Headed down to the Zigi Gate entrance of Amani Reserve and birded the dirt road and despite the numerous motorbikes and other traffic this proved to be a good move. We’d come here early doors to try and find Usambara Hyliota, a very difficult endemic indeed. Well, we spent several hours craning our necks up at the canopy of these massively tall trees and began feeling the temperature start to soar. However, eventually Abdul spotted a hyliota in display flight and we all got our bins on this tiny speck in the sky disappearing into the distance. Was that it? We continued to stake out the same spot and eventually we were rewarded with 4 Usambara Hyliota feeding frantically way above our heads. I even managed to get a scope on one bird as it lingered on a bare branch long enough for almost everyone to get on it. What a result!
We also tinkered with a group of Tanzanian Illadopsis that once again proved very difficult to see, and then we hit a run of new species for the trip. We had a few decent views of a Green Malkoha (formerly Yellowbill), Little Greenbul, Fischer’s Greenbul, African Crested Flycatcher, African Paradise-Flycatcher, and a delightful Little Yellow Flycatcher.
Other species seen included a Grey Cuckooshrike, Black-and-white Shrike-Flycatcher, many more Silvery-cheeked Hornbills, a pair of Trumpeter Hornbills, White-eared Barbet, and a displaying African Broadbill. Walking down the road a little way didn’t initially look promising but our persistence in the heat paid off with a group of Chestnut-fronted Helmetshrikes and a superb Mombasa Woodpecker.
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| Crowned Eagle |
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| Brown-hooded Kingfisher |
The rest of the day was rather bitty, with plenty of previously seen species and we tried once again in vain for Kretschmer’s Longbill. Yet we still added Crowned Eagle to our list, and enjoyed nice views of Purple-banded Sunbird, Half-collared and Brown-hooded Kingfishers, Moustached Tinkerbird, Black-fronted Bushshrike, Olive Sunbird and even managed to find Kenrick’s Starling to round off another great day in Tanzania. It hasn't been the easiest day to take photos with a lot of neck-craning high into the canopy but that's not what we are here for. Yet the birding is fantastic and we are killing it at the moment!
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