A trip to the lake

On Saturday, between the two weeks of travel, we go on an excursion to Gashora Lake, to the shore of Hotel Bugesera. With us is Joselyne, whom I met in Kigali in 2018. The approach is not easy over unpaved roads. But finally we reach the hotel with its idyllically situated lakeshore.

In the water, hippos let themselves drift. But the mighty mammals soon dive down, as the calm is over in preparation for a garden party.

The birds are used to noisy people. In front of the shore, the Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis), looks out for fish before diving into the water.

At the edge of the hotel area, another kingfisher species flies from tree to tree, the Woodland Kingfisher (Halcyon senegalensis). It belongs to the subfamily of the tree kingfishers. The breast is pale, the back blue and red, the bill red and black.

Quite common is the Speckled Mousebird (Colius striatus) with its conspicuous feathered cap. And on a branch persists an ibis, a Hagedash (Bostrychia hagedash).

Directly at the shore line a Red-billed Firefinch (Lagonosticta senegala) is cavorting.

And in the water swims a Little Egret (Egretta garzetta), a true cosmopolitan that has also been sighted in the Westerwald in Germany - so it is fitting that Rhineland-Palatinate and Rwanda are partner countries.