The main wadi at the bottom of the Raydah escarpment has a
luxuriant mixture of wild figs and small gardens as well as large acacia tree
and- other tall vegetation. The birds in the lusher tropical wadi bottom include
a number of uncommon African species some of which are resident and others that
are summer visitors. African Grey Hornbill, Violet-backed Starling, Bruce's
Green Pigeon and Shining Sunbird were all found in this lush valley. This was
the first time I had been down the wadi as I did not realise it was there until
recently. Previously we went to the bottom of the Raydah Escarpment and stopped
in the first village. The birding in the wadi was excellent with a number of
very good birds seen including; Rock Dove, 10 Laughing Doves, White-browed
Coucal, two African Grey Hornbills, six Grey-headed Kingfishers, two White-throated
Bee-eaters, five Tristram's Starlings, three Violet-backed Starlings, three White-spectacled Bulbuls, five Abyssinian
White-eyes, Blackstart, two Little Rock Thrushes, Palestine Sunbird, Shining
Sunbird and two African Silverbills.
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African Grey Hornbill |
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Rock Dove |
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Violet-backed Starling |
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White-throated Bee-eater |