Wednesday 26th
We headed onwards shortly after noon, and reached Shashemene for
a late lunch. We're all eating too much! The short drive up to Wondo
Genet (just 16km) was dusty and uneventful, and we finally reached
the resort hotel, with its bizarre "space capsule" dining
pod and bar. But our rooms were just fine, and we took a well-earned
siesta for an hour, before venturing out, to be greeted at once
by a troupe of Black-and-White Colobus Monkeys in a huge
Jacaranda tree!
A short exploration of the gardens and the area around the swimming
pool produced a welter of top birds, including several of the target
species for this site - Silvery-cheeked Hornbill,
White-cheeked Turaco, Ethiopian Oriole, Yellow-fronted
Parrot, Abyssinian Slaty Flycatcher, Thick-billed
Raven, Crowned Eagle, Variable and Scarlet-chested
Sunbirds, Northern Puffback, Rueppell's Robin-chat,
Olive Pigeon and Blue-spotted Wood-dove. We did have
to do some slightly dodgy scrambling along the river, however, and
heave our way up a very steep and dusty track! But it was worth
it.
Dinner followed at 1930 - complete with rather excellent pancakes.
Thursday 27th
An early start for a quick look around the garden (Double-toothed
Barbet, Tacazze Sunbird, Yellow-bellied Waxbill,
Thick-billed Raven, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill), and
then breakfast (pre-ordered) at 0700. By 0720, we were away and
up the steep hill behind the hotel, in search of forest and montane
birds.
We were not disappointed - although the actual numbers were low,
the quality was superb - Wattled Ibis in a cleared area started
us off, and we followed up with numerous Ethiopian Orioles,
a flock of Mottled Swifts, followed by some Alpine
Swifts later on, single Red-shouldered and Grey
Cuckoo-shrikes, Banded Barbet, Brown Woodland Warbler,
Verreaux's Eagle, Little Sparrowhawk, several White-cheeked
Turacos and Rueppell's Robin-chats, Olive Pigeon,
Tambourine and Lemon Doves and (for many of us the
highlight) a Spotted Creeper on a mature tree. Competing
with the latter for the "bird of the morning" prize was
a stunning Abyssinian Ground-thrush which first skulked,
and then obligingly hopped about on the path! Add in Mountain
Buzzard and a small party of Sharpe's Starlings, and
we were all pretty happy!
By late morning, it was getting rather quiet, so we descended,
checked a Narina Trogon site, fruitlessly, and returned for a three
hour siesta at the hotel. Simon was actually feeling rather unwell
and crashed out for most of that time!
Mid-afternoon, we hit the hills once more, and this time, the young
lads we had hired as scouts came up trumps - they found a stunning
male Narina Trogon in a patch of exotic pines! What a superb
bird - and yet another montane speciality of Wondo Genet.
Other bits and pieces this afternoon included Common Wattle-eye,
Dusky and Abyssininan Slaty Flycatchers once more,
a roosting Tawny Eagle in the hotel garden and more good
views of Black Saw-wing - plus a big flock of House Martins!
Friday 28th
Our last day in the hills - and a few of us made yet another ascent
of the mountain (as it were) in search of our last remaining speciality.
We did find it, but sadly the views were poor - a single Half-collared
Kingfisher on a spring-fed pool. A reasonable selection of other
species, including Tambourine and Lemon Doves and
Ethiopian Oriole made it an enjoyable way to finish
our time in Wondo Genet.
Continue to Awassa
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