African Quailfinch

African Quailfinch Ortygospiza atricollis

Lake Chelekchecka, Ethiopia

12 January 2014

    The only sighting we had of this species was this single female. Although not as distinctively marked as the male (as is so true with many species), it is nevertheless a delightful little bird and we were certainly happy to be able to photograph it.

Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus

Lake Chelekcheka, Ethiopia

12 January 2014

    This adult winter-plumaged gull was seen at Lake Chelekcheka, Ethiopia where it will spend the winter before migrating back to the Western Palearctic regions to breed.

Red-tailed Shrike

Red-tailed Shrike Lanius phoenicuroides

Lake Chelekcheka, Ethiopia

12 January 2014

     Formerly considered a subspecies of Isabelline Shrike Lanius isabellinus,

and now elevated to full species status, this Red-tailed Shrike was perched atop a thorny bush along the shoreline of the lake. It spends the winter in the Horn of Africa whence it migrates to breed in central Asia.

Red-throated Pipit

Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus

Lake Chelekcheka, Ethiopia

12 January 2015

     It seems to me that there is always a particular sense of delight when one sees a species which breeds in the Holarctic region on its wintering grounds in the tropics. Thus, it was with great pleasure that we saw Red-throated Pipits during our journey through Ethiopia. Not that even the Europeans on the trip see it regularly, other than in migration, but this species breeds from northern Scandinavia to northeastern Siberia. It is distinctive, even in non-breeding plumage, and cannot be readily confused with any other pipit.