Birding/ Bird watching in Ethiopia - November 2019

OK, it has come to my knowledge that we have senior citizens visiting my web page. How hard can it be? So it's not very easy for them to see the blue coloured links to the next page.

Jiffy (also jiff)

noun [in SING.] informal a moment: we'll be back in a jiffy.

ORIGIN late 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

So as you understand, in a jiff pretty much depends on your internet.

So I put a “Next” button here and I hope that there isn't any problem to understand how to use that one. So just CLICK the “Next” button on your left hand side and you will be on the next page in a jiff!

Marunong ka mag-tagalog? Walang problema! Magpunta sa kabilang pahina pindutin ang “NEXT” button sa itaas

Faites vous parlez le français? Pas de problème! Pour arriver à la page suivante faites s'il vous plaît un déclic le bouton “Next” ci-dessus!

Haga usted dice el español? No hay problema! Ver la siguiente página sólo hacer clic el botón “Next” encima!

Farla parla l'italiano? Non problemi! Per vedere la prossima pagina lo scatto per favore giusto Il bottone “Next” sopra

Sprechen sie Deutsch! Kein problem! Wenn Sie die folgende Seite sehen wollen gerade klicken der Knopf “Next” oben!

คุณพูดภาษาไทยได้ไหม ไม่มีปัญหา ถ้าคุณต้องการไปหน้าถัดไป ให้กดปุ่ม “Next” ข้างบนนี้

Вы говорите по-русски? Просто нажмите синюю кнопку "Next" с левой стороны и Вы моментально переместитесь на следующую страницу!

E ni Svenskar och inte förstår Engelska så ska ni skämmas. J och Björn, med det menar jag inte att alla mina stavfel ska ältas varje gång vi träffas.

Well, the flag of Skåne, just a BONUS flag.

Birding/ Bird watching in Addis Abab, Ethiopia

Tuesday 12 ^th of November 2019 and I was at Sheraton Addis Ababa at 10 o´clock and I got out of my car outside the check-point. I spotted a couple of Brown-rumped Seedeaters on the side walk and I had a few pictures before I entered Sheraton´s compound. I will walk across the parking area and then through the hotel and out in the garden.

Brown-rumped Seedeater

Brown-rumped Seedeater

Brown-rumped Seedeater

Brown-rumped Seedeater

Streaky Seedeater

Streaky Seedeater

Streaky Seedeater

African Thrush

African Thrush

African Thrush

African Thrush

African Thrush

I was halfway through the parking area when I suddenly spotted an African Thrush. The bird was in a tree and I discovered several other birds while trying to take pictures. There was a beautifulTacazze Sunbird and I managed to get a picture. The Tacazze Sunbird is the very bird I am here to look for.

I walked around the tree, always looking to get better pictures. And I would like to have the birdin the sunshine for the colours to “POP” out. I continued towards the security check at the entrance to the hotel.

I spot a couple of the African Thrushes and I get one picture. I went in to Sheraton walking through the restaurant and out in the garden. And I will have lunch here before going back to my room. But now I went straight out in the garden to look for birds.

Tacazze Sunbird

Tacazze Sunbird

Tacazze Sunbird

African Thrush

Brown-rumped Seedeater

Brown-rumped Seedeater

Same area as last time, first the Blue-breasted Bee-eater and a few meter further down towards the swimming pool, the Tacazze Sunbird. The Tacazze Sunbird is really beautiful, and that is even though the bird is not in breeding plumage. Eclipse before or after breeding?

Eclipse Plumage

Many ducks have bright, colourful plumage, exhibiting strong sexual dimorphism. However, they moult into a dull plumage after breeding in mid-summer. This drab, female-like appearance is called eclipse plumage. When they shed feathers to go into eclipse, the ducks become flightless for a short period of time.

Some duck species remain in eclipse for one to three months in the late summer and early fall, while others retain the cryptic plumage until the next spring when they undergo another moult to return to their breeding plumage.

Although mainly found in the Anatidae, a few other species, including related red junglefowl, most fairywrens and some sunbirds also have an eclipse plumage. In the superb and splendid fairywrens, very old males (over about four years) may moult from one nuptial plumage to another whereas in the red-backed and white-winged fairywrens, males do not acquire nuptial plumage until four years of age – well after they become sexually mature and indeed longer than the vast majority of individuals live.

In contrast to the ducks, males of hummingbirds and most lek-mating passerines – like the Guianan cock-of-the-rock or birds of paradise – retain their exuberant plumage and sexual dimorphism at all times, moulting as ordinary birds do once annually.

Tacazze Sunbird

Tacazze Sunbird

Tacazze Sunbird

Tacazze Sunbird

Blue-breasted Bee-eater

Dusky Turtle Dove

Speckled Mousebird

Speckled Mousebird

Streaky Seedeater

African Silverbill

African Silverbill

Speckled Mousebird

Speckled Mousebird

Red-billed Firefinch / Senegal Firefinch

Blue-breasted Bee-eater

I walked back up the hill from the swimming pool and past the restaurant. The restaurant have some pools with water spray outside the restaurant and I walked around to look for birds. I found a tree with a lot of birds resting in the shadow. Bronze Mannikin, Tacazze Sunbird, Red-billed Firefinch, Bronze Mannikin, African Silverbill, Village Indigobird, Swainson's Sparrow, Streaky Seedeater and Brown-rumped Seedeater.

And as the tree was growing on the step side outside the construction with the walk path so the birds was in eye level. The only problem was twigs and branches between my camera and the bird. But I managed to get a few pictures of the birds. Really, if you come to Addis Ababa the garden at Sheraton is a hot tip for birding. And of course, the buffet lunch is well worth a visit.

Bronze Mannikin

Bronze Mannikin

Noon breeding male Baglafecht Weaver

Village Indigobird or Steelblue Widowfinch

Village Indigobird or Steelblue Widowfinch

Female Red-billed Firefinch / Senegal Firefinch

Time passed quickly and it was soon time for lunch. I went back to the restaurant and I spotted two African Citril in a bush outside the restaurant. There was also a Baglafecht Weaver in the bush. I was happy when I sat down in the restaurant for my lunch. It had been a gorgeous morning in Sheraton´s Garden and I had seen a lot of birds on my last birding session in Ethiopia.

African Citril

African Citril

Noon breeding male Baglafecht Weaver

Noon breeding male Baglafecht Weaver

Today's track at Sheraton Addis Ababa

eBird Report

Sheraton Hotel, Addis Ababa, Addis Ababa, ET Nov 12, 2019 10:02 - 12:15
Protocol: Traveling
2,33 kilometer(s)
Comments: Back at Sheraton with fully charged battery
14 species

Dusky Turtle Dove 1
Speckled Mousebird 4
Blue-breasted Bee-eater 4
African Thrush 3
Tacazze Sunbird X Many
Baglafecht Weaver 2 Noon breeding
Red-billed Firefinch 3
Bronze Mannikin X
African Silverbill 15
Village Indigobird 3
Swainson's Sparrow 4
African Citril 2
Streaky Seedeater 3
Brown-rumped Seedeater X Many

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S61386848

Back at Radisson Blu and I had my last room service, salmon again and I packed my luggage and I was ready to go. I have booked a car for 23:00 to take me to the airport. So I spent the last afternoon in Addis Ababa in my room sorting out my bird pictures from Ethiopia.

And I have been taking a lot of pictures and I have seen a lot of birds. 262 observed species observed in Ethiopia since I arrived. So there is plenty pictures to sort out. Of course, there are many pictures that end up in the garbage bin.

Last salmon in Addis Ababa

I went down to check out just before 11 o´clock in the evening. I checked out and I had to wait for a few minutes before the hotel van appeared outside the door. I was going to the airport with another hotel guest that have checked out with me. Took us 20 minutes or so and we got out of the van at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport.

I will have to spend about 2 and a half hour on the airport before departure. Click HERE to find out if I make it back to Bangkok.

Tweet

You are visitor no.

To www.aladdin.st since December 2005

Visitors from different countries since 26th of September 2011

Mobilize your Site

View Site in Mobile | Classic