The Watamu–Malindi area is extremely rich for its diversity of birds.  Over 450 species have been recorded within 25 kilometres of Watamu, including some rare and little known species that have made the area famous amongst ornithologists.  Since many species of birds are restricted to particular habitat types, a major reason for this diversity around Watamu and Malindi is the wide range of habitats that occur within the area.

The scrub and forest along the East African coast is unique and as such a large number of birds are only found in the narrow coastal strip where this habitat occurs.  The beaches, reefs, creeks and open ocean support another group of birds not found elsewhere in Kenya.  Sand dunes, open woodland, and mangroves all add to the diversity of birds to be found along the Kenyan coast, not least around Watamu.  During the rains, many seasonal freshwater pools form in the area, some the size of small lakes.  These attract large numbers of water birds and can be particularly impressive for birding.  Lake Chemchem and Lake Jilore are two of the larger ones located inland from Malindi.  These are surrounded by bush land and open woodland, which also hold interesting species.  Seasonal pools in the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest and in particular Arabuko Swamp, on the northern edge of the forest, can be heaving with birds when flooded.  As one moves inland, away from the coastline towards Tsavo East National Park, a number of dry country, thorn-bush species of the Somali-Masai biome can be seen, adding to the attraction of the area.

Seasonal movements of migrant birds are also quite marked, with Palaearctic species such as Osprey, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Eurasian Bee-eater, Rufous Bush Chat, and Spotted Flycatcher quite common.  The coast is also especially good for Afro-tropical migrants such as Carmine Bee-eater, White-throated Bee-eater, Red-capped Robin Chat, Yellowbill, African Paradise Flycatcher, and Black Cuckoo-shrike. 

The Watamu area is important for the continued survival of a significant number of birds.  One species in the area is considered Globally Endangered, five are Globally Vulnerable, and a further 33 are listed in the Regional Red Data list of endangered species.  Within a radius of just 10 km there are four internationally recognized Important Bird Areas (IBAs) and a further two within 25 kilometres.  The following six sites are the strongholds for a number of species which either have a highly restricted range or gather in significantly large concentrations:

Arabuko-Sokoke Forest is ranked among the most important forests in Africa for its bird conservation value.
Gede Ruins forest is a site for the Globally Endangered Spotted Ground Thrush in the non-breeding season.
Mida Creek is a wintering and passage feeding site for several thousand waders including over 1,000 Crab-Plovers.
Whale Island is the largest breeding colony on the Kenya coast for Roseate Terns (up to 1,500 pairs) as well as some Sooty Terns and Bridled Terns.
The Malindi–Watamu coastline comprises a stretch of reef and beach that holds several thousand roosting terns and gulls at certain times of year, and rarities such as the Greater Frigatebird are sometimes seen.
The Sabaki River mouth hosts thousands of feeding waders, and is a regular roost for several thousand gulls and terns.  Also the main wintering site in Kenya for Broad-billed Sandpiper.
 

Arabuko-Sokoke Forest
Considered amongst the most important forests in Africa for it’s bird conservation value, it is the global stronghold for one Globally Endangered species, the Spotted Ground Thrush, and five Globally Vulnerable species of birds - Sokoke Scops Owl, Sokoke Pipit, East Coast Akalat, Amani Sunbird, and the Clarke's Weaver, which is found nowhere else in the world.  It is also home to a large number of species restricted to the coastal strip, particularly forest.  The main species of interest are listed below, many of which are coastal 'specialties'. 

Gede Ruins Forest
The abandoned 15th century Arabic city of Gede is surrounded and over-grown by indigenous forest different to that of Arabuko-Sokoke Forest as it is growing on ancient coral unlike the sands of the main forest.  This small patch of now quite seriously impoverished forest has for many years been an important wintering site for the Spotted Ground Thrush, a Globally Endangered species that migrates to the Kenya coast from it’s breeding grounds in southern Africa.  In recent years however, numbers observed in Gede have seriously declined which has given cause for concern for their breeding grounds.  Gede has also got breeding Palm-nut Vultures, and Red-necked Falcon have been seen regularly here. 

Mida Creek & Whale Island
A large enclosed creek surrounded by mangroves and open to the sea through just a narrow mouth.  At low tide vast areas of mud and sand flat are exposed.  These sand flats provide an optimum feeding habitat for thousands of migrant waders during the northern winter.  Mida is particularly well known for it’s population of Crab-Plovers which can number over 1,000 birds in December and January.  Other birds of interest, especially to western European birders, are Greater Flamingo, Terek Sandpiper, Lesser and Greater Sandplovers, Saunder’s Tern and Lesser Crested Tern.  A colony of up to 1,500 pairs of Roseate Terns breeds on Whale Island (June - September), just offshore from the mouth of the creek.  A few pairs of the more pelagic species, Sooty Tern and Bridled Tern, have also been known to breed on the island.

Malindi–Watamu coastline 
An expanse of tidal reef and beach exposed at low tide that attracts unusually large flocks of terns and gulls as well as providing feeding ground for a variety of waders.  This is a good site to see the migrant Heuglin’s Gull from northern Russia alongside the Lesser Black-backed Gull that many visitors from northern Europe will be familiar with.  Terns that are often seen here are Lesser Crested, Greater Crested, Saunder’s, Gull-billed, Common, Roseate, and White-cheeked.  The huge Caspian Tern is not uncommon at this site and White-fronted Plovers are easily seen along the beach in Malindi.

Sabaki River mouth 
A broad river mouth emptying water from the Athi-Galana-Sabaki River that originates near Nairobi.  At low tide, huge areas of mud flats are exposed as well as sand banks nearer the sea, the former a feeding ground attracting many thousands of waders, the latter providing excellent roost sites for gulls and terns.  Being less saline, the estuary attracts species not commonly found elsewhere on the coastline such as Marsh Sandpiper and Wood Sandpiper, with whistling duck, cormorants, Water Thick-knee and African Spoonbill often found just up stream of the mouth itself.  It also holds Kenya's only established wintering population of Broad-billed Sandpipers and is the best site to find Madagascar Pratincole and White-fronted Sandplovers.  Since the late 1990’s 2-3,000 Lesser Flamingos have taken up residence here, a species which previously was absent from the coastal region.  Sabaki is legendary among east African birders for the number of rarities that turn up there, such as frigatebirds, boobies, skuas, vagrant waders such as Pacific Golden Plover, and terns.  Not far to the north of the river is a breeding site for the Malindi Pipit, another species with a restricted range and that is hard to find elsewhere.

Seasonal pools
These pools fill up during the rains and many develop a dense carpet of purple and white water lilies, which not only look beautiful but also attract interesting birds.  The shallows around the edge provide good feeding habitat for herons, storks and waders, whilst on the open water large concentrations of cormorants and duck may gather.  These are extremely rich habitats sometimes holding well over 1,000 birds of many species.  Most notable species found include African Pygmy Goose, White-backed Duck, White-faced and Fulvous Whistling Duck which can reach 6–700 birds on one pool, and African Open-billed Stork which can number up to 3–400 at times.  Indeed, Arabuko Swamp on the northern edge of Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, is probably the best place in Kenya to find the tiny, attractive Pygmy Goose as well as attracting often 100’s of the dazzling Carmine Bee-eater, which feed on the myriad of dragonflies.  Others are:

Off-shore Watamu 
A group of birds that very few birders in Kenya ever get to grips with are the pelagic species that occur some 10–20 km off-shore.  Many of these are very little known and there is a chance of seeing something quite unusual.  The most likely birds to be seen are mixed species flocks of 1,000s of terns fishing, but amongst these one can see the more pelagic species: Sooty Tern, Bridled Tern, and Brown Noddy.  It is also possible to see shearwaters and more infrequently petrels, frigatebirds, tropicbirds and skuas. 

Around Turtle Bay Beach Club 
The actual hotel gardens are in fact quite disappointing for birds since most of the plants are exotics.  However, one can still see a few and the bush around the hotel is home to one or two unique species.  Birds of note that have been recorded from the hotel and beach front include:

Just inland from the hotel is an area of cultivation with some scrub patches and odd bits of woodland remaining.  This can provide some excellent local birding with all of the above to be seen as well as Lizard Buzzard, Great Sparrowhawk, Wahlberg’s Eagle, Grassland Pipit, Northern Brownbul, Rufous Bush Chat, Grey-headed Bush-shrike and Pin-tailed Whydah.  A common raptor in the Forest - African Goshawk.

Inland Acacia thorn scrub
Only 20–30 km inland from Watamu, the more lush coastal vegetation is replaced by a dry Acacia thorn scrub that stretches for over 100 km into Tsavo East National Park. This inhospitable thorn scrub holds yet another group of birds that are of interest to birders, including: 
 

Pallid Harrier, Eurasian Roller, Olivaceous Warbler, Upcher’s Warbler, Barred Warbler, Red-backed Shrike, Red-tailed Shrike and Lesser Grey Shrike are among the Palaearctic migrants that can be found in this habitat, particularly during the Spring migration.

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