GAMBIA 2009 6th November to 17th November, 2009. J.F.Cooper & Naturetrek trip.
Participants
Ornithologist guide: Mamadou 'Wurry' Jallow
John Lockwood
John Cooper
Barry Chambers
Paul Simmons
Joyce Simmons
Ann Quaife
Carel Quaife
Barbara Mather
The following systematic list are the species recorded by John Cooper, or the local guide. All the following photographs apart for one, were taken by myself.
Paul and Joyce Simmons were experienced with the butterflies seen, and were able to identify the majority of the ones seen. Many thanks to Paul and Joyce for their butterfly identification.
Itinerary
6th November. Left Gatwick mid-morning and arrived at the Kombo Beach Hotel around 18.00 hrs. Went for an hours walk to the Koto stream area.
7th November. Early morning visit to the Lamin ricefields, and rest of the morning, birded in the Abuko Reserve. Visited the Lamin Lodge and surrounding fields, with an evening walk to Kotu stream and then a walk nearby to look for Nightjars.
8th November. Morning visit to Farasuto Forest and surrounding fields, and then onto to Pirang Forest. Late afternoon walk along the Farabanta Bush Trail.
9th November. Travelled along the South riverbank from Kuto to Tendaba, stopping at Quloro Wetlands, Lamin Fields area, Pirang Shrimp Farm, Brumen Bridge and nearby Wetlands, and forest area near Tendaba for Nightjars & Sandgrouse etc.
View taken at the Quloro Wetlands.
Road scene as we headed towards Tendaba.
10th November. Three hour river boat ride from Tendaba River Camp out along Kissy Bolong, & Tunku Bolong. Drove along the South Bank from Tendaba to George Town, stopping at several sites enroute.
Tendaba river trip.
11th November. Birdwatched along the North Bank around George Town including Kaur area, Nyanga Bantang. Late afternoon river boat cruise around George Town Island.
The first Egyptian Plover site.
Photo taken by John Lockwood
JFC with Mamadou Jallow our local guide enjoying watching the Egyptian Plovers.
12th November. Bamsang Quarry for Red Throated Bee-eaters, Jahally Swamp and water-holes, with an evening walk on George Town looking for Sandgrouse and Nightjars.
George Town car ferry.
13th November. North & South Banks from George Town to Tendaba Camp stopping at several sites including Tendaba, Baoblong Farafanye, plus other stops at swamps, rice-fields etc.
Village scene near George Town.
Water Lilies.
Part of the Wassau Stone Circles.
14th November. Birding locally behind Tendaba Camp. Travelled back along the South Bank, making vvarious stops en-route including Kampanti rice-fields, Bamaquno Forest, & Faroba Scrub Reserve for greyish Eagle Owls. Returned back to Kombo Beach Hotel.
15th November. Tujereng Woods, Tanji Bird Reserve, Brufut Woods and a quick visit to the nearby coast, but tide was still in.
16th November. All morning visit to Farasuto Forest with the afternoon spent at the Marakissi River Camp.
17th November. Early morning visit to Abuko Forest Reserve. Returned back to the Hotel and left early afternoon to catch our flight back to Gatwick.
Forest flower in Abuko.
Systematic Bird List
Great White Pelican – Pelecanus onocrotalus
A flock of 35 flew high over near Brumen Bridge on the 9th.
Pink Backed Pelican – Pelecanus rufescens
Recorded in small numbers on 7 dates with a maximum of 50 on the 10th.
Pink Backed Pelicans
Pink Backed Pelican.
Pink Backed Pelican with 2 Yellow Billed Storks on the Tendaba river boat trip.
Great Cormorant – Phalacrocorax carbo
Just 2 recorded in flight on the 10th.
Long Tailed Cormorant – Phalacrocorax africanus
Just recorded on 3 dates, with a maximum of 20 on the 13th.
African Darter – Anhinga rufa
Recorded on the river boat trip out of Tendaba on the 10th when 15 were seen.
African Darter
African Darter seen from the river boat trip out off Tendaba.
Grey Heron – Ardea cinerea
Recorded on 8 dates in small numbers, with the daily maximum of 10 on the 10th on the river boat trip out of Tendaba.
Black Headed Heron – Ardea melanocephala
Recorded almost daily with a daily maximum of 20 on the 11th.
Goliath Heron – Ardea goliath
Just a single bird was seen on the 9th at one of the stops as we travelled to Tendaba.
Purple Heron – Ardea purpurea
Three singles seen on the 7th, 13th & 16th.
Great White Egret – Egretta alba
Common, recorded on 8 dates.
Great White Egret with fish taken from the Tendaba river cruise.
Black Heron – Egretta ardesiaca
Just recorded on the 10th when 10 were seen at a swamp on a stop over on the drive to George Town.
Intermediate Egret – Egretta intermedia
Recorded in small numbers on 6 dates with daily maximums of 12 on the 10th & 13th.
Intermediate Egret taken from the Tendaba river boat cruise.
Little Egret – Egretta garzetta
Just recorded on 4 dates with a daily maximum of 6 on the 13th.
Western Reef Egret – Egretta gularis
Common in suitable habitat, recorded virtually daily with a maximum of 25 on the 10th on the river boat trip out of Tendaba.
Western Reef Egret
Western Reef Herons taken from the Tendaba river boat.
Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis
Very common with several thousand seen during the trip.
Cattle Egrets etc in the Kaur area.
Squacco Heron – Ardeola ralloides
Recorded on 7 dates with a daily maximum of 60 on the 11th.
Squacco Herons in the Kaur area.
Striated Heron – Butorides striata
Recorded in low numbers on 7 dates, with a daily maximum of 6 on the 11th.
Black Crowned Night Heron – Nycticorax nycticorax
Recorded on 7 dates with a daily maximum of 10 on the 11th.
White Backed Night Heron - Gorsachius leuconotus
An early highlight to the trip when a near-adult was found at its daytime roost at Abuko on the 7th, followed by 2 juveniles at Farsuto Forest on the 16th.
Little Bittern – Ixobrychus minutus
An adult male was flushed from some reeds at Marakissi River Camp on the 16th.
Hamerkop – Scopus umbretta
Recorded on 8 dates in small numbers with a daily maximum of 12 on the 10th.
Hammerkop in flight
Hamerkops taken from the Tendaba river boat trip.
Yellow Billed Stork – Mycteria ibis
Just recorded on 2 dates with 3 on the journey to Tendaba on the 9th, and 8 seen on the 10th.
Yellow Billed Storks taken from the Tendaba river boat trip.
Black Stork – Ciconia nigra
An adult flew past us at close range at the swamp near Brumen Bridge on the 9th. Considered to be a rare bird in the Gambia with just the odd records seen annually.
(Barlow) considers it to be a rare/scarce migrant to West Africa.
Woolly Necked Stork – Ciconia episcopus
Three seen on the 9th on the swamp near Brumen Bridge on the 9th, with 6 seen on the river boat trip from Tendaba on the 10th.
Woolly Necked Storks from the Tendaba river boat trip.
Marabou Stork – Leptoptilos crumeniferus
Just a single bird seen flying high over Jahally Swamp on the 12th.
Marabou Stork flying over the Jahally Swamp.
White Faced Whistling Duck – Dendrocygna viduata
Recorded on 4 dates with 50 on the 9th, 3 on the 12th, 12 on the 13th, and 12 on the 16th.
White Faced Whistling-duck flying over at Marakissi.
Spur Winged Goose – Plectropterus gambensis
Recorded on 3 dates with 4 on the 10th, 12 on the 11th & 2 on the 12th.
Knob Billed Duck – Sarkidiornis melanotos
Our only sighting was of 3 birds on the 9th on the marsh near Brumen Bridge.
Osprey – Pandion haliaetus
Recorded on four dates with a daily maximum of 4 on the 10th.
Black Shouldered Kite – Elanus caeruleus
Singles seen on the 7th & 15th.
Black Kite – Milvus migrans
Recorded daily in variable numbers with a daily maximum of 100 on the 13/11 which were mainly birds seen over the river as we were waiting for the ferry to George Town. No attempt was made to identify any of the races but probably most related to the African Yellow Billed race parasitus.
African Fish Eagle – Haliaeetus vocifer
Just a single adult seen on the river boat trip out of Tendaba on the 10th.
Palm Nut Vulture – Gypohierax angolensis
Singles recorded on 3 dates with 4 on the 7th.
Adult Palm Nut Vulture.
Hooded Vulture – Necrosyrtes monachus
Very common and seen daily.
Hooded Vultures with African White Backed & Ruppell’s Griffon Vultures.
Hooded Vulture.
African White Backed Vulture – Gyps africanus
Only seen up river but not on the coast, with 4 on the 9th, and singles on the 11th & 12th.
African White Backed Vulture near Tendaba.
Rueppell’s Griffon Vulture – Gyps rueppellii
Recorded on 3 dates but again only inland, with two on the 9th and singles on the 11th and 14th.
Ruppell’s & African White Backed Vultures near Tendaba.
Beaudouin’s Snake Eagle – Circaetus beaudouini
This recently split specie was recorded from inland sites with 2 on the 10th, and singles on the 11th & 13th.
Beaudouin’s Snake Eagle in the Kaur area.
Brown Snake Eagle – Circaetus cinereus
Singles recorded on the 8th, 11th, and 13th.
Bateleur – Terathopius ecaudatus
Two single adults were seen on the 9th & 14th both from inland sites.
Marsh Harrier – Circus aerufinosus
Recorded on 4 dates with a daily maximum of 4 on the 12th.
African Harrier Hawk – Polyboroides typus
Recorded on 6 dates with a daily maximum of 4 on the 8th.
African Harrier Hawks.
Lizard Buzzard – Kaupifalco monogrammicus
Singles recorded on 6 dates.
Dark Chanting Goshawk – Melierax metabates
Recorded on 6 dates chiefly singles but with 2 on the 8th & 12th.
Immature Dark Chanting Goshawk along the Farabanta Bush Trial.
Gabar Goshawk – Micronisus gabar
Only one sighting of a melanistic form seen well on the 12th at the Bamsang Quarry.
Melanistic form of the Gabar Goshawk over Bamsang Quarry.
African Goshawk – Accipiter tachiro
Good views were had of a single adult in the Farasuto Forest on the 16th.
Shikra – Accipiter badius
Recorded on 7 dates with a daily maximum of 4 on the 12th chiefly at the Bamsang Quarry.
Shikra, one of four seen at the Bamsang Quarry.
Grasshopper Buzzard – Butastur rufipennis
This attractive raptor was recorded as follows: 2 on the 8th, singles on the 9th, 11th, & 13th, with 2 again on the 14th.
Grasshopper Buzzard at the Kampanti rice fields.
Tawny Eagle – Aquila rapax
A single pale morph bird was seen on the 13th at an inland site.
Wahlberg’s Eagle – Aquila wahlbergi
Singles seen on the 10th and 14th, with 2 sat on a palm tree on the 11th on the river boat trip around George Town.
Wahlberg’s Eagle seen from the George Town river boat trip.
African Hawk Eagle – Aquila spilogaster
Two seen on the 12th at an inland site, with a single on the 13th. This last bird was initially considered to be a Ayres Hawk Eagle, although we were somewhat confused when the field guide plate didn’t show the two obvious pale patches in the centre of the upper-wings and the under-parts streaking also appeared less striking than the field guide plate showed. On reference to Ferguson-Lees he states the main confusion species is the African Hawk Eagle which has more lightly streaked under-parts and in flight has pale windows and grey panels on the upper-wings lacking in Ayres Hawk Eagle. As our bird clearly had the two pale panels on the upper-wings and fairly light streaking on the under-parts. The field guide also states that Ayres is very rare in the Gambia whereas African Hawk Eagle is frequent throughout.
Booted Eagle – Aquila pennatus
Singles light morphs were seen on the 12th at Bamsang Quarry and on the 13th.
Light morph Booted Eagle over the Bamsang Quarry.
Martial Eagle – Polemaetus bellicosus
An adult and a juvenile were seen soaring high over the road and gave excellent flight views on the 10th on the drive to George Town.
Adult Martial Eagle seen flying high over the road on our drive to George Town.
Long Crested Eagle – Lophaetus occipitalis
An adult was seen on the 13th.
Grey Kestrel – Falco ardosiaceus
Recorded on 5 dates only with a daily maximum of 3 on the 11th.
Red Necked Falcon – Falco chicquera
Our first showed well in the trees on the 9th at Brumen Bridge, our second was on the 12th at the Bamsang Quarry, and finally our third was on the 13th. A very fine looking falcon with heavy barring on the under-parts and a red head and nape.
Poor record shot of a Red Necked Falcon at the Bamsang Quarry.
Lanner Falcon – Falco biarmicus
Three seen soaring high on the 9th with 2 soaring high on the 14th.
Barbary Falcon – Falco pelegrinoides
A single bird carrying prey flew around the Tendaba River Camp on the 10th.
Peregrine Falcon – Falco peregrinus
One sat in a tree at Tujereng Woods on the 15th.
Ahanta Francolin – Francolinus ahantensis
As we were sat in the hide overlooking a small water-hole in Brufut Woods on the 15th, two birds walked out of the forest and wandered around the back of the water-hole at 16.30 hrs and stayed out for a good 5 minutes before disappearing back into the forest. They did not attempt to drink at the water-hole.
Ahanta Francolins feeding in Brufut Woods.
Double Spurred Francolin – Francolinus bicalcaratus
Recorded on 4 dates with a daily maximum of 3 on the 10th.
Stone Partridge – Ptilopachus petrosus
A party of 4 were flushed from scrub towards the end of our drive to Tendaba River Camp on the 9th.
Black Crake – Amaurornis flavirostris
Just recorded on tow dates with one on the 11th, and 2 on the 16th.
Black Bellied Bustard – Lissotis melanogaster
A single bird was flushed on two occasions on the 13th.
African Jacana – Actophilornis africanus
Recorded on 5 dates with a daily maximum of 6 on the 11th.
Greater Painted Snipe – Rostratula benghalensis
Three seen feeding out in the marsh during the late afternoon at the Marakissi River Camp on the 16th.
Black Winged Stilt – Himantopus himantopus
Recorded on 7 dates with a daily maximum of 10 on the 10th.
Avocet – Recurvirostra avosetta
A small party of 5 flew over the marsh on the 11th.
Sengal Thick-knee – Burhinus senegalensis
Common and seen virtually daily. On the 11th, two flocks totalling about 100 birds were seen at a large marsh.
Senegal Thicknees in the Kaur area.
Part of the flock of 100 Senegal Thicknees at a marsh in the Kaur area.
Egyptian Plover – Pluvianus aegyptius
The star bird of the trip. On the 11th we left our lodge on George Town and crossed over on the North Bank ferry to the Kaur Area and found 12 Egyptian Plovers at 3 different sites and they gave excellent views. On the 13th we were passing one of these marshy areas and saw four birds. Simply better than I expected!!
Various Egyptian Plovers in the Kaur area near George Town.
Collared Pratincole – Glareola pratincola
A single bird seen at one of the Egyptian Plovers sites on the 11th. On the 13th, when we were waiting for the North Bank ferry a good size flock flew high over the river and after we had crossed the river and was heading back to our lodge and second flock flew over high, probably in the region of 60+ birds seen.
Spur Winged Plover – Vanellus spinosus
Very common, seen daily in good numbers.
Spur Winged Plover in the Kaur area.
Black Headed Plover – Vanellus tectus
Only seen inland, with 4 on the 10th, 10 on the 11th, 4 on the 12th, & 10 on the 13th.
Pair of Black Headed
Plovers near Tendaba.Wattled Plover Vanellus senegallus
Recorded on 7 dates with a daily maximum of 12 on the 12th.
Grey Plover – Pluvialis squatarola
Recorded on 4 dates with a daily maximum of 30 on the 10th.
Common Snipe – Gallinago gallinago
Just seen on 2 dates with 1 on the 9th, and 4 on the 12th.
Black Tailed Godwit – Limosa limosa
Just 2 seen on the 9th.
Whimbrel – Numenius phaeopus
Recorded on 7 dates in fair numbers and one of the commonest waders seen.
Common Sandpiper – Actitis hypoleucos
Recorded on 7 dates with a daily maximum of 15 on the 10th from the Tendaba river boat trip.
Common Sandpipers taken from the Tendaba river boat trip.
Green Sandpiper – Tringa ochropus
One on the 9th, 2 on the 10th & 2 on the 12th.
Common Greenshank – Tringa nebularia
Recorded on 8 dates with a daily maximum of 80 seen on the Tendaba river boat trip on the 10th.
Greenshank from the Tendaba river boat trip.
Wood Sandpiper – Tringa glareola
Recorded on 4 dates with a daily maximum of 5 on the 13th.
Common Redshank – Tringa tetanus
Recorded on 3 dates with the daily maximum of 8 on the 9th.
Ruddy Turnstone – Arebaria interpres
10 found on the 9th at the Quloro Wetlands.
Ruff – Philomachus pugnax
A party of 15 were seen on the 11th.
Grey Phalarope – Phalaropus fulicaria
One of the surprises of the trip when a single winter plumage bird showed down to a few yards on the 12th in rice fields at Jahally Swamp. Would appear to be only 2 other inland records (Per Barlow), and none listed by (Borrow & Demey).
Grey Phalarope in the Jahally Swamp rice fields.
Slender Billed Gull – Chroicocephalus genei
As we did not spend any time birding at the coast, only 4 were seen on the 13th.
Slender Billed Gull at the Baobolong Wetlands.
Grey Headed Gull – Chroicocephalus genei
Just recorded on 5 dates with a maximum of 60 on the 15th.
Gull Billed Tern – Gelochelidon nilotica
Just seen on two dates with 1 on the 9th, & 4 on the 13th. All 5 were in full winter plumage.
Caspian Tern – Hydroprogne nilotica
Singles recorded on 3 dates with 2 on the 10th.
White Winged Black Tern – Childonias caspia
Our only marsh tern was a single winter plumage White Winged Black feeding over a marsh on the 13th.
Sandwich Tern – Thalasseus sandvicensis
Just a single bird seen on the 9th at the Quloro Wetlands.
Royal Tern – Thalasseus maximus
Four flew past the Kombo Beach Hotel during the early morning of the 16th.
Four Banded Sandgrouse – Pterocles quadricinctus
Six seen on the 9th near the Tendaba Lodge, 2 seen on the 11th, and 12 were seen very well feeding on a dusty track during the evening of the 12th near the George Town lodge.
Speckled Pigeon – Columba guinea
Recorded on 9 dates in good numbers.
African Morning Dove – Streptopelia decipiens
Red Eyed Dove – Streptopelia semitorquata
Vinaceous Dove – Streptopelia vinacea
Laughing Dove – Streptopelia vinacea
All four of these doves were very common and seen daily, but little effort by myself to sort out the identification.
African Mourning Dove.
Black Billed Wood Dove – Turtur abyssinicus
Recorded in small numbers on 8 dates, with a daily maximum of 6 on the 7th & 15th.
Blue Spotted Wood Dove – Turtur afer
Two seen on the 7th at Abuko, with 3 on the 8th in the Farasuto Forest, and 1 on the 17th again in Abuko.
Blue Spotted Wood Doves in Abuko.
Namaqua Dove – Oena capensis
Recorded on 4 dates with a daily maximum of 25 on the 11th at a waterhole.
Female Namaqua Dove.
Male Namaqua Dove.
Bruce’s Green Pigeon – Treron waalia
Seen on four dates at inland sites, with a daily maximum of 3 on the 11th and 14th.
Bruce’s Green Pigeon in the Tendaba area.
Rose Ringed Parakeet – Psittacula krameri
Recorded on 4 dates with a maximum of 30 on the 10th on the Tendaba river boat trip.
Brown Necked Parrot – Poicephalus robustus
Just a single individual flew over the pools at Farasuto Forest on the 8th.
Senegal Parrot – Poicephalus senegalus
Recorded on 5 dates chiefly in flight with a daily maximum of 6 on the 7th.
Senegal Parrot at the Lamin ricefields.
Green Turaco – Tauraco persa
One seen on the 15th with 5 on the 17th at Abuko.
Green Turaco at Abuko.
Violet Turaco – Musophaga violacea
Four seen well in Abuko on the 7th, 2 seen in the Farasuto Forest on the 8th, and 6 again seen in Abuko on the 17th.
Violet Turaco at Abuko.
Western Grey Plantain Eater – Crinifer piscator
Common recorded virtually daily with a day maximum of 15 on the 16th.
Western Grey Plantain-Eater.
Levaillant’s Cuckoo – Clamator levaillantii
Singles seen on the 12th, and the 13th near the Ferry terminal at George Town.
Klaas’s Cuckoo – Chrysococcyx klaas
An adult male seen on the 7th, with singles on the 13th & 14th.
Klaas’s Cuckoo at the Bamaquno Forest.
Dideric Cuckoo – Chrysococcyx caprius
Singles seen on the 7th & 14th, strangely in the same area as 2 of the Klaas’s Cuckoo seen above.
Dideric Cuckoo at Bamaquno Forest.
African Black Coucal – Centropus grillii
Five seen on the 15th at the Tanji Bird Reserve.
African Black Coucal at the Tanji Bird Reserve.
Senegal Coucal – Centropus senegalensis
Recorded in small numbers on eight dates with a daily maximum of 6 on the 12th.
Senegal Coucal at the Lamin Ricefields.
Northern White Face Scops Owl – Ptilopsis leucotis
Singles seen on the 8th in Farasuto Forest and on the 15th in Brufut Wood
White Faced Scops Owl at its daytime roost in Brufut Wood.
Greyish Eagle Owl – Bubo cinerascens
Two seen roosting on the 14th at Farabo Scrub Reserve.
Poor record shot of a Greyish Eagle Owl at its daytime roost at the Faroba Scrub Reserve.
Verreaux’s Eagle Owl – Bubo lacteus
One seen on the 8th in Pirang Forest.
Record shot of the Verreaux’s Eagle Owl in Pirang Forest.
Pearl Spotted Owlet – Glaudicium perlatum
Singles seen on the 6th, 9th & 12th.
Pearl Spotted Owlet near the George Town River lodge.
Long Tailed Nightjar – Caprimulgus climacurus
Two seen very briefly near Koto stream on the 7th.
Mottled Spinetail – Telacanthura ussheri
Seen on 3 dates with a daily maximum of 40 on the 11th.
African Palm Swift – Cypslurus parvus
Recorded on 7 dates in fair numbers with a daily maximum of 40 on the 6th.
Little Swift – Apus affinis
Good numbers recorded on 6 dates with a daily maximum of 100 on the 9th.
Little Swift’s nests at Kuloro wetlands.
Little Swifts at their breeding colony at the
Kuloro wetlands.
Grey Headed Kingfisher – Halcyon leucocephala
One seen on the 10th in the Tendaba river boat trip and 2 on the 11th.
Striped Kingfisher – Halcyon chelicuti
Just 2 seen on the 9th were our only sighting of the trip.
Blue Breasted Kingfisher – Halcyon malimbica
One seen briefly in flight over the pools at Farasuto Forest on the 8th, an amazing 16 with several pairs displaying on the river boat trip out of Tendaba on the 10th, and finally 1 on the 12th.
Blue-Breasted Kingfisher at Tendaba
Blue Breasted Kingfishers,all taken on the Tendaba river boat trip.
Woodland Kingfisher – Halcyon senegalensis
Singles recorded on 4 dates with 2 on the 11th.
Woodland Kingfisher taken on the George Town river trip.
African Pygmy Kingfisher – Ceyx pictus
After missing two earlier sightings, I saw 2 on the 16th including 1 coming into the pool at Brufut Woods to wash on the 16th.
Malachite Kingfisher – Alcedo cristata
Four seen on the 10th on the Tendaba river trip, 2 on the 11th and 2 on the 16th.
Giant Kingfisher – Megaceryle maxima
One seen very briefly on the 9th.
Pied Kingfisher – Ceryle rudis
Common and widespread. Recorded on 8 dates with a daily maximum of 8 on the 9th
Female Pied Kingfisher by the pools on the edge of the Farasuto Forest.
Swallow Tailed Bee-eater – Merops hirundineus
Recorded on 5 dates in small numbers with a daily maximum of 4 on the 7th in Abuko.
Swallow Tailed Bee-eaters at Abuko
Little Bee-eater Merops pusillus
Just seen on 2 dates with 10 on the 7th & 2 on the 15th.
Little Bee-eaters on a stop over between Tendaba and George Town.
Red Throated Bee-eater – Merops bulocki
Five seen on the evening boat trip around George Town on the 11th and then 50+ seen at their breeding site at Bamsang Quarry on the 12th. Superb!!
Red-throated Bee-eaters
Red Throated Bee-eaters in the Bamsang Quarry.
White Throated Bee-eater – Merops albicollis
Six seen in flight and perched high up from the Tendaba river boat trip on the 10th.
White Throated Bee-eater taken from the river boat out off Tendaba.
Little Green Bee-eater – Merops orientalis
Three seen on the 11th, 4 on the 12th and 1 on the 13th.
Blue Cheeked Bee-eater – Merops persicus
Only seen in flight with a party of 5 on the 8th & 2 on the 13th.
European Bee-eater – Merops apiaster
A superb flock of 80 birds past over us during the late afternoon of the 9th close to Tendaba, 6 seen on the 10th & 14th.
Carmine Bee-eater – Merops nubicus
Six seen very well once we managed to get the sun on our backs on the 13th, near the Wassau Stone Circles.
Carmine Bee-eaters near the Wassau Stone Circles, near George Town.
Rufous Crowned Roller – Coracias naevius
Surprisingly, only 2 seen with the first on the 8th & the second on the 14th.
Rufous Crowned Roller at a road stop en-route from Tendaba back to the coast.
Abyssinian Roller – Coracias abyssinicus
Common & widespread. Recorded on 8 dates with 15 seen on the 11th and 12th.
Abyssinian Roller
Various Abyssinian Rollers.
Blue Bellied Roller – Coracias cyanogaster
Recorded on 5 dates with 4 seen on the 14th, 15th & 16th.
Blue Bellied Rollers
at the Kampanti ricefields.Broad Billed Roller – Eurystomus glaucurus
Chiefly an evening time bird. Recorded on 6 dates with 40 seen on the evening boat trip around George Town on the 11th
Broad Billed Rollers at Brufut woods.
Green Woodhoopoe – Phoeniculus purpureus
Recorded on 5 dates with a daily maximum of 5 on the 8th.
Black Woodhoopoe – Rhinopomastus aterrimus
One seen briefly but well sat on top of a dead tree on the river boat ride out of Tendaba on the 10th.
African Pied Hornbill – Tockus fasciatus
Only seen on 2 dates with 3 on the 8th and 2 on the 16th both days in Farasuto Forest.
African Grey Hornbill – Tockus nasutus
Common & widespread and seen virtually daily with a daily maximum of 30 on the 11th.
Grey Hornbill at the Farasuto Forest.
Red Billed Hornbill – Tockus erythrorhynchus
Recorded on 8 dates with a daily maximum of 12 on the 15th.
Red Billed Hornbill.
Yellow Fronted Tinkerbird – Pogoniulus chrysoconus
Just a single individual seen on the 7th.
Vieillot’s Barbet – Lybius vieilloti
Two seen on the 9th not far from our Tendaba lodge, and one seen on the 15th in Tujereng Woods.
Vieillot’s Barbet at Tujereng woods.
Bearded Barbet – Lybius dubius
Only recorded on 3 dates as follows: 1 on the 9th, 2 on the 12th and 10 on the 15th.
Lesser Honeyguide – Indicator minor
Just 2 singles seen on the 15th & 16th.
Greater Honeyguide – Indicator indicator
A male was seen well on the 8th.
Fine Spotted Woodpecker – Campethera puncturigera
A single seen on the 13th in the grounds of our lodge at George Town, and 2 seen on the 15th as we were leaving Brufut woods.
Fine Spotted Woodpecker at Brufut woods.
Buff Spotted Woodpecker – Campethera nivosa
Just a single individual seen on the 16th.
Cardinal Woodpecker – Dendropicos fuscescens
One seen in scrub when we walked to the coast on the 15th.
Grey Woodpecker – Dendropicos goertae
Singles seen on the 7th & 8th with 2 on the 15th.
Brown Backed Woodpecker – Dendropicos obsoletus
A male seen on the 9th and a female seen on the 12th and finally a male on the 14th.
Singing Bushlark – Mirafra cantillans
Two were flushed when looking for Bustards on the 13th.
Chestnut Backed Sparrow Lark – Eremopterix leucotis
A pair showed very well on the 9th near Brumen Bridge, 25 were seen on the 11th and 2 on the 12th.
A pair of Chestnut Backed Sparrow-Larks found feeding near the Brumen Bridge.
Crested Lark – Galerida cristata
Just a single bird seen on the 9th at the Quloro Wetlands.
Fanti Saw-wing – Psalidoprocne obscura
Recorded on 5 dates with a daily maximum of 100 on the 7th.
Sand Martin – Riparia riparia
20 seen on the 11th.
Barn Swallow – Hirundo rustica
The only birds to be identified were 6 on the 11th.
Red Chested Swallow – Hirundo lucida
Didn’t try to i/d to many of the Swallows seen. Identified on 3 dates with a daily maximum of 15 on the 9th.
Wire Tailed Swallow – Hirundo smithii
Only identified on 4 dates with a daily maximum of 10 on the 6th.
Pied Winged Swallow – Hirundo leucosoma
Just 1 seen in Abuko on the 7th.
House Martin – Delichon urbica
Just 2 seen on the 11th feeding with the Sand Martins.
Rufous Chested Swallow – Cecropis semirufa
Just 6 identified on the 13th.
Red Rumped Swallow – Cecropis daurica
Recorded on 4 dates with a daily maximum of 15 on the 12th.
