The second month of training for Saruni was in Samburu/Kalama, another great birding place. It is a birder's heaven, so many different species and so different from the rest of East Africa. We saw many, “Somali” birds, Somali ostrich, Somali Beeater, Somali courser we missed Somali fiscal even if we stopped for every possible fiscal to find one as we did last year, they were all Taita’s. The difference being just a bit of white in the secondary feathers that the the Somali’s has and the other does not.

We got a Lammergeier, flying together with Verreaux eagles around the huge kopjes of Kalama concession, very high but with its unmistakable shape made us shouting with excitment. Hunter’s sunbird and Shining sunbirds were constant visitor at camp, White throated beeaters were often following elephants looking for insects flying off the grass. Liechtenstein sandgrouse was spotted in Shaba. Plenty of vulturine guineafowl were all over the place….

A bird with a weird white head was one of the most discussed birds, everybody had a different opinion but in the end the verdict was northern black flycatcher with a form of leucism.

Violet wood hoopoe trying to swallow an insect, very similar to Green wood hoopoe, but it lacks the greenish hue on the head

Hunter’s sunbird with its green moustaches, the similar Scarlet chested as all the throat green

White throated beeater in flight, the elephants were close by scaring preys whail walking, to the advantage of the bird

Stunning Yellow billed hornbill male showing off for the female

Bristle crowned starling, a very common bird in Saruni camp, lives in flocks and is often seen drinking from the pool

Birds of Samburu