Akagera National Park (Part 1) (29 April - 1 May)

Pink-backed Pelican
End of April I had the opportunity to visit Akagera National Park again with 3 clients, Anne, Lucy and Jon. There was a bit of concern about the possibility of rain but we set out not planning on letting that get us under. The first day turned out to be great albeit cloudy weather, also good for some roadside birding along the way to Akagera.

Our first stop was Rugende, a little roadside village with shops and a filling station and some huge Eucalyptus trees where pelicans, herons, storks and ibis often breed. We weren't disappointed; the Pink-backed Pelicans had already started congregating with their richer breeding colours and at least 10 could be seen and photographed. A few Black-headed Herons were around and showing their pronounced breeding plumage in addition to quite a number of Yellow-billed Storks with the beginnings of a pink tinge in their plumage.

Rwamagana town provided a roadside pair of Common Kestrel on the powerlines before heading off further to our main intended pre-Akagera stop - Rwinkavu bridge. A few birds like Brimstone Canary, Sooty Chat, Village Indigobird, Southern Red Bishop, immature African Harrier-hawk and a colony of Village Weavers with over 20 nests prompted some more stops.

Vieillot's Black Weaver

Rwinkavu once again delivered with some brilliant views of nesting Yellow-backed and Vieillot's Black Weavers, Red-chested Sunbird, Grey-crowned Crane flying over and a Blue-headed Coucal. Further on toward the park we encountered a few Lilac-breasted Rollers, the regional endemic race of White-headed Black Chat (soon to be the Ruaha Chat) and numerous Grey-backed Fiscals.

Once inside Akagera, the species number escalated with Trilling Cisticola, Violet-backed and Ruppell's Long-tailed Starlings, a lone Long-tailed Cormorant, Grey Hornbill, Paradise Flycatcher and Mourning Dove. At the lodge, swallows and swifts abounded and Lesser-striped, Angola and Red-rumped Swallows were swooping and playing in the afternoon air in large numbers. White-rumped Swifts weren't to be outdone and appeared to be winning the unofficial aerobatics competition.

Soaring high above us a Martial Eagle was a great sighting as one of our 1st large raptors. Smaller birds around whilst having lunch included Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu, Marico Sunbird, Yellow-fronted Canary, Bronze Mannikin and excellent views of an individual Mocking Cliff Chat.

Levaillant's Cuckoo

We set out for a very productive 3hr game drive (including wars with the horse-flies) that had our heads spinning a wee bit in order to keep up with the flurry of birds. Yellow-throated Longclaw, Laughing (very common) and Ring-necked Doves, Red-necked Spurfowl, Spot-flanked Barbet, Long-crested Eagle, Hamerkop and a Great Egret (in breeding plumage) started it all off followed by Red-headed, Yellow-backed and Village Weavers in close proximity to each other. A pair of Green-winged Pytilia on the roadside briefly had our attention before a Levaillant's Cuckoo gave splendid views and a photo opportunity. A male Bateleur was enjoying the late afternoon thermals.

Close encounters with giraffe and zebra added Red-billed Oxpeckers to our list before some brief views of Common Scimitarbill and Bare-faced Go-away Bird. The weavers weren't done with us and Holub's Golden Weaver popped in to say 'Hi' followed by Sulphur-breasted Bush-shrike and Fork-tailed Drongo. All too soon we were back at the lodge where I heard later a Black-shouldered Nightjar calling.

The next morning the weather looked rather dismal and as we were finishing breakfast a steady rain started and continued till after 9am. At intervals before and during the rain Southern Black Flycatcher, Scarlet-chested Sunbird and African Thrush put in an appearance. Eventually going out on a drive toward Lakes Ihema and Birengero the birds didn't seem convinced the rain had stopped for long, they were later proved correct unfortunately.

Toward Lake Ihema we came across a few Black-headed Orioles, Sulphur-breasted Bush-shrike and Trilling Cisticola. Once there, a few Blue-naped Mousebirds teased us with very brief views as opposed to excellent views of a pair of Fish Eagles, including one grabbing a fish from the other in mid-flight causing one to drop into the water from their aerial scuffle (the one moment I did not have my camera with me of course!). The 1st of a few flocks of Openbill Storks (18) followed by another two of 14 and 16 respectively, were up in the sky, Greater Swamp Warbler was busy building a nest and a Swamp Flycatcher was seen with an immature.

The usual Marabou Stork was at the fishing village plus two Great Egrets in breeding plumage, Cattle Egret, Spur-winged Lapwing, Pied Kingfisher and Squacco Heron. A bit further on at Lake Shakani the odd foursome of Common Sandpiper, Squacco Heron, Water Thick-knee and African Jacana was working the shoreline. As predicted by Charles our guide, White-faced Whistling-Duck were there, although in flight only as was the Darter and Intermediate Egret. Grey-headed Sparrows were nesting in an acacia tree close to the campsite where we also got Plain-backed Pipit plus another pipit with what seemed a rather long-ish bill (will be detailed in separate post).

Water Thick-knee