Introduction
After a 3,5 week trip with three other friends to the usual spots in Ethiopia, we, Sjoerd Radstaak and Sander Bot, decided to boost our trip list by visiting Gambela. Many species not occurring elsewhere in Ethiopia can be seen here and yet not many bird watchers come here. Main reason is probably that these species are typical savannah species which can also be seen in e.g. Ghana and The Gambia. On our way back to Addis Abeba we stopped in Metu and Yayu to do some bird watching as well.
Transport
There are three flights a week from Addis Abeba to Gambela, a return flight costing less than € 300. From Gambela there is a daily bus to Addis, taking two days. We flew to Gambela and took the bus back to Addis. Around Gambela we mainly did the bird watching by foot. Once we hired mountain bikes near the market. Also in Metu and Yayu we watched birds by foot.
Accommodation
In Gambela we stayed at the Baro Gambella Hotel (8°14'44.77"N, 34°35'30.08"O) as recommended by Lonely Planet. We paid Birr300 for a twin with shower, which was fine. Maybe the best reason to stay here is the relatively good kitchen. We had proper lunch and dinner here, and choice was not limited to injera. In Metu we stayed in the Sena Hotel, where we paid Birr80 for a room. It was located a bit east in town, which reduced the walk to the river and forest. In Yayu we stayed in the only hotel in town, very sober but clean and with friendly staff, for only Birr25.
Literature
For the region there is a great bird guide, but also a where to watch guide including Gambela. If you are an independent traveller, Lonely Planet is indispensable. We found 2 trip reports covering Gambela.
Birds of the Horn of Africa, Nigel Redman, Terry Stevenson, John Fanshawe, 2009.
THE field guide for your Ethiopia trip
Where to watch birds in Ethiopia, C Spottiswoode, M Gabremichael, J Francis, 2010.
Indispensable guide for the independent traveler, giving detailed information on
where to find the birds, including Gambela
Ethiopia & Eritrea, Lonely Planet, 2009.
http://www.africanbirdclub.org/feature/Gambela.html
http://www.birdingafrica.com/africa_tours/trip_reports/tripreport_ethiopia99.htm
Daily log
February 23, Gambela
After a smooth flight we landed in Gambela in the early afternoon. Lonely Planet was right: ‘if you arrive by plane the moist, searing air that slaps your face like a wet towel blowing in the wind comes as quite a shock’. Midday temperatures were around 42°C! Anyway, the airport is some 15km from Gambela, and there is no public transport to town. We arranged a lift to the town fairly easy, and we were dropped off at the Baro Gambella Hotel. Last hours of the day were spent exploring the north bank of the river west of Gambela up to around 8°14'55.33"N, 34°34'16.14"O. Many people around and in the river, but still lots of bird activity: 5 Abdim’s Storks, 1 Grey Kestrel, 1 Red-necked Falcon (flying past), 1 Black-billed Wood Dove, 1 male Giant Kingfisher (200m west of the bridge), 1 Little Green Bee-eater, 10 Red-throated Bee-eaters, 5 Red-rumped Swallows (domicella), Moustached Grass Warbler, Winding Cisticola, 5 Yellow White-eyes (in large trees directly west of the bridge), 1 Black-headed Gonolek, 5 Bar-breasted Firefinches and 200 White-rumped Seedeaters. We might have seen Senegal Coucal, but we found it a bit very difficult to identify.
February 24, Gambela
From 06:30 to 11:00AM we birded the road north of town, in the direction of Itang. First we took a tuktuk to the northern end of town (8°16'4.68"N, 34°35'11.48"O) from where we walked some 3 km along the road to the north up to about 8°17'35.65"N, 34°34'47.52"O, close to the rock formation east of the road. Birding was good: 1 African Hawk-Eagle, 1 Fox Kestrel, 2 Grey Kestrels, Vinaceous Dove (very common), 1 Little Swift, female Bateleur, 5 Little Green Bee-eaters, a copulating pair of Brown-backed Woodpeckers, 3 Flappet Larks (found by bizarre sound), 2 Northern Crombecs (with rufous face like Red-faced Crombec!), 2 Red-pate Cisticolas (at the start of the road), 4 Copper Sunbirds, 10 Pygmy Sunbirds (including adult males!), Lesser Blue-eared Starling (common), 5 Red-billed Pytilias, 2 Black-faced Firefinches, flyby’s Eastern Paradise Whydahs (including stunning male), 4 Brown-rumped Buntings and 6 Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Larks.
After a proper lunch at the hotel and some rest during the hottest part of the day we were out to the north bank west of town again. Now we walked a bit further and found a small marsh next to the river: 8°14'46.80"N, 34°33'31.75"O. Plenty water birds here: 100 Marabous, 2 African Openbills, 80 Sacred Ibises, 25 Yellow-billed Storks, 20 Cattle Egrets, 4 Pink-backed Pelicans, 10 African Jacanas, 3 Squacco Herons and 50+ White-faced Whistling Ducks. In the woods surrounding the marsh we found Snowy-headed Robin-Chat, 2 Green Wood-hoopoes, Klaas Cuckoo, and a pair Pygmy Sunbirds. In the scrub along the river we found two flocks Abyssinian Waxbills, and in the thick bushes along the south side of the marsh we found a skulking Dusky Babbler. A confining Silverbird nearby was much welcomed. Because we were a bit further from Gambela town, there were less people along the river, and this immediately paid off with 2 Egyptian Plovers on the sand banks of the river! At dusk we walked back to the town, and above a clearing close to town (8°15'10.04"N, 34°34'35.54"O) we unexpectedly found both Long-tailed Nightjar and Standard-winged Nightjar flying around. One of the Standard-winged Nightjars was a stunning male, including the flags on the wing, absolutely fabulous! Sjoerd was nearly bursting into tears because he could not believe his eyes. We ordered an extra beer at dinner that night, what a day!
February 25, Gambela
The day started good with a Greyish Eagle-Owl in the hotel gardens. Our goal this morning was to bird along the Metu road. It was a long walk over the bridge, to the southeast, before the last settlements ended. It was also quite busy on the road, so we took the first road off the Metu Road, and this leaded to sort of abandoned factory (8°13'19.18"N, 34°36'30.43"O). It was hot early, so we did not see too many birds here, but Lesser Honeyguide, Greater Honeyguide, Snowy-headed Robin-Chat, White-browed Robin-Chat, Brown Babbler and Black-rumped Waxbill are worth mentioning. Making our way through some thorn bushes we eventually made it to the river at 8°13'42.06"N, 34°36'22.14"O. From here to a few 100m further east birding was good, with Egyptian Plover being the star bird again, in total 8 birds were seen including a pair with two chicks! A flyby Red-necked Falcon was much appreciated by Sjoerd who missed the previous one. Another goody here was a perched juvenile Western Banded Snake-Eagle. After the midday heat break we hired a bike at the market, and cycled to the west along the north bank again. We didn’t get much further than by foot, biking with bad road conditions and with such heat proved not to be very efficient. Besides seeing much of the same as yesterday we also added a non-breeding type Black Bishop and a Lead-coloured Flycatcher to the list.
February 26, Gambela
This morning Itang-road north of town again. Much of the same as two days ago of course, but also some new birds like Red-necked Buzzard, Croaking and Siffling Cisticola. The cisticolas were found in a patch of savannah with a more vegetated grassy undergrowth. This habitat was found only from 8°18'29.13"N, 34°34'29.41"O, a place we just didn’t reach two days ago. We had again good views of a pair of Red-billed Pytilia - a near-endemic often missed by tours elsewhere in Ethiopia, but which is seemingly not uncommon here.
In the afternoon we went to the north bank to the west once more. This time it was hard to find any new species, and in the end the only new species we found were 2 Swallow-tailed Bee-eaters.
February 27, Gambela - Metu
In the early morning we took the bus from the Gambela bus station to Metu (8°17'54.32"N, 35°34'53.35"O). The drive was quite smooth and at a break at the checkpoint at the Gambela district border we saw a Fan-tailed Raven. In Metu we checked in at the Sena Hotel which was fine. Because we had no idea where to watch birds here, we did some work in advance at home: according to Google Earth there is a river with some forest patches northeast of town. So in the afternoon we walked in the direction of the river, by following the main road to the east. Close to the river (8°18'35.32"N, 35°35'34.51"O) we went off the tarmac , following a small path in the direction of the forest patch west of the river. Before reaching the forest we found Jameson’s Firefinch in the secondary growth. After some detouring we eventually reached the forest patch at 8°19'2.87"N, 35°35'33.73"O. There was a track trough the patch along the river. We were followed by some kids who at some stage fortunately gave up. Along the river we saw a male Giant Kingfisher, 2 or 3 Half-collared Kingfishers and flushed three snipes, they went a bit too quick to identify however. Highlight was for sure the flock of 51 White-throated Bee-eaters above the river and forest, sometimes perched in trees, what a beauties! And unexpected also, as they normally arrive only by April. Also seen in the forest patch: a Yellow-throated Leaflove skulking in the bushes along the river, 2 Tambourine Doves, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill (common), Green-backed Honeybird, 1 Olive Sunbird, 2 Violet-backed Starlings and 1 Black-faced Firefinch. When returning to the Hotel in Metu we found 2 White-winged Cliff-Chats next to the hotel.
February 28, Metu and Yayu
We were back at the river at 06:30AM for a morning shift of bird watching. This time we tried the forest patch east of the river (8°19'33.21"N, 35°35'57.36"O). We had to climb a fence or two, and we were in a nice patch! Many good species here: 4 Tambourine Doves, Red-shouldered and Grey Cuckooshrike, Abyssinian Ground Thrush, Grosbeak Weaver and 3 Olive Sunbirds. Also many of the same species as yesterday including Giant and Half-collared Kingfishers, White-throated Bee-eaters and Yellow-throated Leafloves. After this successful morning we decided to use the hottest part of the day to travel to Yayu. Not very clear when buses would leave, we decided to just sit along the road next to the hotel to wait for a bus. It took an hour or so, and there was a bus passing Yayu (8°20'33.99"N, 35°49'1.15"O). Arriving in Yayu we checked in at the only hotel in the village and explored the road in the direction of Bedele. No good birding at all, the settlements did not end, and we were constantly followed by crowds of kids. At dusk we were back at the hotel where a flock of 7 Stuhlmann’s Starlings flew over.
March 1, Yayu
Sander was completely wasted after being for more than a month in Ethiopia now, but Sjoerd was not of course, so he had a pre breakfast stroll south of the village. Score: 2 African Green Pigeons, an Abyssinian Ground Thrush, 2 Olive Sunbirds and 5 Stuhlmann Starlings flying over. After breakfast we birded from 9 to 12AM at the same location: a stream south of Yayu, we followed it from 8°20'12.12"N, 35°49'3.07"O to 8°20'18.82"N, 35°49'21.48"O, where it crosses the road: 4 Woolly-necked Storks, 4 White-backed Vultures, 1 Scaly Francolin, 3 Abyssinian Ground Thrushes and 2 White-winged Cliff-Chats. In the afternoon we followed the stream more to the east (8°20'24.94"N, 35°49'33.27"O), but this was a bit disappointing because we saw ourselves mainly in a plantation, where Red-capped Bush-Robin was the only species worth mentioning. 7 White-throated Bee-eaters flying past were nice too of course. Yayu is difficult bird watching by the way: ‘white’ people are clearly a rare sight here, and we were constantly followed by crowds of kids which sometimes can be quite annoying.
March 2 and 3, Yahu - Jimma - Addis
On March 2 we travelled to Jimma. After an hour wait at the Yayu Bus stop there was a bus at 7:40AM with some spare seats to Bedele. Arriving at the bus station of Bedele (10:15AM) a bus was waiting for Jimma, arriving there at 13:37. In Jimma we we took the Jimma Central Hotel close to the bus station. This is a luxurious hotel compared to the simple hotels further west, so we enjoyed proper lunch, dinner and a hot shower. The next morning we wanted to go back to Addis, and according Lonely Planet you have to be at 6AM at the bus station to fight for a ticket. Not very appealing, so we booked the Salem Bus - a luxurious bus company where you can buy tickets in advance for Birr150 per person. About half an hour before Addis we added the last new bird to the trip list: some 20 Lesser Kestrels on the plains. In Addis we saw 2 Mottled Swifts.
Pink-backed Pelican - Pelecanus rufescens
24 -26: up to 7 at marsh along Gambela River.
Little Grebe - Tachybaptus ruficollis
23: 1 Gambela
Long-tailed Cormorant - Phalacrocorax africanus
23, 24: 1 Gambela
26: 3 Gambela.
27: 3 at Metu.
Black-crowned Night Heron – Nycticorax nycticorax
24: 1 juvenile at marsh west of town.
25: 2 juveniles at marsh west of town.
Western Cattle Egret - Bubulcus ibis
Very common around Gambela
Squacco Heron - Ardeola ralloides
24, 25: 3 birds at marsh along Gambela river.
Striated Heron - Butorides striata
25: 4 along the Gambela River, east of town.
Little Egret - Egretta garzetta
25: 1 along the Gambela River, east of town.
Great Egret - Ardea alba
25: 3 birds at marsh along Gambela river.
Intermediate Egret - Egretta intermedia
23: 2 Gambela
25: few west of Gambela.
Goliath Heron - Ardea goliath
25: 1 bird at marsh along Gambela river.
Purple Heron - Ardea purpurea
25: 2 immatures at marsh along Gambela river, west of town.
Grey Heron - Ardea cinerea
25: 2 along the Gambela River, east of town.
27: 1 at Metu.
Black-headed Heron - Ardea melanocephala
Common around Gambela.
Yellow-billed Stork - Mycteria ibis
23: 1 Gambela.
24: 25 birds at marsh along Gambela river.
Abdim's Stork - Ciconia abdimii
23: 5 soaring over Gambela.
24, 25: 1 west of Gambela.
25: 1 south east of Gambela.
26: 11, Gambela.
02: 2 from the bus between Yayu and Jimma.
African Openbill - Anastomus lamelligerus
24: 2 birds at marsh along Gambela river.
27: 2 along the river, Metu.
28: 5 birds in a tree along the river near Metu.
Woolly-necked Stork - Ciconia episcopus
25: 1 south east of Gambela.
26: 1 west of Gambela.
27: 1 flying over Metu.
01: 5 flying over Yayu.
Marabou- Leptoptilos crumeniferus
Common around Gambela
African Sacred Ibis - Threskiornis aethiopicus
23: different groups flying over the Gambela River at the end of the day.
24: 80 birds at marsh along Gambela river.
Hadada Ibis- Bostrychia hagedash
23: 5 Gambela.
24: 5+ Gambela.
25: 5 south east of Gambela.
01: 5 at Yayu
Spur-winged Goose - Plectropterus gambensis
26: 1 west of Gambela.
Egyptian Goose - Alopochen aegyptiaca
25: 2 south east of Gambela.
27, 28: 2 Metu.
White-faced Whistling Duck - Dendrocygna viduata
24: 50+ at marsh along Gambela River, west of town.
24: 78 at marsh along Gambela River, west of town.
Yellow-billed Kite - Milvus aegyptius
Very common around Gambela. Common Metu and Yayu.
Black Kite - Milvus migrans
23: 1 amongst the yellow-billed kites, Gambela.
25: 1 south east of Gambela.
26: 3 Gambela
27, 28: common around Metu.
African Fish Eagle - Haliaeetus vocifer
25: 2 west of Gambela.
Western Osprey - Pandion haliaetus
25, 26: 1 west of Gambela.
Egyptian Vulture - Neophron percnopterus
24: 1 Itang road, Gambela.
Hooded Vulture - Necrosyrtes monachus
Abundant around Gambela.
White-headed Vulture - Trigonoceps occipitalis
02: 1 from the bus between Yayu and Jimma.
Vulture spec. – Gyps spec.
26: 3 flying over the Itang road where either Rüppell’s or White-backed.
White-backed Vulture - Gyps africanus
01: 3-5 flying over Yayu.
Western Banded Snake Eagle – Circaetus cinerascens
25: 1 juvenile seen well along a field close to the river, south west of Gambela.
Western Marsh Harrier – Circus aeruginosus
26: 1 male over the Itang road, Gambela
Dark Chanting Goshawk - Melierax metabates
24: 1 Itang road, Gambela.
25: 2 near the Metu road, some 3km sout east of Gambela.
25: 1 west of Gambela.
Shikra – Accipiter badius
25: 1 near the Metu road, some 3km sout east of Gambela.
26: 1 Itang road, Gambela.
Eurasian Sparrowhawk - Accipiter nisus
24: 1 Itang road, Gambela.
Little Sparrowhawk - Accipiter minullus
02: 1, Bedele bus station.
African Harrier-Hawk - Polyboroides typus
26: 1 west of Gambela
01: 1 flying over Yayu.
Red-necked Buzzard – Buteo auguralis
26: 1 along the Itang road, Gambela.
Augur Buzzard – Buteo augur
28: 1 dark morph over the forest, Metu.
Common Buzzard – Buteo buteo
24: 1 Itang road, Gambela.
27: 1 near Metu.
28: Yayu.
01: 2 flying over Yayu.
African Hawk-Eagle - Hieraaetus spilogaster
24: 1 flying over the Itang road, Gambela.
25: 1 flying over south east of Gambela.
Bateleur - Terathopius ecaudatus
24: 1 Itang road, Gambela
26: 2 females over the Itang road, Gambela
Long-crested Eagle - Lophaetus occipitalis
24: 1 west of Gambela.
25: 1 east of Gambela.
25: 3 west of Gambela.
26: 1 west of Gambela.
Lesser Kestrel – Falco naumanni
03: Some 20 on the plains ca half an hour before Addis, coming from Welchite.
Fox Kestrel - Falco alopex
24, 26: At least one individual, flying around the rock formation at some 3 km from Gambela along the Itang road. The rock formation is easy to find, you can see it already by leaving Gambela.
Grey Kestrel - Falco ardosiaceus
23: 1 west of Gambela near the river.
24: 2 along the Itang road, Gambela.
African Hobby - Falco cuvierii
01: 1 Yayu.
Red-necked Falcon – Falco chicquera
23: 1 flying past along the river, west of Gambela.
25: 1 flying by along the Gambela River, east of town.
25: 2 flying past along the river, west of Gambela.
Peregrine Falcon - Falco peregrinus
25: 1 flying past along the river, west of Gambela.
Helmeted Guineafowl - Numida meleagris
25: 50 near the Metu road, some 3km sout east of Gambela.
25: 100 west of Gambela.
Scaly Francolin - Pternistis squamatus
01: 1 flushed near the stream Yayu.
Black Crake - Amaurornis flavirostra
27: 1 along the river near Metu.
Black-winged Stilt - Himantopus himantopus
26: 8 along the Gambela river, west of Gambela.
Senegal Thick-knee - Burhinus senegalensis
23: 1 west of Gambela along the river.
25: 4 along the Gambela River, east of town.
Egyptian Plover – Pluvianus aegyptius
24: 2 on sand banks in the Gambela River, west of town, at 8°15'10.04"N, 34°34'35.54"O.
25: 8 individuals along the Gambela River, east of town, at 8°13'42.06"N, 34°36'22.14"O.
26: 3 on sand banks in the Gambela River, west of town, at 8°15'10.04"N, 34°34'35.54"O.
African Wattled Plover - Vanellus senegallus
24: Gambela.
25: 2 south east of Gambela.
25: 2 west of Gambela.
Little Ringed Plover – Charadrius dubius
24: 4 on the sand banks of the Gambela River, west of town.
Common Sandpiper - Actitis hypoleucos
24: Common along Gambela River.
Wood Sandpiper - Tringa glareola
24: 5 at marsh along Gambela River.
Green Sandpiper - Tringa ochropus
24: 1 Gambela.
Common Greenshank - Tringa nebularia
24: 1 at marsh along Gambela River.
African Jacana - Actophilornis africanus
24: 10 at marsh along Gambela River.
25: >10 at marsh along Gambela River.
Wood Sandpiper - Tringa glareola
23: 1 Gambela.
26: 3 Gambela.
Common Sandpiper - Actitis hypoleucos
Common along the Gambela River
Common Snipe - Gallinago gallinago
25: 2 at marsh along Gambela River.
26: 4 at marsh along Gambela River.
27: 3 flushed from the river at Metu, they went a bit too fast to exclude African Snipe with certainty.
Gull-billed Tern - Sterna nilotica
24: 2 flying over the Gambela River.
Afrian Green Pigeon – Treron calvus
01: 2 in a big tree near the stream south of Yayu.
Bruce's Green Pigeon - Treron waalia
25: 1 in a big fruiting tree along the river, south east of Gambela.
26: 6 in a big fruiting tree along the river, west of Gambela.
Speckled Pigeon - Columba guinea
Common
Vinaceous Dove - Streptopelia vinacea
24: Very common Itang road, Gambela.
Mourning Collared Dove (African Mourning Dove) - Streptopelia decipiens
23: 1 west of Gambela along the river.
24: Some along Itang road, Gambela.
27: Metu.
Red-eyed Dove - Streptopelia semitorquata
23: 1 west of Gambela along the river.
Blue-spotted Wood Dove - Turtur afer
24: some along the Itang road, Gambela.
24: 1 west of Gambela along the river.
26: 1 along the Itang road, Gambela.
Black-billed Wood Dove – Turtur abyssinicus
23: 1 west of Gambela along the river.
24: 3 west of Gambela along the river.
25: 3 near the Metu road, some 3km sout east of Gambela.
26: 3 Itang road, Gambela.
26: 1 west of Gambela along the river.
Tambourine Dove - Turtur tympanistria
27: 2 in the forest near Metu.
28: 4 in the forest near Metu.
28: 1 Yayu
01: Common, Yayu.
Namaqua Dove - Oena capensis
Common in Gambela area.
Klaas's Cuckoo - Chrysococcyx klaas
23: 1 male west of Gambela along the river.
24: 1 west of Gambela along the river.
25: 1 female near the Metu road, some 3km sout east of Gambela.
01: 1 female Yayu.
Senegal Coucal – Centropus senegalensis
23: 1 adult west of Gambela along the river. ID is difficult, so we are not certain.
Blue-headed Coucal - Centropus monachus
24: 4 west of Gambela.
25: Near the Metu road, some 3km sout east of Gambela.
25: west of Gambela
Greyish Eagle-Owl - Bubo cinerascens
25: 1 on the hotel grounds of the Baro Gambella Hotel ( 8°14'44.77"N, 34°35'30.08"O).
26: 1 at dusk along the Gambela river, west of town.
Long-tailed Nightjar – Caprimulgus climacurus
24: 1 just west of Gambela at 8°15'10.04"N, 34°34'35.54"O. Flying around at dusk.
25: 1 just west of Gambela at 8°15'10.04"N, 34°34'35.54"O. Flying around at dusk.
Standard-winged Nightjar – Macrodipteryx longipennis
24, 25: 2 females and 1 male breeding plumage just west of Gambela at 8°15'10.04"N,
34°34'35.54"O. Flying around at dusk, one of the, if not THE highlight of the trip.
26: 2 males and 1 female at the same spot.
African Palm Swift - Cypsiurus parvus
Common around Gambela.
25: 5 near the Metu road, some 3km sout east of Gambela.
Little Swift - Apus affinis
24: 1 Itang Road, Gambela.
Alpine Swift - Tachymarptis melba
25: 20 near the Metu road, some 3km sout east of Gambela.
Speckled Mousebird - Colius striatus
Common around Gambela.
Blue-naped Mousebird - Urocolius macrourus
24: Group at Itang road, Gambela
Grey-headed Kingfisher - Halcyon leucocephala
Common in the Gambela area.
Woodland Kingfisher - Halcyon senegalensis
25: 5 south east of Gambela.
Giant Kingfisher – Megaceryle maxima
23: 1 male at the Gambela River, close to the bridge at 8°14'50.62"N, 34°35'4.97"O.
27: 1 male along the river near Metu.
28: 2 along the river near Metu.
Striped Kingfisher - Halcyon chelicuti
24: 2 Itang Road, Gambela.
25: 1 west of Gambela.
26: 1 Itang Road, Gambela.
African Pygmy Kingfisher - Ceyx pictus
24: 2 west of Gambela along the river.
25: 2 south east of Gambela.
27: 2 along the river near Metu.
01: 1 Yayu.
Malachite Kingfisher - Alcedo cristata
25: 2 west of Gambela.
27: 1 along the river near Metu.
Half-collared Kingfisher - Alcedo semitorquata
27: 2-3 along the river near Metu.
28: 3 along the river near Metu.
Little Bee-eater - Merops pusillus
24: 2 Itang Road, Gambela.
25: 5 south east of Gambela.
Blue-breasted Bee-eater - Merops variegatus
Common, Gambela, Metu and Yayu.
Little Green Bee-eater – Merops orientalis
23: 1 west of Gambela along the river.
24: 5+ Itang Road, Gambela.
24: 2 west of Gambela along the river.
24: 3 Itang Road, Gambela.
White-throated Bee-eater – Merops albicollis
27: 51 above and in the forest near Metu.
28: 30+ around the forest near Metu, 01: 7+ south east of Yayu.
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater – Merops hirundineus
26: 2 at the very west end of town in the woods.
European Bee-eater - Merops apiaster
27: Several above the forest near Metu.
Red-throated Bee-eater – Merops bulocki
23: 10 west of Gambela along the river.
25: 4 south east of Gambela.
25: 1 west of Gambela along the river.
Northern Carmine Bee-eater
Fairly common at Gambela, especially near the River.
Abyssinian Roller - Coracias abyssinicus
24: 1 Itang Road, Gambela.
Green Wood-hoopoe – Phoeniculus purpureus
24: 2 west of Gambela.
25: 5 south east of Gambela.
Eurasian Hoopoe - Upupa epops
25: 5 south east of Gambela.
Black Scimitarbill – Rhinopomastus aterrimus
24: 4 along the Itang Road, Gambela.
African Grey Hornbill - Tockus nasutus
25: 4 south east of Gambela.
Silvery-cheeked Hornbill - Bycanistes brevis
27, 28: Common in the forest near Metu.
01: Common, Yayu.
Abyssinian Ground-hornbill - Bucorvus abyssinicus
24: 2 Itang Road, Gambela.
Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird - Pogoniulus chrysoconus
25: 1 west of Gambela.
27, 28: 1 in the forest near Metu.
01: 3 at Yayu.
Black-billed Barbet - Lybius guifsobalito
Common around Gambela.
Double-toothed Barbet - Lybius bidentatus
25: 2 south east of Gambela.
25: 2 west of Gambela.
27: 2 in the forest near Metu.
28: 1 in the forest near Metu.
01: a pair at a nest hole near the stream at Yayu.
Banded Barbet – Lybius undatus
27: 2 near Metu.
01: 1 flying over, Yayu.
Green-backed Honeybird - Prodotiscus zambesiae
27: 1 in the forest near Metu.
Lesser Honeyguide - Indicator minor
25: 1 south east of Gambela.
Greater Honeyguide - Indicator indicator
25: 1 south east of Gambela.
Eurasian Wryneck - Jynx torquilla torquilla
24: 1 Itang Road, Gambela.
Nubian Woodpecker - Campethera nubica
25: 3 near the Metu road, some 3km sout east of Gambela.
27; 2 in the forest near Metu.
Cardinal Woodpecker - Dendropicos fuscescens
25: 4 near the Metu road, some 3km sout east of Gambela.
01: a pair and a single bird at Yayu.
Brown-backed Woodpecker – Picoides obsoletus
24: A copulating pair at a nest hole along the Itang road, Gambela.
26: 2 in the woods west of town.
Eastern Grey Woodpecker - Dendropicos spodocephalus
23: 2 west of Gambela near the river.
25: 2 near the Metu road, some 3km sout east of Gambela.
Flappet Lark – Mirafra rufocinnamomea
24: 3 birds found by bizarre sound of display fight, produced with wings.
26: 4, Itang road, Gambela.
Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark - Eremopterix leucotis
24: 6 along Itang Road, Gambela.
Rock Martin - Ptyonoprogne fuligula
24: 1 along Itang Road, Gambela.
01: Yayu.
Sand Martin - Riparia riparia
Common.
Plain Martin - Riparia paludicola
23: 1 west of Gambela along the river.
Red-rumped Swallow - Cecropis daurica
23: 5 of subspecies domicella with white underparts at the River west of Gambela.
Common House Martin – Delichon urbicum
01: Common Yayu.
Mosque Swallow - Cecropis senegalensis
25: 1 south west of Gambela.
27: 2 flying around the radio mast in Metu.
Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica
Common
Wire-tailed Swallow - Hirundo smithii
25: 7 south east of Gambela.
27: Metu.
Black Saw-wing - Psalidoprocne pristoptera
27: 5 from the bus between Gore and Metu.
27, 28: Common Metu.
01: Common, Yayu.
Western Yellow Wagtail - Motacilla flava
23: Different groups flying to their roost of unknown subspecies, west of Gambela.
24: 1 feldegg along the marsh west of Gambela.
African Pied Wagtail - Motacilla aguimp
25: 1 along the Gambela River, east of town.
27: 2-3 near Metu.
White Wagtail – Motacilla alba
24: 4 west of Gambela.
Mountain Wagtail - Motacilla clara
27, 28: Several along the river near Metu.
01: 1 along the stream at Yayu.
Grey Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea
01: 1 Yayu.
Plain-backed Pipit - Anthus leucophrys
01: 1 in the fields south east of Yayu.
Tree Pipit - Anthus trivialis
24: 2 Itang Road, Gambela, flying past, identified by call.
27: Common, Metu.
01: Common, Yayu.
Red-shouldered Cuckoo-shrike - Campephaga phoenicea
28: 1 pair in the forest near Metu.
Grey Cuckooshrike – Coracina caesia
28: 1 female in the forest near Metu.
Common Bulbul - Pycnonotus schoanus
Abundant.
Yellow-throated Leaflove – Chlorocichla flavicollis
27: 1 in the forest along the river near Metu.
28: 5 in the forest along the river near Metu, less skulky compared to yesterday.
Rüppell's Robin-Chat - Cossypha semirufa
27: Several in the forest near Metu.
28: Common in the forest near Metu.
01: Several, Yayu.
White-browed Robin-Chat - Cossypha heuglini
25: 3 near the Metu road, some 3km sout east of Gambela.
Red-capped Robin-Chat - Cossypha natalensis
01: 3 at the plantation south east of Yayu.
Snowy-headed Robin-Chat - Cossypha niveicapilla
24: West of Gambela along the river.
25: 1 near the Metu road, some 3km sout east of Gambela.
Common Nightingale - Luscinia megarhynchos
24: 1 west of Gambela.
25: 1 near the Metu road, some 3km sout east of Gambela.
Common Redstart – Phoenicurus phoenicurus
23: 3 Gambela
Whinchat – Saxicola rubetra
23, 24, 25: 1 west of Gambela.
26: 2 west of Gambela.
Isabelline Wheatear - Oenanthe isabellina
24: 2 Itang Road, Gambela.
Northern Wheatear - Oenanthe oenanthe
24: 1 Itang Road, Gambela
Pied Wheatear - Oenanthe pleschanka
24: 2 Itang Road, Gambela.
White-winged Cliff Chat - Thamnolaea semirufa
27: 2 in Metu.
01: Pair in Yayu.
Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush - Monticola saxatilis
24: 2 Itang Road, Gambela.
Mountain Thrush – Turdus (olivaceus) abyssinicus
27: common around Metu and Yayu.
African Thrush - Turdus pelios
Common in the Gambela area.
Abyssinian Ground Thrush - Zoothera piaggiae
28: 1 in the forest near Metu.
01: 3 in the forest south of Yayu.
Moustached Grass Warbler – Melocichla mentalis
23: 1 west of Gambela, along the north bank of the river. When following the foot path along the river from Gambela town, after a while the path goes through a high reed-like field. Here we saw the bird.
26: 1 west of town, in long reed-like grass in the woods.
Eurasian Reed Warbler – Acrocephalus scirpaceus
01: 1 Yayu.
Sedge Warbler - Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
27: 3 around Metu.
Grey-backed Camaroptera - Camaroptera brachyuran
24: Common, Itang Road, Gambela.
01: Yayu.
Green-backed Eremomela - Eremomela canescens
25: 1 south east of Gambela.
Northern Crombec - Sylvietta brachyura
24: 2 along the Itang road, Gambela.
25: 2 south east of Gambela.
26: 4 along the Itang road Gambela.
Buff-bellied Warbler - Phyllolais pulchella
23, 26: Gambela.
Willow Warbler – Phylloscopus trochilus
27: 1 Metu.
28: 1 heard singing near Metu.
01: 1 heard singing Yayu.
Blackcap - Sylvia atricapilla
27: 3 Metu.
Garden Warbler – Sylvia borin
01: 1 Yayu.
Winding Cisticola – Cisticola marginatus
23: 1 in the vegetation along the Gambela River, west of town.
24, 25: 4 in the vegetation along the Gambela River, west of town.
Red-pate Cisticola – Cisticola ruficeps
24: 2 along the Itang road, Gambela. Found in more dense vegetation east of the road, just outside Gambela.
Croaking Cisticola – Cisticola natalensis
26: 1 Along the Itang road in a patch of savannah with a more vegetated grassy undergrowth. This habitat was found only from 8°18'29.13"N, 34°34'29.41"O.
Siffling Cisticola – Cisticola brachypterus
26: 2 Along the Itang road in a patch of savannah with a more vegetated grassy undergrowth. This habitat was found only from 8°18'29.13"N, 34°34'29.41"O.
Foxy Cisticola – Cisticola troglodytes
Common around Gambela.
Red-faced Cisticola – Cisticola erythrops
23: 1 Gambela
24: 2 along the Itang road, Gambela.
25: 3 south east of Gambela.
26: 2 west of Gambela.
Tawny-flanked Prinia - Prinia subflava
23: 2 Gambela
Yellow-breasted Apalis - Apalis flavida
28: 1 near Metu.
Abyssinian Slaty Flycatcher - Melaenornis chocolatinus
27: 3 Metu.
28: common Metu.
Northern Black Flycatcher - Melaenornis edolioides
25: 2 south east of Gambela.
27, 28: Common Metu.
Pale Flycatcher - Bradornis pallidus
25: 1 west of Gambela.
26: 4 along the Itang road, Gambela.
01: 5 at Yayu.
African Dusky Flycatcher - Muscicapa adusta
27: Common Metu.
Spotted Flycatcher – Muscicapa striata
23: 1 at the Baro Gambella Hotel grounds. And no, unfortunately it was not a Gambaga Flycatcher.
African Paradise-flycatcher - Terpsiphone viridis ferreti
23: 2 Gambela
24: Brown male breeding plumage, Gambela.
01: 1, Yayu.
Lead-coloured Flycatcher – Myioparus plumbeus
25: 1 in the woods west of Gambela.
Silverbird – Empidornis semipartitus
24: 1 adult in a small tree close to the marsh, west of town along the river. Unexpected but a much welcomed nice bird!
Western Black-headed Batis - Batis erlangeri
26: along Itang road, Gambela.
01: 2, Yayu.
Batis sp – Batis sp.
24: 2 silent birds along Itang road were either Black-headed or Grey-headed Batis.
Brown-throated Wattle-eye - Platysteira cyanea
27: 1 Metu.
28: 5 Metu.
White-rumped Babbler – Turdoides leucopygia
27: several groups, Metu.
Brown Babbler – Turdoides plebejus
25: 5 south east of Gambela. Not low skulking in the scrub like Dusky Babbler.
26: 4 along the Itang road, Gambela.
Dusky Babbler – Turdoides tenebrosa
24, 26: 1 skulker in thick bush close to the marsh west of Gambela at 8°14'46.80"N, 34°33'31.75"O
Montane White-eye - Zosterops poliogastrus
27, 28: Common, Metu.
01: 7 Yayu.
Yellow White-eye – Zosterops senegalensis
23: 5 in large trees along the north bank, directly west of the bridge.
26: 2 small groups along the Itang road, Gambela.
26: 1 west of Gambela.
Abyssinian White-eye - Zosterops abyssinicus
28: Metu.
Tacazze Sunbird - Nectarinia tacazze
01: 3 males, Yayu.
Copper Sunbird – Cinnyris cupreus
24: Small group of 4 along Itang road were only sighting.
Beautiful Sunbird - Cinnyris pulchellus
24: 2 along Itang road Gambela.
Olive Sunbird - Cyanomitra olivacea
27: 1 in the forest near Metu.
28: 3 in the forest near Metu.
01: 2, Yayu.
Variable Sunbird - Cinnyris venustus
Common around Gambela and Metu.
01: 1, Yayu.
Pygmy Sunbird – Hedydipna platura
Surprisingly common in the Gambela area:
24: Up to 10 individuals, including breeding plumage males along Itang road
24: pair west of Gambela town.
25: 3 south east of Gambela.
26: ca 5 along the Itang road.
Common Fiscal – Lanius collaris
27: Several, Metu.
01: 3 Yayu.
Isabelline Shrike - Lanius isabellinus
25: 1 adult south east of Gambela.
Red-tailed Shrike (Turkestan Shrike) - Lanius phoenicuroides
26: 1 adult west of Gambela.
Brubru – Nilaus afer
26: 2 along the Itang road, Gambela.
Black-headed Gonolek – Laniarius erythrogaster
Fairly common in the Gambela area, also in Gambela town.
Ethiopian Boubou - Laniarius aethiopicus
27: 3 Metu.
28: 4 Metu.
01: several singing, Yayu.
Northern Puffback - Dryoscopus gambensis
27: 1 in the forest near Metu.
Black-crowned Tchagra - Tchagra senegalus
24, 25: 2 west of Gambela town.
26: one heard singing along Itang road, Gambela.
26: one heard singing west of Gambela.
27: 1 Metu.
Abyssinian Oriole - Oriolus monacha
27, 28: 2 in the forest at Metu.
Fork-tailed Drongo - Dicrurus adsimilis
24: 1 along the Itang road, Gambela.
25: 2 south east of Gambela.
Pied Crow - Corvus albus
23: 1, Gambela
Fan-tailed Raven – Corvus rhipidurus
27: 1 at the Gambela district checkpoint, on the way to Metu.
27: 2 at Metu.
28: Common at Metu.
Thick-billed Raven - Corvus crassirostris
27, 28: Common Metu.
01: Common at Yayu.
Red-billed Oxpecker - Buphagus erythrorhynchus
01: 6 at Yayu.
Stuhlmann’s Starling – Poeoptera stuhlmanni
28: At dusk, a group of 7 was flying fast and low over the hotel.
01: in the early morning, 5 flying over Yayu.
Lesser Blue-eared Starling - Lamprotornis chloropterus
Common around Gambela.
Rüppell's Starling - Lamprotornis purpuroptera
25: 2 south east of Gambela.
25: 3 west of Gambela.
Violet-backed Starling - Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
26: 5 along the Itang road, Gambela.
27: 2 in the forest near Metu.
28: 2 males, Metu.
01: 6 at Yayu.
Northern Grey-headed Sparrow – Passer griseus
Common in Gambela. The sparrows in the Gambela area should be this species. They looked more like Swainson’s to us….
Swainson's Sparrow - Passer swainsoni
27: 2 in Metu.
01: 3 at Yayu.
Bush Petronia - Gymnoris dentata
24: 2 along the Itang road, Gambela.
25: 2 south east of Gambela.
26: 8 along the Itang road, Gambela.
Chestnut-crowned Sparrow Weaver - Plocepasser superciliosus
24: Common along the Itang road, Gambela.
Village Weaver - Ploceus cucullatus
Very common in the Gambela area. Common Yayu.
Lesser Masked Weaver - Ploceus intermedius
23: 5, Gambela
25: 10 south east of Gambela.
Northern Masked Weaver - Ploceus taeniopterus
Common in the Gambela area.
Spectacled Weaver - Ploceus ocularis
27: 2 near Metu.
28: 3 near Metu.
01: female, Yayu.
Baglafecht Weaver - Ploceus baglafecht
27: Pair at Metu.
28: 5 at Metu.
01: Yayu.
Grosbeak Weaver – Amblyospiza albifrons
28: 3 immature birds in the forest near Metu.
Red-headed Weaver - Anaplectes rubriceps
02: 2 at Yayu.
Black Bishop – Euplectes gierowii
25, 26: 1 female type in vegetation near the river west of Gambela town.
Black-winged Red Bishop - Euplectes hordeaceus
23: Gambela.
Northern Red Bishop - Euplectes franciscanus
Common around Gambela.
Red-billed Pytilia - Pytilia lineata
24: 5 (five!) along the Itang road, Gambela.
26: a pair along the Itang road, Gambela.
Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu - Uraeginthus bengalus
Very common around Gambela.
Bar-breasted Firefinch - Lagonosticta rufopicta
Fairly common along the river both west and east of Gambela, where more common than Red-billed Firefinch.
Red-billed Firefinch - Lagonosticta senegala
Common.
Jameson’s Firefinch – Lagonosticta rhodopareia
27: 1 in secondary growth near Metu.
28: 7, Metu.
Black-faced Firefinch - Lagonosticta larvata
24: Pair along the Itang road, Gambela.
25: 1 along the Gambela River, east of town.
25: 1 pair along the Gambela River, west of town.
27: 1 between Metu and the forest patch.
Yellow-bellied Waxbill - Estrilda quartinia
01: Pair, Yayu.
Black-rumped Waxbill – Estrilda troglodytes
25: Twice near the Metu road, some 3km south east of Gambela.
25: 3 west of Gambela.
Abyssinian Waxbill – Estrilda ochrogaster
25: a big flock of some 200 in vegetation along the river west of Gambela.
Bronze Mannikin - Spermestes cucullata
Common around Gambela, Metu and Yayu.
Exclamatory Paradise Whydah – Vidua interjecta
24: 20+ along the Itang road, Gambela. All in non-breeding plumage, except one splendid male.
26: 4 female types along Itang road, Gambela.
Pin-tailed Whydah - Vidua macroura
25: 2 males non-breeding south east of Gambela.
Village Indigobird - Vidua chalybeata
28: 1 male Yayu.
01: 5 females, 4 males, Yayu.
Yellow-fronted Canary - Crithagra mozambica
Common in the Gambela and Metu area.
African Citril - Crithagra citrinelloides
27: 3 near Metu.
01: Common at Yayu.
White-rumped Seedeater Serinus leucopygius
23: Unexpectedly common around Gambela. First one found in town itself, later different small groups along the river.
24: 3 along the Itang road, Gambela.
Streaky Seedeater - Crithagra striolatus
27, 28: Metu.
01: Yayu.
Brown-rumped Bunting – Emberiza affinis
24, 26: 4 along the Itang road, Gambela.
All pictures in this report by Sjoerd Radstaak. For any questions feel free to contact us at: sanderbot at yahoo.co.uk or sjoerdradstaak at gmail.com.