We left Morogoro at 5.30am and set out on the 4+ hour drive to Dar Es Salaam, where Aidan was due to fly back to Ireland at 3.30pm and the rest of us had a 2.30pm flight to Pemba Island. Just over halfway we stopped to look for Ruvu Weaver, but our search was halted as someone told us it was a military area and we had to cease immediately. We did see Coastal Cisticola, Marsh Tchagra, Common Waxbill and a single Fulvous Whistling-Duck in a flock of White-faced Whistling-Ducks flying over. Anyway, despite several police checkpoints, a car crash (not us!) and few other hold-ups we still reached the airport by 11:30am. After saying our goodbyes to Aidan, our great driver George and amazing guide Abdul, we spent a few hours in the domestic terminal’s private lounge before boarding our 14 seater aircraft for the 80 minute flight to Pemba that included a touchdown in Zanzibar.
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| On our way to Pemba.... |
Upon arrival we met up with local guide Eddie and set off towards Gecko Lodge in far north Pemba. We birded our way there, seeing Pemba White-eye, Pemba Green-Pigeon and Pemba Sunbird at our first stop!
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| Pemba Green-Pigeon |
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| Pemba Sunbird - the only photo I managed to get |
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| Pemba White-eye |
A Dickinson’s Kestrel perched on a telegraph post then caused us to screech to a halt a bit later on the drive, although it was a little distant and didn’t linger very long but still a cracking looking bird! We eventually reached Ngezi Forest Reserve just after sunset where a Pemba Scops-Owl was easily tracked down for superb views, meaning we’d nailed all four endemics in just over two hours on the island!
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| Pemba Scops-Owl |
Feeling quite smug, we celebrated at the lodge with numerous Safari beers and a fine meal, which was interrupted by a Garnett’s Greater Galago next to the restaurant.
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