Waarnemingen van roofvogels in Ethiopië in herfst 2003

During a trip of nearly three weeks through Ethiopia in November and December 2003 44 species of bird of prey were observed (Table 1). Areas visited included the region near Addis Ababa, Bale Mountains NP and the southwestern part of the country close to Kenia. Not raptors but endemics and general ornithology were the aim of the trip. Therefore, it was not possible to check every raptor seen during the trip, or to identify every ‘ringtail’, vulture or eagle. Among the observed raptors, at least 13 species of Palearctic migrants were observed, including a European Honey- buzzard, Sooty Falcon and northern Peregrines. One of the participants followed about the same itinirary during a visit in 1996. During that trip he observed 42 raptor species, including Scissor-tailed Kite Chelictinia riocourii, White-headed Vulture Trigonoceps occipitalis, Grasshopper Buzzard Butastur rufipennis, Osprey Pandion haliaetus, Grey Kestrel Falco ardosiaceus, Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus, European Hobby Falco subbuteo, African Hobby Falco cuvierii and Saker Falco cherrug, none of which was seen during the trip in 2003. On the other hand, European Honey-buzzard, Brown Snake Eagle, Western Banded Snake Eagle, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Greater Spotted Eagle, Verreaux Eagle, African Hawk Eagle, Crowned Eagle, African Pygmy Falcon, Fox Kestrel and Sooty Falcon were observed in 2003 but not in 1996.