 |
 |
 |
 |
 
Thursday 24th of October 2019 and we left Genet hotel and Awash Town early morning and we will drive over the mountains to Debre Birhan where we will spend the night. We buy fresh bread along the road in Awash Town before we drive north on A1. We leave A1 and we drive towards NW through a lush landscape along the new railway. We cross rivers and we pass Kassem Sugar Factory in the Durufeli village were we stop as we spot some White-browed Coucals in the trees along the road. We stop so I can get out to get some pictures of the birds. I manage to get both pictures and a sound recording before I return to the car and we continue our road trip.  White-browed Coucals in the trees
  White-browed Coucal or Lark-heeled Cuckoo
 White-browed Coucal or Lark-heeled Cuckoo
 White-browed Coucal or Lark-heeled Cuckoo
Listen to the White-browed Coucal
Sound from www.xeno-canto.org
  We stop to take pictures of the White-browed Coucals
at Kassem Sugar Factory in the Durufeli village  We stop to take pictures of the White-browed Coucals
at Kassem Sugar Factory in the Durufeli village We leave Kassem Sugar Factory and the Durufeli village behind and after just a few minutes we have left the lush green area behind and we're on the dust road driving through a dry and barren landscape, almost like a desert. We pass several African Grey Hornbills in the first hour when there are still some trees in the desert. We are soon in the desert and we spot the Blackstart, the bird we were looking for at the lava landscape at Lake Basaka. So we were very luck to get to see the bird. There was also a Shining Sunbird coming very close to the car and I could get a few pictures before we left the beautiful birds behind.   Blackstart
 Blackstart
 Blackstart
 Blackstart
 Blackstart
 Blackstart
 Male Shining Sunbird
 Male Shining Sunbird
 Male Shining Sunbird
 Male Shining Sunbird
 Male Shining Sunbird
 Male Shining Sunbird
 Male Shining Sunbird
 Male Shining Sunbird
 Female Shining Sunbird
 Female Nile Valley Sunbird, Hedydipna metallica
 Male Nile Valley Sunbird, Hedydipna metallica
We continue through the desert and we drive along the new railway track. We turn left to drive up a hillock and the railway continue straight. We see two Black-crowned Sparrow-lark on top of the hillock and we stop. I get out to try to get some pictures. It is a female and a male and it looks like they want to have babies. The birds are chasing each others around the dust. I get a few pictures, none any good and they went to the garbage bin. I kept the best two pictures to put here, but they are really not any good.  Female Black-crowned Sparrow-lark
 Male Black-crowned Sparrow-lark
 New railway through the desert
 New railway through the desert
 New railway through the desert
 New railway through the desert
We are soon down at the railway again and we follow the railway deeper in to the desert on our way to the mountains. We stop to have a look at the Yellow-breasted Barbets and the Greater Blue-eared Starling. We arrive to a building are and it looks like they are building a new high way or something that will go through the desert. There are some puddles and there are huge groups of Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse coming to drink. Well, the pictures turned to nothing but sh#t.  Greater Blue-eared Starling or Greater Blue-eared Glossy-Starling
 Greater Blue-eared Starling or Greater Blue-eared Glossy-Starling
 Greater Blue-eared Starling or Greater Blue-eared Glossy-Starling
 Greater Blue-eared Starling or Greater Blue-eared Glossy-Starling
  Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse
 Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse
Listen to the Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse
Sound from www.xeno-canto.org
We left the Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouses behind, or well, they left us. We continued towards Dulecha, a small village. The village used to be a rest place for travellers coming from the desert going up the mountain. Today, the roads are OK and the trip is quite quick. We never stopped, my Guide asked if I wanted to stop for something to drink. The car is full of water and MAX so for me it is just a waste of time to stop. My Guide and driver skipped the stop as well. So we just drove through Dulecha.
 Today´s track through the desert
We left Dulecha behind us and we were now driving up the mountain. From a dry landscape in the desert to a lush and green area and we see a lot of cattle and goats along the road. We are going to look for the Giant Kingfisher and the Yellow-throated serin / Yellow-throated Seedeater. We leave the paved road and we stop on a dust road going down to the river. Well, dry season and the river is more like a big stream. We get out of the car and there is not any birds around. We start walking down to the river.  Dulecha, and the dust road get pavement
  About to cross a bridge
 About to cross a bridge
  Driving through a beautiful landscape
 We stop to look for birds
 We stop to look for birds
Camels come running down the dust road
Out of the car and I hear a drumming noise from behind. I turn around and I see a group of camels coming running down the dust road. I stand there looking at them and I don't think about making a video until they have passed me. We walk down the dust road and we see one of our target species, the endangered Yellow-throated serin or Yellow-throated Seedeater. The bird is a little bit too far away for any good pictures. We continue down the dust road and we see one Northern Red Bishop. Same as with the Yellow-throated serin, the bird is eating seeds in the field and are a wee bit too far away for any good pictures. Yellow-throated serin or Yellow-throated Seedeater
  Yellow-throated serin or Yellow-throated Seedeater
 Yellow-throated serin or Yellow-throated Seedeater
 Yellow-throated serin or Yellow-throated Seedeater
  Male Northern Red Bishop or Orange Bishop
We continue down the dust road towards the river at the bottom of the gorge. We walked along the river to see if we could see any Giant Kingfishers but we were out of luck. There was a lot of goats and the Shepard was cleaning himself in the river. We never saw any birds, not one single bird at the river and we started to walk back up to the car. Walking back up and I didn't see one single bird. Back, well, almost back at the car and I spot a Laughing Dove and I tried to get a picture. Back in the car and we left the dust road behind and we continue up the mountains on the paved road.  Camels on the paved road
 Coming down to the river
 At the river
 At the river
  Today´s track at Melka Ghebdu
We drive north on the paved road and we drive through the surprisingly big town Ankober. We are soon driving through a town called Aliyu Amba. Seems like a trade center as we saw caravans with camels on the road bringing merchandises to the town. And they will buy whatever they need back in the desert before leaving again. They were also building a new road through the town so it will soon be a pleasure to drive through the town. It was interesting to see the market and the trading in the area. Unloading and loading the camels and it was even a bit of a traffic jam.  Camel caravan arriving to Aliyu Amba
 Camel caravan arriving to Aliyu Amba
Coming out on the other side of the Aliyu Amba and we spot one male Abyssinian wheatear sitting on a heap of gravel next to the road. We stop and I try to get a picture of the birds. I get some pictures, but I was far from happy with the photos. Back in the car and we are soon stopping again. There is a White-winged Cliff Chat sitting next to the road and I get out to try to get a picture. The bird is sitting one meter from me. The bird take off and land on a roof at a house below the paved road. Back in the car and we leave the White-winged Cliff Chat behind. We leave the paved road and we start go up the mountain on a dust road.   Abyssinian wheatear
 Abyssinian wheatear
 Abyssinian wheatear
 Aliyu Amba
 Aliyu Amba
  White-winged Cliff Chat
From now on it will be pretty much uphill until we come to the other side of the mountain. About 600 meters difference between Aliyu Amba and Ankober and we are climbing up the mountain in our car. Excellent view over the landscape below us. We enjoy the sight when we see another White-winged Cliff Chat sitting in a tree. I was not very happy with the pictures of the first White-winged Cliff Chat we spotted. So we stopped the car and I got out to try to get a few pictures.  We stop to take more pictures of a White-winged Cliff Chat
 White-winged Cliff Chat
 White-winged Cliff Chat
 White-winged Cliff Chat
 White-winged Cliff Chat
We continue on the dust road and we are not making much of a speed on the dust road. We are driving up a step road on a mountain side and people are walking up and down along the road. Many school children are walking along the road, walking up and down this step going to school every day. Well, they will get a good condition as it is a lot of exercise. We reach the top and we enter Ankerbar, a dust road going through a shanty town. It was a big town and it seems busy and there was a lot of constructions going on. Coming out north of Ankerbar and we reach a look out point. We have a view over the landscape below us. And the mountain side is almost vertical all the way down to the bottom.  On top and we enter Ankerbar
 Driving through Ankerbar
 Driving through Ankerbar
 Stop to look at the view
 Stop to look at the view
 Stop to look at the view
 Stop to look at the view
 Stop to look at the view
 My Guide
I was a little disappointed, not by the views, but we only spotted one bird. One Moorland Chat that I spot on a small bridge. I follow the bird and it sits down on a heap of rocks just at the edge of a small forest. This is the only bird we see before we leave. We drive up the mountain and we pass a Black Kite sitting on a pole outside a house. We stop and I try to get a picture, but it was against the sun and a little too far away for any good pictures. We continue up the mountain and we see a couple of Cape Crows when we´re following the dust road meander up the mountain. Last stretch before the road is starting to go down again. We make one stop to try to get pictures of the Cape Crow.  Moorland Chat
Picture not good enough for the bird to make it to my list of observed birds
 Truck passing on the dust road
 We leave the look out place
 We have a beautiful view all the way
 We pass a Black Kite
 Cape Crow - Alternative names: Cape Rook; African Rook; African Crow; Black Crow
Picture not good enough for the bird to make it to my list of observed birds
 We stop to look at Wattled Ibises foraging in the field next to the road
 We stop to look at Wattled Ibises foraging in the field next to the road
 One Moorland Chat with the Wattled Ibis
We start to descend from the mountain and we stopped after 200 meters. We had Wattled Ibises, endemic to the Ethiopian highlands and is found only in Ethiopia and Eritrea. We also had a group of White-collared Pigeon, also endemic to the Ethiopian highlands and is found only in Ethiopia and Eritrea. So 2 endemic birds and the Cape Crow. There was also one Moorland Chat. I failed to get any good pictures of the birds as they were way to far away. But I got a few pictures of the Wattled Ibis as they were just next to the road dipping their bills in the field looking for food.  Wattles Ibis forage in a field
 Wattles Ibis forage in a field
 Wattles Ibis forage in a field
 Wattles Ibis forage in a field
 Wattles Ibis forage in a field
 Wattles Ibis forage in a field
 Wattles Ibis forage in a field
 Wattles Ibis forage in a field
We left the Wattled Ibises behind and we continued down the mountain. We were soon down to the altitude 2800m and the road was going through a farm land, still a dust road that will end when we reach highway #2 in Debre Berhan where the road is paved. We didn't see many birds, well we spotted a lot of Wattled Ibises and I stopped to show them any interest. Just one or two hours earlier I had been very excited when I spotted the birds. We passed some small lakes when we drive past the fields. A couple of the Blue-winged Gooses were resting next to the pond. So we stopped and I got out of the car trying to come close to the birds. I spotted quite a few birds when I came closer to the pond. Yellow-billed Duck and a Little Grebe with babies.  Buss coming up the mountain towards Ankober
 Blue-winged Goose
 Blue-winged Goose
 Little Grebe with babies
  Yellow-billed Duck
Approaching highway #2 and we spotted a lot of birds in the garbage heaps along the road. But much traffic and we could not stop, and after all the hours on the bumpy roads I was mostly interested in getting to the hotel for a shower. We turn left when we reach the paved road and my hotel was a few hundred meters down the road.  Today´s track between Melka Ghebdu and Debre Birhan
Checking in and I went to my room for a shower. My Guide and Driver will come back and pick me up at 3 o'clock and we will drive to Gemessa Gedel to look for birds. I liked the room but the shower was leaving a lot of things to wish for. I went down to the restaurant to have my lunch. Impressive menu and I asked for steak with mashed potatoes. And of course, a pot of Addis tea. They came back with a steak (I think) and I asked what it was. I had not ordered the food. She went back to the kitchen and she came back with my steak and rice. I wanted mashed potatoes. - You want mashed potatoes? - Yes, this is what I ordered - It will take very long time - OK, I take the rice. The food was very good, but darn, going through a lot of trouble to get (almost) the right food.   Getva Hotel in Debre Birhan
 Getva Hotel in Debre Birhan
 Getva Hotel in Debre Birhan
 Getva Hotel in Debre Birhan
 Getva Hotel in Debre Birhan
 Getva Hotel in Debre Birhan
 Getva Hotel in Debre Birhan
 Getva Hotel in Debre Birhan
I had still not got my food when the Driver came to look for me. We left when I had finished my lunch and I decided to have the same food for dinner when I come back from Gemessa Gedel. We drive along highway #2 and we spot a White Starling sitting on the rail on a bridge we cross. We stop and just when I am going to take a picture the bird take off. A beautiful bird and I really hope I can get a picture before I leave Ethiopia. We reach Gemessa Gedel, a look out point from the mountain and it looks to be a popular destination. There were souvenirs for sale on the field next to the parking. Getting out of the car and I walk for 50 meters when I feel like suffocating. I get scared, is it time to die? I was taking deep breaths and it was really uncomfortable and I was scared. What is going on? I see a Groundscraper Thrush behind the small building and I follow the bird. I discover more of the Groundscraper Thrush and I walk after the birds trying to get pictures.  Afternoon track to Gemessa Gedel
 Souvenirs for sale at Gemessa Gedel
 Groundscraper Thrush
 Groundscraper Thrush
 Groundscraper Thrush
Listen to the Groundscraper Thrush
Sound from www.xeno-canto.org
 Gemessa Gedel
Walking back down towards the souvenirs and I could hardly get any air. I ran in to my Guide and he told me that it would most likely be altitude sickness, 2800m and according to the below table we only have about 15% oxygen in the air. I was very relieved to hear about the altitude sickness as I thought that I was going to die. It was very hard to walk, but my Guide wanted to show me a Cinnamon Bracken-Warbler on the other top so we start climbing (Walking, but as I could hardly get any oxygen so it was like climbing) the hill. Will I make it? The Effective Amount of Oxygen at Different Altitudes in 500 meter increments
 Table from https://www.higherpeak.com
  Walking between the tops
 Walking between the tops
 Walking between the tops
It was hard to climb the hill and I felt like I was going to die. A few steps and I had to stop to get oxygen. Walking slowly up to the top and I see two White-collared Pigeons. They are sitting on the edge of the cliffs and I sneak out to try to get a picture. White-collared Pigeon is endemic to the Ethiopian highlands in Eritrea and Ethiopia. It occupies countryside surrounding rocky cliffs and gorges. Also common in town centres. I get a few pictures of the White-collared Pigeon before they take off and I was happy to have pictures of another new bird.  I am lucky to run in to the White-collared Pigeon
 I am lucky to run in to the White-collared Pigeon
  White-collared Pigeon
 White-collared Pigeon
 White-collared Pigeon
     2 Cinnamon Bracken-Warblers, but too far away
We managed to see the Cinnamon Bracken-Warblers, two of them. But they were too far away for any pictures so the bird won't make it to my list of observed birds. And they are only in the mountains so we might have ran out of chances to see the bird. We walked back and it was very hard due to the altitude sickness. We had a Augur Buzzard, Dark morp flying over us when we walked back to the car. I tried to take a picture but, well, I have had better bird pictures. Back in the car and we left with spinning and screaming tyres to get back down to oxygen level again.  Today´s track at Gemessa Gedel
Leaving Gemessa Gedel behind and I kept my eyes out for the White-billed Starling from the back seat driving back to Getva Hotel in Debre Birhan. We didn't see any birds but we spotted on Jackal sitting just next to the road. We stopped on the side and the jackal was staying and I could get a few pictures. I was surprised that the jackal stayed, they are usually very scared and run away. I have never been this close to a jackal before and I was very excited. I got a few pictures and we left the jackal behind driving along the road. No more wild life when we reached Getva Hotel in Debre Birhan.  Today´s track at Gemessa Gedel
 Today´s track at Gemessa Gedel
 Today´s track at Gemessa Gedel
Back at the hotel and i leave my equipment in the room before going to the restaurant. I will have the same for dinner as I had for lunch so it should be quite easy for them. So my hope was to have a quick dinner so I could be back in my room in a jiff. So, I asked for a pot of Addis tea and the same as I had for lunch. I was sitting at the table waiting for my food and I was soon to discover that things had gone very wrong. They brought me a plate of steamed rice. - What is this? I asked The dinner, should have been easy but it turned in to a total disaster, who is eating a plate of steamed rice for dinner? This was bad, very bad. Yeah, what a set back this was. I mean, the lunch was really good and I had been looking forward to the dinner. Seriously, I have not had any decent meal since I left Radisson Blu in Addis Ababa. And the dinner was nothing but sh#t! I was soon back in my room with my alarm set to go off at 4 o'clock. For tomorrow, driving to Jemma Valley and we really hope to see a lot of birds. Click HERE to see if I have any luck with the bird watching.
    
  You are visitor no.
To www.aladdin.st since December 2005
Visitors from different countries since 26th of September 2011
|
Marunong ka mag-tagalog? Walang problema! Magpunta sa kabilang pahina pindutin ang “NEXT” button sa itaas
Faites vous parlez le français? Pas de problème! Pour arriver à la page suivante faites s'il vous plaît un déclic le bouton “Next” ci-dessus!
Haga usted dice el español? No hay problema! Ver la siguiente página sólo hacer clic el botón “Next” encima!
Farla parla l'italiano? Non problemi! Per vedere la prossima pagina lo scatto per favore giusto Il bottone “Next” sopra
Sprechen sie Deutsch! Kein problem! Wenn Sie die folgende Seite sehen wollen gerade klicken der Knopf “Next” oben!
คุณพูดภาษาไทยได้ไหม ไม่มีปัญหา ถ้าคุณต้องการไปหน้าถัดไป ให้กดปุ่ม “Next” ข้างบนนี้
Вы говорите по-русски? Просто нажмите синюю кнопку "Next" с левой стороны и Вы моментально переместитесь на следующую страницу!
E ni Svenskar och inte förstår Engelska så ska ni skämmas. J och Björn, med det menar jag inte att alla mina stavfel ska ältas varje gång vi träffas.
Well, the flag of Skåne, just a BONUS flag.
 |
||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
||||