Akagera National Park (Part 2) (29 April - 1 May)

African Wattled Lapwing was our last species as we decided to continue to Lake Birengero and hoping the rain would hold out for awhile. Splashing and weaving our way around and through puddles to mini lakes along the way, Hildebrandt's Francolin and Red-necked Spurfowl popped out in short succession.

Closer to Lake Birengero we came across a couple of Little Bee-eaters one of which oddly had distinctly more yellow-ish underparts. This part of the transition to adult from the green underparts to cinnamon-orange? Just as we stopped at the lake Jon spotted a Spur-winged Goose with 6 tiny youngsters seemingly fleeing the shoreline on our arrival. Thick-billed Weavers were nesting while the lapwings made up for a lack of sightings earlier with Long-toed, Spur-winged and Senegal Lapwings in our immediate vicinity. The area was oddly quiet other than a small number of the usual suspects around and we were soon to find out why - it started raining again, rather pouring should I say.

The return in the pouring rain was more reminiscent of an off-road vehicle trial as negotiated the road, now a small river, back to the lodge. Along the way we did get brief sightings of wet Great Cormorant, Yellow-throated Longclaw and White-winged Black Tit. The rain slowed down to a drizzle and we had the treat of a perched Bateleur as we approached the park HQ.

Pale Wren-warbler

The late afternoon at the lodge and a short walk down the road produced few new birds but with brilliant sightings, recording and photos of Pale Wren-warbler. A couple of African Black Swifts were also about.

Following morning Anne and I went for a walk around the lodge area and down the entrance road. This proved to be a good call and although misty, the sporadic sunny moments resulted in similarly sporadic flurries of birds. An awesome scoop (and lifer for me) was the Copper Sunbird - Jason had been right, what an absolute little stunner this was and once a bit of sunlight hits the plumage, one can only gape at the colours.

African Moustached Warbler

An African Moustached Warbler was most obliging while I had a brain-dead moment not being able to identify this lovely bird with its robin-like song. Others seen include Green-capped Eremomela, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Red-faced Crombec, Black-backed Puffback, Pale Flycatcher, Greater Blue-eared Starling, Yellow-throated Greenbul and Western Citril.

The departure back to Kigali was not a lesson in quick exits; we were well and truly distracted all the way along the park exit road. Starting with cracking views of Ross' Turaco, Black-crowned Tchagra and we only heard the Red-chested Cuckoo calling near park HQ. A very vocal Striped Kingfisher entertained us for a short while before Slate-coloured Boubou, Violet-backed Starling and Blue-naped Mousebirds claimed more of our time. Olivaceous Warbler (when are these guys planning to go north?) showed lovely before we came across an attitude-filled Lizard Buzzard (photo on left) posing on the powerlines. As we officially left the park bounderies, a Grey Kestrel was seemingly working on its camouflage at a powerline metal pole.

Lake Muhazi was on the agenda for a short stop to see what was around but we were met by a number of large parties in progress, not exactly ideal birding environment although a Rufous-bellied Heron did do a frantic fly-by and adding a new record for the Atlas. An uneventful drive to Kigali ended a splendid 2 and a half days of birding.