#winding cisticola

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A new variant has been added!

Winding Cisticola (Cisticola marginatus) © Alex R

It hatches from black, bold, brown, colorful, geographical, high, long, mid, other, overall, rough, separate, similar, thick, wet, and whitish eggs.

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[saladban]

"A relatively colorful, medium-sized, long-tailed cisticola. Note the gray-brown back with thick black streaks, the brown on the wing and cap, and the whitish underparts. Found in wetlands and moist grassland and scrub. As with other cisticolas, habitat and vocalizations are important to identification. Very similar to Winding Cisticola, but paler overall, and differs vocally. Also similar to Rattling Cisticola, but more colorful, with very different vocalizations: a wheezy, very high-pitched trill, and raspy “chi-dup” calls that are often given in a display flight."

-eBird

Conservation Status: LC

[2516/11080] Coastal cisticola - Cisticola haematocephalus

Also known as: Umbabird

Order: Passeriformes Suborder: Passeri Superfamily: Sylvioidea Family: Cisticolidae (cisticolid warblers)

Photo credit: Simon Odhiambo via Macaulay Library

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Why do you like birds so much I need to know

Where else can you find the Singing Cisticola, the Siffling Cisticola, the Rock-loving Cisticola, the Rattling Cisticola, the Bubbling Cisticola, the Red-faced Cisticola, the Winding Cisticola, the Zitting Cisticola, the Cloud-scraping Cisticola, the Wailing Cisticola, the Whistling Cisticola, the Croaking Cisticola, the Churring Cisticola, the Stout Cisticola, the Red-pate Cisticola, the Trilling Cisticola, the Black-lored Cisticola and the Tinkling Cisticola

and buddy, that’s just the cisticolas

[mollherz]

roter sand

ich träume jede Nacht wenigstens einen Traum in der Savanne Ostafrikas. ich spüre, bevor ich sehe: den Wind, in den ich mich verliebte, der durch die trocknenden Süßgräßer streift, die sich an ihn schmiegen und in ihm wiegen - ich spüre auch den bunten Vogelgesang: beeeaters, weavers, rollers, a flock of cisticolas - and there is a woodpecker at work. stets lächle ich, wenn ich die Augen öffne. da bin ich wieder. Hier bist du wieder; ich rede mit diesem Ort wie mit einem Menschen, einem Wesen aus Fleisch und Blut mit schlagendem Herzen, und ich vermisse ihn. körperlich und noch weiter als dieses Land. Du suchst mich heim. oder suche ich mir ein Heim in dir. die Sonne steht hoch. Nirgends kann ein Blick besser schweifen: das Gebirge in der Ferne, die aggressiven Akazien überall: umbrellas for pala and ndovu, for pundamilia and nyati; tote graue Bäume, ein vereinzelter Baobab, der Fels der Löwen. ich höre vertrautes Lachen, lautes Lachen, idiosynkratisches Lachen ohne Hautfarbe - seit den Tagen dort träume ich Menschen ohne Hautfarbe. meine Hände sind Hände, ich halte sie mir mit gespreizten Fingern vor; sie sind nicht weiß. in diesem Traum atme ich. ruhig. verstehst du? ich war Jahre auf der Flucht und zum ersten Mal - als ich kein Zuhause suchte - kam ich an. anfangs, wenn ich dann aufwachte, in Deutschland, hyperventilierte ich, kurz vorm Schreien. das heißt es herausgerissen zu werden: es ist brutal, von einer Welt in die andere geklatscht. durch das wiederholte Training am Morgen werde ich schneller darin, mich zu vergegenwärtigen, aber dadurch wird es nicht weniger hart, nicht weniger schmerzhaft. es zieht an mir wie an einem Vogel. ich flehe die Störche an, mich aufzunehmen, denn dieser Winter fühlt sich hier für mich an wie für immer. ich blinzle lautlose Tränen. mein Schlafsand ist rot.

[adyeri]

Birding in Uganda

Uganda is the best destination in Africa to do birding. Over 1050 bird species which are being inhabited in different habitats across the country like in semi-arid areas, rich savannah, lowlands, montane rainforests, vast wetlands, volcanoes, Afro-alpine zone, agricultural land, rivers, and lakes. All these habitats are accessible for birding because the government of Uganda realized the importance of tourism and improved on the transport system linking up to these various areas. When you visit Uganda for bird watching you will have more chances of seeing a variety of bird species due to more birds per square kilometer than any other country in Africa.

Top 10 birding destinations in Uganda

Mabamba wetland on Lake Victoria

This wetland is located at the edge of Lake Victoria, west of Entebbe peninsula 36 km in Mpigi district away from Kampala city which is the country’s main capital.

It is one of the best marshy areas along the northern shores of Lake Victoria for bird watching boasting of over 260 bird species with one day’s record of 157 bird species. The wide variety of bird species comprises of the rare shoebill which can be spotted at any time of the day, the migrant blue swallow, Pallid harrier, Papyrus gonolek, white-winged warbler, swamp flycatcher, malachite kingfisher, African jacana, Lesser jacana, winding cisticola, grosbeak weaver, African marsh harrier, and many others.

It should be remembered that Mabamba is one of Uganda’s 33 Important Bird Areas.

Bwindi impenetrable national park

This park is located in southwestern Uganda is well known for inhabiting the rare endangered mountain gorillas. It’s a beautiful place with mountains and valleys covered by the tropical rainforest which is green throughout the year. The vegetation covers both the mountains and the valleys.

This forest is one of the rich biologically forests in Africa with a variety of about 350 bird species, for example, the Albertine rift endemics of which 14 can’t be found anywhere in Africa. It was also voted as Africa’s best birding spot by the African bird club.

The forest has well-maintained birding trails that give you chances to see a variety of birds like African green broadbill, Fraser’s eagle, collared Apalis, handsome francolin, western bronze-napped pigeon, blue-headed and regal sunbirds among many others.

   Murchison Falls National Park

This park is located at the northern end of the western arm of the Albertine rift valley. It is the oldest and biggest national park in Uganda bisected by part of the longest river in the world the mighty Nile forming the northern and the southern bank. The course of river Nile plunges 45m over the remnant rift valley wall into a narrow gorge of 7m forming the most powerful waterfalls in the world. This park has a variety of habitats like the savannah, Borassus palms, acacia trees and riverine woodland, woodlands and forest patches, especially in the southern bank.

This park is one of the best birding spots in Africa because of its various habitats act as homes to 451 bird species found within this park and it takes the 9th position in Africa when it comes to birding. Birding in this park can be done both on a game drive and launch trips and expect to see savannah forest birds, Albertine rift endemics and water birds. Some of the birds to look out are elusive shoebill stork, goliath heron, swamp flycatcher, Abyssinian ground hornbill, giant kingfishers, malachite and many others.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

This park is located in the western parts of Uganda and is one of the most popular and scenic. It has a variety of ecosystems like open savannahs, rainforests, dense papyrus swamps, brooding crater lakes, and humid forests. This park is endowed with a variety of big game, 600 bird species and 10 primates offering a lot to the Queen Elizabeth national park itinerary.

Queen Elizabeth national park is a birder’s haven with a wide variety of bird species which are relatively easily seen. Some of the birds to look out are African mourning dove, swamp flycatcher, malachite, African skimmer, grey capped warbler, black-headed gonolek, sedge warbler, papyrus canary, flamingos at the salt lakes of Katwe among many others.

The park’s savannah and forests linkup with the big forests of Democratic Republic of Congo giving our clients to view both the east and the central African bird species namely African darter, long-tailed cormorant, little egret, hammer kop, European honey buzzard, knob-billed duck, northern pintail, Egyptian goose, scissor-tailed kite, black-crowned crane, common snipe, rose winged parakeet, standard winged nightjar, brown nightjar, African pitta, African yellow-warbler among others.

This park has the greatest bird species in East African national parks and it was recognized as the “International Birding Area” by Birding International.

Queen Elizabeth National Park features other attractions which are amazing to see like the crater lakes, panoramic views of the Kazinga channel with its river banks occupied with the hippos, buffalos, elephants, and many other wild animals. The Ishasha sector of the park has tree-climbing lions that hide in the fig trees because of the excessive heat on the rounding day time and pests.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is located in the extreme western corner of Uganda forming part of the Virunga conservation area covering an area of 434 kilometers squared which comprises Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Mgahinga has about 180 bird species with some of the Albertine rift endemics, .14 of the 24 bird species are of the Albertine rift valley mountain endemics and 39 of the 88 bird species are of Afro-tropical highlands biome that occurs in Uganda.

The park offers excellent viewing spots like along the gorge trail, bamboo trial, farm trails. Look out for birds like cape robin, Kivu ground thrush, cinnamon bracken warbler, white starred robin, western green tinker bird, strip- breasted tit, scarlet tufted and many others.

Semuliki National Park

Semuliki national park is located in southwestern Uganda within the Albertine rift valley. It’s one of the best birding destinations within Uganda boosting of 441 bird species in both the riverine forest and grassland avian ecosystems.

The park has a variety of birds like the 46 Guinea-Congo biome bird species which reach Uganda through the Congo basin vegetation stretching from Lake Albert to Congo area and the 5 Albertine rift endemic species. Birds to look out in Semuliki National Park include Congo serpent eagle, long-tailed hawk, Nkulega rail, black wattled hornbill, black-winged starling, white-tailed hornbill, capuchin babbler, crested flycatcher, orange weaver, red-billed malimbe and many others.

Rwenzori National Park

Rwenzori is Africa’s most beautiful park with the third highest mountain in Africa after mountain Kilimanjaro and Mountain Kenya. Its six peaks are capped with snow and visible miles away from within and outside the park, a variety of ecosystems like montane forests, bamboo forests, tree heath, bog, scrub and afro-alpine moorland which are habitats to various bird species.

This park has 177 bird species which can be seen during the hiking through the forest zones and birds to see are Ruwenzori turaco, blue-headed sunbird, golden-winged sunbird, slender-billed starling, bearded vulture, swifts and many others.

Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo is located in northeastern Uganda very isolated from other parks where the majority of Uganda’s national parks are located. This is a magnificent park and it hasn’t been utilized so much as compared to other parks because of the long-distance but the long-distance is worth the drive to visit because this park is dry and hot yet spectacular and virgin wilderness park waiting to be discovered!. It has dry montane forests and open savannah which inhabits almost 500 bird species waiting to be explored.

Some of the birds to look out are hornbill, ostrich, Abyssinian ground hornbill, kori bustard, silver bird, yellow-billed shrike, yellow-rumped seedeater, black coucal among others.

Kibale National Park

This park is located in western Uganda covering an area of 766 square kilometers. It is well known for protecting the 13 primates like chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkey, L’hoest monkey, red-tailed monkey, grey-cheeked mangabey, and Ugandan red colobus among many others.

Chimpanzees are the main attractions in this park but it’s also a good place for birding since it has about 350 bird species comprising of 6 being endemic to the region and 60 percent are Uganda’s forest birds.

Birds to sight out in Kibale are green breasted pitta, African pitta, crowned eagle, collared Apalis, black-capped Apalis, black bee-eater, little greenbul, brown chested athlete and many others.

Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo National Park is located along the highway which links to the western parts of the country. It has a variety of ecosystems like acacia woodlands, dry hillsides, rocky outcrops, bushy thickets, and open and wooded savannah, forests, lakes, swamps, and grassy valleys, seasonal and permanent swamps.

This park has 332 bird species in these various habitats and birds to look out during birding and game drives are shoebill, yellow warbler, African finfoot, saddle-billed stork, brown chested wattled plover, carrutter’s , cisticola, Tabora cisticola, great snipe, Abyssinian ground hornbill, white-winged warbler among many others.

Due to many birding destinations in Uganda, we have not fully given more information on some of the birding destinations but we shall leave you with a list of other birding destinations like forests and wetlands where birding can be done in Budongo forest, Mabira forest, Katonga wildlife reserve, Bigodi wetland sanctuary, Lutembe bay. For more information about birding safaris kindly contact Adyeri Creations Limited.

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Kenya Birdwatching Safaris, Kenya Birding Tour

Kenya Birdwatching Safaris, Kenya Birding Tour

KENYA FOR THE KEEN BIRDER

Welcome to our Kenya Keen Birders Tour.This Tour is specially designed for the Keen birders, the Tour can be re-designed to include destinations primarily omitted, such as the Arabuko Sokoke Forest on the Coast as well as Coastal National Parks such as the Tsavo and other birding sites such as the Taita hills… for those who will have more time than the time scheduled on this Original Itinerary.

Welcome! Karibu!

Day 1: Arrival and Transfer to Nairobi .over night at the Boulevard Hotel.Depending on the time of arrival,we may have chance for an excursion into Nairobi National Park,returning tou Hotel for Dinner and Overnight.

Day 2: We begin our Safari from Nairobi into the Rift Valley Lakes of Naivasha,there are several bird species around Lake Naivasha. These include; White Pelican, Long-tailed and Great Cormorants, Black Crake, African Jacana, several duck species, Long-toed Lapwing, Malachite Kingfisher, Green Woodhoopoe, White-headed Barbet, Bearded and Cardinal Woodpeckers, Grey-capped and Lesser Swamp Warblers, White-fronted Bee-eater, Winding and Rattling Cisticolas, Grey-headed Bush-shrike and many more. Hirundines can be plentiful, and over half of the species in Kenya can be seen. In the evening, Verreaux’s Eagle Owl hunts along the lakeshore acacias.Over night at Elsamere Centre.

Day 3: In addition to exploring the surroundings of your cottage, there is also the possibility of visiting Hell’s Gate NP . This is one of the few parks where it is possible to walk, and the cliffs have breeding Nyanza and Mottled Swifts, and a colony of Rueppell’s Vultures. Lammergeier have been recently reintroduced, and other species which are regular include Schalow’s Wheatear and Pectoral-patch Cisticolas may be sited.Over night and Meals at Elsamere Centre.

Day 4: Today, you will head for Lake Victoria. On the way, you may wish an option to spend three or four hours passing through Lake Nakuru NP , which is again excellent for waterbirds and acacia species, and has additional specialities including Hildebrandt’s Francolin, Arrow-marked Babbler, Wailing Cisticola, and is one of the best places for Lappet-faced Vulture. It also has both White and Black Rhino, protected here from poachers, and sometimes both Lion and Leopard may be seen. On the way to Kisumu, you may wish to visit some diminishing grasslands above Molo, where Sharpe’s Longclaw is regular, along with Wing-snapping Cisticola. When you reach Kisumu, if time permits, you will be able to visit Hippo Point, where the papyrus beds have specialities such as Black-headed and Papyrus Gonoleks, Carruther’s Cisticola, Swamp Flycatcher, Papyrus and Yellow-fronted Canaries, Black-billed Barbet, White-browed and Blue-headed Coucal, Greater Swamp Warbler an! d others. Over night at Imperial Hotel Kisumu.

Day 5: There are two possibilities on this day. The journey to Kakamega is quite short, but can be extended along the coast of the lake, where the area around Sioport has further papyrus specialities, as well as western species such as Copper Sunbird, Black and Black-winged Bishops, Woodland Kingfisher, Bar-breasted and Black-bellied Firefinches and Grey Kestrel. Also, there are two river crossings where Rock Pratincole is regular. Some grassland in the west is also productive for species such as Uganda Spotted Woodpecker, Red-headed Lovebird, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird and Blue Swallow. These sites could also be visited in a long morning from Kakamega town, so are possible on a different day. Overnight Golf Hotel Kakamega.

Day 6: Today, it will be possible to spend all day exploring Kakamega Forest. There are two excellent areas, around Isecheno in the south and Kakamega in the north. Visiting both parts provides the best opportunities, and local guides will help tremendously. In the northern part, Solomon is recommended, and in the south Wilberforce. The number of birds is incredible, and include Great Blue and Black-billed Turacos, Grey Parrot, Yellow-billed, Grey-throated, Yellow-spotted and Hairy-breasted Barbets, several Woodpeckers, Scaly-throated and Thick-billed Honeyguides, Turner’s Eremomela, Banded and White-chinned Prinias, Blue and Dusky Crested Flycatchers, Chapin’s Flycatcher, several Greenbuls and Illadopsises, Yellowbill, Bar-tailed Trogon, Equatorial Akalat, Black-and-White Casqued Hornbill, Snowy-headed and Blue-shouldered Robin-chats and many more. Over night Golf Hotel Kakamega

Day 7: It is recommended to spend one day in the northern Part of the Forest and the in the southern Part of the Forest. . Both are fairly Spartan. Accommodations will depend on the requested arrangements which may include Udos Bandas or Isecheno Rest house for the budget Groups or Golf Hotel and Rondo retreat for these requiring a little luxury.

Day 8: After some final forest birding, we will head north to the market town of Kitale. Nearby are two excellent birding localities, Kongolei and Saiwa Swamp. At Kongolei, there are several dry country birds scarce elsewhere, including Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-weaver, Lesser Blue-eared Starling, White-crested Turaco and Brown-rumped Bunting. Saiwa is home to the Sitatunga antelope, as well as De Brazza Monkey, and is a good site for Blue-headed Coucal, Double-toothed Barbet, Hartlaub’s Marsh Widowbird, Black-throated Wattle-eye and Splendid and Purple Glossy Starlings. Overnight Alakara Hotel.

 Day 9: Today, we skirt the Cherangani Mountains, and head through the spectacular Kerio Valley and Tugen Hills. On the way, we can stop to seek out similar birds to Kongolei, and in the valley, species such as Little Weaver and D’Arnaud’s Barbet. When we arrive at Lake Baringo, and we should see our first special birds of the area. During the few days, we should encounter Slender-tailed Nightjar, Heuglin’s Courser, Spotted Thick-knee, Northern Masked, Little, Jackson’s and Vitelline Masked Weavers, Bristle-crowned Starling, Hemprich’s and Jackson’s Hornbills, Mouse-coloured Penduline Tit, Brown-tailed Rock Chat, Verreaux’s Eagle Owl, White-faced Scops Owl, Beautiful Sunbird and much more.Over night Lake Baringo Country Club.

 Day 10: All day will be spent around Lake Baringo. You may wish to use a local guide, who will help find the difficult species. Over night at Lake Baringo Country Club.

 Day 11: We head south from Baringo, and skirt the Aberdares, stopping at Thompson’s Falls where we can seek out Slender-billed Starling, African Snipe and Tinkling Cisticola. We then pass across Solio Plains, sometimes good for Bustards, which can include the scarce Denham’s, as well as Capped Wheatear, Long-tailed Widowbird and wintering Lesser Kestrels and Montagues and Pallid Harriers. Finally, we arrive at Naro Moru River Lodge, where a self-catering two-bedroomed cottage is recommended. Food can be bought en-route at Nyahururu, or meals can be obtained at the lodge. Overnight Naro Moru River Lodge.

 Day 12: The lodge grounds are excellent for birding, and can have such species as Giant Kingfisher, Black Duck, Hartlaub’s Turaco, Red-fronted Parrot, Narina Trogon, Grey Apalis, Rufous Chatterer, Yellow-bellied Waxbill, Crowned Hornbill and up to nine sunbird species. It is also a base for Mt Kenya, and there are options to explore on a day trip the lower slopes, where some mountain specialities such as Mountain Greenbul, Grey Cuckoo-shrike, Brown-chested Alethe, Brown Woodland Warbler, Abyssinian Crimsonwing, Hunter’s Cisticola and White-tailed Crested Flycatcher can be seen. An option is to take a 4WD up to the Meteorological Station, where one night can be spent, and species such as Scarlet-tufted Malachite Sunbird, Alpine Chat, Jackson’s Francolin, Abyssinian Ground Thrush and rarely, Olive Ibis can be seen. Overnight Naromoru River Lodge.

 Day 13: After final birding around Naro Moru, we head north, stopping to look for Dusky Turtle Dove and the near-endemic Boran Cisticola. Once in Samburu , birds are profuse, and include Somali and White-throated Bee-eaters, Golden Pipit, Vulturine Guineafowl, Somali Ostrich, White-headed Mousebird, Kori and Buff-crested Bustards, Pale Chanting Goshawk, Violet Woodhoopoe, Donaldson-Smith’s Sparrow-weaver, Black-capped Social Weaver, Shining and Black-bellied Sunbirds, Bare-eyed Thrush and Palm-nut Vulture. In addition, dry-country mammals are present, including Gerenuk, Grevy’s Zebra, Beisa Oryx and Reticulated Giraffe, and Elephant, Lion, Cheetah and Leopard are all possible. Over night Samburu Block lodge.

Day 14: A further day will be spent in Samburu . Samburu Block Hotels.

 Day 15: Heading back slowly into the highlands, we will stop at Wajee Camp, where the endemic Hinde’s Babbler lives in the grounds. In addition, African Wood Owl roosts, and there is a selection of other highland birds around. Overnight Wajee Bungalows.

 Day 16: After leaving Wajee, we will visit some rice-paddies, where waterbirds are profuse, and often include Yellow-crowned Bishop and White-winged Widowbird. We will stop at Thika Blue Posts, and have the option of an afternoon at Kieni Forest. This remnant patch seems very quiet at first, but is home to many scarce highland birds, including Chestnut-throated and Black-throated Apalises, Black-fronted Bush-shrike, Bar-tailed Trogon, Ayre’s Hawk-eagle, Olive and Bronze-naped Pigeons, White-headed Woodhoopoe and Tullberg’s Woodpecker. The grounds of the New Blue Posts are also good for birding, and have scarcities which can include African Penduline Tit, Black Duck, Grey-olive Greenbul, Giant Kingfisher, Trumpeter Hornbill, Black-collared Apalis and Purple-crested Turaco. Overnight New Blue Posts Thika.

 Day 17: The final day will still be bird-filled. After breakfast, we will have an Option to head for Nairobi NP or straight to the Airport or spend more time reluxing at the Lodge grounds. The park is excellent for many grassland species, including up to 9 species of Cisticola! Hartlaub’s Bustard is regular, and other birds can include Northern Pied Babbler, African Darter, Red-throated Tit, Shelley’s Francolin, Jackson’s Widowbird, and African Finfoot at the Hippo Pools. And Transfer to airport for Flight Home.

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