I'm astonished that each trip to apparently similar habitats on the road north from Juba towards Terekeka reveals new species. On 12 March local 'firsts' included Eastern Grey Plantain-eater, Mouse-coloured Penduline-Tit, Grey-headed Batis, Singing Cisticola, Bush Petronia and African Thrush. Photos of some of these follow:
Grey-headed Batis
Mouse-coloured Penduline-Tit
Bush Petronia
I've seen several Wire-tailed Swallows way out in the arid bushland - the books suggest a strong association with water. This photo shows the wire tail clearly.
Wire-tailed Swallow
The site with the Batis and African Thrush did actually have slightly more larger trees than adjacent bushland, though wood extraction for charcoal is having an impact at least in areas by the road. I met a very friendly Mundari man engaged in this activity.
The rains have started here in Juba, so the trips out in the bush and in the seasonal wetlands will doubtless keeping revealing new species.
And finally...a quiet Tusker (Kenyan lager) sundowner overlooking a channel of the White Nile at the Star hotel in Juba on 13 March was a pleasant way to spend an hour or two, and I saw a Swamp Flycatcher, well outside the range in the Nikolaus bird atlas. No photo as I did not take my camera.
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