An early morning walk in the grounds of the lodge proved
well worthwhile with a pair of African Hawk Eagles flying low over us, a pair
of Red-faced Crombec feeding young and a brief sighting of a Spotted
Morning-thrush amongst the birding highlights. A single Eland in the valley
below was the first of the trip. After breakfast we climbed on board the vans
and headed towards our next stop – Lake Manyara. We stopped briefly again at
the exit to Tarangire NP and along with a final look at the Ashy Starlings
which are only found in this small area of Tanzania we came across a very
confiding Pearl-spotted Owlet which allowed some close-up photography before
finally having enough and flying off.
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Pearl-spotted Owlet
We arrived at the Serena Lodge in time for lunch, had a
brief siesta and then it was back in the trucks for a trip into the national
park itself. The Hippo Pool was the prime destination with a viewing platform
allowing fantastic views across the pool. Hippos were the main mammalian
interest but hundreds of birds kept me busy for the hour or so of our stay. A
few Long-toed were found amongst the crowd of Blacksmith’s Plovers and several
of my favourite birds, Collared Pratincoles, flew low over the pools like giant
House Martins. White-faced Whistling Ducks, Hottentot Teal and Red-billed Ducks
were all present in numbers and the only Black Heron of the trip flew over the
pools only to land out of sight. A heavy shower of rain sent everyone to
shelter in their vans and all but ours drove off. We stayed on to be rewarded
with Palm-nut Vulture, Goliath Heron, Greater Painted Snipe and much more. I
could have stayed for hours but the mammal watchers were keen to move on!
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Greater Painted Snipe
Little else was seen until our evening meal when a
Small-eared Greater Galago (a bushbaby) put in a brief appearance in a tree by
the restaurant
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