We left Manchester at -3°C having had the plane de-iced; flying over the snow-clad Welsh Hills and landing in the glorious Gambian sun at about 30°C - this is the way for winter birding!

After quickly depositing our cases, it was out to explore the gardens of the Senegambia Hotel in the late afternoon sun where we started our bird list with Hooded Vultures and Black Kites circling above us. We added Red-billed Hornbill, Senegal Coucal and Western Grey Plantain-eater and enjoyed the colourful sights of Yellow-crowned Gonolek, Bearded Barbet, White-crowned Robin Chat, Beautiful Sunbird and Greater Blue-eared Glossy Starling. A Shikra flew overhead and an African Harrier-hawk, a regular in the gardens. Two Grey Woodpeckers were seen plus a Broad-billed Roller and Yellow-billed Shrike and as we returned, there was time to see a Pearl-spotted Owlet in the trees in front of our rooms. Not a bad hours start to our tropical birding with 29 species accumulated.

At 7.30am we met our guide, Buba, and our driver, Omar, who were to be with us for the week and we went the short distance to the Bund Road.

We then moved to Camalou Corner where we added the lovely Red-billed Firefinch, Abyssinian Rollers, which always cause gasps as they fly and show the brilliant blues of its wings, Common Wattle-eye, Splendid Sunbird and Green Wood-hoopoe. By now the day's total amounted to 77 and that was before lunch!

We then moved to walking around Lamin rice fields where we saw Red-cheeked Cordon bleu, Vinaceous Dove, African Mourning Dove and Black-billed Wood Dove. Fast flying Fanti Saw-wings swooped over the pools together with Pied-winged Swallows. In the reeds we had Black Crake and African Jacana and a Pygmy Kingfisher toyed with us as it flew to and fro. At the end of a very busy first day we had seen a wonderful 105 species.

We spent the day at Abuko Nature Reserve, which received its Reserve status in 1968 and whose birdlist extends to 270 species. On entering we saw a Giant

We then went for lunch at the famous Lamin Lodge, where food and belongings had to be protected from the marauding Green Vervet Monkeys. Whilst there, we saw Montagu's Harrier, Yellow-billed Stork, Lanner Falcon, Namaqua Dove and Purple Heron - it's never easy having lunch in a birdwatching environment!

Returning to Abuko in the afternoon, we walked the trails and saw Little Greenbul, further Shrikes, Rollers and Bee-eaters but also Grey and Pied Hornbills.

Today's birding was split between Marakissa and Pirang. At Marakissa, we walked the woods and open areas and picked up many new species for the trip including Brown Snake Eagle, the long-legged Dark Chanting Goshawk, Western Banded Snake Eagle and Tawny Eagle and when we were driving along we saw a huge Martial Eagle - a real treat. A couple of Senegal Parrots noisily announced their presence and we stood and watched a flock of beautiful Northern Red Bishops moving along the tops of grass. The highlight here though was a Levaillant's Cuckoo and everyone got the opportunity to see this uncommon bird. As this was the third full day, by now everyone was totally oblivious of the continuous swirling above us by Black Kites and Hooded Vultures! Other species seen here included Northern Puffback, Cardinal Woodpeckers and the gorgeous Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher.

We then went to Pirang, the lagoons of a former shrimp farm, where we briefly saw a Black-crowned Crane, unfortunately intent on remaining well hidden. There was a large numbe of several types of herons and egrets but among them was an African Darter. Pied Kingfishers seemed to be everywhere, making their raucous calls as the passed us. Quail-finches flew away as we surprised them and we had our first, brief view of a Malachite Kingfisher - much better was to be seen later.

This was the final day based at the Senegambia Hotel, for tomorrow we headed up river to Tendaba, but via a site renowned for raptors.

We departed the hotel the usual time and headed for the Faraba Banta bushtrack - raptor alley! This lived up to its reputation for we saw Hooded Vulture, Black Kite, Grey Kestrel, African Harrier-hawk, Grasshopper Buzzard (a fine male bird with its chestnut breast colour shining in the sun as it perched), Lanner Falcon, Shikra, Tawny Eagle, Red-necked Falcon, Lizard Buzzard, Dark Chanting Goshawk and Osprey. But not just raptors here, as we noted Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Fork-tailed Drongo and Mottled Spinetail Swift. The beautiful Blue-bellied Roller also showed its stunning colours as it flew from perch to perch. As we headed to Tendaba, we then saw a passing Bataleur - majestic as it drifted overhead.

The journey was certainly "interesting" as our driver, Omar, tried to skirt the holes and ruts on the road to Tendaba - clearly it didn't matter too much which part of the road you drove on as everyone tried to find the best route.

There was just time for a walk behind Tendaba Camp after we arrived before resting up after the trip. The surprise was the appearance of two Great Spotted Cuckoos, not rare but uncommon. We also saw a couple of Swallow-tailed Bee-eaters fly past and in the falling light, we watched a flock of Bruce's green Pigeon - so colourful, almost parrot-like.

And so to the "big one"..... The main reason we came up to Tendaba was to try and find the rare and beautiful Egyptian Plover and so travelled further inland, up to Soma. As we left the Camp area, we watched large flocks of Red-billed Hornbills and Rose-ringed Parakeets and a couple of Double-spurred Francolins swiftly moved off the road into the grass. We approached Soma and the road went in between two waterways and almost immediately Trish Thompson picked up a possible Plover. Quickly getting out of the bus, we then saw that indeed it was an Egyptian Plover and quite close it was. As we watched it, we almost missed the Brown-necked Parrot as it flew by us. We gradually got closer to the Plover and really appreciated its fine smart appearance and realised how lucky we had been. It was well and truly binned, scoped and photoed - what a bird!

We then headed back to Tendaba for lunch. After a break, we then went on a boat trip around the mangrove creeks across the Gambia River - this proved to be a real highlight of the whole holiday. There were Kingfishers everywhere and much else. There was an Osprey at the entrance to the creek and an African Darter gave superb views.

Today we first went to the Batteling bushtrack The weather today was especially hot. We saw both Lizard and Grasshopper Buzzards and a flock of White-billed Buffalo-weavers. Another Bruce's green Pigeon showed off its colourful plumage in the sunlight and there were several Dark Chanting Goshawks in the area. On passing a herd of cattle, we saw a couple of Yellow-billed Oxpeckers doing what Oxpeckers do. Then another first for the trip, this time a Vieillot's Barbet and another Levaillant's Cuckoo. One member of the group was lucky to get a fleeting glimpse of a Yellow Penduline Tit before all of us watched a White-rumped Seedeater. New species continued to come in the form of Brubru Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird and Brown-rumped Bunting. Then overhead came a drifting Bataleur, low enough to provide excellent views of this great raptor. As we walked the track, suddenly our guide stopped and urged quiet - we got closer and he pointed out a pair of Four-banded Sandgrouse sitting in the shade of a tree. To get this close to Sandgrouse was another trip treat.

In the evening we went to the former airfield as there was something "special" to see here. What we saw was an African Fish Eagle on its nest, a great sight and it gave good views as it walked around the nest. Also new for the trip was a Long-crested Eagle perched high to show its crest feature to the full advantage. This was also an area where Nightjars had been seen and so we waited until dusk. Whilst waiting, a Lesser Flamingo flew over, as did Lanner Falcon and Senegal Parrots. It was getting dark and we wondered whether the nightjars would show when one rose in front of us and flew right over us - a Long-tailed Nightjar.

Before getting on the bus to leave Tendaba, we saw a couple of Spur-winged Geese fly along the river and a Reed Warbler was seen in the Camp. We had a couple of free hours before having to get to the airport and so we walked a track in Kafuta Forest. Although this was rather quiet, we did see Variable Sunbird and Scarlet -chested Sunbird and Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters.

And so to the airport where we said our goodbyes to Buba and Omar who had looked after us so well throughout the week. We sat in the shade outside the airport lounge and topped up the liquid intake for the last time in The Gambia - only to then see some House Sparrows, the final species of the trip.

For most of the Group, this had been their first experience of African birding and The Gambia had certainly enhanced its reputation for excellent birding. We had seen 212 species including 8 types of Kingfisher, 4 Bee-eaters, 4 Rollers, 4 Woodpeckers, 13 types of Egret/Heron and 24 types of Raptor. Different group members had their own highlights but among them had to be the Egyptian Plover, Finfoot the Fish Eagle and the number of kingfishers. We were also fortunate to have the skills and friendliness of our guide and driver who together helped to make the trip such a success. Here's to the next visit!