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    Tana River Delta - south and central (02284021)

    Kenya
    Card 508241
    Compiler 10723
    Location code 2284021Tana River Delta - south and central (Kenya)
    Start date 2007-02-05
    Season LEquatorial
    Start time 6:30 am
    End time 7:00 pm
    Shoreline covered 100
    Openwater covered 100
    Total Species 71
    Total Count 15024
    Wetland Condition 1Full (High tide for estuaries)
    Wetland Threats
    Count Condition 4Good
    Count Type 5Mixed
    Nil Count (No birds present) 0There were CWAC species present
    Notes Boat from camp to landing site at (WP001). Old river course now with block slightly broken through with recent rains such that some fresh water is coming into it again. Mangrove-fringed water courses. On foot from WP001-WP002 (near community camp site on main river tributary). Dump and Muddy in some sections with good conditions for cattle egrets. Many carmine bee eaters present and violet breasted sun word seen. Boat used from WP002 to junction with main river (WP003). Timing around 7:30am and many herons along this short stretch. Far more water than 2006 and lush thick reeds along each side. Boat to Mbililo Hippo Pool (WP004) on main channel. What in 2006 were wide open very short grass plains with 1000s herds of cattle on them each side of channel, this year were 1m deep flooded plains with dense tall grass with many gallinules and herons. far fewer waders than 2006as a result however. Egrets at Mbililo pool were catching fish from fighting thinking they were terns - at least 20 of them as the fish were schooling in huge numbers right on the water surface. Boat from Mbililo on Mua Channel (which is actually probably the main channel as banks had tall trees along each side) to most notherly point reached (WP012); this section was not covered in 2006 because of low water levels and therefore difficulty of acres by boat in that year. First half of the section in open flooded grass. Then second section on the main channel with trees as described. Many herons flying to and fro overhead in same trajectory heading towards and from presumed heronry- but not reached on this occasion. Salt fish pans from (WP002) to buffalo corner where many buffalo spore and one inquisitive calf actually seen (WP014) on easter channel running past Dutch house ruins - all on foot. Then from boat in up channel until 300m beyond point WP015. This whole area has a whole expanses of exposed mud at lower tide which have large numbers of waders foraging. Also good for tern roost; there are several non tidal pools with rain water that hold good numbers of waders. A lot more water than in 2006 on this area and in some swampy sections that i expected would hold more snipe though only two were seen. An early morning timed visit might produce more. Time of counting 3-6:20pm.
    Survey notes


    Add additional observers
    Observer NumberNameOptions
    10723Colin Jackson
     

    Current data
    Ref #SpeciesCountBreeding
    Pairs    		Breeding
    indicator
    41Pelican, Pink-backed
    (Pelecanus rufescens)    		630
    42Pelican, Great White
    (Pelecanus onocrotalus)    		490
    50Cormorant, Reed
    (Microcarbo africanus)    		620
    52Darter, African
    (Anhinga rufa)    		40
    54Heron, Grey
    (Ardea cinerea)    		550
    55Heron, Black-headed
    (Ardea melanocephala)    		180
    56Heron, Goliath
    (Ardea goliath)    		140
    57Heron, Purple
    (Ardea purpurea)    		360
    58Egret, Great
    (Ardea alba)    		3770
    59Egret, Little
    (Egretta garzetta)    		790
    60Egret, Intermediate [x]
    (Ardea intermedia)    		3950
    61Egret, Western Cattle
    (Bubulcus ibis)    		3880
    62Heron, Squacco
    (Ardeola ralloides)    		2140
    63Heron, Striated
    (Butorides striata)    		170
    64Heron, Black
    (Egretta ardesiaca)    		80
    67Bittern, Little
    (Ixobrychus minutus)    		150
    69Night Heron, Black-crowned
    (Nycticorax nycticorax)    		50
    72, Hamerkop
    (Scopus umbretta)    		120
    73Stork, Marabou
    (Leptoptilos crumenifer)    		100
    74Openbill, African
    (Anastomus lamelligerus)    		14930
    75Stork, Saddle-billed
    (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis)    		100
    76Stork, Yellow-billed
    (Mycteria ibis)    		1210
    81Ibis, African Sacred
    (Threskiornis aethiopicus)    		90
    85Spoonbill, African
    (Platalea alba)    		70
    89Goose, Egyptian
    (Alopochen aegyptiaca)    		20
    100Duck, White-faced Whistling
    (Dendrocygna viduata)    		660
    101Duck, Fulvous Whistling
    (Dendrocygna bicolor)    		1050
    149Fish Eagle, African
    (Haliaeetus vocifer)    		70
    168Harrier, Pallid
    (Circus macrourus)    		50
    199Crake, African
    (Crex egregia)    		10
    203Crake, Black
    (Zaporina flavirostra)    		10
    209Gallinule, Allen's
    (Porphyrio alleni)    		580
    228Jacana, African
    (Actophilornis africanus)    		500
    233Plover, Common Ringed
    (Charadrius hiaticula)    		5880
    237Plover, Kittlitz's
    (Charadrius pecuarius)    		20
    239Plover, Greater Sand
    (Charadrius leschenaultii)    		60
    241Plover, Grey
    (Pluvialis squatarola)    		150
    248Lapwing, Long-toed
    (Vanellus crassirostris)    		270
    250Snipe, African
    (Gallinago nigripennis)    		20
    251Sandpiper, Curlew
    (Calidris ferruginea)    		11550
    253Stint, Little
    (Calidris minuta)    		10230
    256, Ruff
    (Calidris pugnax)    		25280
    257Sandpiper, Terek
    (Xenus cinereus)    		520
    258Sandpiper, Common
    (Actitis hypoleucos)    		1380
    260Redshank, Spotted
    (Tringa erythropus)    		10
    261Redshank, Common
    (Tringa totanus)    		10
    262Sandpiper, Marsh
    (Tringa stagnatilis)    		350
    263Greenshank, Common
    (Tringa nebularia)    		830
    264Sandpiper, Wood
    (Tringa glareola)    		620
    266Godwit, Bar-tailed
    (Limosa lapponica)    		360
    267Curlew, Eurasian
    (Numenius arquata)    		10
    268Whimbrel, Eurasian
    (Numenius phaeopus)    		280
    269Avocet, Pied
    (Recurvirostra avosetta)    		210
    270Stilt, Black-winged
    (Himantopus himantopus)    		190
    274Thick-knee, Water
    (Burhinus vermiculatus)    		160
    290Tern, Caspian
    (Hydroprogne caspia)    		470
    291Tern, Common
    (Sterna hirundo)    		1050
    297Tern, Lesser Crested
    (Thalasseus bengalensis)    		11200
    298Tern, Greater Crested
    (Thalasseus bergii)    		120
    304Tern, White-winged
    (Chlidonias leucopterus)    		9940
    394Kingfisher, Pied
    (Ceryle rudis)    		540
    397Kingfisher, Malachite
    (Corythornis cristatus)    		120
    400Kingfisher, Mangrove
    (Halcyon senegaloides)    		60
    902Tern, Gull-billed
    (Gelochelidon nilotica)    		8340
    933Gull, Black-headed
    (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)    		160
    1031Lapwing, Spur-winged
    (Vanellus spinosus)    		340
    2042Gull, Heuglin's
    (Larus heuglini)    		30
    2058Gull, Sooty
    (Ichthyaetus hemprichii)    		30
    2070Tern, Saunders's
    (Sternula saundersi)    		890
    10008Wader, Unidentified
    (N/A N/A)    		20000
    10009Tern, Unidentified
    (N/A N/A)    		1000


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    Tuesday 17 March 2026 01:57
    FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology
    Department of Biological Sciences - University of Cape Town

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