Day 1

After our arrival from Manchester there was a short journey to our hotel, and within an hour we met up to explore the hotel gardens, which themselves have a list of 100 bird species recorded there. We also met Buba who was to be our guide for the week.

Within the next hour or so, we listed 36 species including Broad-billed Roller, Red-cheeked Cordon Bleu, Red billed Firefinch, Yellow crowned Gonolek, Red billed Hornbill, African Harrier Hawk, Bearded Barbet, White crowned Robin-chat as well as a range of Doves. An exceptional bird was the Oriole Warbler - very colourful, big as a thrush but usually very elusive.
Day 2 The next day, off we went in our air-conditioned coach complete with its store of ice cold drinks (!) to the Bund Road, Camalou Corner,
"We were even becoming blase about the number of Black Kites and Hooded Vultures which continually swirled in the skies above us."
Golf Course, Kotu Bridge and the sewage farm, covering a range of habitats and seeing an excellent variety of birds - we also had a super lunch-time meal at the Paradise Beach Restaurant! 17 species of waders (incl 5 types of Sandpiper) were seen and terns included Caspian, Lesser Crested, Royal and Sandwich. The day also produced 3 types of Kingfisher - Malachite, Giant and Pied and 4 types of Heron - Black Headed, Grey, Squacco and Western Reef together with 4 types of Egret - Black, Great White, Intermediate and Cattle. We were even becoming blase about the number of Black Kites and Hooded Vultures which continually swirled in the skies above us. By the end of the day, 102 species had been clocked up for the trip.
Day 3

The Sunday was spent at Abuko with an extended leisurely lunch at Lamin Lodge. This always proves to be a reliable site for good birds and this was no exception - 57 species on the day, with 24 new for the trip. Highlights included a roosting Verreauxs Eagle Owl, flights of both the stunningly coloured Green and Violet Turacos, Lizard Buzzard, African Darter, African Paradise and Red Bellied Paradise Flycatchers (including their hybrid version), African Jacana, Palm nut Vulture and a fleeting glimpse of the elusive Snowy Crowned Robin-chat.
Day 4 Monday was spent along the tracks of Brufut Woods and Madiyanna Forest and certainly the main highlights were the excellent views of Little Bee-eaters and Swallow-tailed Bee eaters. We also saw open views of a Black Crake, the beautiful flight colours of the Blue-bellied Roller and 5 types of Sunbird - Beautiful, Varied, Scarlet-chested, Copper and Splendid. Other notables were Rufous and Whistling Cisticolas, Greater Honeyguide and Pin-tailed Whydah. By now the trip total stood at 152.
Day 5 The next day we spent at Marakissa and we picked up 60 species in the day.
"Highlights included a roosting Verreaux’s Eagle Owl ...and a fleeting glimpse of the elusive Snowy Crowned Robin-chat."
New species included Square-tailed Drongo, Wahlbergs Eagle, Red-necked Falcon, Northern Puffback and the lovely White crested helmet Shrike. An additional trip in the evening was arranged and Buba took us to find Nightjars. On the way we saw Great White Pelicans, Double spurred Francolin and a flock of Sacred Ibis. At first, some local building developments looked to have destroyed the Nightjar site, but soon we saw the distinctive flights of a Long -tailed Nightjar - then others, culminating in seeing 4 sitting on the ground. A great experience.
Day 6

On Wednesday morning, we went to one of my favourite sites - Pirang, where there are lagoons and gullies of a former shrimp farm. Here we saw Namaqua Doves at very close quarters - the male is so small and beautiful (not much bigger than a Wagtail). Other new species included Crested Lark, Plain-backed Pipit, Quail-finch, Yellow billed Oxpecker, Rufous crowned Roller, Yellow billed Stork and Gull billed Tern.

After another leisurely lunch at Marakissa, we spent some time at Faraba Banta where we watched the area's specialities - raptors. These included Wahlbergs Eagle, Dark Chanting Goshawk and 2 Black Shouldered Kites seeing off a Tawny Eagle. The afternoon allowed us to go near to the Senegal border at Darsilami where we saw close up views of an African Darter, African Harrier-hawk, Grey Kestrel, Piapiac, Shikra, Yellow billed Shrike, Wire tailed Swallow, Senegal Thick-knee, Yellow throated Longclaw and Woodchat Shrike.
Day 7

The penultimate day around the rice fields and other cultivated fields around Lamin proved to be a bumper one with 88 species seen on the day. Really close up views at the roadside were obtained of Sacred Ibis. Buba also excelled with views of roosting Pearl spotted Owlet and a White faced Scops Owl. 4 types of gloriously coloured Glossy Starlings were seen - Purple, Long Tailed and Greater & Lesser Blue eared. Both Orange cheeked and Lavender Waxbills were also noted here.
Day 8

The final day, but with a late afternoon flight back to Manchester, there was time for a last look round the gardens to see again Beautiful Sunbird,

"...and what a fantastic sight it is to see around 50+ vultures arriving and circling over the gardens before landing in the trees ready for the feed."
Red billed Hornbill, White crowned Robin-chat and the lovely Yellow crowned Gonolek. Then a final spectacular scene - every morning the staff at the hotel put food out for the Hooded Vultures and what a fantastic sight it is to see around 50+ vultures arriving and circling over the gardens before landing in the trees in the garden ready for the feed. When it is delivered there are vultures everywhere on the grass squabbling over scraps. There are also Pied Crows and Cattle Egrets looking to pick up whats left, if anything - overall a tremendous photo opportunity and a fitting climax to a wonderful birding experience.

Apart from the birds we also saw both Striped and Sun Squirrels, Monitor Lizard, a hive of African Killer Bees, some Bushbok (a type of antelope), Nile Crocodiles, Green Vervet and Red Colobus Monkeys, Fruit Bats and a range of gorgeous butterflies.

There only remained for the total to be advised to the group and award a small prize to the one who most accurately guessed the total of birds to be seen at the beginning of the trip. The winner was Peter Griffiths who was closest to the total of 184 species.

So, The Gambia once again lived up to its reputation for producing both quality and quantity of birds - many in spectacular colour and with so many highlights that most people chose a different highlight of the trip! Great birding in hot winter sunshine away from the British winter and a wonderful introduction to tropical birding.