| Day 1 | A delay in take off from Manchester restricted us to only a brief walk around the gardens of our hotel before light started to go. The group proved to be very enthusiastic and they were delighted at the birds seen in the grounds. The colours of the Yellow crowned Gonolek, Beautiful Sunbird and White crowned Robin-Chat were very much appreciated. We also saw Grey Woodpecker, Red billed Hornbill and a sizeable number of Piapiacs. Among the other birds were Broad billed Roller, Brown and Blackcap Babblers, Western grey Plantain-eaters and of course, above us, a continuous swirl of Hooded Vultures and Black Kites. A good start and after an excellent meal, everyone had an early night after the long day. |
| Day 2 |
"In the afternoon, we went to Lamin Ricefields where the birds came thick and fast."
First stop today was the Bund Road, where from the roof of the Banjul Pumping Station, we had fine views over a creek and a
large expanse of mangroves. The telephone wires were littered with Western reef Herons and Pied Kingfishers - to the point that they
were soon ignored! We had excellent flypasts of flocks of Sacred Ibis, Pink backed Pelicans and African Spoonbills.
There were numerous "herons" including Grey Heron, Great white Egret, Cattle Egret, Striated Heron, Little Egret and Black Egret.
With the tide out, a wide range of waders were seen - Redshank, Greenshank, Whimbrel, Common Sandpiper, Black winged Stilt,
Spur winged Plover, Ringed Plover and Bar tailed Godwits.
We then moved to Tambi Wetlands where there were Lesser Flamingos and the wader list was added to with Green Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Avocet and Sanderling. A short stop in the Kotu area produced the first of the "hundreds" of Blue bellied Rollers plus Little Bee-eaters. A fine morning's birding which set everyone up for a splendid leisurely lunch at the Calypso Beach Restaurant. In the afternoon, we went to Lamin Ricefields where the birds came thick and fast. There was a good range of finches in Bronze Mannikins, Red cheeked Cordon Bleu, Orange cheeked Waxbill, Lavender Waxbill and Red billed Firefinch. A fine male Black shouldered Kite gave a good view together with a Lizard Buzzard. Both Wood-doves (Black billed and Blue spotted) were seen and on the way back there was an overflying Wahlberg's Eagle. Welcome ice-cold drinks were enjoyed at the roadside stall before heading back through the teeming streets of Serrekunda - a long day but great birding. |
| Day 3 |
"but then there was much excitement as a very
uncommon Ahanta Francolin walked across the clearing."
A day spent at Abuko Reserve with a long break for lunch at Lamin Lodge. After entering the reserve, we headed straight
for the Crocodile Pool overlooked by the hide of the Education Centre, but adding to the birdlist on the way with Grey backed
Camaroptera, Common Wattle-eye, Little Greenbul and Red breasted Paradise Flycatcher. At the pool, a pair of Black crowned Night-herons
was spotted in their roost. The strange form of the Hamerkop was also seen but pride of place was taken by both Violet and Green Turacos,
the latter being a particularly close view. A Giant Kingfisher briefly stayed but then there was much excitement as a very
uncommon Ahanta Francolin walked across the clearing. Then everyone dashed out of the hide as a Splendid Starling (again very uncommon)
was first heard and then seen - 2 excellent birds at once!
On the morning walk around the reserve, we were lucky to find a pair of Collared Sunbirds and a Buff spotted Woodpecker. Our guide then took us to see the roost of the huge Verreaux's Eagle-owl- difficult to see in the tree canopy, but its large form could be clearly identified. Overhead, flew a pair of Booted Eagles and another Wahlberg's Eagle in a group of Hooded Vultures. Then lunch, after which it was amusing to see a Green Vervet Monkey picking up handfuls of the residue of the spaghetti. In the afternoon, we were delighted to find in one tree not only the Red breasted Paradise Flycatcher and the African Paradise Flycatcher but also their hybrid and there was a Northern Black Flycatcher nearby. A pair of Mottled Spinetails flew over us and we disturbed a Double spurred Francolin on the track. By now the birdlist total had already reached 129. |
| Day 4 |
"Our guide then took us to see the roost of the huge Verreaux's Eagle-owl"
This was at Brufut Woods and the Kotu area. As we drove through Brufut village, there were many Yellow billed Shrikes along the
fences and walls, accompanied by a couple of Double spurred Francolins. When we stopped in the woods, the tree immediately opposite us
was teeming with birds - the more notable being 4 species of Sunbird ( Variable, Beautiful, Scarlet chested and Splendid), a very well
camouflaged Green Fruit-Pigeon, Yellow Penduline Tit, several Yellow White-eyes and a pair of Yellow-throated Leafloves.
There was also a small flock of Pin tailed Whydahs. We spent around an hour in front of this one tree and it became dubbed the "magic tree".
Good views were then had of a Black crowned Tchagra as we walked the trail and there was a very busy flock of lovely Orange cheeked Waxbills.
When we stopped for lunch, a number of raptors were circling in the thermals and within them were Hooded Vultures, Black Kites, Tawny Eagle and another Wahlberg's Eagle. Then a Gabar Goshawk was spotted and as it went into a steep swoop, its characteristic white rump became apparent. On moving to the Kotu area. there were a large number of waders ( 15 species in all!) including Marsh Sandpipers, Green & Wood Sandpipers but the prize was wonderful views of 4 Greater Painted-snipe as they fed. In the background, an African Darter was drying its wings, Cormorant-style. We finished the day along the Cycle Track and we watched perched Blue bellied Rollers and had a tantalising glimpse of a Red necked Falcon as it shot past |
| Day 5 |
"Fine spotted Woodpeckers were seen and several Yellow billed Oxpeckers were doing what
oxpeckers do."
Today we explored the tracks of Marakissa Woods and the savannah vegetation looking for raptors, rollers and shrikes and we weren't
disappointed, despite the slow start to the birding. Already the group was becoming much more confident in looking for and identifying
the birds and not only by sight but also by their calls. Apart from the regular and common Hooded Vultures and Black Kites
(which by now hardly drew a second glance!), we had Lanner Falcon, Booted Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Wahlberg's Eagle and Grey Kestrel-
but the star raptor was the rare Ovambo Sparrowhawk which caused havoc among a flock of Long tailed Glossy Starlings. As for rollers,
we had very good views of an Abyssinian Roller and as for Blue bellied, well they were everywhere. At one point Rick Maddock said "it
must be 10 minutes since we saw a Blue bellied Roller" only to have 2 others pointed out to him. We then had the shrikes represented
by the gorgeous White crested Helmet Shrike, Northern Puffback, Red shouldered Cuckoo-shrike and the ubiquitous Yellow billed Shrike.
At lunch we saw Giant and Blue breasted Kingfishers just outside the restaurant and a Barn Owl was pointed out to us in the roof cavity of the restaurant. Because of the heat in the afternoon, we only had a brief walk along a track at Darsilami, on the Senegal border where both Grey and Fine spotted Woodpeckers were seen and several Yellow billed Oxpeckers were doing what oxpeckers do. Marsh Sandpipers and Senegal Thick-knees were on the lagoon banks. |
| Day 6 |
"One large flowering tree attracted
large numbers of Variable and Beautiful Sunbirds, Yellow fronted Canaries, Green backed Eremomelas and Village Weavers."
We started the day at Pirang where the former salt lagoons played host to a wide range of birds. Despite being advised that there
were no longer any storks there, we were pleased to record 6 Yellow Billed. A flight of 10 African Spoonbills was enjoyed as were distant
views of two Long crested Eagles, always a favourite bird. Among the many hirundines were a number of Pied winged Swallows, again a
highly rated species. Quail-finches and a Little Tern were also added to the triplist.
We then moved to Faraba Banta bush-track - named "raptor alley" due to the favourable geographic and vegetative factors of the area. But first we enjoyed the sight of a Striped Kingfisher and 2 Bearded Barbets. Raptors then included Black Kite, Hooded Vulture, Common Kestrel (although not particularly common in the Gambia), Grey Kestrel, Grasshopper Buzzard, Lizard Buzzard, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Short toed Eagle and Black shouldered Kite - the area clearly maintaining its reputation for raptors. One large flowering tree attracted large numbers of Variable and Beautiful Sunbirds, Yellow fronted Canaries, Green backed Eremomelas and Village Weavers. Finally, after a break back at the hotel, we went out again at dusk and briefly saw a Spotted Owlet before seeking Nightjars. Once at the site, it was not long before they started to rise and drop in typical fashion and we were able to see them on the ground in reasonable light only a few yards in front of us. But the remarkable thing was the number of Long tailed Nightjars - at least 20 were seen before we returned to the hotel for our evening barbecue. |
| Day 7 |
"Finally, one of the favourite birds of the week was the Blue bellied Roller and everyone enjoyed
their stunning flight colours as 4 of them flew from tree to tree right in front of us."
Our final full day started in Madiyana Forest where on arrival, we were treated to good views of a Violet Turaco.
Although the water levels were very low, the area still attracted a wide variety of birds, including a particularly large
( and somewhat unusual) flock of Spur winged Plovers. Two new species for the trip were Lesser blue eared Glossy Starling
and the uncommon African Silverbill, which performed well, as they say. A tussle for territory between a Black shouldered
Kite and another Dark Chanting Goshawk was interesting to see and a reluctant tolerance was also seen between a Gabar Goshawk
and a Black Kite. We also saw all 3 hornbills ( Red billed, African Grey and African Pied). After another extended
lunch break we returned to the Lamin area for owls and although we couldn't find the Scops, we had excellent and prolonged
views of a Pearl spotted Owlet. Finally, one of the favourite birds of the week was the Blue bellied Roller and everyone enjoyed
their stunning flight colours as 4 of them flew from tree to tree right in front of us.
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| Day 8 |
"...we went out again at dusk and briefly saw a Spotted Owlet before seeking Nightjars.
Once at the site, it was not long before they started to rise and drop in typical fashion...."
As it was the last day, we treated ourselves to a "late" breakfast before we took our last chance to walk the hotel grounds.
We reprised many of the birds seen earlier but final views of Lavender Waxbills, Red cheeked Cordon bleu, Red billed Firefinch,
Red billed Hornbill, 3 types of Glossy Starling and a variety of Doves were no less welcome. Final opportunities of some
bird photography were also taken.
As tends to be the norm with our groups, no single highlight was the same for everyone and all members took back good memories of a wonderful week's birding in the bird-rich Gambia, reluctantly returning to the English winter! |
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