Spur-winged Lapwing

Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus

Ethiopia

January 2014

    

This very handsome species was found throughout our trip in

Ethiopia wherever there was suitable wetland. It was certainly the most common plover we would see; always a delight, however.

Hamerkop

Hamerkop Scopus umbretta

Ethiopia

12 January 2014

    Unique among birds, Hamerkop is placed in its own monotypic family. I had seen this species before going to Ethiopia, but only in flight, and I was anxious to get better looks at it. That proved to be very easy, for the bird was commonly found at many locations on our journey through Ethiopia.

    I saw one pair engaged in the construction of the giant nest for which the species is renowned and which is often shared with birds of prey.

    Hamerkop has been the stuff of legend, often being considered magical or even sinister, but there is little evidence of persecution.

    It certainly is a very interesting species to observe.

Hamerkop Nest

Saddle-billed Stork

Saddle-billed Stork Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis

Ethiopia

12 January 2014

    The Saddle-billed Stork is a sight to behold, standing at 135-150 cm. This individual was seen in the general vicinity of Koka Dam, initially in a small wetland, and we watched it as it flew a short distance to where several fishermen were gutting their catch. Ever the opportunist, it wasted no time in snagging a few choice morsels for itself.

    With its colourful bill and upright stance it is a stunning bird by any standards.

Marabou Stork - Only a Mother Could Love One!

Marabou Stork Leptopilos crumenifer

Lakes Ziway and Awassa, Ethiopia

12 January 2014

    Marabou Stork is a strange and fearsome-looking creature indeed. It looks as though it was put together by someone with a malevolent streak. Neither its appearance, nor its behaviour, do much to endear it to humans, but it fills its niche in nature with finessse and expertise, and being pleasing to our eyes is hardly part of its role. Where it surpasses all of our expectations is when it takes to the air revealing itself to be a graceful and consummate flier.

Male and female

Female

With Africa Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus

Waiting for fish scraps

Ever the Opportunist

Lunch Al Fresco - Vulture Style

Lunch Al Fresco - Vulture Style

13 January 2014

    Along the road between Dodola and Goba, Ethiopia, we came across the spectacle shown below. Wherever one travels in Ethiopia one sees huge numbers of donkeys, generally of a very small race, being used as beasts of burden for every manner of cargo imaginable, often bearing loads which would seem impossible for so small an animal. I suspect that the lives of these creatures are neither long nor pleasant and one had obviously perished at the side of the road.

   Three species of vultures were feeding on it, Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus, White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus and Rüppell's Vulture Gyps rueppelli. As can be seen in the picture below, the small Hooded Vulture has to wait its turn on the periphery before darting in to snatch whatever morsels it can before being driven off by the larger, more aggressive species.

    It was quite incredible to see the sheer strength of the neck muscles of the large vultures. As they thrust into the carcass they were able to lift the head of the dead donkey clear off the ground.

    No doubt, within a relatively short time the carcass would be reduced to nothing but bones. Too bad a Bearded Vulture Gypaetus barbatus would not be in an urban environment to take advantage of it.

    Waiting patiently off to the side, anxious for a place at the table, was a Marabou Stork Leptoptilos crumenifer and several Pied Crows Corvus albus.

Cut-throat Finch at Lake Awassa, Ethiopia

Cut-throat Finch Amadina fasciata

Lake Awassa, Ethiopia

12 January 2014

    I still have hundreds upon hundreds of photographs to edit following my return from Ethiopia last night, and a trip report to write, so you can bet that I am going to be busy for a while! Based on what I have edited so far, this little Cut-throat Finch (oh so aptly named) stood out, and seemed to be begging for a blog posting.

    It was seen along the shoreline of Lake Awassa, towards the end of a day when we recorded over 180 species, a staggering total. There were many highlights but this species is certainly one of the most memorable.

Ethiopia Bound.

Leaving for Ethiopia 

in a Few Days

    The combination of inclement weather, other duties that couldn't be put off and preparations for my trip have kept me from blogging for the past week. Given the fact that I will be busy right up until Friday morning when I will leave home at 03:00h to travel to Toronto for a 06:00h flight to Washington Dulles where I will connect with a flight to Addis Ababa, I doubt that I'll be contributing much before I leave.

    So, to everyone who makes this blogging community so enjoyable, I will say farewell for now, and I'll be back with you the first week of February.

    Good birding to everyone!