Sanetti Plateau

Today we birded the highest road in Africa, under the second highest mountain in Africa and found the rarest ‘canid’ in the world – Ethiopian Wolf. 

Ethiopian Wolf

The scenery was stunning amidst fine Afro-alpine moorland habitat with giant lobelias dotted across the moorland plateau. 

Sanetti Plateau

We made a short walk at the treeline and quickly nailed the local race of Brown Parisoma before setting off across the plateau where we found our first  Spot-breasted Lapwings. 

Brown Parisoma

Augur Buzzard

The endemic Moorland Chat is very common

There was also Chestnut-naped Francolin, a small group of Moorland Francolins, lots of Rouget's Rails, Ruddy Shelduck, Lammergeier, Golden Eagle, Red-billed Chough, and some flyby Slender-billed Starlings.

The endemic Rouget's Rail is very common in the Bale Mountains

 We returned to the hotel for a late lunch and then drove on to Dinsho. As soon as we arrived at the Park HQ a local ranger met us and showed us a day roosting African Wood Owl – a good start. 

African Wood Owl

We then walked through the juniper forest and quickly found Abyssinian Catbird as well to make our visit here really worthwhile.