Hotel Ghion.
I arrived in the shambolic chaotic mess which passes for Addis Abbaba mid afternoon on 6th February. I transferred to the Ghion Hotel & enjoyed an afternoon nap. I met up with the rest of the group for dinner in the evening & Tertius outlined the trip for us.
The grounds of the hotel.
Speckled Rock Pigeon
Dusky Turtle Dove
Mountain Thrush
Ruppell's Robin Chat
Tacazze Sunbird
They change colour with the light.
Speckled Mousebird
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
Wattled Ibis
Abyssinian Slaty-flycatcher.
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
African Grey Flycatcher
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
African Dusky Flycatcher
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
The wonderful African Paradise Flycatcher.
This was a very confiding individual.
Montane White-eye
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
Baglafect's Weaver
Brown rumped Seedeater
Red cheeked Cordon Bleu
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
Swainson's Sparrow
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson
The next morning we birdied the grounds of the hotel, which were very productive & we enjoyed our first Ethiopian endemics.
High altitude grasslands, which are heavily
grazed by livestock.
White headed Vulture.
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
Ruppell's Griffon Vulture
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson
Our transport for the first part of the trip.
Small wetlands dotted the area.
Blue winged Goose
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
Photo courtesy of Paul Edomdson
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
Mid morning we traveled by bus to the nearby Sulultha Plains & enjoyed some open country birding in the high plateaus which surround this capital city.
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson
off the cliff thermals.
Gelada Baboon
We were suddenly surrounded by about 70 baboons!
We arrived at Dibre Libonos mid afternoon & went on a short walk down the Jemma Valley. it was a spectacular introduction to Ethiopia, despite it being a Sunday & hoards of people everywhere.
One of the many wildly driven buses!
More Gelada Baboons.
Groundscraper Thrush
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
Long billed Pipit
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
Abyssinian Wheatear
Yellow bellied Waxbill
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
On 8th February we were up before dawn for the drive further into the Jemma Valley. This is a very barren & poor region where people have lived for thousands of years.
African Hawk Eagle
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson
Three banded Plover
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
Grey-headed Kingfisher
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
Mountain Wagtail
This bird was very obliging.
Red billed Pytilia
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
Cut-throat Finch
Bush Petronia
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
Speckle-fronted Weaver
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
Fan tailed Raven
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson
Spot-breasted Lapwing
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson
Erlanger's Lark
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson
Thekla Lark
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
In the afternoon we drove back up the pass again towards Debre Birham birding the agricultural plateau.
Melka Ghebdu.
Abyssinian Ground Hornbill
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
Eastern Yellow billed Hornbill
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
Hemprich's Hornbill
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
Ruppell's Weaver
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson
Yellow throated Seedeater
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson
On 9th February we were at Melka Ghebdu all morning, mainly looking for the highly localized Yelow throated Seedeater.
Lanner.
Widespread in open habitats.
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson
Blue breasted Bee-eater.
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
Moorland Chat
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson
Ankober Serin
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
In the afternoon we climbed up much higher at Gmessa Gedel for the Ankober Serin.
The Jemma Valley at dawn.
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
As we descended it got drier & drier.
Lorni Stream.
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
This is a poor area, people mainly
making a living out of livestock.
Mid morning we birded the Lorni Stream, one of the few areas with water in this arid land. it proved to be a magnet for birds & we had a great time here.making a living out of livestock.
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson
Photo courtesy of Paul Edmondson.
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