Day 3: Awash Falls Lodge to Genet Hotel Awash Town
An early start today will help us to make the most of our limited time in Awash National Park. Over 450 bird species have been documented from within the park’s borders, a total that few (if any) other places in Ethiopia can match. We will start our morning by birding in riverine forests along the beautiful Awash River, and then will head north to spend most of our day exploring the park’s savannas and Acacia woodlands.
Our primary targets today and tomorrow will be the park’s six species of bustard (Kori, Arabian, Buff-crested, White-bellied, Black-bellied, and Hartlaub’s), the gorgeous Northern Carmine Bee-eater, and the near-endemic Gillett’s Lark. We will, of course, find many other species as well, and the day’s highlights might include Somali Ostrich, Egyptian Vulture, Lappet-faced Vulture, Scissor-tailed Kite, Yellow-necked Spurfowl, Bruce’s Green-pigeon, Abyssinian Roller, Yellow-breasted Barbet, Somali Fiscal, Chestnut-headed Sparrow-Lark, Rosy-patched Bushshrike, Shining Sunbird, and Nile Valley Sunbird.
Awash National Park is also one of a handful of locations in central Ethiopia from whichbirders have reported seeing an as-yet undescribed species of cliff swallow, and we will examine any flocks of swallows we find in hope of glimpsing that mysterious bird.
Awash National Park also protects a diverse assemblage of mammals, including Olive Baboon, Hamadryas Baboon, Spotted Hyena, Black-backed Jackal, African Golden Wolf, Salt’s Dikdik, Soemmering’s Gazelle, Gerenuk, Greater Kudu, Lesser Kudu, Beisa Oryx, Waterbuck, Rock Hyrax, and Bush Hyrax.
Night in Genet Hotel Awash Town.
Genet hotel in Awash Town
Genet hotel in Awash Town
Genet hotel in Awash Town
Genet hotel in Awash Town
The restaurant at Genet hotel in Awash Town
Dinner at Genet hotel, I ate the toast
Tuesday 22ndof October 2019and my alarm went of at 4 o´clock. They don´t turn on the light until 6 so I stayed in bed waiting for the light. I could hear them start the generator at 5 thirty. I went to the restaurant when they opened for breakfast.
I had plain spaghetti, tea, toast and orange juice for breakfast. I was sitting next to the falls looking for crocodiles and birds while eating. It was a gorgeous morning and I really enjoyed my breakfast with the view.
A tourist bus ready to leave
A tourist bus ready to leave
Coming down to the falls for my breakfast
Hornbills
Breakfast at the Awash Falls
I enjoyed the morning and when I was ready in the restaurant I went to the car and we could leave. I had already packed my luggage in the car so we could leave immediately. We stop at the same place where we had seen the Black-billed Barbet yesterday. I managed to get a recording of the Black-billed Barbet. I also get a recording of the Yellow-breasted Barbet.
We checked the Black-billed Barbet area for the Pearl-spotted Owlet. We spotted a couple of beautiful sunbirds. All in eclipse plumage, but still looking good. My Guide was looking for the Black-billed Barbet and I discovered a White-browed Coucal. But the White-browed Coucal was sitting in a tree and was covered by branches so the picture turned out to nothing.
But we discovered the Pearl-spotted Owlet in top of a tree and the pictures turned out OK. So I was happy when we left Awash Falls behind driving north to explore the bird and wildlife in Awash National Park. The first bird we run in to is a Jacobin Cuckoo and I manage to get a picture before the bird takes off. We spotted a group with gazelles, a very beautiful animal. But they didn´t wanted to hang around for any pictures.
My friend wanted me to get a hog tusk for him so he can make his magic. We spotted two wild hogs fighting and we could hear the loud bang when they butt each other. One of them had already lost a tusk in a precious fight. But this time around they managed to keep the remaining tusks. So nothing for my friend´s magic.
We leave the pigs behind and we drive to an abandoned resort. Looks like they ran out of money when they were almost ready with the resort. The reason to go there is that the place is located on the edge of the Awash National Park tableland with the gorge in front of the restaurant.
The restaurant was obviously not open, never completed the construction. But the terrace in front of the restaurant had a gorgeous view over the gorge. Several hundred meters down we could see a river in the narrow gorge. My Guide destroyed the whole experience by looking for leopards. Leopards like areas like this and I knew that there were leopards in the national park. But I never thought about it until my Guide told me about it.
Abandoned Kerru Lodge in Awash National Park
Gorge in front of abandoned Kerru Lodge in Awash National Park
Gorge in front of abandoned Kerru Lodge in Awash National Park
Gorge in front of abandoned Kerru Lodge in Awash National Park
Gorge in front of abandoned Kerru Lodge in Awash National Park
Gorge in front of abandoned Kerru Lodge in Awash National Park
We never ran in to any leopards, but we could enjoy the view over the gorge. We drove back passing the “pig fight” area but now there was sign of the pigs so I guess they have grown tired of fighting. We continue driving around Awash National Park and it is a beautiful park and birds everywhere. And sometimes some extra bonus wild life. I am in the back looking for leopards and other cats while we drive along in the park.
We only see two or three other cars in the park so we´re almost alone and I like it. A good change from going for safari in India. We pass one Isabelline Wheatear sitting next to the dust road and I manage to get a picture. We dive along and we can see three White-bellied Go-away-birds in a tree. I get out of the car and I try to sneak up on the birds.
But they get scared and take off to never been seen again. Walking back to the car and we can hear a bird, maybe a Orange-breasted Bushshrike. I got a recording and I got a very quick glimpse of the bird. But as I am not sure if it was the Orange-breasted Bushshrike I will send the recording to XENO-CANTO to see if anyone recognise the bird song.
I spotted the bird and it looked like an Orange-breasted Bushshrike. But after consulting my Birds of Horn of Africa I am in doubt that it is an Orange-breasted Bushshrike.
I have listened to songs here on XENO-CANTO I recognise the sound, but at the same time it sounds different.
Any one that can help with the identity?
Kind regards Aladdin
Thank you James Bradley for help with the identity
Another car in Awash National Park
Somali Fiscal -
Isabelline Wheatear
Isabelline Wheatear
Isabelline Wheatear
White-bellied Go-away-bird
Passing camels on the way to the main gate
Passing camels on the way to the main gate
Passing camels on the way to the main gate
Back at the main gate
Today´s track at Awash National Park
eBird Report
Awash NP (Please use more specific hotspot), Afar, ET Oct 22, 2019 07:31 - 11:36 Protocol: Traveling 37,31 kilometer(s) Comments: 20 Days birding tour in Ethiopia. Birding with my Guide 33 species
White-faced Whistling-Duck 4 Helmeted Guineafowl 1 Laughing Dove X Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove 1 Namaqua Dove X White-bellied Go-away-bird 4 White-browed Coucal 1 Pied Cuckoo 1 Tawny Eagle 2 Pearl-spotted Owlet 1 Eurasian Hoopoe 1 African Grey Hornbill 2 Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill 2 Northern Red-billed Hornbill 2 Grey-headed Kingfisher 1 Abyssinian Roller 3 Yellow-breasted Barbet 1 Black-billed Barbet 7 Nubian Woodpecker 2 Red-backed Shrike 2 Isabelline Shrike 3 Somali Fiscal 3 Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike 1 I spotted the bird and it looked like an Orange-breasted Bushshrike. But after consulting my Birds of Horn of Africa I am in doubt that it is a Orange-breasted Bushshrike.
I have listened to songs here on XENO-CANTO I recognise the sound, but at the same time it sounds different.
Any one that can help with the identity?
Thanks to James Bradley at XENO-CANTO for help with the identity of the recording
Red-backed Shrike 2 Isabelline Shrike 3 Somali Fiscal 3 Singing Bushlark 1 Singing Bushlark 1 Buff-bellied Warbler X Many Barn Swallow X Isabelline Wheatear 5 Nile Valley Sunbird 1 Beautiful Sunbird 2 Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver 1 White-browed Sparrow-Weaver X Red-billed Quelea X Eastern Paradise-Whydah 1
We leave the park behind and we drive to Awash Town to check in to Genet Hotel. Not a long way from the gate to the hotel and we had soon checked-in. The hotel looked nice and I liked my room. But during my 2 nights there was no water in the bathroom and no showers. And not cleaned for a long time.
We went to the restaurant and I asked for plain spaghetti with a few drops of olive oil. A pot of tea to go with the spaghetti. They brought the spaghetti, tea was not available. Never mind, when I saw the olive oil I decided not to eat. And I told my Guide that it was better, sometimes, not to see the things they bring from the kitchen. It was some nasty oil they brought.
Genet hotel in Awash Town
Genet hotel in Awash Town
Genet hotel in Awash Town
We left the hotel around 3 o´clock in the afternoon and it was just a few minutes from the hotel to Geda Rangers Camp. We parked the car and I go behind the camp with my Guide. We spot a couple of White-bellied Go-away-bird sitting in a tree, but no pictures. We get out in the wilderness and there is a few Yellow-breasted Barbet
I was chasing a huge group of Red-billed Queleas trying to get some pictures. I ran in to a very beautiful Somali Bunting and I could take a video of the bird.
Walking along the dust road and we see a couple of nice birds, the beautiful Red-fronted Barbet, but no good pictures. We spotted several birds but the only pictures I got was of a Gillett's Lark. I was chasing different birds around the area but no luck with the pictures. It was getting late and the light disappeared and we walked back to the car.
It had been a good afternoon, well, the whole day had been good from a bird watchers point of view. We left Awash National Park - Geda Rangers Camp and we drove back to Genet hotel in Awash Town for a night of rest.
Today´s track at Awash National Park - Geda Rangers Camp
eBird Report
Awash NP--Geda Rangers Camp, Afar, ET Oct 22, 2019 15:06 - 16:38 Protocol: Traveling 1,34 kilometer(s) Comments: 20 day Ethiopian birding tour with Flamingos Tours Ethiopia. Birding with my Guide 13 species
And as no surprise, there was nothing exciting for dinner at the restaurant, toast only and no tea. I spent the evening in my room looking at today´s picture but I was in bed early and we will leave for bird watching early tomorrow morning. ClickHEREto find out if we find any birds tomorrow.
OK, it has come to my knowledge that we have senior citizens visiting my web page. How hard can itbe? 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.
ORIGINlate 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!