Together, Buffalo Springs and Samburu National Reserves have more than 390 bird species recorded. The dry, open country offers very rewarding birding opportunities. The area holds a number of northeast African dry-country species that are shared with Ethiopia and Somalia. Some of the heavyweights to look out for are Somali ostrich, vulturine guineafowl and Abyssinian ground hornbill. This area is also great for seeing the unusual Egyptian vulture.
Birding Specials Treats for Avid Birders
- Abyssinian ground hornbill
- Acacia tit
- African palm swift
- Ashy cisticola
- Bare-eyed thrush
- Black-bellied sunbird
- Black-capped social weaver
- Bristle-crowned starling
- Brown-tailed rock chat
- Chestnut weaver
- Chestnut-headed sparrow lark
- Donaldson Smith’s sparrow-weaver
- Egyptian vulture
- Fischer’s starling
- Golden pipit
- Golden-breasted starling
- Greater kestrel
- Grey wren-warbler
- Hunter’s sunbird
- Lanner falcon
- Mariqua sunbird
- Martial eagle
- Northern brownbul
- Palm-nut vulture
- Pink-breasted lark
- Pygmy batis
- Red-bellied parrot
- Red-necked falcon
- Red-winged lark
- Reichenow’s seedeater
- Rosy-patched bush-shrike
- Rufous chatterer
- Secretary bird
- Singing bush lark
- Somali bee-eater
- Somali ostrich
- Spotted palm-thrush
- Von der Decken’s hornbill
- Vulturine guineafowl
- White-headed mousebird
- Yellow-vented eremomela
Best Time for Bird Watching
Buffalo Springs is a bird-watching utopia and produces good birding year-round. The bird watching is exceptional because many unusual dry-country specials are here all of the time. The birding only gets better when the migratory birds check in from November to April. In most years, the short and long rains peak during November and April, so December to February or March is generally ideal for bird watching.