KENYA Coast 28 July–11 August 2009 Leaders: Steven Easley and Vaughan Ashby

This exciting tour complements our highly successful northern and western Kenya tour and gives participants the opportunity to see several highly localised endemic birds as well as many species not seen in the rest of the country. There will also be many opportunities to watch mammals.

Day 1 Morning flight from the UK to Nairobi. Arriving in the evening, we will make the short transfer to the Pan Afric Hotel for one night.

Day 2 Today we will spend the whole day in the fabulous Nairobi National Park which lies within the shadows of the city. With highland forest, Acacia woodland, rocky escarpments, open grassland, large ponds and small streams, this park is home to a wide variety of birds and mammals. Some of the key species we will search for here are Shelley's Francolin, Hartlaub's Bustard, Spotted Thick-knee, Singing Cisticola, Banded and Brown Warblers, Dark-capped Yellow Warbler, Northern Pied Babbler, Abyssinian White-eye, Long-tailed Fiscal and White-winged Widowbird. Nairobi National Park is, without a doubt, the best place in Kenya to see the endangered Black Rhino, and we have a very good chance of locating this impressive species together with many of the other mammals.

Days 3–4 Morning transfer to Amboseli Game Reserve in southern Kenya for a two-night stay at the lovely Tukai Lodge. Before making our way to the south, we will look for a number of birds in the highlands: Yellow-billed Kite, Augur Buzzard, Black-shouldered Kite, Marabou Stork, Black-headed Heron, Sacred Ibis, Kori Bustard, Red-fronted Tinkerbird, Red-fronted Barbet, Speckled Mousebird, Abyssinian Scimitar-bill, Klaas's Cuckoo, Little and White-rumped Swifts, Red-eyed and Ring-necked Doves, Lesser Striped and Red-rumped Swallows, Plain and Rock Martins, African Pied Wagtail, Long-billed and Nairobi Pipits, Rattling, Stout and Lyne's Cisticolas, Red-faced Crombec, Buff-bellied Warbler, Banded and Brown Parisomas, Chin-spot Batis, White-eyed Slaty-flycatcher, Southern Black-flycatcher, African Grey Flycatcher, Mountain (Olive) Thrush, Cape and Rüppell's Robin-chats, Red-backed Scrub-robin, Tropical and Slate-coloured Boubous, Superb and Hildebrandt's Starlings, Red-throated and White-bellied Tits, Montane White-eye, Scarlet-chested, Amethyst, Variable, Collared and Bronze Sunbirds, Kenya Rufous Sparrow, White-browed Sparrow-weaver, Baglafecht, Speke's and Spectacled Weavers, Yellow Bishop, Pin-tailed Whydah, Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu, Crimson-rumped Waxbill, Western (African) Citril, Streaky Seedeater, Brimstone Canary and the gorgeous African Golden-breasted Bunting, to name but a few!

Before reaching the Amboseli Game Reserve we will pass through some dry scrub country. Here we may find Eastern Chanting-goshawk, African Pygmy-falcon, Crested and Yellow-necked Francolins, Buff-crested Bustard, Namaqua, Laughing and African Mourning Doves, Emerald-spotted Wood-dove, Pearl-spotted Owlet, African Orange-bellied Parrot, White-bellied Go-away-bird, White-headed and Blue-naped Mousebirds, Little Bee-eater, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Northern Red-billed and Von der Decken's Hornbills, Black-throated, D'arnaud's and Red-and-yellow Barbets, Foxy (Fawn-coloured) and Pink-breasted Larks, African Bare-eyed Thrush, Ashy and Tiny Cisticolas, Grey Wren-warbler, White-winged (Red-backed) Scrub-robin, Beautiful and Mariqua Sunbirds, Northern White-crowned Shrike, Long-tailed and Taita Fiscals, Rosy-patched Bush-shrike, Fischer's Starling, White-headed Buffalo-weaver, Vitelline and Lesser Masked Weavers, Grey-capped Social-weaver, Chestnut Sparrow, Blue-capped Cordon-bleu, Grey-headed Silverbill, Black-faced Waxbill and the extremely-local Southern Grosbeak-canary.

Amboseli Game Reserve is home to a wide variety of birds and mammal species and is also one of the best places in the world to observe the spectacular Mt Kilimanjaro, which towers more than 19,000 feet above the plains. Birds that can be seen within the reserve include Common Ostrich, Bateleur, Martial Eagle, White-backed and Lappet-faced Vultures, Spur-winged and Egyptian Geese, Red-billed and Hottentot Teals, Long-tailed Cormorant, Red-knobbed Coot, Yellow-billed and Saddle-billed Storks, Great and Intermediate Egrets, Grey, Black-headed, Goliath and Squacco Herons, Black Crake, African Jacana, Grey Crowned-crane, African Spoonbill, African Fish-eagle, Lanner Falcon, Hartlaub's Bustard, Water Thick-knee, Collared Pratincole, Two-banded Courser, Long-toed Lapwing, Three-banded, Kitlitz's, Blacksmith and Spur-winged Plovers, Greater Painted-snipe, Chestnut-bellied and Yellow-throated Sandgrouse, White-browed Coucal, Slender-tailed Nightjar, Lilac-breasted Roller, Grey-headed, Malachite and Pied Kingfishers, African Hoopoe, Red-capped Lark, Fischer's Sparrow-lark, Pangani and Rosy-throated Longclaws, Zitting and Winding Cisticolas, Speke's Weaver, Taveta Golden-weaver, Fan-tailed Widowbird and the diminutive Red-billed Firefinch. Some of the many mammals possible in the Amboseli are Yellow Baboon, Black-faced Vervet Monkey, Scrub Hare, Black-backed and Side-striped Jackals, Dwarf Mongoose, Spotted Hyena, Lion, Cheetah, African Savannah Elephant, Common (Burchell's) Zebra, Hippopotamus, Common Warthog, Masai Giraffe, Cape Buffalo, Kirk's Dikdik, Bohor Reedbuck, Common Waterbuck, Thomson's and Grant's Gazelles, Impala, Coke's Hartebeest and occasionally the stunning Fringe-eared Oryx.

Days 5–6 After breakfast we will transfer to Tsavo West National Park for a two-night stay at Ngulia Lodge. En route we will be making several birding stops, of which Hunter's Lodge and Kibwezi Forest are the most notable. These may produce Black-faced Sandgrouse, Crowned Hornbill, Red-chested Cuckoo, Verreaux's Eagle-owl, Giant Kingfisher, Nubian Woodpecker, Short-tailed Lark, Northern Brownbul, Eastern Nicator, Spotted Morning-thrush, Lesser Swamp-warbler, Grey-backed Camaroptera, Northern Crombec, Ashy and Lead-coloured Flycatchers, Grey-headed Bush-shrike, Black-headed Batis, Retz's Helmetshrike, African Golden-weaver, Green-winged Pytilia, Peter's Twinspot and the local Jameson's Firefinch.

Tsavo West is one of the largest parks in the world and is also one of the wildest areas left on the planet. The park consists of many habitat types, but thick bush country is the most prevalent. Avian treats during our stay in Tsavo West may include African Darter, Hamerkop, Tawny and Verreaux's Eagles, Mottled and African Black Swifts, Spot-flanked Barbet, Cardinal Woodpecker, Green Wood-hoopoe, Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill, Dodson's Bulbul, Scaly Chatterer, Somali Tit, Mouse-coloured Penduline-tit, Black-bellied, Hunter's, Tsavo and Kenya Violet-backed Sunbirds, Pygmy Batis, Brubru, Three-streaked and Black-crowned Tchagras, African Black-headed Oriole, White-naped Raven, Red-billed and Yellow-billed Oxpeckers, Golden-breasted Starling, Black-necked, Village and Red-headed Weavers, Black-capped Social-weaver, Reichenow's (Kenya Yellow-rumped) Seedeater and the magnificent Somali Golden-breasted Bunting. African Crested Porcupine, Blue Sykes' Monkey, Unstriped Ground-squirrel, Bush Hyrax, Hippopotamus, Masai Bushbuck, the elegant Lesser Kudu, Klipspringer, Bush Duiker, Impala, Coke's Hartebeest and the impressive Fringe-eared Oryx are just a few of the mammals we may locate during our stay in Tsavo West.

Day 7 Today will be spent further exploring the vast Tsavo West National Park en route to the Taita Salt Lick Lodge for a one-night stay. Woolly-necked Stork, Vulturine Guineafowl, Wahlberg's Eagle, African Hawk-eagle, Gabar Goshawk, Southern Ground-hornbill, African Grey Hornbill, Greater Honeyguide, Rufous-crowned Roller, Red-winged Lark, Desert Cisticola, Red-fronted Warbler, Pale Prinia, African Paradise-flycatcher, Sulphur-breasted Bush-shrike, Purple Grenadier, Cinnamon-breasted Bunting and the extremely local Pringle's Puffback are all species we may be able to add during the course of the day. During the evening hours several mammal species can be seen coming in and drinking at the water hole behind the lodge. In the past these have included African Civet Cat and Striped Hyena amongst others.

Day 8 In the morning we will explore two small forest patches in the Taita Hills. The Taita Hills are home to several endemics and these will be the targets of our visit. African Crowned Eagle, Hartlaub's Turaco, African Emerald Cuckoo, Striped Pipit (rare), Stripe-faced and Placid Greenbuls, Orange Ground-thrush (uncommon at best), Taita Thrush (a rare endemic), Black-backed Puffback, Taita Apalis (an uncommon endemic), Yellow-throated Woodland-warbler, African Stonechat, African Dusky Flycatcher, White-starred Robin, Red-winged Starling, Taita White-eye (endemic), Eastern Double-collared Sunbird, Brown-backed Mannikin and the tiny Yellow-bellied Waxbill are just some of the many highland forest species we hope to find in this unique area. In the late afternoon we will transfer to the nearby Tsavo East National Park for a one-night stay at Voi Safari Lodge.

Day 9 The morning will be spent birding in Tsavo East National Park, followed by an afternoon transfer to Shimba Hills Lodge on the southern coast for a two-night stay. Somali Ostrich, African Openbill, Harlequin Quail (seasonal), Black-chested and Brown Snake-eagles, African Harrier-hawk, Rüppell's Griffon-vulture, Striped Kingfisher, Diederik Cuckoo, Banded Martin, Golden Pipit, Chestnut-backed Sparrow-lark (seasonal), Fork-tailed Drongo, Wattled Starling, Yellow-bellied Eremomela, Brown-crowned Tchagra, Chestnut Weaver, Red-billed Quelea, African Silverbill and the elegant Eastern Paradise-whydah are some of the birds we may see. Cheetah and Hunter's Hartebeest are both present in Tsavo East, but are rarely encountered. Otherwise the mammals found here are similar to those found in Tsavo West.

Day 10 All day will be spent in the Shimba Hills National Reserve. This reserve is mostly thick coastal forest, which is broken up in areas by forest glades. Birds that can be located within this lush habitat include Ayres's Hawk-eagle, Black Goshawk (Great Sparrowhawk), African Cuckoo-hawk, Palm-nut Vulture, Crested Guineafowl, Red-necked Francolin, Tambourine Dove, Fischer's Turaco, Yellowbill, Mosque Swallow, Mottled and Bat-like (Bohm's) Spinetails, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, White-throated Bee-eater (seasonal), Trumpeter and Silvery-cheeked Hornbills, Brown-breasted, White-eared and Green Barbets, Eastern Green Tinkerbird, Yellow-throated Longclaw, Flappet Lark, Black Cuckoo-shrike, Tiny and Sombre Greenbuls, Terrestrial Brownbul, Siffling and Croaking Cisticolas, Black-headed Apalis, Green-backed Camaroptera, Forest Batis, Black-bellied Starling, Eastern Olive Sunbird, Green-headed Oriole and the lovely Dark-backed (Forest) Weaver. Mammals that can be seen in the picturesque Shimba Hills are Western Black-and-white Colobus (local), Lesser Galago or Bushbaby (sometimes on top of the dinner table), Red-bellied Coast Squirrel, Common Genet, the majestic Sable Antelope, Red Duiker and the shy Suni. Occasionally an African Civet Cat or even a family party of Bush Pigs will visit the swamp behind the Lodge at night.

Day 11 In the morning we will drive further south along the coast to the small town of Shimoni. Several specialities can be found along this drive and these include Lizard Buzzard, Little Sparrowhawk, Red-necked Falcon, Broad-billed Roller, Brown-hooded Parrot, Black-collared Barbet, Northern Carmine and Madagascar Bee-eaters (seasonal), Black Coucal, Ethiopian Swallow, Coastal Cisticola, White-browed Robin-chat, Collared Palm-thrush, Purple-banded Sunbird, Golden Palm-weaver, Black-winged and Zanzibar Red Bishops, Common Waxbill and Bronze Mannikin. In the afternoon we will transfer north to the town of Watamu for a three-night stay at Ocean Sports Hotel. This offers a very nice view of the Indian Ocean and the cool breeze off the water can be quite refreshing!

Days 12–13 We will spend two days exploring the Arabuko–Sokoke Forest. Birds to be expected within this forest reserve are Southern Banded Snake-eagle, African Goshawk, Thick-billed Cuckoo, Scaly-breasted, Lesser and Pallid Honeyguides, Mombasa and Green-backed (Little Spotted) Woodpeckers, Common Scimitarbill, Mangrove Kingfisher, Narina Trogon, Sokoke Pipit (endangered), Yellow-bellied and Fischer's Greenbuls, Red-tailed Ant-thrush, Green-backed Camaroptera, East Coast Akalat (endangered), Red-capped Robin-chat, Bearded Scrub-robin, Four-coloured Bush-shrike, Pale Batis, Little Yellow Flycatcher, Blue-mantled Crested-flycatcher, Scaly Babbler, Plain-backed and Amani Sunbirds, African Golden Oriole, Chestnut-fronted Helmetshrike and the poorly known endemic Clarke's Weaver (endangered). In the evening we will be searching for several nocturnal species such as Sokoke Scops-owl (endangered), African Barred Owlet, African Wood-owl and the colourful Fiery-necked Nightjar. Four-toed and Golden-rumped Elephant Shrews (the latter being critically endangered) are both found in the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, but are very shy and difficult to see. Occasionally during our night outings we find nocturnal mammals, such as White-tailed Mongoose, Honey Badger or even the stunning Caracal. Of course it helps to have a little bit of luck with these! Another site we will visit during our stay in the Watamu area is Mida Creek. This is a tidal mudflat with scores of waders present. Birds of note in this area are Greater Flamingo, Dimorphic Egret, Crab Plover (sometimes more than 100 individuals), Lesser and Greater Sand-plovers and Terek and Curlew Sandpipers.

Day 14 On our last morning we will visit the Sabaki Estuary north of Malindi town. This area is usually teeming with waders and waterfowl. Some of our target species here are Great White and Pink-backed Pelicans, Madagascar Pratincole, Black-winged Stilt, Pied Avocet, White-fronted Plover, Sooty and Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Lesser and Greater Crested Terns, Saunders's Tern and African Skimmer. Rarities pop up in this area all the time and it is exciting to think of what we may find. In the latter part of the morning we will try and find the extremely local Malindi Pipit. After our birding is finished we will depart on an early afternoon flight from Malindi Airport back to Nairobi. We will be met by drivers at the airport and then transfer to the Pan Afric Hotel to freshen up for the evening flight back home.

Day 15 Arrival back in the UK at the end of the tour.

General Information The climate is generally hot. Accommodation standards are good with en-suite in all rooms except Shimba Hills Lodge where each floor shares separate Ladies and Mens bathrooms. Food is of European standard. Transport is by minibus and the road conditions vary from excellent to extremely rough and dusty. There are special health requirements. Visas are required and cost either £35 in advance or $50 in Kenya. Only a moderate degree of fitness is needed. Photographic opportunities are excellent.

Group size Minimum number for tour to go ahead: 6; maximum group size: 12 with 2 leaders.

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