17th November 2014

It was a very early start for our first trip into the Ngorongoro crater. Three different Black Rhinos were the highlight of the morning along with several groups of lions and for me lots of stunning Grey Crowned Cranes – another of the iconic African birds ticked off my wish list. Capped Wheatear were regularly disturbed from the side of the track and on one occasion a Schalow’s Wheatear was seen. We stopped for packed breakfasts at the famous Ngoitokitok Springs where we were urged to eat our food in the vans to avoid marauding Yellow-billed Kites! A distant African Fish Eagle was my only one of the trip but easier to see at the picnic site were dozens of Fan-tailed Widowbirds (sadly not in breeding plumage) and a few Speke’s Weaver.

                                       Fan-tailed Widowbird

Once finished we drove to the nearby Hippo Pool which along with Hippo (including a one wek old baby) held dozens of species of bird, many new to me.

                                Hippopotamus

A dozen or more Night Herons hid amongst the reeds along with the only Long-tailed Cormorant of the trip. Several Black Crake were showing well and as I was trying to photograph these an African Rail walked past – sadly I wasn’t quick enough to get the photo!

                                Black Crake

We returned to the lodge for lunch and from the window of our room I was able to spot Hunter’s Cisticola, Red-collared Widowbird and African Stonechat. There was no game drive in the afternoon so a number of us went to see what else we could find in the hotel grounds.

                                       Golden-winged Sunbird

 Several of the glorious Golden-winged Sunbirds posed nicely for us along with Eastern Double-collared Sunbird, Cape Robin-chat and Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater.

                                Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater