TANZANIA’S EASTERN ARC & PEMBA TOUR REPORT 2022

2 - 15 / 25 September 2022

by János Oláh

Tanzania is a fascinating country for birds and wildlife! Our tour is a very special one with most of the birding time spent in African mountain forests. Although birding in such forests can be challenging, seeing some of the rarest birds of Africa is definitely a great and rewarding experience! The aim of this unique tour is to find the great majority of Tanzania’s eastern specialities, including those that require camping in remote areas. In 2022 we visited the South Pare, West and East Usambara, Uluguru, Udzungwa, Rubeho and Ukaguru Mountains. The tour was divided into a main tour without camping and an extension to some superb areas that are very much off-the-beaten-track but require camping. We also made a short visit to Mikumi National Park, the Kilombero floodplain and the small island of Pemba to see its very special birds. This is definitely ‘The Other Tanzania’, far from the well-known safari route from Kilimanjaro to Serengeti, but the area where, by far, the greatest concentration of Tanzania’s endemic and other speciality birds occur.
Tanzania holds a total of 36 endemic bird species and many more endemic subspecies, as well as other near-endemics. Our 2022 tour was really successful in terms of specialty birds as we managed to see 21 endemic birds on the main tour and adding 8 more on the extension. We also had 13 endemic subspecies on the main tour and again an additional 8 on the extension. We recorded 469 bird species on this tour with only 11 heard-only’s, and 56 species were only seen on the extension. We also had 45 species of mammals. Tracking down the elusive Spot-throat was a major highlight as it is a much-wanted bird for our participants being the ‘most easily available’ species of the family. Other iconic and sought-after birds on the main tour included Pemba Scops Owl, Racket-tailed Roller, Böhm’s Bee-eater, Dickinson’s Kestrel, Uluguru Bushshrike, Fülleborn’s Boubou, Green-headed Oriole, Cinnamon-breasted Tit, Mountain Tiny Greenbul, Kretschmer’s Longbill, Kilombero and White-tailed Cisticolas – which are both described now as new species – Livingstone’s Flycatcher, Chapin’s Apalis, Winifred’s Warbler, Long-billed and Red-capped Forest Warblers, South Pare and Pemba White-eyes, Tanzania Illadopsis, Usambara Hyliota, Kenrick’s Starling, Usambara Thrush, White-chested Alethe, Sharpe’s and Usambara Akalats, Collared Palm Thrush, Bertram’s, Usambara, Ruvu and Kilombero Weavers as well as Oriole Finch. We also had a remarkable selection of special sunbirds on this tour like Uluguru Violet-backed, Banded Green, Golden-winged, Usambara and Forest Double-collared, Pemba, Moreau’s, Loveridge, Western Miombo and Hoffman’s Sunbirds.
The definite highlights of the extension were seeing the mythical Udzungwa and Rubeho Forest Partridges. The latter was a new bird for Birdquest and it was nice to hear the original story of discovery from our superb local guide Elia. The Udzungwa Forest Partridge was discovered in 1991 and it was a major news in the birding world then. Later, a second population was found in the Rubeho Mountains and it was first believed to be a distinctive subspecies but it has now been elevated to full species status. The supporting cast was also remarkable on the extension with Tanzanian Red-billed Hornbill, African Broadbill, White-winged Apalis, Dapple-throat, Ashy Starling, Olive-flanked Ground Robin, Swynnerton’s Robin, Rubeho and Iringa Akalats, Rufous-winged and Whyte’s Double-collared Sunbirds. Plus, we also managed to see the recently discovered ‘Rubeho Green’ Sunbird which is still undescribed.

Out tour started in Kilimanjaro Airport and after a morning arrival we wasted no time to get out on the field. We were heading east towards the South Pare Mountains but, on the way, we have visited a dry habitat where we had our introductory birding with a good selection of special birds. Although some of these birds could be familiar for those who has been birding in Kenya before but nevertheless there were some new birds for all the participants. The best birds we managed to find included White-headed Mousebird, Red-and-yellow and D’Arnaud’s Barbets, Pygmy Batis, Pringle’s Puffback, Red-fronted Prinia, Tsavo and Black-bellied Sunbirds, Taveta Weaver, Blue-capped Cordon-bleu as well as Southern Grosbeak and White-bellied Canaries. It was dark by the time we arrived at our hotel and a proper night sleep was much needed after all the travels.
A little pre-breakfast foray in the garden next morning produced two Small-eared Greater Galagos but no birds. We were soon on our way towards the South Pare Mountains where we had to climb high on very basic roads to reach the Chome Forest Reserve. A few roadside stops on the way produced White-eared and Spot-flanked Barbets, Grey-headed and Orange-breasted Bushshrikes, East Coast Boubou, Bare-eyed Thrush, Southern Black Flycatcher as well as Cape and Red-capped Robin-chats. It was late morning we arrived at the required elevation and we soon found our main target a few South Pare White-eyes along a forest track. But the area was really birdy and we managed to see Hartlaub’s Turaco, Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon, Olive Woodpecker, local Mountain and Stripe-faced Greenbuls, the endemic pareensis race of Bar-throated Apalis, the stirelingi race of African Hill Babbler, the helleri race of White-starred Robin, stunning male Golden-winged Sunbird and our first Usambara Double-collared Sunbirds of the tour as well as Red-faced Crimsonwings. We even got lucky and managed to see Usambara Thrush which is a tricky one to see! Delighted with our success we left the mountains and made our way towards the West Usambara Mountains.

After a civilized breakfast at our friendly hotel, we made our way to the Magamba Forest Reserve. Our birding started at the edge of the forest and as the sunshine started to warm up the mountain forest bird activity was really good. We soon found Shelley’s, Placid and Stripe-faced Greenbuls while a Red-capped Forest Warbler was playing hide-and-seek until it gave us some great looks. A male Oriole Finch was a real bonus and Black-fronted Bushshrike was also seen well. Crowned Eagle was heard frequently calling and we saw it in the sky a few times during the day, even displaying. Walking the forest track we heard some distant Spot-throats and most of the morning was spent looking for this ground dweller and his friend, the Usambara Akalat. Somehow the dry forest was not giving up these skulkers though, and only a few of us managed a brief glimpse of the akalat after hours of search. However, with persistence we did find Fülleborn’s Boubou, Mountain Tiny Greenbul and a pair of the rare Usambara Weavers. The endemic Swynnerton’s Bush Squirrel was also seen very well. Early next morning we visited a more secluded valley with really dense vegetation and there were several singing Spot-throats along the track. We even had a small ant-swarm where in the dim morning light White-chested Alethe, Usambara Akalat and Spot-throat were all present as well as yet another Usambara Thrush. But life is not so easy, and not everybody got views of all the shy skulkers so the rest of the day was also spent cleaning up for all. It gave us the chance to see as many as six Spot-throats during the day and at one stage we had two males singing to each other at close range. Great! A few more birds were seen while peering into the undergrowth all day such as the usambarae race of Evergreen Forest Warbler, Forest Batis and Yellow-streaked Greenbul. The mammal highlight was seeing the gorgeous Black-and-rufous Sengi or Elephant Shrew!

Next day we left the West Usambara Mountains after a morning session in the higher elevation. A stop in the dryer habitat along the lower slopes gave us a few goodies like Brown-breasted Barbets, Pale Batis, Grey-olive Greenbul and East Coast Boubou but the hoped-for Striped Pipit was not located. On the way towards the East Usambara we had a roadside lunch stop by a ‘wetland’ area which was thoroughly dry but a showy Coastal Cisticola was the only one for the tour! Upon arriving to the Eastern Usambara Mountains we had some time to do birding on the lower parts of the Amani Nature Reserve. Activity was not at its peak but eventually we came across a flock which gave us Green Malkoha, Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher, Little Yellow Flycatcher and a stunning male Narina’s Trogon. Slightly higher up the mountain we tracked down the rather rare Usambara Hyliota as two birds were seen on the top of a flowering tree. We also had here Uluguru Violet-backed Sunbirds and party of three Black-and-white Shrike-flycatchers. It was dark by the time we rolled into our tented camp higher up the mountain. After dinner we had chocolate-coloured Derby’s Anomalure or Flying Squirrel but no sign of the vosseleri race of the Fraser’s Eagle Owl which used to be a separate species, the Usambara Eagle Owl.

We were up well before down and walked the forest track in search of the Fraser’s Eagle Owl which was heard calling rather distantly after much of standing in the dark. We changed position a few times but never got closer to the birds though African Wood Owl was seen. We were soon back to camp for a breakfast where we had African Golden and Green-headed Orioles singing above our restaurant table allowing good looks. We were soon off to explore the Amani Nature Reserve for a few goodies as we had only one full day for this fantastic area. Our number one target was the critically endangered Long-billed Forest Warbler and we were very lucky as found a pair on our first trial and had wonderful views. Next target was a more skulking bird, the Kretschmer’s Longbill and indeed it was not easy to locate one and took plenty of time to see it. But we all got it and started to look for the recently split Tanzania Illadopsis. Wow this bird proved to be though! Just as things would have been on an increasing level of difficulty. It took us four attempts of different birds and plenty of time, and by the end almost everybody managed to see it. In the late afternoon we had enough of bushwhacking and concentrated on finding the Banded Green and Amani Sunbirds. Spending time at various flowering trees gave us great looks of male and female Banded Green, Uluguru Violet-backed and Purple-banded Sunbirds but not a sniff of Amani Sunbird. Other notable birds were Scarce Swift, Kenrick’s Starling and Little Rush Warbler. We were back to the area where we heard the owls at pre-dawn and waited well into the dark without any success.

Next morning, we tried again to locate the Fraser’s Eagle Owl pre-dawn but it remained heard-only again. A pair was heard calling in deep forest but they not moved anywhere and we could not cross the river. So that was it unfortunately and dawn quickly arrived. After we left camp, we tried yet another forest track where finally we all connected with Tanzania Illadopsis as well as Red-tailed Ant Thrush while on our way down from the mountain, we found Ayre’s Hawk Eagle and a distant Southern Banded Snake Eagle – only identified from images high up in the sky. Lunch stop gave us Green Tinkerbird and a male Plain-backed Sunbird. We had to leave this fantastic area and travel to Dar es-Salaam. It was a long drive but we managed two short birding stops giving us a few more goodies like Böhm’s Bee-eater and Ruvu Weaver! In the evening our fancy seaside resort was rather noisy after the tented camp of the East Usambara.

Pemba Island! Still in darkness we left the hotel – after some baggage issues – and drove to the airport where coffee and toasted sandwiches were welcome before our short flight to Pemba via Zanzibar. On arrival our local driver and guide was waiting and we started our drive to the northern part of the island. A few stops along the way produced Yellow-collared Lovebird, Dickinson’s Kestrels, Olive Bee-eaters and great looks of the endemic Pemba White-eye and Pemba Sunbird. Well, half the job done, two out of the four endemics seen! We drove to our seaside resort for lunch and sea watching which produced the best fish dish of the tour and at least one White-cheeked Tern. Our hotel ground also had African Goshawk of the endemic pembaensis race and more Pemba White-eyes and Pemba Sunbirds. In the afternoon we birded in a nearby forest in search of the Pemba Green Pigeon which is definitely the most difficult of the island’s endemics. We have been looking at various stake-outs for the species in the afternoon but no success at all. A small wetland gave us Malagasy Pond Heron and a migrant Eleonora’s Falcon. We were inside Ngezi Forest by dusk and Mangrove Kingfisher was heard not much before Pemba Scops Owl started calling nearby. We easily had good looks of this special endemic bird and was happy to return for some well-deserved sleep. We were out early morning in search for the green pigeon. The first location drew a blank but a singing pair of Mangrove Kingfisher was a great bonus! Eventually after many hours of search we had two fly by Pemba Green Pigeons in the perfect light. What it was a relief! Needless to say, we found two perched individuals in our hotel garden when we returned for packing. It was time to leave but, on the way back to the airport, we checked out a large Pemba Flying Fox roost site with thousands of individuals. We flew back to Dar and the rest of the afternoon was spent on the busiest road towards Morogoro.

We had the toughest climb of the main tour next day in the Uluguru Mountains in search of the endangered Uluguru Bushshrike which has an estimated population of around 2000 individuals. It was an all-day operation, starting with a bumpy drive to a remote village and then a trail up to the ridge. The first section took us through forest edge and grassy habitat where we found Moustached Grass Warbler and Bertram’s Weavers. We gradually climbed into superb mountain forest and started to look for our main target. We picked up a few goodies like Livingstone’s Turaco, Dark Batis, Bar-tailed Trogon and fine male Loveridge’s Sunbird. The search for the bushshrike was a slow process and a patience game but eventually we located one individual in a mixed flock, and we all got good looks! On our slow descent back to the car we had a fine Sharpe’s Akalat and back in the hotel the beer tasted great that night! On our second day we had a morning session in the Bunduki area of the Uluguru Nature Reserve where we got a superb Winifred’s Warbler and more Bertram’s Weavers before continuing to Hondo Hondo. We still had a little time to explore around the camp and managed to find Magpie Mannikins in a big manikin flock. Our planned night outing to look for owls was eventually not possible as the particular forest patch where we wanted to go had huge number of elephants due to the drought.

Early next morning a short drive took us to the Kilombero Floodplain which is home to a few special birds. We were in search for two endemic cisticolas – which were eventually described to science just in 2021 – as well as an endemic weaver. The floodplain of the Kilombero River was rather dry with some pools around where masses of egrets were aggregating. We had a large flock of mixed herons and egrets where we also picked up a Black Heron and also a Rufous-bellied Heron. Finding all three endemics were straightforward and we had excellent looks of the distinctive cisticolas and even seeing them displaying! We also had many Kilombero Weavers though they were all in non-breeding plumage. Identification was straightforward, however. Other interesting birds were also seen such as the endemic songweensis race of the Coppery-tailed Coucal and suahelicus race of Common Reed Warbler. The river itself gave us White-crowned Lapwing. After this morning birding we were back to camp for breakfast and just as we left Hondo Hondo three Udzungwa Red Colobus were found, a great mammal lifer for all! We were travelling in the heat of the day and birded dry miombo habitat in the afternoon with a great set of special birds! Best birds of the afternoon were Speckle-throated Woodpecker, Brown-necked Parrot, Cinnamon-breasted Tit, Miombo Blue-eared Starling, Arnot’s Chat and Hofmann’s Sunbird. Our luxurious lodge produced outstanding evening meal with a superb Banana Banoffee.

Our last full day of the tour was spent in the Mikumi National Park where we were still in search of some remaining miombo birds as well as some other goodies. It was a long day on the field with well over 100 bird species seen plus we also had several Lions and Hippos in amongst the 17 species of mammals seen. There were many goodies but as experience perhaps the obliging male Harlequin Quail and Common Buttonquail almost side by side was top although the displaying male Racket-tailed Rollers were close contenders. Plus, we should not forget the hunt for the Red-throated Twinspots which eventually allowed excellent looks while superb Livingstone’s Flycatchers fleeting above us. Our other highlights for the day were Pale-billed Hornbill, skulking Stierling’s Wren Warblers, Brown-breasted Barbet, Retz’s Helmetshrike, stunning Western Violet-backed Sunbird and Orange-winged Pytilia. Around the lodge we had African Scops Owl. Our last morning in Mikumi and the main tour started with Fiery-necked Nightjar and followed by Red-necked Spurfowl, Greater Painted Snipe, Green Tinkerbird, Eastern Black-headed Batis, Flappet Lark and a superb Collared Palm Thrush. It was an excellent morning birding to finish the tour. It was time to say goodbye for some of our travelling companions and with a reduced party we continued towards Iringa while they were heading back to Dar. On our afternoon drive towards Iringa, we saw several Ashy Starling and also Tanzania Red-billed Hornbill amongst some majestic Baobab trees.

Our extension had three major parts with three major hikes, two into the Udzungwa Mountains and one into the remote Rubeho Mountains. It was a really exciting adventure! Our first destination was the Udzungwa Scrap Forest Reserve near Uluti. After a pre-dawn African Wood Owl at Masumbo it was a fair drive from Iringa to the village although we had some birding stops with some exciting birds such as Marsh Tchagra, Angola Swallow, Fan-tailed Grassbird, Black-lored and Churring Cisticolas, Brown-headed Apalis, Forest Double-collared Sunbird, Bertram’s Weaver and Yellow-browed Seedeater. Once we arrived at the small village porters were organized and we were off to climb towards the forest and the reserve. After reaching the forest in the early afternoon we slowly walked to our camp, birding all the way along. The afternoon was quiet and we heard both Swynnerton’s Robin and Iringa Akalat but none of them were showing. Our best bird was an Illadopsis species what we put down as Mountain Illadopsis on our list but obviously a new and undescribed species (Udzungwa Mountain Illadopsis) not looking like the Tanzania Illadopsis at all. It was great to get settled into camp after the hiking. African Broadbill was calling above our tent, and this was its regular roosting area for both nights we were up there. Eastern Tree Hyraxes were easily seen around camp at night but the endemic Mountain Dwarf Galago remained heard-only. Next morning, we were up early and eager to go after our main targets. It was a classic African mountain forest birding all day with rather rainy, misty and dark conditions in the morning. It was a lot of hide and seek with some shy birds but slowly we got the results. Although the Dapple-throat was mostly a shape in the dark for today but Swynnerton’s Robin and Iringa Akalat eventually showed well and our long hunt for the extraordinary stunning Rufous-winged Sunbird was crowned by great looks of a pair feeding on some low flowers! Next morning, we were still after better looks of the super shy Dapple-throat. It was really hard work but it’s fair to say we all got proper looks of this enigmatic bird at the end. Surely one of the shyest African species I have ever come across. All happy we descended from the camp to village and drove back to Masumbo where we finished the day with a Purple-crested Turaco.

Our second adventure and hike were still into the Udzungwa Mountains but this time to the famous Luala Camp which is fair way into the national park. Our drive to Udekwa was uneventful apart from a short birding stop with a fine male Western Miombo Sunbird and a flock of Orange-breasted Waxbills. We had to stop twice at various checkpoints before we reached Chui Camp where porters were waiting, and our second hike started. This was a longer hike and we had to reach over 2000-meter elevation. The first part of the trail was through open country and when we reached proper forest we started climbing. It was a bit steep until we got to a ridge but then we followed it all they to the pass, easy! We had not much time to stop at the beginning but the last hours of the day were spent in mixed bamboo understorey montane forest, it was amazing habitat. Our best bird of the day was a shy Kipengere Seedeater which was not very showy but all of us had good looks! This is a species rarely seen, perhaps rarer than the partridge. When we got to high elevation, we started to see Yellow-throated Greenbuls, Chapin’s Apalises and Moreau’s Sunbirds while some of us even glimpsed an Olive-flanked Ground Robin. Just before we reached camp, we heard Udzungwa Forest Partridge in a dense valley quite far away. But it was very promising! Our tents were all up at camp by the time we arrived and dinner was being prepared. At dusk we walked to a little clearing where we heard Montane Nightjar and a distant African Grass Owl. They all sounded far but after a few minutes waiting and with a bit of coaxing we had a wonderful African Grass Owl circling around us! Fantastic bird and after this success we were back to camp for dinner. Eastern Tree Hyraxes were calling above us all night. Next morning, we had coffee and Montane Nightjar then off to search for the mythical Udzungwa Forest Partridge. We were back to the same place we heard them the previous day and after a few minutes of bush-whacking and positioning operation ‘UFP’ started. We had a pair of these partridges slowly coming close to us and as we were motionless, we could watch them feeding in the deep leaf litter for minutes. Absolutely amazing encounter and fully satisfied we retreated for breakfast with huge smiles on our face. With this early success we changed plan and started our descent to a lower camp birding all the way. In the afternoon we lured another pair of Udzungwa Forest Partridge into even better views! Amazing day with two sightings of this special bird. Next morning to our surprise a Swynnerton’s Robin was singing by the camp and we had good looks of this specialty again. After breakfast all we had to do is leisurely walk back to Chui camp where our trustful driver Exaud was waiting for us. From here it was a long way back to Mikumi National Park where we spent the night.

The third and final leg of the extension was into the ‘unknown’, a new site in the remote Rubeho Mountains where very few birders has ever been. Our guide Elia found this location and we were hoping to connect with the rare Rubeho Forest Partridge. We started with a drive from Mikumi NP to Lufusi Village with a short breakfast stop in miombo habitat where we had Brown-necked Parrot and Green-capped Eremomela. The drive was long and winding and when we arrived at the village and yet again, we had to organize porters. This was quickly arranged and we were soon off for our last hike. It was definitely the toughest hike of all three and it was a climb from 1000 meter to 1800 meter through hot dry landscape. On the way up we had a few new birds to our tour like Chin-spot Batis, Grey-throated Tit-Flycatcher and Ashy Flycatcher but it was at the forest edge where we eventually found our first target a pair of Whyte’s Double-collared Sunbird. To be precise the isolated skye race of it which ought to be an endemic species if we would apply phylogenetic species concept and confined to the Rubeho Mountains. When we eventually arrived at camp, we were pretty exhausted but wasted no time and did our first exploration of the Ipondero Forest while our team was setting up tents and cooking dinner. Our first exploration had no results but it was quickly dark in the forest. However, we realized the terrain is very different from our previous two location with really steep hillsides and very dense undergrowth. Our next day way spent inside thick undergrowth. It was challenging terrain and conditions plus the partridge seem to be much shyer than the previous species in the Udzungwas. All in all, we had a pair coming into view two times and we got to see it. It was a new bird for Birdquest and definitely a species not many birders have ever seen! During our time in the undergrowth, we managed to see Rubeho Akalat, Olive-flanked Ground Robin and also the new sunbird species which was discovered by Ross Gallardy in 2021. Luckily a fine male showed up for us! After this hard day on the field, we slept well, and even Mountain Dwarf Galago showed well near to camp. Next day we slowly descended back to village seeing Whyte’s Double-collared Sunbirds, Bertram’s Weaver and Reichard’s Seedeater along the trail. From Lufusi we drove to the Ukaguru Mountains to see if we could get Rubeho Warbler on our next morning but torrential rain overnight and in the morning quickly cancelled our last morning birding excursion. Our farewell breakfast was at a great lookout point with lynesi race of White-headed Barbet while on the way back to airport a roadside stop produced Bare-faced Go-away Bird a good selection of water birds and some fantastic Yellow-winged Bats. Our extension has ended in Dar es-Salaam where we said goodbye to our super team of Elia and Exaud and departed home. All in all, we had a fantastic birding holiday in some amazing highland forest in remote areas of Africa. Something to remember for a long time!

BIRD OF THE TRIP (MAIN TOUR)

1st: Spot-throat

2nd: Uluguru Bushshrike

3rd: Pemba Scops Owl

4th: Racket-tailed Roller

5th: Usambara Weaver

BIRD OF THE TRIP (EXTENSION)

1st: Udzungwa Forest Partridge

2nd: Rufous-winged Sunbird

3rd: African Grass Owl

SYSTEMATIC LIST OF SPECIES RECORDED

BIRDS

White-faced Whistling Duck  Dendrocygna viduata

Knob-billed Duck  Sarkidiornis melanotos

Egyptian Goose  Alopochen aegyptiaca

Helmeted Guineafowl  Numida meleagris

Udzungwa Forest Partridge ◊  Xenoperdix udzungwensis  Endemic. Cracking and prolonged views of this mythical bird in the Luala Valley on the extension! Endangered.

Rubeho Forest Partridge ◊  Xenoperdix obscuratus  Endemic. This Birdquest lifer was seen by most of us in the Rubeho Mountains on the extension. It is distinctly shyer and prefers denser habitat than the previous species. Critically endangered.

Crested Francolin (Kirk’s F)  Ortygornis sephaena  Heard only.

Harlequin Quail  Coturnix delegorguei  Superb views in Mikumi NP.

Scaly Spurfowl  Pternistis squamatus  Extension only.

Red-necked Spurfowl  Pternistis afer

Fiery-necked Nightjar  Caprimulgus pectoralis  Seen twice in Masumbo Camp.

Montane Nightjar ◊ (Ruwenzori N)  Caprimulgus [poliocephalus] guttifer  It was only seen in the Luala Valley.

Square-tailed Nightjar (Gabon N)  Caprimulgus fossii

Scarce Swift  Schoutedenapus myoptilus

Mottled Spinetail  Telacanthura ussheri

Böhm’s Spinetail  Neafrapus boehmi

African Palm Swift  Cypsiurus parvus

Alpine Swift  Tachymarptis melba

Mottled Swift  Tachymarptis aequatorialis

Common Swift (Eurasian S)  Apus apus

African Black Swift  Apus barbatus

Little Swift  Apus affinis

White-rumped Swift  Apus caffer

Bare-faced Go-away-bird (Black-faced G-a-b)  Crinifer personatus  Extension only.

White-bellied Go-away-bird  Crinifer leucogaster   

Purple-crested Turaco  Gallirex porphyreolophus  It was seen at Masumbo camp on the extension.

Livingstone’s Turaco  Tauraco livingstonii  Several great looks in the Uluguru Mountains.

Fischer’s Turaco ◊  Tauraco fischeri  Eventually good views in the East Usambara Mountains. Near-threatened.

Hartlaub’s Turaco  Tauraco hartlaubi  Our best sightings were in the South Pare Mountains.

Buff-crested Bustard  Lophotis gindiana

Black-bellied Bustard  Lissotis melanogaster

Coppery-tailed Coucal  Centropus cupreicaudus  We saw the songweensis endemic subspecies on the Kilombero Floodplain.

White-browed Coucal  Centropus superciliosus

Green Malkoha (G Yellowbill)  Ceuthmochares australis

Klaas’s Cuckoo  Chrysococcyx klaas  Heard only.

Red-chested Cuckoo  Cuculus solitaries  Heard only on the extension.

Rock Dove (introduced)  Columba [livia] domestica

African Olive Pigeon (Rameron P)  Columba arquatrix

Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon  Columba delegorguei

Lemon Dove  Columba larvata

Mourning Collared Dove  Streptopelia decipiens

Red-eyed Dove  Streptopelia semitorquata

Ring-necked Dove  Streptopelia capicola

Laughing Dove  Spilopelia senegalensis

Emerald-spotted Wood Dove  Turtur chalcospilos

Blue-spotted Wood Dove  Turtur afer

Tambourine Dove  Turtur tympanistria

Namaqua Dove  Oena capensis

African Green Pigeon  Treron calvus

Pemba Green Pigeon ◊  Treron pembaensis  Endemic. It gave us the run-around but eventually excellent looks were granted on Pemba Island. Definitely the trickiest of the island’s endemics. Vulnerable.

Common Moorhen  Gallinula chloropus

Black Crake  Zapornia flavirostra

Little Grebe  Tachybaptus ruficollis

Common Buttonquail (Small B)  Turnix sylvaticus

Water Thick-knee (W Dikkop)  Burhinus vermiculatus

Blacksmith Lapwing (B Plover)  Vanellus armatus

Spur-winged Lapwing (S-w Plover)  Vanellus spinosus

White-crowned Lapwing (W-headed Plover)  Vanellus albiceps  A breeding pair was seen on the Kilombero River.

Senegal Lapwing (Lesser Black-winged Plover)  Vanellus lugubris

Crowned Lapwing (C Plover)  Vanellus coronatus

African Wattled Lapwing (A W Plover)  Vanellus senegallus

Common Ringed Plover  Charadrius hiaticula

Three-banded Plover  Charadrius tricollaris  Extension only.

Greater Painted-snipe  Rostratula benghalensis

African Jacana  Actophilornis africanus

Eurasian Whimbrel  Numenius phaeopus

Ruddy Turnstone  Arenaria interpres

Ruff  Calidris pugnax

Curlew Sandpiper  Calidris ferruginea  Near-threatened.

Little Stint  Calidris minuta

Common Sandpiper  Actitis hypoleucos

Green Sandpiper  Tringa ochropus

Wood Sandpiper  Tringa glareola

Common Greenshank  Tringa nebularia

Collared Pratincole  Glareola pratincola

Gull-billed Tern  Gelochelidon nilotica

Greater Crested Tern  Thalasseus bergii

Lesser Crested Tern  Thalasseus bengalensis

Common Tern  Sterna hirundo

White-cheeked Tern ◊  Sterna repressa  At least two were identified on Pemba Island.

Whiskered Tern  Chlidonias hybrida

Yellow-billed Stork  Mycteria ibis

African Openbill (A Open-billed Stork)  Anastomus lamelligerus

Saddle-billed Stork  Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis

Marabou Stork  Leptoptilos crumenifer

Reed Cormorant (Long-tailed C)  Microcarbo africanus

White-breasted Cormorant  Phalacrocorax lucidus

African Sacred Ibis  Threskiornis aethiopicus

Hadada Ibis  Bostrychia hagedash

Glossy Ibis  Plegadis falcinellus

Black-crowned Night Heron  Nycticorax nycticorax

Striated Heron (Green-backed H)  Butorides striata

Squacco Heron  Ardeola ralloides

Malagasy Pond Heron ◊  Ardeola idae  One was seen on Pemba Island. Endangered.

Rufous-bellied Heron  Ardeola rufiventris  One was seen on the Kilombero Floodplain.

Western Cattle Egret  Bubulcus ibis

Grey Heron  Ardea cinerea

Black-headed Heron  Ardea melanocephala

Great Egret  Ardea alba

Intermediate Egret (Yellow-billed E)  Ardea [intermedia] brachyrhyncha

Black Heron (B Egret)  Egretta ardesiaca  One was seen on the Kilombero Floodplain.

Little Egret  Egretta garzetta

Hamerkop  Scopus umbretta

Great White Pelican  Pelecanus onocrotalus

Pink-backed Pelican  Pelecanus rufescens

Black-winged Kite  Elanus caeruleus

African Harrier-Hawk  Polyboroides typus

Palm-nut Vulture (Vulturine Fish Eagle)  Gypohierax angolensis

Hooded Vulture  Necrosyrtes monachus  Critically endangered.

White-backed Vulture  Gyps africanus  Critically endangered.

Lappet-faced Vulture  Torgos tracheliotos  Endangered.

Black-chested Snake Eagle  Circaetus pectoralis  Extension only.

Brown Snake Eagle  Circaetus cinereus

Southern Banded Snake Eagle ◊  Circaetus fasciolatus  Distant look in the East Usambara Mountains. Near-threatened.

Bateleur  Terathopius ecaudatus  Endangered.

Crowned Eagle  Stephanoaetus coronatus  Several looks over the forests in the Usambara Mountains. Near-threatened.

Long-crested Eagle  Lophaetus occipitalis

Wahlberg’s Eagle  Hieraaetus wahlbergi

Booted Eagle  Hieraaetus pennatus

Ayres’s Hawk-Eagle  Hieraaetus ayresii

Lizard Buzzard  Kaupifalco monogrammicus

Gabar Goshawk  Micronisus gabar

Dark Chanting Goshawk  Melierax metabates

Eastern Chanting Goshawk (E Pale C G)  Melierax poliopterus

African Goshawk  Accipiter tachiro  Several looks of the sparsimfasciatus race on the mainland, and we have also seen the endemic pembaensis race on Pemba Island.

Little Sparrowhawk  Accipiter minullus

Black Sparrowhawk (Great S)  Accipiter melanoleucus

Yellow-billed Kite  Milvus aegyptius

African Fish Eagle  Haliaeetus vocifer

Mountain Buzzard  Buteo oreophilus  Near-threatened.

Augur Buzzard  Buteo augur

Western Barn Owl  Tyto alba  Heard only.

African Grass Owl ◊  Tyto capensis  One was seen in the Luala Valley on the extension.

Pearl-spotted Owlet  Glaucidium perlatum

African Barred Owlet ◊ (Scheffler’s B O)  Glaucidium [capense] scheffleri  It was heard only in Mikumi NP.

Pemba Scops Owl ◊  Otus pembaensis  Endemic. Superb looks on Pemba Island. Vulnerable.

African Scops Owl  Otus senegalensis

Fraser’s Eagle-Owl ◊  Bubo poensis  The endemic vosseleri race used to be treated as a separate species but has recently been lumped. Despite much effort it remained heard only.

African Wood Owl  Strix woodfordii

Speckled Mousebird  Colius striatus

White-headed Mousebird ◊  Colius leucocephalus  Group of six were seen at Nyumba Ya Mungu: nominate.

Blue-naped Mousebird  Urocolius macrourus

Narina Trogon  Apaloderma narina

Bar-tailed Trogon  Apaloderma vittatum

African Hoopoe  Upupa africana

Green Wood Hoopoe  Phoeniculus purpureus

Common Scimitarbill  Rhinopomastus cyanomelas

Southern Ground Hornbill  Bucorvus leadbeateri  Vulnerable.

Tanzanian Red-billed Hornbill ◊ (Ruaha R-b H)  Tockus ruahae  Endemic. It was seen on our way south on the extension in a fantastic Baobab Valley.

Northern Red-billed Hornbill  Tockus erythrorhynchus

Von der Decken’s Hornbill  Tockus deckeni

Crowned Hornbill  Lophoceros alboterminatus

African Grey Hornbill  Lophoceros nasutus

Pale-billed Hornbill ◊  Lophoceros pallidirostris  Several good looks in the Mikumi NP.

Trumpeter Hornbill  Bycanistes bucinator

Silvery-cheeked Hornbill  Bycanistes brevis

Racket-tailed Roller ◊  Coracias spatulatus  Two males were seen displaying in the Mikumi NP.

Lilac-breasted Roller  Coracias caudatus

Broad-billed Roller  Eurystomus glaucurus

Grey-headed Kingfisher (Chestnut-bellied K)  Halcyon leucocephala

Brown-hooded Kingfisher  Halcyon albiventris

Striped Kingfisher  Halcyon chelicuti

Mangrove Kingfisher ◊  Halcyon senegaloides  A singing pair was seen well on Pemba Island.

Malachite Kingfisher  Corythornis cristatus

Giant Kingfisher  Megaceryle maxima

Pied Kingfisher  Ceryle rudis

Little Bee-eater  Merops pusillus

Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater  Merops oreobates

White-fronted Bee-eater  Merops bullockoides  Extension only.

Böhm’s Bee-eater ◊  Merops boehmi  Six were seen at the Wami River bridge.

European Bee-eater (Eurasian B)  Merops apiaster  Heard only.

Olive Bee-eater ◊  Merops superciliosus  Two were seen on Pemba Island.

White-eared Barbet  Stactolaema leucotis

Green Barbet  Stactolaema olivacea  Commonly seen in the Eastern Arc Mountains. We also observed the endemic howelli race in the Udzungwa Mountains on the extension.

Green Tinkerbird ◊ (Eastern G T)  Pogoniulus simplex  Great looks in the East Usambara Mountains and in Mikumi NP.

Moustached Tinkerbird (M Green T)  Pogoniulus leucomystax

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird* (Golden-r T)  Pogoniulus bilineatus

Red-fronted Tinkerbird  Pogoniulus pusillus

Spot-flanked Barbet  Tricholaema lacrymosa

Black-throated Barbet  Tricholaema  melanocephala 

White-headed Barbet  Tricholaema leucocephalus  The endemic lynesi race was seen on our last morning of extension in the Ukaguru Mountains.

Black-collared Barbet  Lybius torquatus

Brown-breasted Barbet ◊  Lybius melanopterus  A total of eight were seen! Best looks in the East Usambara Mountains.

Crested Barbet  Trachyphonus vaillantii

Red-and-yellow Barbet ◊  Trachyphonus erythrocephalus  Two were seen in the Nyumba Ya Mungu area: nominate.

D’Arnaud’s Barbet  Trachyphonus darnaudi 

Green-backed Honeybird (Eastern H)  Prodotiscus zambesiae

Lesser Honeyguide  Indicator minor

Scaly-throated Honeyguide  Indicator variegatus

Greater Honeyguide (Black-throated H)  Indicator indicator

Speckle-throated Woodpecker ◊  Campethera scriptoricauda  Three were seen in Miombo near Mikumi NP.

Nubian Woodpecker  Campethera nubica

Golden-tailed Woodpecker  Campethera abingoni

Bearded Woodpecker  Chloropicus namaquus

Cardinal Woodpecker  Dendropicos fuscescens

Olive Woodpecker  Dendropicos griseocephalus  We saw the endemic kilimensis race in the South Pare Mountains.

Common Kestrel  Falco tinnunculus

Dickinson’s Kestrel ◊  Falco dickinsoni  Five were seen on Pemba Island.

Red-necked Falcon (Red-headed F)  Falco [chicquera] ruficollis

Eleonora’s Falcon  Falco eleonorae  One was seen on Pemba Island.

Lanner Falcon  Falco biarmicus

Brown-necked Parrot ◊ (Grey-headed P)  Poicephalus [fuscicollis] suahelicus  It was seen twice in Miombo near Mikumi NP: suahelicus.

Meyer’s Parrot (Brown P)  Poicephalus meyeri  It was only seen on the extension: matschiei.

Brown-headed Parrot  Poicephalus cryptoxanthus

Red-bellied Parrot  Poicephalus rufiventris

Yellow-collared Lovebird ◊  Agapornis personatus  Endemic. Just one was seen on Pemba Island.

African Broadbill  Smithornis capensis  It was regularly roosting above our camp in the Udzungwa Scarp Forest Reserve on the extension.

Forest Batis  Batis mixta

Dark Batis ◊  Batis crypta  Great looks, first seen in the Uluguru Mountains.

Chinspot Batis  Batis molitor  Extension only.

Pale Batis (East Coast B)  Batis soror 

Eastern Black-headed Batis ◊  Batis minor  Excellent looks in the Mikumi NP.

Pygmy Batis ◊  Batis perkeo  About four were seen in the Nyumba Ya Mungu area.

Black-throated Wattle-eye  Platysteira peltata

Grey-headed Bushshrike  Malaconotus blanchoti

Uluguru Bushshrike ◊  Malaconotus alius  Endemic. Shy! One was eventually seen in the Uluguru Mountains. Endangered.

Black-fronted Bushshrike  Chlorophoneus nigrifrons

Orange-breasted Bushshrike (Sulphur-b B)  Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus

Marsh Tchagra (Anchieta’s T)  Bocagia [minuta] anchietae  One was seen on our drive to Uluti on the extension.

Brown-crowned Tchagra  Tchagra australis

Black-crowned Tchagra  Tchagra senegalus

Black-backed Puffback  Dryoscopus cubla

Pringle’s Puffback ◊  Dryoscopus pringlii  A pair was seen in the Nyumba Ya Mungu area.

Fülleborn’s Boubou ◊  Laniarius fuelleborni  Regular sightings, first in the West Usambara Mountains. This is the endemic usambaricus race.

Slate-coloured Boubou  Laniarius funebris

Tropical Boubou  Laniarius major

East Coast Boubou ◊  Laniarius sublacteus  Best looks on our way out of the West Usambara Mountains.

Brubru  Nilaus afer

White-crested Helmetshrike  Prionops plumatus

Retz’s Helmetshrike  Prionops retzii

Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher (B-a-w Flycatcher)  Bias musicus

White-breasted Cuckooshrike  Ceblepyris pectoralis

Grey Cuckooshrike  Ceblepyris caesius

Black Cuckooshrike  Campephaga flava

Northern White-crowned Shrike  Eurocephalus ruppelli

Long-tailed Fiscal  Lanius cabanisi

Northern Fiscal  Lanius humeralis

Green-headed Oriole ◊  Oriolus chlorocephalus  Great looks in the East Usambara Mountains.

Black-headed Oriole (Eastern B-h O)  Oriolus larvatus

African Golden Oriole  Oriolus auratus

Fork-tailed Drongo (Common D)  Dicrurus adsimilis

Common Square-tailed Drongo  Dicrurus ludwigii

‘Usambara’ Drongo ◊  Dicrurus sp. nov.  This undescribed species was seen in the West Usambara Mountains.

Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher  Trochocercus cyanomelas

African Paradise Flycatcher  Terpsiphone viridis  Several looks of the endemic ungujaensis race.

House Crow (introduced)  Corvus splendens

Pied Crow  Corvus albus

White-necked Raven (W-naped R)  Corvus albicollis

White-tailed Crested Flycatcher  Elminia albonotata

White-bellied Tit  Melaniparus albiventris  Extension only.

Cinnamon-breasted Tit ◊  Melaniparus pallidiventris  Four were seen in Miombo near Mikumi NP.

Grey Penduline Tit (African P T)  Anthoscopus caroli

Eastern Nicator  Nicator gularis

Pink-breasted Lark  Calendulauda poecilosterna

Flappet Lark  Mirafra rufocinnamomea

Sombre Greenbul (Zanzibar S G)  Andropadus importunus

Yellow-bellied Greenbul  Chlorocichla flaviventris

Shelley’s Greenbul ◊  Arizelocichla masukuensis  Regularly seen in the West Usambara Mountains and on the extension. This is the endemic roehli race.

Yellow-throated Greenbul ◊ (Green-t G)  Arizelocichla chlorigula  Endemic. It was only seen on the extension. Great looks in the Luala Valley in the Udzungwa Mountains but also seen in the Rubeho Mountains.

Mountain Greenbul ◊ (Black-headed M G)  Arizelocichla nigriceps  A few were seen in the South Pare Mountains.

Stripe-faced Greenbul ◊  Arizelocichla striifacies  Regularly seen in the various mountain ranges.

Little Greenbul  Eurillas virens

Montane Tiny Greenbul ◊  Phyllastrephus albigula  Endemic. Hard work but one was seen in the West Usambara Mountains. Near-threatened.

Northern Brownbul  Phyllastrephus strepitans

Grey-olive Greenbul ◊  Phyllastrephus cerviniventris  Two were seen on the lower slopes of the West Usambara Mountains.

Placid Greenbul ◊  Phyllastrephus placidus  Regularly seen in the various mountain ranges.

Yellow-streaked Greenbul  Phyllastrephus flavostriatus  We saw the tenuirostris race in the Usambara Mountains and the endemic uzungwensis race in the Udzungwa Mountains.

Dark-capped Bulbul  Pycnonotus tricolor

Black Saw-wing  Psalidoprocne [pristoptera] holomelas

Rock Martin  Ptyonoprogne fuligula

Wire-tailed Swallow  Hirundo smithii

Barn Swallow  Hirundo rustica

Angolan Swallow (Angola S)  Hirundo angolensis  Extension only.

Lesser Striped Swallow  Cecropis abyssinica

Red-rumped Swallow  Cecropis daurica

Moustached Grass Warbler (African M W)  Melocichla mentalis

Kretschmer’s Longbill ◊  Macrosphenus kretschmeri  It took some work to get reasonable looks of this skulker in the East Usambara Mountains.

Northern Crombec  Sylvietta brachyura

Red-faced Crombec  Sylvietta whytii

Little Yellow Flycatcher ◊  Erythrocercus holochlorus  Just two were seen in the East Usambara Mountains.

Livingstone’s Flycatcher ◊  Erythrocercus livingstonei  Three were tracked down in the Mikumi NP. Beauty!

Yellow-throated Woodland Warbler  Phylloscopus ruficapilla

Great Reed Warbler  Acrocephalus arundinaceus

Eurasian Reed Warbler  Acrocephalus scirpaceus  The African Reed Warbler has recently been lumped with Eurasian Reed Warbler. The subspecies baeticatus/suahelicus was seen on the Kilombero Floodplain.

African Yellow Warbler (Dark-capped Y W)  Iduna natalensis

Fan-tailed Grassbird  Catriscus brevirostris  Superb looks on our way to Uluti on the extension: alexinae.

Evergreen Forest Warbler  Bradypterus [lopezi] mariae

Cinnamon Bracken Warbler  Bradypterus cinnamomeus  Extension only.

Little Rush Warbler  Bradypterus baboecala

Trilling Cisticola  Cisticola woosnami Extension only.

Kilombero Cisticola ◊  Cisticola bakerorum  Endemic. Easy to see and conspicuous on the Kilombero Floodplain. Vulnerable.

Black-lored Cisticola ◊  Cisticola nigriloris  Several excellent looks on the extension.

Rattling Cisticola  Cisticola chiniana

Churring Cisticola ◊  Cisticola njombe  We got excellent look on the extension. Endemic nominate race.

White-tailed Cisticola ◊  Cisticola anderseni  Endemic. Great looks of this distinctive but just recently described species on the Kilombero Floodplain. Near-threatened.

Winding Cisticola  Cisticola marginatus

Coastal Cisticola ◊  Cisticola haematocephalus  Just a singleton seen on our way to the East Usambara Mountains.

Croaking Cisticola  Cisticola natalensis  Heard only on the extension.

Neddicky (Piping Cisticola)  Cisticola fulvicapilla

Zitting Cisticola  Cisticola juncidis 

Desert Cisticola  Cisticola aridulus

Tawny-flanked Prinia  Prinia subflava

Red-fronted Prinia  Prinia rufifrons

Bar-throated Apalis  Apalis thoracica  Regularly seen. We managed to see several races such as griseiceps, murina and the endemic pareensis and uluguru.

Yellow-breasted Apalis (Black-b A)  Apalis flavida

White-winged Apalis ◊  Apalis chariessa  Fantastic bird with that long tail! Seen very well near Uluti on the extension!  Near-threatened.

Black-headed Apalis  Apalis melanocephala

Chapin’s Apalis ◊  Apalis chapini  We saw two races; the endemic nominate race in the Uluguru Mountains and the strausae race elsewhere.

Brown-headed Apalis ◊  Apalis alticola  Four were seen on the drive to Uluti on the extension.

Green-backed Camaroptera  Camaroptera brachyura

Grey-backed Camaroptera  Camaroptera brevicaudata

Grey Wren-Warbler  Calamonastes simplex

Stierling’s Wren-Warbler  Calamonastes stierlingi

Winifred’s Warbler ◊  Scepomycter winifredae  Endemic. Great looks of a singing bird in the Uluguru Mountains. Near-threatened.

Long-billed Forest Warbler ◊ (L-b Apalis)  Artisornis moreaui  The endemic nominate race was seen in the East Usambara Mountains. Critically endangered.

Red-capped Forest Warbler ◊ (African Tailorbird)  Artisornis metopias  We saw two races, the endemic altus in the Uluguru Mountains and the nominate race elsewhere.

Yellow-bellied Eremomela  Eremomela icteropygialis

Green-capped Eremomela  Eremomela scotops  Extension only.

African Hill Babbler (Abyssinian H B)  Sylvia abyssinica  The endemic stirelingi race was seen several times.

Brown Parisoma  Curruca lugens  One was seen in the Rubeho Mountains on the extension.

Pale White-eye  Zosterops flavilateralis

Southern Yellow White-eye  Zosterops anderssoni

South Pare White-eye ◊  Zosterops winifredae  Endemic. Great looks in the South Pare Mountains. Near-threatened.

Pemba White-eye ◊  Zosterops vaughani  Endemic. Bright yellow white-eye seen very well on Pemba Island.

Tanzanian Illadopsis ◊ (Grey-breasted I)  Illadopsis distans  It has been recently split from rufipennis. It took some work but eventually all got good looks in the East Usambara Mountains.

‘Udzungwa’ Mountain Illadopsis ◊  Illadopsis sp. nov.  We observed this Illadopsis in the Udzungwa Mountains on the extension. It differs from Tanzanian Illadopsis and most closely resembles to pyrrhoptera. Undescribed.

Arrow-marked Babbler  Turdoides jardineii

Spot-throat ◊  Modulatrix stictigula  About six were seen in the West-Usambara Mountains before we all got excellent looks. It is a shy bird but nothing like the next species.

Dapple-throat ◊ (Dappled Mountain-robin)  Arcanator orostruthus  Extreme skulker! Eventually one was lured into view in the Udzungwa Mountains on the extension. This is the endemic sanjei race. Near-threatened.

Usambara Hyliota ◊  Hyliota usambara  Endemic. Two birds were seen twice on the same tree in the East Usambara Mountains. Endangered.

Wattled Starling  Creatophora cinerea

Black-bellied Starling  Notopholia corusca  We saw the endemic vaughani race on Pemba Island while the nominate on the mainland.

Greater Blue-eared Starling (Blue-eared S)  Lamprotornis chalybaeus

Miombo Blue-eared Starling  Lamprotornis elisabeth  Just a few were seen in Miombo near Mikumi NP.

Superb Starling  Lamprotornis superbus

Ashy Starling ◊  Lamprotornis unicolor  About 60 were seen on the extension in the Baobab Valley.

Violet-backed Starling  Cinnyricinclus leucogaster

Red-winged Starling  Onychognathus morio

Slender-billed Starling  Onychognathus tenuirostris

Waller’s Starling  Onychognathus walleri

Kenrick’s Starling ◊  Poeoptera kenricki  The endemic nominate race was seen at several locations in the Eastern Arc Mountains.

Yellow-billed Oxpecker  Buphagus africanus

Red-billed Oxpecker  Buphagus erythrorynchus

Red-tailed Ant Thrush  Neocossyphus rufus

Orange Ground Thrush  Geokichla gurneyi  Two were seen by some on the extension.

Abyssinian Thrush (Northern Olive T, Mountain T)  Turdus abyssinicus  Heard only on the extension

Usambara Thrush ◊  Turdus roehli  Endemic. Yet another shy bird but we had good looks in the South Pare and West Usambara Mountains. Near-threatened.

Kurrichane Thrush  Turdus libonyana

Bare-eyed Thrush ◊  Turdus tephronotus  One was seen on our way to the South Pare Mountains.

White-browed Scrub Robin  Cercotrichas leucophrys

Grey Tit-Flycatcher (Lead-coloured F)  Myioparus plumbeus  Extension only.

White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher  Melaenornis fischeri  Extension only.

Southern Black Flycatcher  Melaenornis pammelaina

African Grey Flycatcher  Melaenornis microrhynchus

Ashy Flycatcher  Muscicapa caerulescens  Extension only.

African Dusky Flycatcher  Muscicapa adusta

White-chested Alethe ◊  Chamaetylas fuelleborni  Great looks in the West Usambara Mountains.

Olive-flanked Ground Robin ◊ (O-f Robin-Chat)  Cossypha anomala  The endemic grotei race was seen in the Udzungwa and Rubeho Mountains on the extension.

Cape Robin-Chat  Cossypha caffra

White-browed Robin-Chat  Cossypha heuglini

Red-capped Robin-Chat  Cossypha natalensis

Swynnerton’s Robin ◊  Swynnertonia swynnertoni  The endemic rodgersi race was seen in the Udzungwa Mountains on the extension. Vulnerable.

White-starred Robin (W-s Forest R)  Pogonocichla stellata

Sharpe’s Akalat ◊  Sheppardia sharpei  Superb looks of this skulker in the Uluguru Mountains. Nominate.

Rubeho Akalat ◊  Sheppardia aurantiithorax  Endemic. We got to see it well in the Rubeho Mountains on the extension. Endangered.

Usambara Akalat ◊ (U Ground Robin)  Sheppardia montana  Endemic. It was really difficult this year but eventually we had one in the West Usambara Mountains. Endangered.

Iringa Akalat ◊  Sheppardia lowei  Endemic. We got to see it at two locations in the Udzungwa Mountains on the extension. Vulnerable.

Collared Palm Thrush (C Morning T)  Cichladusa arquata

Spotted Palm Thrush (S Morning T)  Cichladusa guttata

African Stonechat  Saxicola torquatus

Mocking Cliff Chat (Cliff C)  Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris

Arnot’s Chat  Myrmecocichla arnotti

Familiar Chat (Red-tailed C)  Oenanthe familiaris  Extension only.

Plain-backed Sunbird ◊  Anthreptes reichenowi  A male was seen in the East Usambara Mountains. Near-threatened.

Western Violet-backed Sunbird  Anthreptes longuemarei

Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird  Anthreptes orientalis

Uluguru Violet-backed Sunbird ◊  Anthreptes neglectus  Several excellent looks in the East Usambara Mountains.

Banded Green Sunbird ◊  Anthreptes rubritorques  Endemic. We got great views in the East Usambara Mountains. Vulnerable.

‘Rubeho Green’ Sunbird ◊  Anthreptes sp. nov  Probably endemic. We observed a male of this newly discovered taxon in the Rubeho Mountains on the extension. It was first photographed and mentioned by Ross Gallardy in 2021.

Collared Sunbird  Hedydipna collaris

Green-headed Sunbird  Cyanomitra verticalis  A nice male of the viridisplendens race was seen in the Rubeho Mountains on the extension.

Olive Sunbird  Cyanomitra olivacea

Amethyst Sunbird  Chalcomitra amethystina

Scarlet-chested Sunbird  Chalcomitra senegalensis

Hunter’s Sunbird  Chalcomitra hunteri

Bronzy Sunbird (Bronze S)  Nectarinia kilimensis  Extension only.

Malachite Sunbird  Nectarinia famosa  Extension only.

Golden-winged Sunbird ◊  Drepanorhynchus reichenowi  Fantastic looking sunbird seen well in the South Pare Mountains.

Western Miombo Sunbird ◊  Cinnyris gerturdis  A pair was seen on our way to Udekwa on the extension.

Whyte’s Double-collared Sunbird ◊  Cinnyris whytei  The endemic skye race was seen well in the Rubeho Mountains on the extension.

Usambara Double-collared Sunbird ◊  Cinnyris usambaricus  Repeated good looks in the South Pare and West Usambara Mountains. Near-threatened.

Forest Double-collared Sunbird ◊  Cinnyris fuelleborni  Several were seen on our way to Uluti on the extension.

Moreau’s Sunbird ◊  Cinnyris moreaui  Endemic. Repeated good looks in the Udzungwa and Rubeho Mountains on the extension. Near-threatened.

Loveridge’s Sunbird ◊  Cinnyris loveridgei  Endemic. Great views in the Uluguru Mountains. Endangered.

Beautiful Sunbird  Cinnyris pulchellus  Extension only.

Hofmann’s Sunbird ◊  Cinnyris hofmanni  Endemic. Excellent views in Miombo near Mikumi NP.

Black-bellied Sunbird ◊  Cinnyris nectarinioides  A male was seen at Nyumba Ya Mungu: nominate.

Purple-banded Sunbird  Cinnyris bifasciatus

Tsavo Sunbird ◊  Cinnyris tsavoensis  About five were seen in dry habitat at Nyumba Ya Mungu.

Pemba Sunbird ◊  Cinnyris pembae  Endemic.  Several good views on Pemba Island.

Rufous-winged Sunbird ◊  Cinnyris rufipennis  Endemic. Amazing sunbird and great looks in the Udzungwa Mountains on the extension. Vulnerable.

Variable Sunbird  Cinnyris venustus

Yellow-throated Bush Sparrow  Gymnoris superciliaris

Yellow-spotted Bush Sparrow  Gymnoris pyrgita

Swahili Sparrow ◊  Passer suahelicus  A few were seen in the Baobab Valley on the extension.

Southern Grey-headed Sparrow  Passer diffusus

House Sparrow (introduced)  Passer domesticus

White-headed Buffalo Weaver  Dinemellia dinemelli

White-browed Sparrow-Weaver  Plocepasser mahali  We saw the melanorhynchus race in the north and the pectroalis race in Mikumi NP.

Thick-billed Weaver (Grosbeak W)  Amblyospiza albifrons

Baglafecht Weaver  Ploceus baglafecht

Bertram’s Weaver ◊  Ploceus bertrandi  Several excellent looks on the main tour and on the extension too.

Spectacled Weaver  Ploceus ocularis

Black-necked Weaver  Ploceus nigricollis

Eastern Golden Weaver ◊  Ploceus subaureus  A few were seen on the lower slopes of the West Usambara Mountains.

Taveta Weaver ◊  Ploceus castaneiceps  We saw a breeding colony at Nyumba Ya Mungu.

Ruvu Weaver ◊  Ploceus holoxanthus  Endemic. Three males were seen on our way to Dar es-Salaam.

Kilombero Weaver ◊  Ploceus burnieri  Endemic. Several seen on the Kilombero Floodplain but all were in non-breeding plumage. Vulnerable.

Lesser Masked Weaver  Ploceus intermedius

Vitelline Masked Weaver  Ploceus vitellinus

Village Weaver (Layard’s W)  Ploceus cucullatus

Dark-backed Weaver (Forest W)  Ploceus bicolor

Usambara Weaver ◊  Ploceus nicolli  Endemic. A pair was seen in the West Usambara Mountains. Near-threatened.

Red-headed Weaver  Anaplectes rubriceps

Red-billed Quelea  Quelea quelea

Zanzibar Red Bishop ◊  Euplectes nigroventris  A fast fly by flock was seen on Pemba Island.

Yellow Bishop  Euplectes capensis

Fan-tailed Widowbird  Euplectes axillaris

White-winged Widowbird  Euplectes albonotatus

Bronze Mannikin  Spermestes cucullata

Magpie Mannikin ◊  Spermestes fringilloides  About eight were seen at Hondo Hondo Camp.

Red-backed Mannikin  Spermestes nigriceps

African Silverbill  Euodice cantans  Just a few seen at Nyumba Ya Mungu.

Yellow-bellied Waxbill  Coccopygia quartinia

Red-faced Crimsonwing ◊  Cryptospiza reichenovii  We had three sightings on the main tour: australis.

Black-faced Waxbill  Brunhilda erythronotos  Seen at Nyumba Ya Mungu on the main tour: delamerei.

Common Waxbill  Estrilda astrild

Crimson-rumped Waxbill ◊  Estrilda rhodopyga  A flock was seen on our way to Uluti on the extension.

Cut-throat Finch  Amadina fasciata

Orange-breasted Waxbill (Zebra W)  Amandava subflava

Purple Grenadier  Granatina ianthinogaster

Blue Waxbill (Southern Cordon-bleu)  Uraeginthus angolensis

Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu  Uraeginthus bengalus

Blue-capped Cordon-bleu ◊  Uraeginthus cyanocephalus   Seen at Nyumba Ya Mungu on the main tour:

Green-winged Pytilia  Pytilia melba

Orange-winged Pytilia  Pytilia afra  Just a pair was seen at Mikumi NP.

Red-throated Twinspot  Hypargos niveoguttatus  Eventually great looks in Mikumi NP.

Red-billed Firefinch  Lagonosticta senegala

African Firefinch (Blue-billed F)  Lagonosticta rubricata

Village Indigobird  Vidua chalybeata

Pin-tailed Whydah  Vidua macroura

Straw-tailed Whydah  Vidua fischeri  Extension only.

Mountain Wagtail  Motacilla clara

African Pied Wagtail  Motacilla aguimp

Yellow-throated Longclaw  Macronyx croceus

African Pipit (Grassland P)  Anthus cinnamomeus

Oriole Finch ◊  Linurgus olivaceus  Great looks of two males in the West Usambara Mountains.

Southern Citril ◊ (East African C)  Crithagra hyposticta  Common throughout the tour.

Reichenow’s Seedeater (Kenya Yellow-rumped S)  Crithagra reichenowi  Extension only.

Yellow-fronted Canary  Crithagra mozambica

White-bellied Canary ◊  Crithagra dorsostriata  About ten were seen at Nyumba Ya Mungu: taruensis.

Southern Grosbeak Canary ◊  Crithagra buchanani  About eight were seen at Nyumba Ya Mungu.

Brimstone Canary  Crithagra sulphurata  Two were seen on the way to Uluti on the extension: sharpii.

Reichard’s Seedeater ◊  Crithagra reichardi  It was seen twice in the Rubeho Mountains on the extension.

Streaky Seedeater  Crithagra striolata

Yellow-browed Seedeater ◊  Crithagra whytii  Several good views, especially in the Udzungwa Mountains.

Kipengere Seedeater ◊  Crithagra melanochroa  Endemic. Rare bird and we got great looks in the Luala Valley. It was shy and retreating.

Yellow-crowned Canary  Serinus flavivertex

Golden-breasted Bunting (African G-b B)  Emberiza flaviventris

Cabanis’s Bunting  Emberiza cabanisi

MAMMALS

Eastern Tree Hyrax  Dendrohyrax validus  It was seen daily in the Udzungwa Scarp Forest Reserve on the extension.

Southern Tree Hyrax  Dendrohyrax arboreus  Heard only.

Yellow-spotted Hyrax  Heterohyrax brucei

African Elephant (A Savanna E)  Loxodonta africana

Chequered Sengi ◊  Rhynchocyon cirnei  One was seen briefly in the Mikumi NP.

Black-and-rufous Sengi ◊ (B and R Elephant Shrew)  Rhynchocyon petersi  Great looks in the West Usambara Mountains.

Four-toed Hedgehog  Atelerix albiventris  One was seen at Masumbo Camp on  the extension.

Lion  Panthera leo  Nine were seen in Mikumi NP.

Common Genet  Genetta genetta  One was seen in the East Usambara Mountains.

Marsh Mongoose  Atilax paludinosus  One was seen by some on the Kilombero Floodplains.

Slender Mongoose  Herpestes sanguineus  One was seen in Mikumi NP.

Plains Zebra (Common Z)  Equus quagga

Common Warthog  Phacochoerus africanus

Masai Giraffe  Giraffa tippelskirchi

Impala  Aepyceros melampus

Common Wildebeest (Eastern White-bearded W)  Connochaetes taurinus

Kirk’s Dikdik  Madoqua kirkii

African Buffalo (Cape B)  Syncerus caffer

Common Eland  Tragelaphus oryx

Bushbuck  Tragelaphus scriptus

Hippopotamus  Hippopotamus amphibius

Yellow-winged Bat  Lavia frons  Great looks on our last day of the extension!

African Straw-coloured Fruit-bat  Eidolon helvum  Hundreds in Dar Es-Salaam.

Pemba Flying Fox ◊  Pteropus voeltzkowi  About 5000 at a roost on Pemba Island.

Angolan Fruit Bat  Lissonycteris angolensis  A few seen in the forest in the East Usambara were identified to be this species from the photos.

Egyptian Rousette  Rousettus aegyptiacus  A few were seen on Pemba Island in our hotel garden.

Wahlberg’s Epauletted Fruit Bat  Epomophorus wahlbergi  One was seen at Hondo Hondo Camp.

Ethiopian Epauletted Fruit Bat  Epomophorus labiatus  It was seen at Masumbo camp on the extension.

Lander’s Horseshoe Bat  Rhinolophus landeri  A few were roosting in under the restaurant in Vuma Hills.

Thick-tailed Greater Galago  Otolemur crassicaudatus  Great looks at Masumbo Camp on the extension.

Small-eared Greater Galago  Otolemur garnettii  Regular sightings.

Mountain Dwarf Galago ◊  Paragalago orinus  Eventually one was tracked down close to our camp in the Rubeho Mountains on the extension.

Blue Monkey  Cercopithecus mitis

Vervet (V Monkey)  Chlorocebus pygerythrus

Angola Colobus  Colobus angolensis  We got the best looks in the East Usambara Mountains.

Yellow Baboon  Papio cynocephalus

Udzungwa Red Colobus ◊ (Iringa R C)  Piliocolobus gordonorum  Three were seen at Hondo Hondo. Great!

African Savanna Hare  Lepus victoriae

Zanj Sun Squirrel (Eastern S S)  Heliosciurus undulates  It was seen in the Usambara Mountains.

Black And Red Bush Squirrel ◊  Paraxerus lucifer  Just a few seen in the Uluguru and Udzungwa Mountains.

Red Bush Squirrel  Paraxerus palliatus  It was seen in the East Usambara Mountains.

Swynnerton’s Bush Squirrel ◊ (Lushoto B S) Paraxerus vexillarius  Great looks in the West Usambara Mountains.

Unstriped Ground Squirrel  Xerus rutilus

Derby’s Flying Squirrel  Anomalurus derbianus  About five were seen in the East Usambara Mountains. All were rather dark chocolate coloured.

Eastern Arc Wood Mouse  Hylomyscus arcimontensis  One was seen in the East Usambara Mountains while looking for Fraser’s / Usambara Eagle Owl.