BIRDS OF GALU

The list of birds recorded within walking distance of Pinewood Village continues to increase and the 1997 update amalgamates all the sightings in one list including contributions from guests at various times throughout the year when migrant species from Southern Africa replace the Eueasian migrants.

The 1996 publication of ‘Birds of Kenya’ has been long awaited by birdwatchers and is an invaluable addition for the enthusiast. The maps of a bird’s range and distribution are particularly useful in determining what a doubtful sighting can or cannot be, as are the comprehensive illustrations of all the 1080 species so far recorder from Kenya.

For the visitor to Pinewood with one of the many excellent smaller field guides I trust the notes and listings that follow will be of assistance to their birdwatching enjoyment.


The rocky foreshore to the south is always likely to provide an unusual species among the thousands of more common wader. In 1994 a single migrant Oystercatcher appeared, while 1996 has produced a RUFF, normally a migrant to the freshwater lakes of the Rift Valley.  The very large flocks, several thousand in total, of Saunder’s Terns on the rocks to the south at low tide are noteworthy.


The unspoilt forestarea to the north of Pinewood including Jadini Forest and the baobabs and scrub elsewhere host a number of species that rarely leave the environment. Many forest species are colourful birds which although elusive are well worth the sighting and an early morning walk is recommended as activity decreases with the heat of the day. Pride of place for the raptors must go to the Souhern Banded Snake Eagle, a pair of which can generally be seen in the trees on the seaward side of the road about 1 km south of the Village. This is an uncommon reptile eating eagle only known from the coastal forests of Southern Kenya to Natal.  Smaller raptors to be seen in the tree canopy include the Lizard Buzzard and the Little Sparrowhawk.
Other predominantly forest species of particular note and striking appearance around Galu are Fischer’s Turaco, Silvery-Cheeked Hornbill, Golden-tailed Woodpecker, Black-collared Barbet, Brown-breasted Barbet, Zanzibar Puffback Shrike, Black-headed Bush Shrike, Retz’s Red-billed Shrike, Black-breasted Glossy Starling, Violet-backed Starling and Peter’s Twinspot.

In term’s of rarity Boehm’s Spinetail and the Mottle-throated Spinetail, two uncommon species of swift can normally be found hawking insects among the baobabs close to the beach about 1km to the north.

As with shorebirds, the birds of Galu from October to April are swelled with migrant species from the Northern Hemisphere. Records include Eurasian Golden Oriole, Spotted Flycatcher, Rock Thrush, Wheatear, Yellow Wagtail, Red-backed Shrike, Red-tailed Shrike, Olivaceous Warbler and Willow Warbler.

BIRDS OF THE GARDENS

Many of the species recorded howeer can be seen without leaving the Pinewood precincts or even the verandah especially when the sprinklers are operating and the trees are in fruit. Flowering bushes receive regular visits from Collared Sunbirds and Little Purple-banded Sunbirds, while Rufous-backed Mannikins, Bronze Mannikins, Red-cheeked Cordon Bleus and Red-billed Firefinches of the waxbill family are numerous.

Water and food will also entice the more secretive and shy species from the adjoining bush, especially in the cool of the day. Sightings of such species from the gardens include the White-browed Coucal, Common Scimitarbill, Black-throated Wattle-eye, Yellow-bellied Greenbul, Tropical Boubou and Green-backed Cameroptera.

THE BIRDS OF GALU
January 1996 Update
Robin Cahill