Serengeti, Tanzania

Date of Visit – 24 December 2022

Journal Entry – 30 May 2023

The Serengeti was one of my favorite places in Africa because of the very distinct variety of birds it has and how many I saw in just 3 full-day safaris. A bird that I liked was the African Pygmy Falcon because I had never seen this bird before and nor had I seen a raptor this size. I recognized this raptor immediately because I had the field guide Birds of East Africa by Terry Stevenson and John Fanshawe. I used to go through the book every night in preparation for the trip to Africa. Another bird that I liked was the Dark Chanting Goshawk because seeing a Goshawk in Delhi is very rare. In fact, i spotted one in 2022 [Northern Goshawk]. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/goshawk-redemption-birders-spot-rare-raptor-in-delhi-for-first-time/articleshow/89878214.cms

The White Bellied, Black Bellied, Buff Crested and Kori bustard were one of my favourite birds in the Serengeti because the Great Indian Bustard is now critically endangered in India and was also about to become India’s national bird.

The Bustard is critically endangered across the world but East Africa has a large population and a distinct variety of bustards.

Bird Sighting List: