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Sunday 27th of October 2019 and I check out from the hotel and we leave. Crossing the road and we're at Lake Ziway and we're on some kind of a pier sticking out in the lake with some fishing boats at the end of the pier. Most of the pier goes through the mangrove. With open water next to the pier. I don't know if the pier is man-made or if it is a natural pier. But it is most likely man made with gravel and sand. We get out of the car and WOW, there are birds everywhere. Walking towards the lake and we have mangroves on the right hand side with some open water. Left hand side and there is open water and mangroves. And so many birds all over the place.  Lake Ziway
 Marabou Stork at Lake Ziway
 Marabou Stork at Lake Ziway
 Marabou Stork at Lake Ziway
 Marabou Stork at Lake Ziway
  Marabou Stork at Lake Ziway
 Marabou Stork
 Marabou Stork
 Marabou Stork
 Marabou Stork
Listen to the Marabou Stork
Sound from www.xeno-canto.org
  At Lake Ziway
 At Lake Ziway
 At Lake Ziway
 Hamerkop
 At Lake Ziway
 Hamerkop
 Hamerkop
 Hamerkop
Listen to the Hamerkop
Sound from www.xeno-canto.org
 Marabou Stork
 Marabou Stork
 Great Egret / Great White Heron
 Wood Sandpiper
Listen to the African Fish Eagle
Sound from www.xeno-canto.org
We walk along the pier when one of the many African Fish Eagles landed next to us giving a few calls and I managed to get the last call before the bird took off. There were a couple of new birds for me as well. The Grey-headed Gull and the small and beautiful Long-tailed Cormorant. So I was busy while walking out towards the end of the pier. There are plenty pelicans swimming on the open water on my left hand side. But they are too many of them to get a good picture. Approaching the end of the pier and I have one pelican coming out from the mangrove and I can get a picture.    Black Kite
 Marabou Stork
 Long-tailed Cormorant, also called Reed Cormorant
 Long-tailed Cormorant, also called Reed Cormorant
   Pied Kingfisher
  Great White Pelican
 Great White Pelican
  Continuing towards the end of the pier and I discover that I have to walk through mud to reach the end. The end of the pier is almost an island and judging from the mud it looks like there is water surrounding the area if there is rain. So I turn around and I see the beautiful Pied Kingfisher and a beautiful Mourning Collared Dove. And I manage to get pictures of both the birds. Continue towards the car and I run in to the Long-tailed Cormorant again so I can get more pictures. I am also lucky to get another picture of the Grey-headed Gull as I only have one picture of the bird from when I arrived to the pier.  Speckled Pigeon
 Mourning Collared Dove
 Mourning Collared Dove
 Long-tailed Cormorant, also called Reed Cormorant
 Long-tailed Cormorant, also called Reed Cormorant
 Common Sandpiper
 Common Sandpiper
 Marabou Stork
 Hamerkop
 African Sacred Ibis
 African Sacred Ibis
 Grey-headed Gull
Back in the car and we are going to pick up a Guide and we will go to an area called the fish market. Out of the gate, well, not exactly any gate. But there is a hut, the same hut you see on the picture on top of the page. We stop to take pictures of a few Barn Swallows sitting on a wire along the road. Back in the car and we are off to the Fish Market to look for more birds.  Barn Swallow / Ladusvala
 Today´s track at Lake Ziway
We leave the birds behind but we are soon out of the car again. It was just a 2 minutes ride to the fish market. Fish market, maybe they had closed already. But when I came down to the beach the fishermen was throwing away the left overs and there was a huge group of Great White Pelicans that was feed by the fisher men. There were quite a few Marabou Storks eating together with Marabou Storks. There were also several Hamerkops and African Sacred Ibis on the beach. Waking down to the beach from the car and we ran in to a Blue-breasted Bee-eater. This is one gorgeous bird and the bird was not scared so I could get a picture.   Blue-breasted Bee-eater
 Blue-breasted Bee-eater
 Blue-breasted Bee-eater
 Blue-breasted Bee-eater
 Blue-breasted Bee-eater
  Eurasian Hoopoe
 Two Double-toothed Barbet in the tree
  Double-toothed Barbet
We passed a Hoopoe when we left the Bee-eater and the bird was not scared so I could come pretty close. Coming in among the trees at the beach and we spotted a new Barbet for me, the Double-toothed Barbet. And it was also easy to see how the bird had got its name. Too dark for any good pictures as I had to use a crazy ISO speed. We left the Double-toothed Barbet and we walked down to the beach. Market was closed but there were a lot of birds to eat. The fishermen threw the left overs to the birds and I was instantly reminded of when they were feeding the pelicans on Kangaroo Island in Australia. There were also a lot of Marabou Storks, African Sacred Ibis and the Hamerkop.  Bird feeding
Since my Pelican “action” on Kangaroo Island I never grow tired of watching them eat. They look very nice when they fold out the bag under the bill and try to catch the food like using a bag net. The Marabou Storks on the beach tried to catch the food that didn't reached the Pelicans. And the Hamerkps took care of the bits and pieces on the beach. It was great fun to watch the action. The tree next to the fishing place was full of Marabou Storks.  Beautiful tree with beautiful birds
 Beautiful tree with beautiful birds
 Marabou Stork
 Marabou Stork
 Don't throw garbage in the nature motherfåckers!!!
  Northern Black Flycatcher
 Northern Black Flycatcher
We leave the beach and back in the trees I spot a Northern Black Flycatcher. Lighting conditions, at least to say poor, but I gave it a try with the camera. I go back to the beach on the other side of the trees. There are three Marabou Storks standing in the water line and I approach to see if I can make a sound recording. I came all the way up to the bird but they kept very quiet, but I got the recording of the birds when they took off and I like their wing flap sound. Listen to the Marabou Stork
Sound from www.xeno-canto.org
  Cattle Egret - นกยางควาย
 Hamerkop
 Egyptian Goose
There was a couple of African Sacred Ibises and Cattle Egrets at the water line. I continued to walk towards the south and I reached a reed area / wetland and I spotted a Ruff. I identified it as a female Ruff. Consulting my “Birds of Horn of Africa” and it was an easy ID. But I made the mistake to check my “Svensson” Collins Bird Guide and then it was not easy any more. I posted the bird on www.birdforum.net and I will soon know the right ID, yet again, after having posted picture on the birdforum. I saw one, maybe the most beautiful wader that I have ever seen. The small Three-banded Plover, at least small comparing with the Ruff.   Three-banded Plover or Three-banded Sandplover
 Three-banded Plover or Three-banded Sandplover
 Three-banded Plover or Three-banded Sandplover
 Three-banded Plover or Three-banded Sandplover
 Wood sandpiper - นกชายเลนน้ำจืด
 Wood sandpiper - นกชายเลนน้ำจืด
 Wood sandpiper - นกชายเลนน้ำจืด
It is time to leave Lake Ziway to continue south towards 10000 Flamingo Lodge. Birding here and you are soon having a group following you, and they don't necessarily understand the perks of being quiet when bird watching. But what can you say? They have never seen a stranger before and they are friendly. And they wanted to take a picture before we left so we arranged a group picture. We said bye bye and we got in to the car and I was happy with the morning birding at Lake Ziway  Team Bird Watching
 Today´s track at the Fish Market, Ziway
We left Ziway and we drove south for about 30 minutes before we turn right and leave the paved road. We drive for about 50 meter when we reach a boom across the track. We stop and we get a guide that will come with us. There is some rare owl in the area and we will try to find the owl. My Guide and the Guide from the National Park went to look for the owl and I continued forward on the track. Not so many birds to be seen in the area. We never saw any owls and the most excited bird was a Dideric Cuckoo, but the picture was not any good as the bird was sitting in a bush covered by leafs and twigs.  My Guide and the park Guide
 Looking in a bird book
 Striped Kingfisher
 A poor picture of a Dideric Cuckoo
 Today´s track at Abiatta-Shalla NP
We left the owl area and we had the Guide with us. He will show us around the HQ area. Took us about 10 minutes to reach Abidjatta-Shalla National Park HQ area. We stop at the gate and we walk from there. We see two Somali Ostriches wandering around at the gate area. I walk in to the park with the park guide and after a while we see a tree with White-bellied Go-away-Bird. Three birds and it turned out to, at least it looked like two of the birds was feeding the third so I guess it was a juvenile and two parents. I managed to get two recordings and some pictures. And while I was checking out the White-bellied Go-away-Bird a female Somali Ostrich walked by. I took a picture but as I concentrated on the White-bellied Go-away-Bird the pictures of the Somali Ostrich was not any good. I was busy with the White-bellied Go-away-Bird when my Guide called. He had spotted a Gabar Goshawk in a tree and we went to check it out.   White-bellied Go-away-Bird
 White-bellied Go-away-Bird
 White-bellied Go-away-Bird
 White-bellied Go-away-Bird
 White-bellied Go-away-Bird
 White-bellied Go-away-Bird
 White-bellied Go-away-Bird
 White-bellied Go-away-Bird
Listen to the White-bellied Go-away-Bird
Sound from www.xeno-canto.org
Sound from www.xeno-canto.org
  Female Somali Ostrich
  The Gabar Goshawk was sitting in a tree and the lightning condition was at least to say poor. I gave it a try with my camera before I returned to the White-bellied Go-away-Bird tree. Well, the tree with the White-bellied Go-away-Bird and the Gabar Goshawk was just 20 meters apart. There are some kind of water jar at the White-bellied Go-away-Bird tree. Looking like something cattle are drinking from. And there was a lot of small birds around the water and I wanted to go back to check out the birds. And if I am lucky I can get some nice pictures.   White-browed Sparrow-Weaver
  Red-cheeked Cordonbleu
 Red-cheeked Cordonbleu
  Male Cut-throat Finch
 Male Cut-throat Finch
 Male and female Cut-throat Finch
 Male Cut-throat Finch
The Guide came to ask if we wanted to see a Barn Owl. We walked up to a construction that looked like a container welded on 4 legs. I was afraid that we had to climb up, but I was relieved when I could not find any ladder. The bottom was almost rusted away and there was no top. But I could see the Barn Owl and I tried to take a picture through the hole in the bottom. But there was branches from the trees below in the way. And of course, the lighting was not any good. We left the Barn Owl behind and we walked back to the car. It was getting hot and I was hungry as it was past mid-day. I have only had some raspberries and strawberries for breakfast early this morning. So I was hungry when we left the National Park coming up on the paved road.  Barn Owl home
 Today´s track at Abiatta-Shalla NP
We were crossing the road getting up on a dust road leading to a beach resort. I asked about the restaurant and my Guide told me that the other resort was better but the bird watching was not so good. I told him that we should go to the good restaurant and we made a U-turn and started to drive back towards the north to Sabana Beach Resort at Lake Langano. We reached the beach resort, the last kilometer was a very pumpy dust road. I was hungry and I ran in to the restaurant. WOW!! It was a very nice restaurant. I was very pleasantly surprised, and a restaurant like this, they must have good food. We found a table at the window and we got menus. WOW! Looks to be very nice food and I asked for spaghetti with meat sauce and lasagna. We could hear a Mocking Cliff Chat and we found it inder they hey ceiling. I went to make a recording of the bird when it was sitting over the kitchen. Listen to the Mocking Cliff Chat
Sound from www.xeno-canto.org
They had excellent bread that I was enjoying with my Addis Tea, and we remember the gate to Awash National Park. My Guide was laughing when I was running around trying to to take pictures of the White-browed Sparrow-weaver. - You will be borred by the White-browed Sparrow-weaver when it is time to leave Ethiopia. They satt around our table looking at the bread. And they make a terrible noise and I got a recording. The birds was not very scared and they came to eat bread on our table.   Listen to the White-browed Sparrow-Weaver
Sound from www.xeno-canto.org
So it was a lunch combo, eating and birding. Outside the window we could see many birds and I will have a walk on the compound before we leave for the 10000 Flamingo Lodge. We were also joined by a Common Bulbul at the table when the bird came to look for food at our table.  Common Bulbul
I had the best lasagne I have ever had and I was very happy when we finished the meal. I went outside and I spotted two Von der Decken's Hornbill in a tree. I walked towards the tree to try to get some pictures. Now the male Von der Decken's Hornbill surprised me. The female stayed in the tree but the male came flying towards me and landed in a tree next to me. And he didn't bother about me, almost like he wanted to show himself for me.   Von der Decken's Hornbill
 Von der Decken's Hornbill
 Von der Decken's Hornbill
 Von der Decken's Hornbill
 Von der Decken's Hornbill
I discovered some kind of man made water stream. And there was some water and plenty birds bathing. I was lucky and there were plenty Superb Starling bathing so I could get some pictures. There are so many different beautiful starlings here in Ethiopia. There was many small birds in the water as well. But I could not stay very long as we had to continue south towards the 10000 Flamingo Lodge.   Superb Starling
 Superb Starling
 Superb Starling
 Superb Starling
Time to leave, but I spotted two Hemprich's Hornbills when I was about to leave. So I went back to the trees outside the restaurant where the Hornbills was sitting in a tree. The two Von der Decken's Hornbill were sitting in the tree next to the Hemprich's Hornbills. We left Sabana Beach Resort at Lake Langano and we spotted a Chanting Goshawk not long after we had passed the gate. Sitting on top of a pool and identified as a Eastern Chanting Goshawk But later on I notice that the bill is orange. Well, the bill is black but the cere is orange and that indicates that it is a Dark Chanting Goshawk.
So yet again, I have to consult www.birdforum.net and we will soon find out with Goshawk it is.
 Hemprich's Hornbill
 Hemprich's Hornbill
 Hemprich's Hornbill
 Hemprich's Hornbill
 Hemprich's Hornbill
 Hemprich's Hornbill
 Hemprich's Hornbill
  Dark Chanting Goshawk
 Today´s track at Sabana Beach Resort
We left Sabana Beach Resort driving south towards 10000 Flamingo Lodge. It is a dust road for about 1 km from Sabana Beach Resort to the paved road. And we reach a city after one or two hours on the paved road. Shashamane, or as my Guide called it: The Rastafarai City
We crossed a bridge in Shashamane and the trees were full of Hooded Vultures. But we could not stop to take pictures on the bridge, DARN! We passed through Shashamane and we left the paved road and we continued on a dust road leading to the “Middle of Nowhere” and we hope to find the 10000 Flamingo Lodge at the end of the road. We make 2 stops on the way, first stop is when I get cramp in my leg so I have to get out and jump around on my cramp leg for a while. Of course, I was soon surrounded by people wondering what was going on. 2nd stop is when we see a couple of Greater Blue-eared Starlings enjoying the water at a village water well along the road. There were also a couple of different doves and one Wattled Starling.  The cramp is gone and we take a picture before leaving
 Greater Blue-eared Starling or Greater Blue-eared Glossy-Starling
 Greater Blue-eared Starling or Greater Blue-eared Glossy-Starling
 Wattled Starling at the well
 Greater Blue-eared Starling or Greater Blue-eared Glossy-Starling
 Greater Blue-eared Starling or Greater Blue-eared Glossy-Starling
 Flamingoes in the Chitu Crater Lake
 Flamingoes in the Chitu Crater Lake
 Flamingoes in the Chitu Crater Lake
We continued out in the wilderness and we drove up along Chitu crater rim and when we reached the top we had arrived to the 10000 Flamingo lodge. Chitu is a beautiful crater lake (crater diameter of 1.6 x 1.2 km) with a population of 5,000-10,000 flamingos. So now we know where they got the name for the log from. The lodge is located on top of the rim, about 80 meter above the water level. I got out of the car and they staff told me about all the features in the room. Solar cells and if it is not working we start the generator. Shower was working and I was looking for a shower. Well, a gorgeous area with a great view but the lodge was a disappointment.   My room at 10000 Flamingo Lodge
 My room at 10000 Flamingo Lodge
 My room at 10000 Flamingo Lodge
 My room at 10000 Flamingo Lodge
 My room at 10000 Flamingo Lodge
 My room at 10000 Flamingo Lodge
 Not a drop of water coming out of the shower
 Not possible to work with the computer
No place to work with my computer so I fall behind with the work with the bird pictures. And this is not a “ready in a jiff” job. Many pictures and you need to sort out and name the birds or it will soon get out of hand. A few hundred pictures per day and it build up every day. And 6 o'clock it is dark and it is 12 hours until the day light. And nothing to do and no power for the computer or to charge the camera battery. So I spent quite some time trying to get on internet to book a room at Sabana Beach Resort. But the internet was very slow to non-existing so I gave up. I will have my Guide to call tomorrow morning. One more night here and I will go crazy. You just need to click HERE to find out if they have any room at Sabana Beach Resort.
    
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