, shore of Lake Victoria, etc.
Corvus ruficollis BROWN-NECKED RAVEN
 One in Samburu NP; this is the race edithae ("Dwarf Raven") that may be a separate species from the Brown-necked Raven on the Middle East (which I'd just seen & photographed in Israel). Zimmerman et al. (1996) say it is common in arid plains but we just had the lone bird; they (and Sibley & Monroe 1990) continue to lump it for now
Corvus rhipidurus FAN-TAILED RAVEN
 A common, short-tailed raven in Samburu NP
Corvus albicollis WHITE-NECKED RAVEN
 Singles on both full days in the Masai Mara

Oriolus oriolus EURASIAN GOLDEN ORIOLE
 One migrant from Eurasian was in the hotel garden in Nairobi
Oriolus brachyrhynchus WESTERN BLACK-HEADED ORIOLE
 A few daily in the Kakamega Forest
Oriolus larvatus AFRICAN BLACK-HEADED ORIOLE  [ph]
 One at Lake Nakuru, and daily in Brachystesia in the Sokoke Forest (taped)
Oriolus percivali BLACK-TAILED (Montane) ORIOLE  [ph]
 Common around Mountain Lodge, and also seen around Naro Maro Lodge, both below Mt. Kenya

Coracina caesia GRAY CUCKOO-SHRIKE
 A female at Naro Maro Lodge, base of Mt. Kenya
Campephaga petiti PETIT'S CUCKOO-SHRIKE
 A male with yellow gape and later a pair watched at length inside the Kakamega Forest
Campephaga flava BLACK CUCKOO-SHRIKE
 One male in the hotel garden in Nairobi, and a female at Lake Baringo

Lanius isabellinus RUFOUS-TAILED SHRIKE  [ph]
 A few in open country in Samburu NP
Lanius excubitoroides GRAY-BACKED FISCAL  [ph]
 One in Nairboi NP, and a half-dozen at Lake Baringo
Lanius cabanisi LONG-TAILED FISCAL  [ph]
 One in Nairboi NP, a few more in Samburu, and several around Lake Jipe
Lanius dorsalis TAITA FISCAL
 One in Samburu Nat'l Park
Lanius somalicus SOMALI FISCAL  [ph]
 One photo'd in Samburu Nat'l Park but not identified for almost 20 years. It was only when comparing the photo to plates in the Zimmerman et al. (1996) field guide that it became obvious I had photo'd this species with white-tipped tertials and shorter tail [photo is on my Shrike Family page]
Lanius mackinnoni MacKINNON'S SHRIKE  [ph; right]
 One photo'd at the edge of a glade in the Kakamega Forest
Lanius collaris COMMON FISCAL  [ph]
 Widespread in open country from the gardens of Nairobi hotel to Samburu to Lake Victoria; recently-fledged juvs seen indicated nesting on road to Samburu

Nilaus afer BRUBRU  [ph]
 A couple in Samburu, two more at Lake Baringo
Dryoscopus pringlii PRINGLE'S PUFFBACK
 One in thornscrub west of Archers Post (on Baringo Road) described in notes as "brown, plain face, red eye, white edgings to tertials, secondaries"
Dryoscopus cubia BLACK-BACKED PUFFBACK
 A pair in light woods in the Masai Mara, and a couple in the Sokoke Forest
Dryoscopus angolensis PINK-FOOTED PUFFBACK
 Two males in Kakamega Forest
Tchagra senegala BLACK-CROWNED TCHAGRA
 Two in Brachystesia in the Sokoke Forest
Tchagra australis BROWN-CROWNED TCHAGRA
 One bird in the Masai Mara
Laniarius luehderi LUEHDER'S BUSHSHRIKE
 A fine bird seen inside Kakamega Forst
Laniarius aethiopicus TROPICAL BOUBOU
 Rather common at Mountain Lodge, Mt. Kenya and at Naro Maro Lodge and up along the Sirimon Track into Mt. Kenya NP, again in the Sokoke Forest, and a few in Tsavo West NP
Laniarius funebris SLATE-COLORED BOUBOU  [ph]
 Several daily in Samburu, common at Lake Baringo and in thickets in Masai Mara & Tsavo parks
Phodophoneus cruentus ROSY-PATCHED SHRIKE  [ph]
 A pair photo'd in Samburu were of the race hilgerti, but the few seen at Lake Jipe in Tsavo West and again in Tsavo East NP were of the race cathemagmenus whose reddish throat patch is bordered in black
Telophorus bocagei GRAY-GREEN BUSHSHRIKE
 A pair watched inside Kakamega Forest; the male was calling
Telophorus sulfureopectus SULPHUR-BREASTED BUSHSHRIKE  [ph]
 One seen nicely at Cottar's Camp, Masai Mara
Malaconotus blanchoti GRAY-HEADED BUSHSHRIKE
 One in Samburu, another at Lake Baringo; we undoubtedly overlooked others
Prionops scopifrons CHESTNUT-FRONTED HELMETSHRIKE  [ph]
 Small groups (20; some photo'd) in Brachystesia in the Sokoke Forest
[Prionops retzii RETZ'S HELMETSHRIKE
  Steve Wilson had one in the Sokoke Forest, a bad miss for me.]
Eurocephalus rueppelli WHITE-RUMPED SHRIKE
 One in Samburu in acacia scrub, several more at Lake Baringo, in the Masai Mara, and around Lake Jipe

Bias flammulatus AFRICAN SHRIKE-FLYCATCHER
 One in Kakamega Forest
Batis mixta SHORT-TAILED (Forest) BATIS
 Ten or so in Afazelia in the Sokoke Forest; I was impressed with their "neat sounds"
Batis molitor CHINSPOT BATIS  [ph]
 One fine male at the hotel garden at Nairobi, another in Nairboi NP, and more at Lake Navaisha
Batis soror PALE (East Coast) BATIS
 A long-tailed male in Brachystesia in the Sokoke Forest
Batis perkeo PYGMY BATIS  [ph; right from Samburu]
 Two in Samburu, plus seven (six males) at Lake Baringo
Platysteira cyanea BROWN-THROATED WATTLE-EYE
 One male in Kakamega Forest, and a pair singing and chasing about in vegetation by "hippo pools" in Masai Mara reserve
Platysteira peltata BLACK-THROATED WATTLE-EYE
 A male in Afazelia in the Sokoke Forest
Platysteira jamesoni JAMESON'S WATTLE-EYE
 One in Kakamega Forest about which I wrote: "a fine bird in undergrowth"
Platysteira concreta YELLOW-BELLIED WATTLE-EYE
 One in the Kakamega Forest on our final day; my notes call it a "magnificent, neon-yellow, silly little bird."

Neocossyphus poensis WHITE-TAILED ANT-THRUSH
 One poorly seen as it skulked in the undergrowth in Kakamega Forest, but I did see the white tips to outer rectrices in flight
Monticola saxatilis RUFOUS-TAILED (European) ROCK-THRUSH
 One female in Samburu, another along the Archers Post to L. Baringo Road, and more in open country in Tsavo West NP
Turdus olivaceus OLIVE THRUSH
 One in the hotel garden at Nairobi and four at Mountain Lodge, Mt. Kenya; this is said to be the common thrush of the highlands
Turdus tephronotus AFRICAN BARE-EYED THRUSH
 Taita Hills Lodge, Tsavo West NP
Turdus pelios AFRICAN THRUSH
 Two in Kakamega Forest
Alethe policephala BROWN-CHESTED ALETHE
 Three seen, others heard, in the Kakamega Forest; best views were one at dusk feeding in the center of the track

Poeoptera stuhlmanni STUHLMANN'S STARLING
 A flock of about ten in the canopy of Kakamega Forest
Onychognathus morio RED-WINGED STARLING
 Four at Lake Baringo
Onychognathus tenuirostris SLENDER-BILLED STARLING
 A flock of ten or so flying over a forested gorge at 9000' along the Sirimon Track into Mt. Kenya NP
Onychognathus salvadorii BRISTLE-CROWNED STARLING  [ph]
 Group of ~15 at Lake Baringo
Lamprotornis corruscus BLACK-BELLIED GLOSSY-STARLING
 Steve had one at Salt Lick Lodge, we had fair numbers in Tsavo East NP, and then rather common in Brachystesia in the Sokoke Forest
Lamprotornis chalybaeus GREATER BLUE-EARED GLOSSY-STARLING  [ph; right below]
Widespread, including 3 in the hotel garden in Nairobi, five at Mountain Lodge, two at Naro Maro Lodge, and flocks daily in Samburu and Masai Mara, and arounds Lake Baringo and Jipe
Lamprotornis purpuropterus RUEPPELL'S GLOSSY-STARLING
 About ten at Lake Baringo, another flock along shore of Lake Victoria at Kisumu, and daily in Masai Mara
Lamprotornis superbus SUPERB STARLING  [ph]
 Common, including the hotel garden in Nairobi, in Nairboi NP, around the lodge at Samburu, at Lakes Baringo & Nakuru & Naivasha, and in the Masai Mara
Lamprotornis hildebrandti HILDEBRANDT'S STARLING
 Ten in the hotel garden in Nairobi
Speculipastor bicolor MAGPIE STARLING
 Five at Lake Baringo were considered a good find here by Terry Stevenson
Spreo fischeri FISCHER'S STARLING  [ph]
 Three in Samburu, more at Lake Jipe, and a few in Tsavo East NP
Cosmopsarus regius GOLDEN-BREASTED STARLING
 Two in Samburu; very striking birds
Creatophora cinerea WATTLED STARLING
 A dozen in the hotel garden in Nairobi, 30+ at Lake Baringo, and very common in Amboseli & Tsavo parks

Buphagus afrcianus YELLOW-BILLED OXPECKER
 Three at Mountain Lodge, Mt. Kenya
Buphagus erythrorhynchus RED-BILLED OXPECKER  [ph]
 Three in Nairboi NP, ten at Mountain Lodge, several daily in Samburu, two at L. Nakuru, and more in the Mara & Tsava parks; most were on or adjacent to large mammals

Bradornis pallidus PALE FLYCATCHER  [ph]
 Widespread in light woodland: two in Nairboi NP, one at Naro Maro Lodge, base of Mt. Kenya, another along the Archers Post to L. Baringo Road, and more in the Mara
Bradornis microrhynchus AFRICAN (Large) GRAY FLYCATCHER
 A few in thornscrub in Samburu NP, more at Lake Baringo, some around Kakamega Forest, and others at Lake Jipe
Dioptrornis fischeri WHITE-EYED SLATY-FLYCATCHER  [ph]
 Widespread in small numbers: hotel garden at Nairobi, Nairboi NP, Mountain Lodge, along the Sirimon Track into Mt. Kenya NP, and in Kakamega Forest
Malaenornis edolioides NORTHERN BLACK-FLYCATCHER
 One caught a fly in the sun and "showed no gloss" at Governor's Camp, Masai Mara
Muscicapa striata SPOTTED FLYCATCHER
 A widespread wintering species, including 4 in Nairboi NP, 2 at Naro Maro Lodge, several in Samburu, and good numbers in the Sokoke Forest
Muscicapa adusta AFRICAN DUSKY FLYCATCHER  [ph]
 Three at Naro Maro Lodge, base of Mt. Kenya
Muscicapa aquatica SWAMP FLYCATCHER
 Five in remnant patches of papyrus at Kisumu, Lake Victoria
Sheppardia aequatorialis EQUATORIAL AKALAT
 A few daily in Kakamega Forest
Cossypha caffra CAPE ROBIN-CHAT
 One in the hotel garden at Nairobi, two at Mountain Lodge on Mt. Kenya, and a couple at Lake Navaisha
Cossypha cyanocamptor BLUE-SHOULDERED ROBIN-CHAT
 Heard daily and two seen with tape playback inside Kakamega Forest
Cossypha semirufa RUEPPELL'S ROBIN-CHAT
 Two at Mountain Lodge and another at Naro Maro Lodge, base of Mt. Kenya
Cossypha heuglini WHITE-BROWED ROBIN-CHAT
 Four around Cottar's Camp in the Masai Mara
Cichladusa guttata SPOTTED MOURNING-THRUSH
 A few daily in Samburu, and more at Lake Baringo, all in thornscrub habitat
Cercotrichas leucophrys RED-BACKED SCRUB-ROBIN  [ph]
 Called the "White-browed Scrub-Robin" back then, a few seen daily in Samburu, ten at Lake Baringo, and more in Tsavo West (including L. Jipe vicinity) and at Salt Lick Lodge
Cercotrichas galactotes RUFOUS BUSH CHAT (Rufous-tailed Scrub-Robin)  [ph; above right]
 At least one in Samburu NP but we had confusion about i.d. that was not settled until my good photo was compared to the Zimmerman et al. (1996) field guide
Saxicola torquata COMMON STONECHAT
 Widespread in open grasslands, including Nairboi NP, along Nanyuki-Isiolo Hwy, near Thika and throughout Masai Mara
Oenanthe oenanthe NORTHERN WHEATEAR
 A female in grasslands near Naro Maro Lodge and common (50) along the Archers Post to L. Baringo Road, plus a few more in Samburu & at Lake Baringo
Oenanthe lugubris SCHALOW'S WHEATEAR  [ph]
 Three (one photo'd) atop Baboon Cliffs, Lake Nakuru. This resident wheatear was considered a race of the Mourning Wheater O. lugens of Asia Minor at the time, but Zimmerman et al. (1996) point out it differs in behavior, plumages, and voice, and is thus best considered a distinct species
Oenanthe pleschanka PIED WHEATEAR
 Rather common in Samburu NP, plus five more along the Archers Post to L. Baringo Road
Oenanthe pileata CAPPED WHEATEAR  [ph; right]
 Two photo'd in grasslands near Naro Maro Lodge, and another along Nanyuki-Isiolo Hwy to Samburu
Oenanthe isabellina ISABELLINE WHEATEAR  [ph]
 Two in Nairboi NP, others along Nanyuki-Isiolo Hwy, along the Archers Post to L. Baringo Road, and several in Samburu NP
Cercomela familiaris FAMILIAR CHAT
 Several of this red-tailed chat were found daily in Samburu
Cercomela scotocerca BROWN-TAILED CHAT  [ph; below right]
 About five at Lake Baringo in scrub below cliffs; I was very happy to get a photo since this is an obscure species, and there couldn't have been too many photos taken in the wild of this bird back then
Cercomela sordida ALPINE (or Moorland or Hill) CHAT
 Two along the Sirimon Track into Mt. Kenya NP, including a fledgling photo'd
Myrmecocichla aethiops NORTHERN ANTEATER-CHAT  [ph]
 Ten or so at Lake Nakuru, and several more in the Masai Mara
Myrmecocichla nigra SOOTY CHAT  [ph]
 Rather common in the Masai Mara
Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris MOCKING CLIFF-CHAT  [ph]
 One on cliffs at Lake Baringo, and three atop Baboon Cliffs at Lake Nakuru

Riparia paludicola PLAIN MARTIN
 A few at the Tana R. crossing, n. of Nairobi, and in swallow flocks at Hells Gate
Riparia riparia SAND MARTIN (Bank Swallow)
 Three among swallow flocks at Lake Baringo, and several more were over Lake Jipe
Hirundo fulgula ROCK MARTIN
 A few at the Tana R. crossing, more along the Nanyuki-Isiolo Hwy and at Lakes Baringo & Nakuru & Jipe
Hirundo rustica BARN SWALLOW
 One along Nanyuki-Isiolo Hwy, many at Lake Baringo and again at Lake Jipe, others in the Kakamega and Sokoke forests
Hirundo angolensis ANGOLA SWALLOW
 Ten at Mountain Lodge, Mt. Kenya, two in grasslands near Naro Maro Lodge, and more along Nanyuki-Isiolo Hwy
Hirundo smithii WIRE-TAILED SWALLOW
 A few most days in Samburu (up to 10/day), several along the Archers Post to L. Baringo Road, and more at Lake Jipe
Hirundo abyssinica LESSER STRIPED-SWALLOW  [ph]
 A couple in the Kakamega Forest, two at the River Hotel at Namanga, a few in the Mara, and common around Lake Jipe
Hirundo senegalensis MOSQUE SWALLOW
 Two Mosque/Red-rumped-types at Mountain Lodge, Mt. Kenya, and a few Mosques daily in the Masai Mara
Hirundo daurica RED-RUMPED SWALLOW
 Four at Naro Maro Lodge, up to 15/day in Kakamega Forest, and common over the river at the River Hotel at Namanga and over Lake Jipe
Psalidoprocne albiceps WHITE-HEADED SAWWING
 A few (1-4/day) in the Kakamega Forest, and several more in the Masai Mara
Psalidoprocne homomelas BLACK SAWWING
 Common at Mountain Lodge at Naro Maro Lodge, around base of Mt. Kenya, and a few daily in Kakamega Forest

Pycnonotus barbatus COMMON BULBUL  [ph]
 Widespread: 10 in the hotel garden at Nairobi, 20 in Nairboi NP, 10 at Mountain Lodge, Mt. Kenya; 5 at Naro Maro Lodge; common in Samburu & Lake Baringo & edges of Kakamega Forest, and various spots along the coast
Andropadus masukuensis SHELLEY'S GREENBUL
 A couple of these gray-headed, green-bodied chunky greenbuls in the Kakamega Forest
Andropadus ansorgei ANSORGE'S GREENBUL
 Small numbers of this ginger, yellowish-buff-flankled small greenbul in the undergrowth in the Kakamega Forest
Andropadus gracilirostis SLENDER-BILLED GREENBUL
 Two at Mountain Lodge, Mt. Kenya; several others watched in the Kakamega Forest; they look very slim, long-billed, and long-tailed, and agily work the canopy.
Andropadus importunus SOMBRE GREENBUL
 A big, all olive-green, creamy-eyed greenbul in lowland scrub at the Sabaki R. mouth
Andropadus latirostris YELLOW-WHISKERED GREENBUL
 The common and noisy greenbul in the Kakamega Forest; hard to see.
Andropadus tephrolaemus MOUNTAIN GREENBUL
 Common at Mountain Lodge and at Naro Maro Lodge, base of Mt. Kenya
Baeopogon indicator HONEYGUIDE GREENBUL
 One seen most days in the Kakamega Forest; white eye is an important character.
Chlorocichla flaviventris YELLOW-BELLIED GREENBUL
 Fairly common in Brachystesia in the Sokoke Forest
Chlorocichla laetissima JOYFUL GREENBUL
 Small parties fairly common in the Kakamega Forest
Phyllastrephus fischeri FISCHER'S GREENBUL
 A few daily in in Afazelia in the Sokoke Forest
Phyllastrephus cabanisi CABANIS'S GREENBUL
 Three in the forest behind Naro Maro Lodge, base of Mt. Kenya were of the race placidus (known as "Olive Mountain Greenbul" at the time), while birds in the undergrowth of the Kakamega Forest were of the race sucosus ("Placid Greenbul"). Most authorities now consider them conspecific with the more southern Cabanis's Greenbul (e.g., Keith et al. 1992, Zimmerman et al. 1996).
Phyllastrephus terrestris TERRESTRIAL BROWNBUL
 One distinctly white-throated individual in Afazelia in the Sokoke Forest
Phyllastrephus strepitans NORTHERN BROWNBUL
 Two in Samburu, and two in flocks in Afazelia in the Sokoke Forest
Phyllastrephus debilis TINY GREENBUL
 Regular in bird parties in Afazelia in the Sokoke Forest; it was known as "Smaller Yellow-streaked Greenbul" back in those days
Bleda syndactylas COMMON BRISTLEBILL
 One seen well in the undergrowth inside Kakamega Forest
Nicator choris YELLOW-SPOTTED (Eastern) NICATOR
 A couple "chucking" and seen well in the Sokoke Forest

Zosterops senegalensis AFRICAN YELLOW WHITE-EYE
 A few daily in Samburu and also in Kakamega Forest
Zosterops poliogaster BROAD-RINGED WHITE-EYE
 Three at Mountain Lodge, Mt. Kenya; two at Naro Maro Lodge, base of Mt. Kenya; and two along the Sirimon Track into Mt. Kenya NP
Zosterops abyssinica WHITE-BREASTED WHITE-EYE
 Two in patches of gallery woods in Nairboi NP

Cisticola chubbi CHUBB'S CISTICOLA
 One plain-backed, reddish-crowned bird at Kakamega Forest
Cisticola bodessa BORAN CISTICOLA  [ph]
 This local endemic was found easily through directions from Dale Zimmerman in strange cactus-forest at the Isiolo-Meru junction enroute to Samburu
Cisticola chiniana RATTLING CISTICOLA
 Common (dozen in short visit) in Nairboi NP, at Lake Baringo, and in the Mara & Tsavo parks
Cisticola lais WAILING CISTICOLA
 Four at Hells Gate near Naivasha where they looked like Rattling but were redder-capped and had different vocalizations; yet another instance wherein Zimmerman's notes to us worked
Cisticola galactotes WINDING CISTICOLA
 Two in pondside bushes & reeds at Mzima Springs, Tsavo West NP, were confidently identified (and I have field notes); two others described early in the trip near the Isiolo-Meru junction might have been this species but this is near the edge of their range and I failed to detail the habitat
Cisticola carruthersi CARRUTHER'S CISTICOLA
 The streaked-backed, rusty-capped cisticola in papyrus patches at Kisumu, Lake Victoria
Cisticola tinniens TINKLING CISTICOLA
 Three near Thika at Zimmerman's site: "very rusty-capped, med. size, very heavy black back streaks"
Cisticola robusta STOUT CISTICOLA
 A common and widespread Cisticola of open grasslands, including at Nairboi NP, grasslands near Naro Maro Lodge, edges of Kakamega Forest, and in Hells Gate near Naivasha
Cisticola brachyptera SIFFLING CISTICOLA
 Two in Nairboi NP
Cisticola nana TINY CISTICOLA
 One in brushy open country in Tsavo West NP was of "small size, short tail" and had "rufous cap with unstreaked back"
Cisticola juncidis ZITTING CISTICOLA
 A couple at Lake Baringo
Cisticola brunnescens PECTORAL-PATCH CISTICOLA
 Common in Nairboi NP, and in the Masai Mara & Tsavo parks
Cisticola ayresii WING-SNAPPING CISTICOLA
 One at Thika was a Dale Zimmerman stakeout: "very like Pectoral-patch, a bit darker & brighter," my notes read
Prinia subflava TAWNY-FLANKED PRINIA
 A couple in Nairboi NP, several in Masai Mara, and common at Hells Gate near Naivasha
Prinia somalica PALE PRINIA
 A few on most days in Samburu
Prinia leucopogon WHITE-CHINNED PRINIA
 Common in undergrowth at Kakamega Forest
Prinia bairdii BANDED PRINIA
 One at Naro Maro Lodge, base of Mt. Kenya, and several daily in Kakamega Forest
Apalis pulchra BLACK-COLLARED APALIS
 Five at Mountain Lodge, Mt. Kenya
Apalis flavida YELLOW-BREASTED APALIS  [ph; right from Baringo]
 Common and widespread in dry brushy interior: four in Nairboi NP; one at Naro Maro Lodge, a couple along the Archers Post to L. Baringo Road and more at Lake Baringo
Apalis rufogularis BUFF-THROATED APALIS
 One male in Kakamega Forest
Apalis porphyrolaema CHESTNUT-THROATED APALIS
 One at Mountain Lodge, Mt. Kenya
Apalis melanocephala BLACK-HEADED APALIS
 One at Mountain Lodge, Mt. Kenya; and a few in the Sokoke Forest
Apalis cinerea GRAY APALIS
 Common in Kakamega Forest but confusing the first day
Apalis rufifrons RED-FACED APALIS (Red-fronted Warbler)
 Common and vocal (recorded) at Mountain Lodge, Mt. Kenya; others along the Archers Post to L. Baringo Road and at Lake Baringo
Eminia lepida GRAY-CAPPED WARBLER
 One at Mountain Lodge on Mt. Kenya, and a few more in the Masai Mara
Camaroptera brevicaudata GRAY-BACKED CAMAROPTERA
 Common and widespread: recorded in Nairboi NP, at Naro Maro Lodge, in Samburu NP, and common in scrub and edges in the Kakamega and Sokoke Forests
Camaroptera chloronota OLIVE-GREEN CAMAROPTERA
 One identified in Kakamega Forest
Calamonastes simplex GRAY WREN-WARBLER
 A few daily in Samburu, a couple in thornscrub along the Archers Post to L. Baringo Road, and several more in Tsavo West NP

Bathmocercus rufus BLACK-FACED RUFOUS-WARBLER
 Commonly heard every day in Kakamega Forest but hard to see; a couple taped in with playback
Acrocephalus schoenobaenus SEDGE WARRBLER
 One in reedy edge of papyrus patch at Kisumu; common winterer around Lake Victoria
Acrocephalus scirpaceus EURASIAN REED-WARBLER
 One of these wintering migrants was in papyrus patches at Kisumu; they commonly winter in Lake Victoria basin
Acrocephalus rufescens GREATER SWAMP-WARBLER
 The large "Acro" that was reasonably common in papyrus patches at Kisumu, Lake Victoria, and at Lake Navaisha
Hippolais pallida OLIVACEOUS WARBLER
 This seemed to be the widespread Hippolais (in Samburu, L. Nakuru, L. Navaisha etc.) although there were some we couldn't identify, or may have misidentified
Chloropeta similis MOUNTAIN WARBLER
 One at Mountain Lodge, another along the Sirimon Track into Mt. Kenya NP
Phyllolais pulchella BUFF-BELLIED WARBLER
 One with Terry Stevenson at Lake Baringo, and three more in the Masai Mara (Cottar's Camp)
Eremomela flavicrissalis YELLOW-VENTED EREMOMELA
 Small numbers in Samburu
Eremomela turneri TURNER'S EREMOMELA
 Three on one day in Kakamega Forest
Sylvietta brachyrura NORTHERN CROMBEC  [ph]
 A couple on our final day in Samburu NP
Sylvietta whytii RED-FACED CROMBEC
 One in light woodland around Cottar's Camp, Masai Mara
Sylvietta isabellina SOMALI (Long-billed) CROMBEC
 One in thornscrub along the Archers Post to L. Baringo Road described as having "long bill" and plumaged "gray above, reddish face becoming pink-gray below" gave us problems at the time in the old field guide but both the description and the range are wrong for preceding species
Phylloscopus budongoensis UGANDA WOODLAND-WARBLER
 Common daily in Kakamega Forest
Phylloscopus umbrovirens BROWN WOODLAND-WARBLER
 Several in forest along the Sirimon Track into Mt. Kenya NP
Phylloscopus trochilus WILLOW WARBLER
 At least one with Terry Stevenson at Lake Baringo, a few daily in Kakamega Forest, and then good numbers wintering in light woodlands at Lake Navaisha and in the Masai Mara
Phylloscopus collybita EURASIAN CHIFFCHAFF
 We felt that Phylloscopus encountered in Nairobi NP were this species
Choropteta similis MOUNTAIN YELLOW WARBLER
 One at Mountain Lodge, Mt. Kenya
Parisoma boehmi BANDED PARISOMA
 One at Naro Maro Lodge; the Clements' checklist put this in Sylvia but Zimmerman et al. (1996) used the namesake genus, and that makes sense to me
Sylvia atricapilla BLACKCAP
 Widespread in scrub at higher elevations in n. Kenya, including Samburu NP, and several in Kakamega Forest
Syvlia borin GARDEN WARBLER
 One wintering in the garden at Naro Maro Lodge, base of Mt. Kenya
Sylvia communis GREATER WHITETHROAT
 One in Tsavo West was our only example of this wintering species
Illadopsis albipectus SCALY-BREASTED ILLADOPSIS
 Several heard, and one finally seen in the Kakamega Forest, by sitting inside the forest and playing the voice (an upscale series of half-tone whistles) back to it.  This is a small bird with ridiculously short tail and big feet; it hops on long legs.
Illadopsis abyssinica ABYSSINIAN HILL-BABBLER
 One at Naro Maro Lodge, base of Mt. Kenya
Turdoides rubiginosus RUFOUS CHATTERER
 A couple on most days in Samburu
Turdoides melanops BLACK-LORED BABBLER
 One in thickets at Kisumu, Lake Victoria
Turdoides hypoleucus NORTHERN PIED-BABBLER
 One in the hotel garden in Nairobi, two in cut-over area near Mountain Lodge, Mt. Kenya
Turdoides jardineii ARROW-MARKED BABBLER
 Small flock near Kisima in thornscrub along the Archers Post to L. Baringo Road, and more (8) at Lake Nakuru

Parus albiventris WHITE-BELLIED TIT
 One in the hotel garden in Nairobi
Parus funereus DUSKY TIT
 Small flocks daily in Kakamega Forest
Parus afer GRAY TIT
 Three near Kisima in thornscrub along the Archers Post to L. Baringo Road, and a small flock (8) at Lake Baringo

Anthoscopus musculus MOUSE-COLORED PENDULINE-TIT
 A couple at Lake Baringo with Terry Stevenson

Mirafra hypermetra  RED-WINGED LARK  [ph]
 Several at Lake Jipe, Tsavo West NP, but misidentified at the time as "Rufous-naped Lark" and then, after photos were developed, as "Flappet Lark." My very nice photo [on my Lark Family page] helped correct this mistake after the Zimmerman et al. (1996) field guide appeared.
Mirafra africana RUFOUS-NAPED LARK  [ph]
 Very common and widespread throughout the interior, including Nairboi NP, in grasslands near Naro Maro Lodge, the high grasslands near Thika, and then very common on the plains of the Masai Mara
Mirafra rufocinnamomea FLAPPET LARK
 Several in display flights at Lake Jipe
Mirafra africanoides FAWN-COLORED LARK
 One in Samburu was it
Mirafra poecilsterna PINK-BREASTED LARK  [ph; right at Samburu]
 Common in Samburu, then encountered again in numbers around Lake Jipe
Eremopterix signata CHESTNUT-HEADED SPARROW-LARK  [ph]
 A pair photographed along the long, dusty road through Tsavo East NP
Eremopterix leucopareia FISCHER'S SPARROW-LARK
 Five (3 males, 2 females) at Lake Baringo, and a dozen or so in Amboseli NP
Calandrella cineria RED-CAPPED LARK  [ph]
 One in open grassy thornscrub along the Archers Post to L. Baringo Road, but then common in the open country of Masai Mara & Amboseli parks

Passer montitensis RUFOUS SPARROW  [ph]
 Common in the plateau of central Kenya: A dozen at the hotel garden in Nairobi; two in grasslands near Naro Maro Lodge, more at Naro Maro Lodge itself, others at Hells Gate, etc.
Passer griseus GRAY-HEADED SPARROW  [ph]
 Fairly common in Samburu and around Lake Victoria; these were P. g. ugandae. The "Swahili Sparrow" P. g. suahelicus was in Tsavo West and the "Parrot-billed Sparrow" P. g. gongonensis in Tsavo East parks
Passer eminibey CHESTNUT SPARROW
 Two males at Lake Baringo
Petronia pyrgita YELLOW-SPOTTED PETRONIA  [ph]
 Several in Samburu but not identified until we saw more with Terry Stevenson at Lake Baringo

Negrita canicapilla GRAY-HEADED NEGROFINCH
 Two in Kakamega Forest
Pytilia melba GREEN-WINGED PYTILIA  [ph; right]
 One at Lake Baringo
Spermophaga ruficapilla RED-HEADED BLUEBILL
 One male and a couple females in Kakamega Forest
Lagonosticta senegala RED-BILLED FIREFINCH
 Small flocks in the hotel garden in Nairobi and in Nairboi NP, another in Samburu, small flock at Lake Baringo, and one at Sabeki R. mouth
Uraeginthus bengalus RED-CHEEKED CORDONBLEU
 Small flock in Nairboi NP, a couple at Mountain Lodge, two in Samburu, five at L. Nakuru, and a dozen at Sabeki R. mouth
Uraeginthus cyanocephala BLUE-CAPPED CORDONBLEU
 A pair in Tsavo West NP was our only encounter with this cute little finch
Uraeginthus ianthinogaster PURPLE GRENADIER
 Two in Nairboi NP and several in Masai Mara; Steve had another in Kakamega Forest
Estrilda quartinia YELLOW-BELLIED WAXBILL
 Two in Nairboi NP
Estrilda rhodpyga CRIMSON-RUMPED WAXBILL
 Five in Nairboi NP, a pair at Lake Baringo
Estrilda astrild COMMON WAXBILL
 Two at Naro Maro Lodge, base of Mt. Kenya, and a few in Kakamega Forest
Estrilda nonnula BLACK-CROWNED WAXBILL
 One flushed from roadside in the Kakamega Forest
Estrilda atricapilla BLACK-HEADED WAXBILL
 Two at Mountain Lodge, a d three along the Sirimon Track into Mt. Kenya NP
Estrilda charmosyna BLACK-CHEEKED (Red-rumped) WAXBILL
 Two at Cottar's Camp in Masai Mara
Lonchura cucullata BRONZE MANNIKIN
 One in Kakamega Forest, flock at Kisumu, and one in Brachystesia in the Sokoke Forest
Lonchura bicolor BLACK-AND-WHITE MANNIKIN
 Ten in the hotel garden in Nairobi, and five at Naro Maro Lodge at base of Mt. Kenya
Amadina fasciata CUT-THROAT
 One male in Amboseli NP and then several dozen in Tsavo East
Vidua chalybeata VILLAGE INDIGOBIRD
 Then called "Red-billed Firefinch Indigobird," a half-dozen were at Sabeki R. mouth, including a male in molt
Vidua macroura PIN-TAILED WHYDAH
 Widespread, including grasslands near Naro Maro Lodge, a full-tailed male at L. Nakuru and another at the edge of Kakamega Forest with some female-types, more at L. Victoria & Tsavo East
Vidua paradisaea EASTERN PARADISE-WHYDAH
 Four female-plumaged birds in Nairboi NP but five at Lake Baringo included a full-tailed male

Motacilla aguimp AFRICAN PIED WAGTAIL  [ph]
 Two at Naro Maro Lodge, others at Lakes Baringo & Nakuru and elsewhere, including an adult feeding young in the Masai Mara
Motacilla capensis CAPE WAGTAIL
 Two at Mountain Lodge, Mt. Kenya
Motacilla flava YELLOW WAGTAIL
 Widespread: grasslands near Naro Maro Lodge, along Nanyuki-Isiolo Hwy & Baringo Rd., Samburu, Lakes Baringo ("blue-headed" types), Nakuru & Naivasha, and several in open country along the coast
Motacilla cinerea GRAY WAGTAIL
 One along the Ikuywa River in the Kakamega Forest
Motacilla cinerea MOUNTAIN WAGTAIL  [ph]
 Five on rocks along the river behind Naro Maro Lodge, base of Mt. Kenya
Tmetothylacus tenellus GOLDEN PIPIT  [ph]
 A pair on our first day in Samburu, and various others here and there in the interior, including Lake Jipe and Lake Aruba, Tsavo East NP
Macronyx croceus YELLOW-THROATED LONGCLAW  [ph]
 Three in Nairboi NP, more at L. Nakuru, in the Mara & Amboseli parks, and around Lake Jipe
Macronyx ameliae ROSY-THROATED LONGCLAW
 One during a drive through the Masai Mara was it
Anthus sharpei SHARPE'S PIPIT
 Four at the stakeout spot off Thika overpass on Nakuru-Nairobi Rd. provided by Zimmerman
Anthus cinnamomeus AFRICAN (Grassland) PIPIT
 Two enroute to Lake Baringo on 15 Nov, and another with Terry Stevenson at Lake Baringo the next day, were identified at the time as "Richard's Pipit." This taxa was later split into a variety of species (e.g., Clancey 1990), and these became "armchair ticks" years later. These are said by Zimmerman et al. (1996) to be the common grassland pipit of e. Africa. More in Kisumu vicinity and the Masai Mara.
Antus leucophrys PLAIN-BACKED PIPIT  [ph]
 Two large, tawny-backed pipits with buff outer rectrices along the Nanyuki-Isiolo Hwy to Samburu were identified as this pipit; others were in Tsavo West and around Lake Jipe

Bubalornis albirostris WHITE-BILLED BUFFALO-WEAVER  [ph]
 A few (7) around Lake Baringo Lodge where it reaches the eastern edge of its range
Bubalornis niger RED-BILLED BUFFALO-WEAVER
 One in basic plumage in Tsavo West NP was initially confusing, but proved to be this species
Dinemelia denemelii WHITE-HEADED BUFFALO-WEAVER  [ph]
 Two along Nanyuki-Isiolo Hwy to Samburu, and then common in Samburu (15/day)
Sporopipes frontalis SPECKLE-FRONTED WEAVER
 Several in Samburu NP, including birds in "full color," and a couple in Masai Mara
Plocepasser mahali WHITE-BROWED SPARROW-WEAVER  [ph]
 Common: a few at the hotel garden in Nairobi and then widespread in the interior, with up to 50 daily in Samburu, 30/day at Lake Baringo, common in Tsavo West and near Lake Jipe, etc.
Plocepasser donaldsoni DONALDSON-SMITH'S SPARROW-WEAVER  [ph]
 A small group right at Buffalo Springs at their nests were photographed. I thought this was a prize bird at the time as it was not pictured in the Williams & Arlot (1980) field guide and was said to be uncommon. Zimmerman et al. (1996) now calls it "locally common in n. Kenya."
Pseudonigrita arnaudi GRAY-HEADED SOCIAL-WEAVER
 A colony of 50+ in the Masai Mara
Pseudonigrita cabanisi BLACK-CAPPED SOCIAL-WEAVER  [ph]
 A colony (~20) in the Buffalo Springs vicinity of Samburu
Ploceus baglafecht BAGLAFECHT WEAVER
 Common and widespread. Some examples include 20 in the hotel garden in Nairobi, 10 in Nairboi NP, 5 at Mountain Lodge,3 in grasslands near Naro Maro Lodge, 3 at L. Nakuru, 2 at Kisumu, etc.
Ploceus pelzeini SLENDER-BILLED WEAVER
 A small colony of 20 or so was nesting outside our hotel at Kisumu, Lake Victoria
Ploceus intermedius LESSER MASKED WEAVER
 A few (10+) among the many masked-weavers at Lake Baringo; only one alternate male but females are pale-eyed (Terry Stevenson helped us sort these out). More at Lake Victoria
Ploceus ocularis SPECTACLED WEAVER
 One female in Nairboi NP
Ploceus nigricollis BLACK-NECKED WEAVER
 On male in Samburu, and a few in Kakamega Forest
Ploceus melanogaster BLACK-BILLED WEAVER
 Two of these pretty weavers in Kakamega Forest
Ploceus xanthops HOLUB'S GOLDEN-WEAVER
 Two in the Masai Mara; there were also unidentified golden-weavers around Lake Jipe
Ploceus bojeri GOLDEN PALM WEAVER  [ph; right above]
 Common in Samburu NP, including around the lodge, but the only other was in Tsavo East NP
Ploceus castaneiceps TAVETA GOLDEN-WEAVER
 At least 5 were around Amboseli Lodge in Amboseli NP; the only ones on the trip
Ploceus taeniopterus NORTHERN MASKED-WEAVER  [ph]
 The commonest (100+) of the many weavers at Lake Baringo Lodge but not identified for sure after that
Ploceus vitellinus VITELLINE MASKED-WEAVER  [ph; right below]
 Several in the masked-weaver flocks at Lake Baringo Lodge; more around Lake Victoria
Ploceus cucullatus VILLAGE WEAVER
 A few in Samburu, and then widespread, including Lake Victoria etc.
Ploceus spekei SPEKE'S WEAVER
 A male in the hotel garden in Nairobi
Ploceus igerrimus VIELLOT'S BLACK WEAVER
 A half-dozen daily in Kakamega Forest
Ploceus rubiginosus CHESTNUT WEAVER
 Locally common in Samburu (up to 200/day)
Ploceus bicolor DARK-BACKED (Forest) WEAVER  [ph]
 Several in Kakamega Forest and more in Sokoke Forest. This has got to be one of the coolest sounding birds in the world; I taped a long series in the Sokoke Forest where they were reasonably common in Brachystesia woods
Ploceus insignus BROWN-CAPPED WEAVER  [ph]
 One up along the Sirimon Track into Mt. Kenya NP, and a few daily in Kakamega Forest
Anaplectes rubriceps RED-HEADED WEAVER
 A pair or so most days in Samburu, others at Lake Baringo
Quelea quelea RED-BILLED QUELEA
 A couple basic-plumaged birds in Samburu, then 50+ at Lake Baringo and flocks in Tsavo East
Euplectes franciscanus ORANGE (Northern Red) BISHOP
 Good numers (50+) around Lake Baringo but only one male in alternate plumage; other unidentified basic-plumaged bishops were in Samburu. Apparently L. Baringo is a key spot for this bird
Euplectes progne LONG-TAILED WIDOWBIRD  [ph]
 Displaying males and a few females in grasslands near Naro Maro Lodge, and 2 males near Thika
Amblyospiza albifrons GROSBEAK WEAVER
 Small flocks in reeds around Lake Jipe, Tsavo West

Anthreptes rechenowi PLAIN-BACKED SUNBIRD
 A couple in Afazelia in the Sokoke Forest
Anthreptes orientalis EASTERN (Kenya) VIOLET-BACKED SUNBIRD
 A male in thornscrub along the Archers Post to L. Baringo Road, and 8 or so at Lake Baringo
Anthreptes pallidigaster AMANI SUNBIRD
 Six of this endemic were found in Brachystesia in the Sokoke Forest
Anthreptes rectirostris GREEN (Gray-chinned) SUNBIRD
 One tiny, short-billed, warbler-like female in the Kakamega Forest (description in notes)
Anthreptes collaris COLLARED SUNBIRD  [ph]
 A couple in the Kakamega Forest, another at Hells Gate, and a few in the Sokoke Forest
Nectarinia verticalis GREEN-HEADED SUNBIRD
 One male at Naro Maro Lodge, base of Mt. Kenya, and another in Kakamega Forest that my notes say "looked blue!". This race (viridisplendens), like the birds in Gabon seen in the 1990s, does look more blue-headed than green [photo on my Sunbird Family page].
Nectarinia amethystina AMETHYST SUNBIRD
 Two males and a female at Naro Maro Lodge, base of Mt. Kenya, and others at the River Hotel, Namanga
Nectarinia senegalensis SCARLET-CHESTED SUNBIRD
 Steve had a male on 11 Nov and I saw an imm male the next day at Naro Maro Lodge, a male was at Lake Naivasha, and more were in the Mara and at the River Hotel, Namanga, and again in Tsavo East NP
Nectarinia hunteri HUNTER'S SUNBIRD
 A large, black male west of Archers Post in thornscrub described in notes as "spectacular" with green crown and "big red chest patch!"
Nectarinia venusta VARIABLE SUNBIRD
 Ten in Nairboi NP and several around Naro Maro Lodge, base of Mt. Kenya
Nectarinia bouvieri ORANGE-TUFTED SUNBIRD  [ph; male right]
 Several daily (both sexes) at the edge of glades in the Kakamega Forest
Nectarinia preussi NORTHERN DOUBLE-COLLARED SUNBIRD
 Three pair at Naro Maro Lodge, base of Mt. Kenya
Nectarinia mediocris EASTERN DOUBLE-COLLARED SUNBIRD
 Fairly common at Mountain Lodge, Mt. Kenya
Nectarinia chloropygia OLIVE-BELLIED SUNBIRD
 Two males in Kakamega Forest
[Nectarinia cuprea COPPER SUNBIRD
 Steve Wilson had a male in Kakamega Forest but I missed it.]
Nectarinia tacazze TACAZZE SUNBIRD  [ph]
 One or two males each day at Naro Maro Lodge, base of Mt. Kenya
Nectarinia kilimensis BRONZE SUNBIRD
 Common in the hotel garden in Nairobi
Nectarinia reichenowi GOLDEN-WINGED SUNBIRD
 A female at Naro Maro Lodge, base of Mt. Kenya
Nectarinia erythrocerca RED-CHESTED SUNBIRD
 One male along the shore of Lake Victoria at Kisumu, the only place it can be found in Kenya
Nectarinia mariquensis MARIQUA SUNBIRD  [ph]
 A male photo'd north of the Masai Mara park, and more were at the River Hotel, Namanga
Nectarinia pulchella BEAUTIFUL SUNBIRD
 Four (male, imm. male, 2 fem) at Lake Baringo
Nectarinia necarinioides BLACK-BELLIED SUNBIRD
 A couple on several days in Samburu; then known as "Smaller Black-bellied Sunbird"

Serinus canicollis CAPE CANARY
 A small flock (10) at Mountain Lodge, Mt. Kenya
Serinus citrinelloides AFRICAN CITRIL
 Small flock in the hotel garden in Nairobi, 3 in Nairboi NP, 5 at Naro Maro Lodge, and one in Masai Mara
Serinus koliensis PAYRUS CANARY
 One bright yellow-green canary flew by along the shores of Lake Victoria at Kisumu
Serinus atrogularis SOUTHERN YELLOW-RUMPED SEEDEATER
 One along the Archers Post to Baringo Road, and several in Masai Mara
Serinus mozambicus YELLOW-FRONTED CANARY
 A small flock near Archers Post enroute to Lake Baringo
Serinus dorsostriatus WHITE-BELLIED CANARY
 A flock of 15 or so in the Masai Mara
Serinus sulphuratus BRIMSTONE CANARY
 A couple seen from the car along the Archers Post to L. Baringo Road, and two more at Hells Gate near Naivasha
Serinus striolatus STREAKY SEEDEATER  [ph]
 A few in the hotel garden in Nairobi, around Mountain Lodge, and along the Sirimon Track into Mt. Kenya NP
Serinus burtoni THICK-BILLED SEEDEATER
 One at Mountain Lodge, Mt. Kenya, and another at Lake Nakuru
Emberiza poliopleura SOMALI BUNTING  [ph; above right]
 One photo'd in Samburu
Emberiza flaviventris GOLDEN-BREASTED BUNTING
 Fairly common in Nairboi NP, and a couple at Mountain Lodge, Mt. Kenya

Higher taxonomy is after Macdonald (1985) but species level taxonomy generally follows Kingdon (1997), if different. Back in 1981, we used Williams (1967) and Halternorth & Diller (1977, 1980) in the field. In addition to those listed below, we saw various unidentified bats (esp. in Samburu and the Masai Mara); we also made no attempt to identify small rodents like mice and rats.

Panthera leo LION  [ph]
 A female in Samburu, small prides daily in Masai Mara [right] & more enroute to Lake Jipe in Tsavo West NP, plus one came to the pond after dark at Salt Lick Lodge
Panthera pardus LEOPARD  [ph]
 One lounging in a lone tree on the Masai Mara until surrounded by too many vehicles, at which point in lept to the ground and disappeared into the long grass
Canis mesomelas BLACK-BACKED JACKAL
 Single near Salt Lick Lodge and another seen while we were enroute through Tsavo West NP
Otocyon megalotis BAT-EARED FOX  [ph]
 A pair in the Masai Mara, a small family group near Salt Lick Lodge, and one photo'd enroute to Lake Jipe, Tsavo West
Herpestes ichneumon EGYPTIAN (Large Gray) MONGOOSE
 A large gray mongoose walked across trail inside Kakamega Forest; it seems to fit this species best .
Herpestes sanguinea SLENDER MONGOOSE
 Slim mongooses with black tips to slim tails near Namanga, and another at Lake Jipe, were probably this species
Helogale hirtula SOMALI MONGOOSE  [ph]
 Colony of ~20 in Samburu may be this species on range & habitat, but I'm not sure that they weren't Dwarf Mongoose H. parvula
Mungos mungo BANDED MONGOOSE
 Daily in the Masai Mara, and several at Lake Jipe
Ichneumia albicauda WHITE-TAILED MONGOOSE
 A couple at Mountain Lodge
Genetta genetta SMALL-SPOTTED GENET
 One at Mountain Lodge
Genetta tigrina LARGE-SPOTTED GENET
 One at night around Samburu Lodge
Crocuta crocuta SPOTTED HYENA  [ph]
 One at Mountain Lodge, and a few daily (1-3/day) in Masai Mara
Paio cyocephalus SAVANNA  BABOON  [ph]
 "Olive Baboons" were common in Samburu, especially around the lodge, and also common in Masai Mara; the "Yellow Baboon" was common in Tsavo West NP
Cercopithecus mitis BLUE MONKEY
 Common in Kakamega Forest
Cercopithecus aethiops BLACK-FACED VERVET  [ph]
 Common in Nairobi NP and Samburu and Mara
Colobus angolensis BLACK-AND-WHITE COLOBUS  [ph]
 Groups below Mountain Lodge on the flanks of Mt. Kenya, and in Kakamega Forest
Loxodonta africana SAVANNA ELEPHANT  [ph]
 Eight came in to salt lick at Mountain Lodge, a few daily in Samburu, and good numbers in Mara (8-30/day); photos on my Elephants page
Procavia sp. ROCK HYRAX  [ph]
 Ten or so in cliffs at Lake Baringo [right], and six in Baboon Cliffs, Lake Nakuru. It is possible two species were involved, per D. Zimmerman. In range are Ethiopian Rock Hyrax P. habessinica and Black-necked Rock Hyrax P. johnstoni. In addition, numerous tree hyraxes were heard at night at Mountain Lodge; presumably Eastern Tree Hyrax Dendrohyrax validus on range
Equus burchelli COMMON ZEBRA  [ph]
 Common and widespread, including Nairobi NP, Samburu, Hells Gate near Navaisha, the Masai Mara and other parks (Amboseli, Tsavo), and enroute to Lake Jipe, Tsavo West
Equus grevyi GREVY'S ZEBRA  [ph]
 Small numbers in Samburu NP
Hylochoerus meinertzhageni GIANT FOREST HOG
 One at dusk at Mountain Lodge
Phacochoerus aethiopicus WARTHOG  [ph]
 A few in Samburu and at Lake Nakuru, and daily in the Masai Mara
Hippopotamus amphibius HIPPOPOTAMUS  [ph]
 2 in Nairobi NP, one photo'd in Lake Nakuru, a good numbers at pools in Mara & Amboseli
Giraffa camelopardalis GIRAFEE  [ph]
 The "Reticulated Giraffe" G. c. reticulata was seen daily in Samburu, and the "Masai Giraffe" G. c. tippelskirchi was common in Nairobi NP, in the Masai Mara and at Hells Gate, and throughout Amboseli & Tsavo parks
Synceros caffer CAPE (African) BUFFALO  [ph]
 Regular in Samburu, good numbers in the Mara (20/day),
Tragelaphus scriptus BUSHBUCK  [ph]
 A dozen or so at Mountain Lodge
Taurotragus oryx COMMON ELAND
 Small group (10) in Nairobi NP
Redunca redunca BOHOR REEDBUCK
 One at Lake Jipe
Kobus elipsiprymnus WATERBUCK  [ph]
 The "Defassa Waterbuck" K. e. defassa was present at Mountain Lodge, scattered individuals were near water inland, and 50 or so came to drink at Salt Lick Lodge
Damaliscus lunatus TOPI  [ph]
 Herds in the Masai Mara
Alcelaphus buselaphus cokii COKE'S HARTEBEEST (Kongoni)  [ph; right]
 Numbers in Nairobi NP, the Masai Mara, Hells Gate, and enroute to Lake Jipe, Tsavo West
Connochaetes taurinus mearnsi WHITE-BEARDED (Brindled) GNU  [ph]
 Fair numbers in Nairobi NP
Aepyceros melampus IMPALA  [ph]
 Abundant in Nairobi NP and the Mara, common in Samburu, a few at Lake Nakuru and a few on lawns around Kakamega, and some came to drink at Salt Lick Lodge
Oryx beisa beisa BEISA ORYX  [ph]
 A small herd (8) in Samburu
Madoqua guentheri GUENTHER'S DIKDIK  [ph]
 One photo'd in Sambura
Madoqua kirkii KIRK'S DIKDIK  [ph]
 Common in Samburu, two in the Masai Mara, and several at dusk near Salt Lick Lodge
Gazella granti granti GRANT'S GAZELLE  [ph]
 Small numbers daily in Samburu, just a couple in Nairobi NP, and good numbers enroute to Lake Jipe, Tsavo West
Gazella rufifrons thomsoni THOMSON'S (Red-fronted) GAZELLE  [ph]
 Common in Nairobi NP, masses in the Mara,and good numbers enroute to Lake Jipe, Tsavo West
Litocranius walleri GERENUK  [ph]
 10-20 daily in Samburu
Xerus rutilus UNSTRIPED GROUND SQUIRREL  [ph]
 Common in Samburu
Paraxerus ochraceus OCHRE (Huet's) BUSH SQUIRREL
 Common around Mountain Lodge; apparently this species on range
Protoxerus stangeri STANGER'S (Slender-tailed Giant) FOREST SQUIRREL
 One in Kakamega Forest
Lepus saxatilis SCRUB HARE
 Hares were common around Lake Baringo, but this i.d. is tentative (synonymn L. crawshayi); I can't really rule out Cape Hare L. capensis

This herp list omits a number of small unidentified frogs, turtles & lizards but we did see:

SNAKES: At Lake Baringo, I photographed what Terry Stevenson called a "Spotted Sand Snake" (right).
    At the boathouse on Lake Jipe there was a slender, very green snake about 1.5 ft in length with large eyes and broad head; it looked right at me. The boatman threw rocks at it, and called it a "green mamba." The Eastern Green Mamba Dendroaspis angusticeps is in range, but is usually arboreal (this snake was in the grass). Moore (1966) says the Eastern Green Mamba "is often confused with ... the harmless green bush-snakes, Philothamnus." I'm not sure what it was.
    These were the only live snakes we saw.

LIZARDS: A large monitor that we called "Savanna Monitor" was in Samburu, while the one at Lake Baringo we called "Marsh Monitor." There were various small to medium-sized lizards (including numbers of Agamid lizards), skinks, and a gecko

TURTLES: a land tortoise was photo'd in Samburu; it looked rather like a Desert Tortoise in California. Numbers of other turtles in the streams & lakes were not identified

CROCODILES: The Nile Crocodile Crocodylus niloticus was common in rivers in Samburu, the Mara, and Tsavo parks

PHOTOS: All photos on this page are © 1981, 2001 Don Roberson; all rights reserved.

Literature cited:

Haltenorth, T., and H. Diller. 1977, English translation 1980. A Field Guide to the Mammals of Africa, including Madagascar. Collins, London.

Kingdon, J. 1997. The Kingdon Guide to African Mammals. Academic Press, London.

Macdonald, D., ed. 1985. The Encyclopedia of Mammals, 1st ed. Facts on File, New York.

Moore, G. M. 1966. Poisonous Snakes of the World: a Manual for Use by U.S. Amphibious Forces. U. S. Dept. of Navy, Washington, D. C.

Turner, D. A., and D. A. Zimmerman. 1979. Field identification of Kenya greenbuls. Scopus 3: 33-47.

Williams, J. G. 1967. A Field Guide to the National Parks of East Africa. Collins, London.

Williams, J. G., and N. Arlott. 1980. A Field Guide to the Birds of East Africa. Collins, London.

Zimmerman, D. A., D. A. Turner, and D. J. Pearson. 1996. Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania. Christopher Helm, London.