Ethiopia 21st to 23rd backdated
Forest and fish at Arba Minch 21st Feb backdatedAnother hard and dusty drive on bone-shaking rough roads ensured our skin, eyes, lungs and clothes were full of dust by the time we reached our hotel at Arba Minch. But it's amazing how a good meal can revitalize a tired birder, and we were soon back out birding the forest at Nechisar National Park. It's hard to see skulking forest birds with a big group trudging through brittle crunchy dry leaf litter… but with Christian's and Ken's skill and persistence we still added Natal Robin and Heuglin's Robin-Chat, heard Green Malkoha (Coucal) and enjoyed a , Broadbilled Roller excited about the onset of dusk. Much squawking overhead as a squadron of 23 massive Silvery-cheeked Hornbills flew into a tree right above us, was very impressive. Supper was equally so, as several whole Nile Perch were ceremoniously brought to our table and quickly demolished in a birders' feeding frenzy. Lake Arwasa, 22nd Feb backdatedAnother long drive but this time on tarmac, what luxury! Our destination, a quaint hotel at the edge of Lake Awassa. What a glorious way to unwind, birding the edge of the lake in the beautiful late afternoon light, adding full breeding plumaged adult Great Black-headed Gull to our list and enjoying great views of the strange looking White-backed Duck, shy-less Black Crake, Malachite Kingfisher and an African Jacana family complete with two gawky chicks right at our feet. Walking back through the hotel grounds, Heuglin's Robin-Chat, so elusive in yesterday's forest, strutted down the path just ahead of us, sharing the path with a Common Nightingale!
The fish market, Lake Arwasa, 23rd Feb backdatedHow to describe the assault on our senses at the fish market? The sight: scores of White Pelicans, Great Cormorants and Marabou Storks fighting each other for scraps thrown by the fishermen. The sound: hundreds of White-winged Black Terns plus Black-headed Gulls, Grey-headed Gulls, Heuglin’s and Lesser Black-backed’s wheeling in the air and diving to pick leftovers out of the water. The smell: row upon row of raw fish being gutted by fishermen from boys to old men, throwing the guts into the water. And just around the corner, the womenfolk doing the weekly wash in the lake as well! Walking in the opposite direction to a slightly more peaceful area of marshland, and we had contented sighs from Alan as he scoped his way through the waders and wildfowl including Garganey, Eurasian Shoveler, Kittlitz’s and Three-banded Plovers, Ruff, Black-tailed Godwits, Common and Wood Sandpipers, not to mention Black Heron fishing, Saddled-billed Stork and a local vagrant…Dimorphic Egret. Add a Fish Eagle flushing Red-knobbed Coots, and what more could you ask for?