Raptors in Ethiopia in 2010: 7-17 February


Species

Mountain Park

NE Mountains

Plain near Eritrea

Addis Ababa

Total


Simien

Gondar - Addi Decal

8/2-12/2

Addi Decal – Lalibela

12/2-16/2

City

7/2

16/2-17/2


Yellow-billed Kite Milvus aegyptius

135

103

79

317

Rüppell's Vulture Gyps rueppellii

47

4

23

74

Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus

18

15

1

34

Augur Buzzard Buteo augur

19

7


26

Lammergeier Gypaetus barbatus

13



13

Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax

11

1

1

13

Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus nominate

7

6


13

African White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus

3

9


12

Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus

1

1

3

5

African Fish Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer

1

4


5

Steppe Buzzard Buteo buteo vulpinus


5


5

African Hobby* Falco cuvierii

5



5

Black Kite Milvus migrans


2

2

4

Black Eagle Aquila verreauxii

2

1


3

Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus

1

2


3

Shikra Accipiter badius

2

1


3

Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus rufescens

2

1


3

Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus

1

1


2

Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus

1

1


2

Honey-buzzard Pernis apivorus

1



1

Osprey Pandion haliaetus



1

1

Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus



1

1

Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus


1


1

Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus

1



1

White-headed Vulture* Trigonoceps occipitalis

1




Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotus

1



1

African Harrier-Hawk Polyboroides typus

1



1

Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis


1


1

Martial Eagle Polemaetus bellicosus


1


1

Black-chested Snake-Eagle Circaetus pectoralis

1



1

Barbary Falcon Falco pelegrinoides


1


1

Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni


1


1

Greater Kestrel* Falco rupicoloides


1


1

Fox Kestrel* Falco alopex


1


1

Grey Kestrel* Falco andosiaceus


1


1

Total

275

172

111

558


Total 35 types of diurnal raptors seen: 1 osprey, 7 vulture, 7 eagle, 4 kite, 3 harrier, 1 sparrowhawk, 2 buzzard, 1 buzzard-hawk, 9 falcon.


Total 5 types (marked *, including 4 falcons) were new to the observer: African Hobby, White-headed Vulture, Greater Kestrel, Fox Kestrel and Grey Kestrel.


Total 558 individuals seen of the above types fairly evenly distributed over the trip but with Simien Mountains the most productive with particularly high densities.


A number of the above (11 types in all) are Eurasian breeders, which over-winter in Africa: Common Kestrel nominate, Steppe Buzzard, Black Kite, Booted Eagle, Montagu's Harrier, Honey-buzzard, Osprey, Western Marsh Harrier, Pallid Harrier, Steppe Eagle and Lesser Kestrel.



Nick Rossiter

Honey Buzzard Home Page