Oldonyo Sambu

Neil Baker wrote on ‘tanzaniabirds’ on October 17th:

“one theory had the Masai washing out their tick dawa (medicine i.e. pesticide) containers in the local dove watering hole.”

Well, it was in West Kilimanjaro and back in early September (oh one wonders how many species have become extinct since then?), we were visiting “Hemingway’s” - the delightful new camp of Hoopoe Safaris. It is situated within the administrative area of Olmolog village.

Eight ten a.m. September 13, 2006 will I hope live long in my memory.

For at that moment my flagging mid-life mind was once again rejuvenated, by migrant lifeblood energy which might ensure vital continuity for this beleaguered planet. Personal rejuvenation of a kind at once familiar yet always utterly unique. Heading north out of Arusha on the Nairobi road we were rounding the broad western shoulder of Meru Volcano en route the squalid Maasai village of Oldonyo Sambu and that slice of peace beyond: the serenity of Angyata Osugat – a treeless plain of dust.

April 21, 2006 A few km west of Oldoinyo Sambu, Arusha or Longido District, Tanzania. 1300 hrs. Cloudy: 8/8, calm +/-.

James Wolstencroft, David Peterson, Zeinan and six boys from the Olasiti Orphan's Bird Club.

Mirafra sp ?: same individual flushed by the Landrover several times.

Viewed only from the car, mostly in flight and only once seen well on the ground – closely but briefly and by JW only (my side of vehicle).

A decidedly skulking bird inhabiting long grass with scattered bushes at the western foot of some low hills. Overall a fawn, buff and cinnamon coloured Mirafra, with conspicuously brighter rufous flight feathers, lacking any prominent face pattern. However it showed what I thought was a relatively poorly marked mantle and upperparts, during my one brief, very good deck-view I concentrated very much on the head pattern. It had very conspicuous white (not buff or cinnamon) inner webs to the outer tail feathers.