Subject: [Tweeters] Tanzania Trip Report - Part 3
Date: Oct 31 06:10:43 2005
From: Jack Stephens - jstephens62 at comcast.net


September 14th
We left Cornelius and drove to Tarangire National Park. The road down
was good tarmac, with occasional villages and lots of bicycle traffic.
On the way down Anthony spotted our only PYGMY FALCON perched along the
side of the road, trying his best to look mean despite his size. We also
started to see the beautiful SUPERB STARLINGS. "You will soon be tired
of them" Geitan said, and his was almost right.
The entrance to Tarangire proved very birdy, with first views of ASHY
STARLING, SPECKLE-FRONTED WEAVER, GREEN-WINGED PYTILIA, and RED-CHEEKED
CORDON-BLEU. Anthony heard and we eventually found a PEARL-SPOTTED OWLET
in a tree behind the entrance gate.
Driving in we saw our first lions, two females lounging underneath a
tree just off the side of the road. After appropriate looks and photos,
we started off and then realized why they appeared so satisfied. There
was a freshly killed zebra just behind the tree. Since this was just off
the main road, we would visit this kill several more times during our
stay.
The first night we stayed in the wonderful Tarangire Safari Lodge. It is
situated on a bluff overlooking the Tarangire River. When we pulled in
there were herds of elephant, zebra, wildebeest, troops of baboon, along
with TAWNY EAGLE, WHITE-BACKED VULTURE, RUPPELL'S GRIFFON VULTURE, and
SECRETARY BIRD all soaring at eye level. We have another Garden of Eden
moment.
At the end of the day we pass the zebra kill. There is a rib cage and
parts of hindquarters left, but no vultures to my surprise.
That night we sleep in a tent with a permanent roof, queen-sized bed,
and our own toilet and shower. We loved the experience of feeling closer
to the bush, and loved our stay at Tarangire Safari Lodge. The food was
great, the staff friendly and the views superb. That night I am awakened
to the sound of warthogs outside our tent. Very cool.

Best Bird YELLOW-COLLARED LOVEBIRD. "They look like little
jewels."
Hardest Bird CUT-THROAT FINCH. Two found at Tarangire entrance.
Highlight Lions at the kill

September 15th
We spend the day driving around the park. The zebra kill now has a large
group of WHITE-BACKED and LAPPET-FACED VULTURES. New birds come fast and
furious, including the common VON DER DEKEN'S HORNBILL, RED-BILLED
HORNBILL, AFRICAN PIED WAGTAIL, YELLOW-THROATED SPURFOWL, RED-THROATED
SPURFOWL, RUFOUS-TAILED WEAVER, and LITTLE BEE-EATER. A visit to a river
bed with some standing water yields BLACK CRAKE, PIED KINGFISHER,
ARROW-MARKED BABBLER and a BEARDED WOODPECKER.
We see many elephants. At one point a herd walks right by our parked
car, and a juvenile reaches up with its trunk and almost touches the
tourists in the car behind us. A female with a baby stops to scratch
against a tree, so close we can hear the scratching. Geitan says that
sometimes they scratch and the tree falls down.
Anthony finds a spot for MADAGASCAR BEE-EATER. Soon we find
SULPHUR-BREASTED BUSHSHRIKE, SPOTTED MORNING-THRUSH and our first
HILDEBRAND'S STARLING.
We pass a Vervet Monkey spread-eagle in a tree, revealing sky-blue
scrotum and a cherry-red phallus. Very amusing. We also find a group of
Pygmy Mongoose in their termite mound nest, extremely cute little guys.
That night we move to the Tarangire Sopa Lodge. As we drive in we see
our only RED-HEADED WEAVER, while SPECKLED PIGEONS coo from the
rooftops.

Best Bird RED-AND-YELLOW BARBET. Just a stunning bird. It
rightfully belongs on the cover of the Stevenson field guide
Hardest Bird OSAMBIRO SPARROWHAWK. One flew in a perched overhead, a
lucky find.
Missed Bird ABYSSINIAN SCIMITARBILL. One was perched in dense scrub
near our car. Anthony and I have one of those "It is right THERE"
moments when in flies off.
Highlight "Blue-balled Monkey"