More Dickinsons from Mikumi NP

Hi Raptorist, here a few less lucky shots of the same kestrel and its
surrounding. All pics taken in the same minute or so.

Jan van den Hombergh

Manyara Count 31 Jan.

THIS COMING SUNDAY

Hi everyone

I'm hoping the "authorities" will count the western shoreline and that the Arusha birders will count the north and the eastern shore as far south as possible.

It's looking unlikely that we will join u so a few tips.

As long as you note the time and the GPS of each start point and agree these points with the other car it is possible to leap frog each other and produce an accurate shoreline count.

If there are 4 cars then create two teams, one to start at halfway and work southwards, if 6 cars, even better 3 teams.

Just how wet are the Oltukai flats ? is the eastern shoreline easily accessible ? can u cross the Makuyuni River close to the shore ? Access from the Kibo camp ?

I've no idea how high the water levels are or where the birds might be concentrated. We did a recce at Mtera but the heavy rains made this worthless and we just had to make the best of what we found on the day.

Ethan, do u have a team or two on this ?

Some phone numbers.

Emilian Kihwele who will organise the western shore count 0784-226622

Kapanya and Colin Beal who will organise the Arusha birders count of the eastern shore.

KK 0784-772688 and 0767-772688. Colin 0684-059123

GO FOR IT GUYS AND ENJOY.

TARGET BIRDS ARE GREATER FLAMINGO AND CHESTNUT-BANDED PLOVER BUT COUNT

EVERYTHING

Neil

Neil and Liz Baker, Tanzania Bird Atlas, P.O. Box 1605, Iringa, Tanzania.
Mobiles: 0776-360876 and 0776-360864.

IVORY ON SALE

If you would like to join Africa Have Your Say to debate this topic LIVE on air on Tuesday 26 January at 1600 GMT, please include a telephone number. It will not be published. You can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/africahysor follow us on Twitter @bbcafricahys. You can also send an SMS text message to +44 77 86 20 20 08.

From: ethan kinsey
To: tanzaniabirdatlas Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 2010 9:15 AM


Hi Neil,


A lot of conservationists on the birdnet should be aware. There's a forum open on BBC: WORLD HAVE YOUR SAY?


What should Africa do with its ivory?
A Kenyan delegation is in Brussels to stop Zambia and Tanzania trying to sell nearly 120 tonnes of ivory.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) will debate the two proposals in March. If allowed, the sale will be the third "one-off" auction of ivory since the world ban, 20 years ago last week.

Tanzania and Zambia intend to spend the money from the auctions on conservation measures. But wildlife organisations are concerned that the levels of poaching will rise unless there is a blanket ban on the sale of ivory worldwide.

Should countries be allowed to sell Ivory they already possess? How should African countries deal with stockpiles of Ivory? Should the ban on Ivory be lifted? Who should benefit from the sale of ivory? Send us your views.




NEIL B:
this will interest many of you esp if you are not already aware of what's happening.

as Karl Lymo wrote in the Citizen last week there are concerns that the money raised will not be spent on elephant conservation. there are concerns about recent high levels of poaching as if the bad guys have anticipated the ban being lifted. there are concerns that the Chinese & Japanese buyers (of course) have already paid for this ivory.

the perfect answer would be for western donors (it is their taxpayers who are the most concerned about this, not the 800m Africans) to buy this ivory and to establish an ivory museum in Dar. This would be an instant tourism success and MANY Tanzanians would appreciate being told the FULL story. If handled correctly the whole history of ivory and the slave trade could be illustrated for all to see.

this would instantly take the pressure of our elephants. at least for now (2.6% human population growth is bad news). there will always be elephant deaths, from problem animal control, from natural mortality and from professional hunting but an ivory ban is the only method we have from keeping these deaths within the bounds of "normality".

what sort of msg will this sale send out to western tourists (and taxpayers) who, after all, provide the many $$ to keep Tanzania afloat.

Neil

THE ESTRILDA CHARMOSYNA CONUNDRUM

From: Brian Finch
THE ESTRILDA CHARMOSYNA CONUNDRUM ALONG THE SOUTH-EASTERN BORDER AREAS
WITH TANZANIA.

Dear All,

In Kenya, we are familiar with Black-faced Waxbill Estrilda
erythronotus, whereas for most of us we see Black-cheeked Waxbill
Estrilda charmosyna much less frequently, however this is the
widespread species, and it is erythronotus that has a restricted range
in this country. It is common around Nairobi all down to the Tanzanian
border (?), and likewise the distribution extends over the southern
border into the Maasai Mara and Tsavo (?).
Originally the two birds were treated as races of the same species,
although they were separated a long time ago now, but is it possible
that the complex includes a third species!?

I have attached photographs of charmosyna from Kongelai in NW Kenya,
Haberswein in NE Kenya, and Samburu in E Kenya. The most marked thing
about these birds when encountered is that they are so pale by
comparison with erythronotus, and lack red on belly and flanks,
although there is a pink tinge. So that when the birds are illustrated
from south of the equator towards the Tanzanian border areas of Tsavo
and Magadi Road, they are illustrated with the same dark plumage as
erythronotus. It is this that had led me (up to now) to think that
these records of charmosyna in southern Kenya have been mis-identified
or seen badly. As the colouration of the eastern/northern charmosyna
is so very different.

Having just visited Tsavo this past weekend, we located some waxbills
at Sagala Lodge and took photographs of the birds that were inhabiting
the Commiphora/Delonix/Acacia woodland. We were struggling to see a
black throat, on what looked superficially like erythronotus, and try
as we might, whilst the birds had a thin black line across the throat
at the base of the bill, the throat was pale. The birds were fairly
common (especially at owl-mobs), and once captivated by the presence
of an owlet remained confined to a small area and were easier to
study. As far as I know charmosyna is not recorded for Tanzania, but
this form must be found in the contiguous habitat that crosses the
border. (?)

I have attached an image of the typical erythronotus from Nairobi. The
black throat is very extensive and obvious, this is bordered by a
narrow whitish band that borders the lower part of the face patch and
continues across the throat. Overall the bird is dark toned, the
underparts reddish tinged grey across the belly and upper chest, a
deeper red band across the lower breast, striking red flanks, and
blackish lower belly to crissum.
A comparison of the photograph charmosyna (?) attached, that comes
from Sagala Lodge last Saturday, leads to many differences. The face
is black, but the throat is greyish, the birds share the white border
to the black face but this is restricted to the lower edge of the
face, but is absent on the black edge that borders the throat. The
underparts lack red, mainly buffy-grey on the upper chest, shading to
warm buff on the belly becoming paler towards the crissum. There are
no striking red-flanks. Above the two birds are very similar.

Checking the illustrations in Stevenson and Fanshawe, it became very
evident, that the erythronotus painting is incredibly awful, and not
looking anything like a Kenyan member of the species. The extent of
the black on the throat is virtually identical here in erythronotus
and charmosyna, and this poor representation will only lead to
confusion for anyone attempting to identify the species. The only
difference shown is dark as opposed to pale lower belly to undertail
coverts, and a subtle difference in flank colouration. I then examined
Zimmermann and Turner, where the differences were much better
illustrated, having used a bird resembling northern pale charmosyna,
although again the erythronotus isn’t very impressive as regards to
accuracy in colour it does at least show the extent of the black
throat.

Comparing my photographs of typical northern and eastern charmosyna
with these southern birds, many features are shared, absence of red on
chest and flanks, both with paler underparts than erythronotus, and
paler lower belly to undertail coverts, but the northern and eastern
birds show a very contrasting white throat and white forehead, as
opposed to greyish. They do not show any black line across the throat
at the base of the bill unlike the noticeable narrow black line of
southern charmosyna (?). Their lower belly/undertail coverts region is
much whiter, and overall the ground colouration is much paler.
Southern birds are robust and dark-hued, not as dark as erythronotus,
but nothing as pale as northern and eastern charmosyna, which also
appear smaller, and much slighter and delicate in the field. The
general appearance of southern charmosyna (?) is almost as robust as
erythronotus.

There is obviously a lot to learn about these three forms in Kenya,
the southern form of charmosyna (?) having never been described. With
the claim that dark charmosyna have occurred sympatrically with
erythronotus on the Magadi road, such studies can start on our
doorstep!
This is only a preliminary “wake-up” to make birders aware of the
interesting situation, wherever there is a “?” it means that now we
need confirmation of the record.
I have attached a selection of photographs of charmosyna from various
locations, I apologise for the standard, but they all tell the story.
It would be of interest if everyone could dig out their erythronotus
and charmosyna photographs and see what they have.
Please look carefully at all of the Black-faced/cheeked Waxbills met
with in this country, and in border areas with Tanzania, and report on
what form is where, and especially if there is any area of sympatry.

Best to all
Brian

Dickinson's Kestrel

This excellent flight shot of a juvenile (Beautiful clean fresh plumage with clear pale trailing edge to flight feathers.And russet feather edging to contour feathers on back. They also seem to have creamier coloured heads) by Jan van den Hombergh prompted this map. Print it and compare it with that of Grey Kestrel.

Any records of both species from the same locality (more or less) on the same day would be much appreciated.

Nice one Jan.

Neil
Neil and Liz Baker, Tanzania Bird Atlas, P.O. Box 1605, Iringa, Tanzania.
Mobiles: 0776-360876 and 0776-360864.
http://tanzaniabirdatlas.com

Hi all

Several recent records from Iringa sq, more or less the southern limits for this bird.

Did we have more this season due to the drought in Kenya ? will they have returned following these good rains ?

As anyone seen NUMBERS ?

Neil

Yaida birding - Af Broadbill, Gideru Ridge

this sms in from Jo Anderson

First exciting record for 2010, Af Broadbill, Gideru Ridge, Yaeda. Also Saker and lots of great birds. Yaeda valley open WATER.

This is the first record from 3503C, the nearest being from Manyara NP in 3503B and D.

Most records from Yaida have come from Daudi Peterson (an amazing 6,563 from a square total of 9,410). Daudi, did you ever bird this site Jo mentions ?

Jo. hopefully you have Georeferenced this locality.

Would be good to have a feel for waterbird numbers in Yaida, breeding could be important as the water recedes and the vegetation grows. Do keep an eye out for Black-necked Grebes.

cheers

Neil
Neil and Liz Baker, Tanzania Bird Atlas, P.O. Box 1605, Iringa, Tanzania.
Mobiles: 0776-360876 and 0776-360864.