New Trip Report: Ethiopia by Michael Mills

Michael Mills reports on our jam-packed 14-day Ethiopia tour: ‘ We found 515 bird species, including every Ethiopian and Eritrean endemic. We saw more than 20 Ethiopian Wolves, plus Mountain Nyala and Gelada Baboon and soaked up the dramatic scenery of East-Africa’s dazzling Rift Valley. Join us next April, just two places are left.’

Bird highlights included Blue-winged Goose near Addis; White-cheeked Turaco at Debre Libanos, Black-winged Lovebird at Jemma Valley and the localised Ankober Serin at Gemassa Gedel.

Boran Cisticola, Half-collared Kingfisher and Yellow-throated Seedeater entertained us in the lowlands. While Arabian and Hartlaub’s Bustard, Abdim’s Stork, Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse, Dusky Nightjar, perched Barbary Falcon and Somali Ostrich showed in around Awash.

The Rift Valley immersed us with thrilling scenery and Wondo Genet with likes such as Abyssinian Woodpecker, Thick-billed Raven, Narina Trogon, Ethiopian Oriole and Yellow-fronted Parrot, until Spot-breasted Lapwing and Abyssinian (Long-eared) Owl welcomed us in the Bale Mountains.

In the Bale Mountains Ethiopian Wolf stole the show, featuring more than 20 animals. We also watched Abyssinian Catbird, Ayres’s Hawk Eagle, Crowned Eagle, Saker Falcon, Moorland Francolin, Rouget’s Rail and Chestnut-naped Francolin.

Prince Ruspoli’s Turaco (photo) and Abyssinian Ground Hornbill excited us en route to Negelle, where we had great views of Donaldson-Smith’s Nightjar and Sidamo Lark.

En-route to Yawello, some of the most memorable birds included White-tailed Swallow and Stresemann’s (or Ethiopian) Bushcrow (photo).

Click here to continue to the trip report to find out what else they saw.

Join Michael Mills in Ethiopia from 5 to 20 April 2014. Two places left.

Email Marje Hemp info@birdingafrica.com or phone +27 21 531 6405 to enquire or receive the tour details.