10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 23, 2016

The species is a common one, found from the Gambia to Somalia and from the Sudan to South Africa. And I spotted them, not the guide, a near-first. This was only the second time I had ever seen this species in all my time on the continent. But they are hard to see, as you can see from my photographs. Owl number one is sleeping.

Owls 220

Owls Somalia Gambia Sudan 220

10,000 Birds

MAY 12, 2013

This attractive (for a lark anyway) species is restricted to the dry savannah Somali-Maasai biome of north-east Africa (northern Tanzania, Kenya, southern Ethiopia and Somalia). It has a wide range across a zone known as the Sahel, an arid zone woodland and savanna region immediately below the Sahara desert stretching from Senegal to Somalia.

Africa 206

Africa Somalia Mozambique Pelicans 206

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 14, 2012

The most accessible site is Samburu/Buffalo Springs in Kenya, but the bulk of its range is in remote and dangerous zones of south-eastern Ethiopia and Somalia. Somali Bee-eater occurs uncommonly within its range, perching inconspicuously on the edge of low bushes in arid savannas.

Africa 263

Africa Gabon Uganda South Africa 263

10,000 Birds

MARCH 21, 2011

If you are in remore and/or dangerous places, like Somalia or Miami, and you get robbed, a book or (paper) notebook will likely be left in your posession by the robbers (saving all of your bird observation notes), an electronic device will be taken – that’s what they are after.

Burkina Faso 156

Burkina Faso 2011 Deer Birds 156

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 15, 2014

This tiny passerine winters in Africa, places like Tanzania, Nigeria, Somalia. They also migrate to and from the High Arctic, crossing the Atlantic to Europe, but they keep going, down across the Mediterranean into Africa. From the Tundra to the African Steppes.

Somalia 194

Somalia Africa Nigeria North America 194

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 9, 2012

Its sister species, Chestnut-backed, shows a similar range but in the Miombo woodland zone of south-central Africa, and finally Donaldson-Smith’s occurs in the Somali-Maasai arid zone, with a rather restricted range from northern Kenya to southern Ethiopia and Somalia. Image taken in Kenya by Adam Riley.

Tanzania 218

Tanzania Buffalo Kenya Namibia 218

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 6, 2011

Mountain Gorillas are best observed in Uganda or Rwanda And to avoid – currently, one needs to be very cautious if planning a trip to Ivory Coast, Somalia, Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo (the People’s Republic or Congo-Brazzaville is however safe), Burundi, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and a few other unstable nations.

Papua New Guinea 216

Papua New Guinea Equatorial Guinea Madagascar Tanzania 216