A Morning's Birding in Kigali (4 Sept 2010)

Posted by Jason on the Rwanda_BurundiBirds group on 6 September 2010

Bird junkie that I am, I scored a free morning on my trip to Kigali this weekend. I headed straight to the Nyarutarama Lake, where Bram had recorded a lot of ducks a month or so ago. I was there by 6am, hangover seemed to be following… at a distance.

When I arrived the lake was covered in wildfowl; really good numbers. First of all I counted 24 Yellow-billed Ducks, then made a quick estimate of the White-faced Whistling Ducks (photo at http://kilnsey.tripod.com/whistling-ducks.jpg ) – well over 100 (the most accurate count I could make produced 170 birds). Hottentot Teal (at least 5), and Red-billed Teal (at least 8) were also present. A single African Spoonbill, then a pair flew over, moving south. 11 Spur-winged Geese flew in and landed among the Whistlers. Little Grebe, Common Moorhen, Hadada Ibis, Black Crake, Cattle Egret, and a juvenile Black-headed Heron made up the waterbirds.

In the overgrown vegetation by the lake edges I picked up Grey-capped Warbler, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Winding Cisticola and a mischievous-looking pair of White-browed Coucal loitering on a lantana bush. A distant African Harrier Hawk, a single African Fish Eagle and the usual Black (Yellow-billed) Kites hanging overhead were the only raptors present. I walked south-west into the acacia grove, where I found Chubb's Cisticola, several Paradise-Flycatchers and at least 4 Black Cuckoo-Shrikes (3 female/imm, 1 male). The two big surprises here were a lone Pygmy Kingfisher in the undergrowth, and a male Greater Honeyguide, calling from a Silky Oak tree (usually there's a Lesser Honeyguide calling here, but this is my first record of Greater in Rwanda outside of Akagera).

Above the acacias there was a sizeable party of swallows and swifts, however I struggled to get good views, as the birds were silhouetted against the sky. Eventually I confirmed Lesser Striped Swallow, Wire-tailed Swallow, Barn Swallow (at least 1), White-rumped Swift, and a pair of birds that looked good for European/Common Swift. Also a possible Plain Martin or two, but again not confirmed. One stiff neck later and my hangover had caught up with me, so I headed back to the lake. On the way a nice little feeding party included Brimstone Canary and Western Citril, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Pin-tailed Whydah and Green-winged Pytilia.

When I got back to the lake, it was nearly 11am, and I could see a group of kids swimming, screaming and having fun on the far side. It was good to see that the wildfowl had not been spooked, and all remained pretty much in tact, and much closer to my side of the lake, allowing some nice photos:

Red-billed Teal

http://kilnsey.tripod.com/red-billed_teal.jpg

Hottentot Teal

http://kilnsey.tripod.com/hottentot_teal.jpg

There were at least 8 of the dark-faced juveniles among the White-faced Whistling-Ducks.
A Great White Egret took off in front of me as I approached, and Northern Brown-throated Weavers in non-breeding passed in front of me. As I walked back to Chez Lando, a lone Red-headed Weaver (female or non-breeding male) flew up from under the trees by the tennis court.

A nice morning's birding. I wonder how many of Africa's capitals can boast Pygmy Kingfisher, Greater Honeyguide and 170 Whistling-Ducks in their heart?

Jason