50 Top Birding Sites in Kenya, by Catherine Ngarachu

50 Top Birding Sites in Kenya, by Catherine Ngarachu. Penguin Random House South Africa. Imprint: Struik Nature. Cape Town, South Africa 2017. ISBN 9781775842484 / ISBN 978-1-77584-248-4

50 Top Birding Sites in Kenya, by Catherine Ngarachu. Not only is there a wide variety of habitats in Kenya, but often there is also a range of habitats within very close proximity at one site.

Here we outline some of the major habitat types dealt with in 50 Top Birding Sites in Kenya and list typical bird species associated with each one. Note that certain birds are found across several habitat types, while others have a preference for just one habitat.

Intertidal wetlands
Intertidal wetlands are areas along the coastline that are submerged by the sea at high tide and exposed at low tide. Types of intertidal wetland include sand and mud flats and the remnants of the once extensive stretches of mangrove forests that grew along the eastern African shoreline. Typical birds include Roseate Tern, White-fronted Plover, Mangrove Kingfisher and Palaearctic migrants like Ruddy Turnstone and Curlew Sandpiper.

Coastal forest
Coastal forests are among the most biologically important forests on the continent, owing to their high plant diversity and many endemic animal species. Birds typical of this habitat include Fiery-necked Nightjar, Mombasa Woodpecker, Pale Batis, Chestnut-fronted Helmetshrike and Eastern Nicator.

Semi-arid bushland
Most of the country is hot and dry for much of the year and is covered by vast expanses of open Acacia and Commiphora woodland. The thorn bush is occasionally interrupted where a river flows through it, or where isolated inselbergs or grass glades occur. Bushland-associated birds include Vulturine Guineafowl, Lilac-breasted Roller, Von der Decken's Hornbill, D'Arnaud's Barbet and White-browed Sparrow Weaver.

Alkaline lakes
The beautiful soda lakes of the Rift Valley in Kenya are highly saline, hostile environments, which are often fed by hot springs and rivers. Only specialized bird species can survive here. Examples include Cape Teal, Greater and Lesser flamingos, Black-winged Stilt and Kittlitz's Plover.

Montane forest
Dry evergreen forests are found in the highlands and mountain ranges of central and western Kenya, and on the hillsides and mountains that tower over semi-arid plains in the north and south. The tree species growing in this habitat vary depending on the altitude and precipitation. Typical birds are Narina Trogon, Montane Oriole, Grey Apalis, Yellow-whiskered Greenbul and Palaearctic migrants like Willow Warbler and Blackcap.

Freshwater wetlands
Freshwater wetlands include lakes and swamps and may be permanent or seasonal. The quantity of water they hold varies according to the rainfall and other, often artificial, factors, such as water abstraction for irrigation. Typical freshwater wetland birds include Yellow-billed Duck, Little Grebe, Black-crowned Night Heron, African Fish Eagle and Grey-headed Gull.

Highland grasslands
Tussock grasses predominate in high-altitude grassland habitats. These regions are inhabited by a few specially adapted and rare animal species. Being largely unprotected, these grasslands are threatened by rapid changes in land use. Cape Rook, Singing Cisticola, Common Stonechat, Northern Anteater I Chat and Long-tailed Widowbird.

How to use this guide

50 Top Birding Sites in Kenya, by Catherine Ngarachu, describes 50 selected birding sites around Kenya. To avoid repetition, little mention is made of the most common bird species that can be expected at many sites. According to Nature Kenya's Common Bird Monitoring programme, the following are the most frequently encountered species: Speckled Mousebird, Red-eyed Dove, Hadada Ibis, Ring-necked Dove, Grey-backed Camaroptera, Baglafecht Weaver, Variable Sunbird, African Paradise Flycatcher, African Pied Wagtail, Tropical Boubou, Bronze Sunbird, Cattle Egret, Pied Crow, Streaky Seedeater, White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher and Augur Buzzard. Common Bulbul is the most widespread bird species and Red-billed Quelea the most abundant. [...]

Catherine Ngarachu is the founding editor of Kenya Birding, Kenya's only magazine dedicated to birds and birding. She has been active in conservation for most of her life, working for the East Africa Natural History Society and is a founding member, champion and present chairperson of the Friends of City Park.

This is an excerpt from 50 Top Birding Sites in Kenya, by Catherine Ngarachu.

Title: 50 Top Birding Sites in Kenya
Author: Catherine Ngarachu
Publisher: Penguin Random House South Africa
Imprint: Struik Nature
Cape Town, South Africa 2017
ISBN 9781775842484 / ISBN 978-1-77584-248-4
Softcover, 13 x 19 cm, 168 pages, throughout colour photos