The Gambia, January 2018
This trip report hopefully covers not only the birding, as in a typical trip report, but also provides lots of other general information which might be of use when planning a trip. Dawn, myself Gary and his wife Elise booked a package holiday with Thompson Cook for 7 nights at the famous Bakotu Hotel near Banjul. We chose this hotel not for it's luxury (its a fairly basic but nice hotel) but it's location right in the heart of the bird watching area and it was a bargain; included breakfast, flights, and transfers. Another reason we booked here was because the hotel grounds were good for birdwatching and had a viewing platform and access on to the creeks dried up, tidal mudflats.
Kotu Creek
This area is the best known area for bird watching, its easily accessible and a great place to pick up a local bird guide as the main bird guide lodge is next to the creek. There are plenty of local bird guides to choose from, all are happy to chat and help point out birds at the bridge. The creek can be easily reached, as it lies in the neighbourhood of some well known hotels such as Bakotu Hotel, Kombo Beach Hotel, Bongalo Beach Hotel and Badala Park Hotel. The creek combines mangroves, mudflats, freshwater pools, scrub and open woodland. This mosaic of habitats found within this relatively small area holds an impressive range of species.
We visited the creek almost every evening to watch the local pied kingfisher doing what kingfisher do best and to watch the sunset. Kotu Creek is stunning in the evening and a really place to watch the birds and chat with the locals and other holiday makers.
Blue-breasted Kingfisher: Almost as soon as Dawn and I arrived we met up with our bird guide Ida, who took us around the creek and rice fields. It was on this first evening I had my best views of the blue-breasted kingfisher just off Kotu bridge overlooking the creek.
Pied Kingfisher: The most abundant kingfisher across The Gambia, particularly around Kotu Creek was the pied.
Oriole Warbler: During our first outing with Ida on the day we arrived she pointed out a fruity song emanating from the mangrove bushes, this was the call of the elusive oriole warbler, which pop out, but only for a moment.
Pied Kingfisher: More pied kingfishers putting on a good show around Kotu bridge.
Western Reef Heron: With their distinctive blue/grey colouring and bright yellow feet you cant miss these medium sized herons.
The pied kingfishers are very obliging in this area and regularly sat on the posts, the nearby mangroves.
Pied Kingfisher: And even the bridge railings.
Blue-breasted Kingfisher: Here is one of my target birds a magnificent blue-breasted kingfisher, I ended up see a couple around the creek but got the best views on my first trip and first evening out.
Long-tailed Cormorant: Two species of cormorant can be regularly spotted around the creek, the larger and paler great cormorant and the smaller and long-tailed cormorant.
Black Kite: These numerous birds could be seen soaring above the roads and regularly roosted in the nearby trees.
Long-tailed Cormorant: One little cormorant decided to chase off one of its local rivals before settling on the nearby bank.
This give me a change to see the bird up close and out of the water.
Pink-backed Pelican: Large and impressive these pelicans were regulars at the creek and can be better viewed in the evening as thy fly in to roost.
Long-tailed Cormorant: More views out of the water.
Grey Plover: The creek had lots of familiar birds such as this grey plover, red and greenshank, wood and common sandpipers too.
Wire-tailed Swallow:
Village Indigo Bird (male): Right next to the creek you can find the bird guides lodge, a concrete shelter where that local bird guides use as their base.
This is a good starting position with lots of information boards and people to help, it is also the best place to pick up a guide.
Red-cheeked Cordon-Bleu: Typically they charge £25 per person per half day, either around Kotu to to a local nature reserve and £50 per full day, but with a bit of haggling and you can get a bargain.
Village Indigo Bird (female): Right next to the bird guides lodge, there is a small wall and wooden bench that overlooks a small man-made pond.
Here they put seed to attract birds who also come to a drink in the heat of the afternoon. This was a great place to visit, I made several trip here myself before heading out in to Kotu.
Snowy-crowned Robin Chat: Here you can regularly spot the very stunning snowy-crowned robin chat and the equally stunning and brilliantly named red-cheeked cordon-bleu.
Red-eyed Dove: Several species of dove along with village weavers, fire finch, village indigo birds can regularly be seen here too.
Red-eyed dove and village weavers.
Fire Finch (male): All species of fire finch are dimorphic, meaning that males are easily distinguished from females. Male fire finches are varying shades of red accented with black, grey or brown. Some species have tiny white- or ivory-coloured spots on the breast or flanks.
Female birds are mainly earthy brown in colour and some have a pinkish wash to the face or breast. Pair bonding is somewhat loose with fire finches and they are not overly affectionate toward one another but normally stay in close proximity.
African Collard Dove: I really enjoyed sitting here watching the birds and catting to the guides.
It was here Dawn and I met Mick Lennon and his partner who kept us company at the airport on the way home when the plane was delayed, cheers guys!
Laughing Dove: by far my favourite African dove, with its attractive plumage, colours and call, this unassuming little bird wasn't shy and stuck around while I rattled off a few frames.
The more I watched it the more the birds stood out above the rest. This was not just another pigeon....
Little Bee-eater: These were by far the most numerous of the bee-eaters and were spotted all over the area.
Great to photograph and great to watch as they perched upon short perches and regularly few off to catch flies and then return.
Lovely little jewels.
Senegal Thick-knee: These little birds are everywhere here, plenty around the hotel and creek.
They spend the day under the mangrove out of the sun and then come out to feed on the mud in the evening.
Rice Fields and Sewage Works
Any sewage works abroad are a must, and the sewage pools here are no exception. There are four rectangular pits which act as a magnet for waders and White-faced Whistling Duck, but the openly wooded area next to them are also worth a look as they are good for stripped kingfisher, bee-eaters, fine spotted woodpecker, starlings, doves and flocks of red bishops.
Beautiful Sunbird (female): The next morning Dawn got comfy next to the pool and I headed off, binoculars in hand. I walked round the back of the hotel where there is a large dry mud flat area.
Grey Hornbill: Here all three egrets (Western reef, GWE and Little) were easily found along with spotted thickness and plovers, I had some of the commoner species like common bulbul, plantain eater, pied crow too.
Malachite Kingfisher: Before watching a group of mixed doves giving a good opportunity to sort them out, red eyed, laughing, mourning and vinaceous all present.
White-throated Bee-eater: After searching the mangroves and watching the black kites and vultures soring I was accosted by a wandering bird guide who wanted some work. I haggled him down for a few hours and a guaranteed owl for a £5.
He called his mate and re-assured me that the owl was still in the same location it regularly is and we headed off.
Little Green Bee-eater: We walked past the creek and around on to the rice field track where we spotted little green bee-eater and white-throated bee-eater.
Senegal Coucal: Tawny flanked prinia, bronze manikins and village weavers were all easily located in the scrub. Hammerkop, black egret, western reef herons were in the pools. We also bagged a double-spurred Francklin.
Spur-winged Plover: The track though the rice fields is relatively short before you reach the sewage works where plovers, cattle egret and white-faced whistling ducks are numerous.
Splendid Sunbird (male): It was a real treat that on one occasion out with Gary in the evening evening to see another brilliantly names bird, the splendid sunbird.
It's name doesn't disappoint!
Fire finch: These little guys are everywhere.
Here is a good comparison between the males and females.
Northern Puffback: The only one I saw, maybe it was a good idea to pay this guy a fiver.
Northern Crombec: This ultra-short tailed little bird was only seen briefly and once during the whole trip.
Saker Falcon: Along with lanner falcon saker can be regularly spotted around Kouto. saker are very distinct pale birds that resemble sparrowhawks when soring.
Agama Lizard (female|): Sometimes called rainbow lizards because of the colourful displays put on by the dominant males. While most agamas are green and brown, dominant males show off by rapidly turning their bodies blue and their heads bright red or yellow.
Broad-billed Roller: On another evening when all four of us went for an afternoon stroll around the area and enjoyed watching the rollers and bee-eaters catching their suppers.
This roller was almost a dead-cert as it was regularly seen in the same tree each evening.
Western Grey Plantain-eater: Loud birds that cane be heard all over this part of The Gambia.
Zitting Cisticola: The Zitting Cisticola tends to be found in grassy areas and their diet consists mainly of insects, they are noisy and great birds to watch.
Agama Lazard (male): Here is a dominant male, now you can see where they get their nickname form.
Namaqua Dove: The adult male has black face, chin, throat and front of the breast, bordered grayish-white. The rest of the head, neck and breast sides, and most of the wing-coverts are pale bluish-grey. The hind neck, mantle and scapulars are pale fawn to brown.
Mixed Doves: Here shows a good comparison between the namaqua and other doves, its tiny, almost the size of a thrush.
Long-tailed Glossy Starling: There are plenty of these in the area too.
Senegal Coucal: The Senegal coucal are widespread throughout Africa, except the northwest and into south Arabia and are plentiful in The Gambia.
They can often be spotted foraging on the floor and in the rough grass for insects and reptiles and are easily disturbed and often fly on to low perches before disappearing.
Spur-winged Plover: These can be found at the Creek and across the Sewage Works.
White-faced Whistling Duck: Abundant around the sewage works and always in large flocks.
Black Kite: These are interesting as the yellow-billed kite (Milvus aegyptius) is one of the most common birds of prey on the African continent, and arguably the most visible.
Yellow-billed Kite: It was until recently thought to be a subspecies of the Eurasian black kite (Milvus migrans), but DNA tests has shown they have separated enough genetically to be considered separate species.
Palmnut Vulture and Pied Crow: I thought this was strange to see as I never saw the pied crows mobbed the black kites or hooded vultures, so why this plamnut?
Buffalo Weaver: From the sewage pools there is an area that crosses the road which is productive as we saw blue bellied rollers, yellow-billed shrikes and bee-eaters on the telegraph lines.
Buffalo weavers in large nests by the roadside and tons of hooded vultures loafing beside the pool and roadside.
Folk-tailed Drongo: Near the sign that takes you on the nature trail at 11am each morning the local bird guides feed the vultures which not only attracts the big birds of prey on the lookout for a free lunch but other smaller birds too.
Yellow-crowned Gonolek: One afternoon I watched this awesome thrush foraging around a palm tree in this area.
Juts take a look at its vivid bright read chest and yellow crown - superb.
Wood Hoopoe: In the same area a family of wood hoopoes foraged in the same palm along with drongos, bronze manikins and weavers.
Folk-tailed Drongo: Drongos were also catching flies in the same area, close to the road.
Buffalo Weaver: You can follow the path alongside the road and it will take you straight to the Sewage Works, keep your eyes out for manikins and weavers along the way.
Sengal Coucal: Although these are large birds there are times they jump up out of the undergrowth almost out of nowhere.
Folk-tailed Drongo: The drongo never really stayed still for too long and was pretty hard to keep up with.
I managed a few record shots of it in flight and perched upon the fallen palm branches.
Bronze Mannikin: Very recognisable, these little birds can be found in small flocks all over the area.
Stripped Kingfisher: One evening i took a stroll around the Sewage Works and stumbled across my first stripped kingy.
I was made up as this brought my Gambian kingfisher total to seven.
Sacred Ibis: The pools, particularly at dusk are great for herons and egrets as the numbers seem to build up before going to roost.
Ruff: Another familiar bird the ruff, I spotted seven individuals on the pools one evening and for only that evening.
No the days before and none after this day.
Sacred Ibis: One of the most prominent features of this bird is its long, black, down-curved bill, which has a neck sac positioned underneath its lower surface and is used for probing into soft mud and sand in pursuit of prey.
White-faced Whistling Duck: These long-legged ducks are very conspicuous with their white face and neck patch that sits in sharp contrast to its otherwise black and brown plumage.
Yellow Wagtail: Plenty of two yellow wags on the boarders of the pools, these are the Iberian race, which are resident here.
Snowy-crowned Robin Chat: Plenty of these stunning little birds around the whole area.
Kotu Cycle Path
The cycle track follows the northern wall of the Badala Hotel, and continues for a few hundred metres to the rear of the Palma Rima Hotel. here there is a small area of acacias and bushes parallel to the Badala. This area is well worth searching for small finches and bee-eaters, with owlet possible.
The rice fields next to this are open and reliable for Blue-bellied Rollers and Harrier Hawk. There is also a pool worth checking near the centre of the fields.
The best place to stand is near the centre of the diagonal track that starts at the Palma Rima. The birds start to fly up over the whole area just before dusk and the track itself is also worth checking since they regularly land out in the open.
Speckled Pigeon: This area is very nice to walk and leads to a few ponds and to an unkempt hide which is good for painted snipe.
Black Heron: On the opposite side of the road to the Cycle Path is a marsh that's is is good for waders, African Jacana, and herons.
The four of us watched as this 'day and night' bird was fishing, putting up its umbrella like wings to help stop the glare on the water and make it easier to catch fish.
Brillinat to wittness.
Cattle Eagret: Further along, various tracks cross a thick area of gingerbread plum. This is worth spending some time at, since the birds are not always immediately obvious, but include Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Bearded Barbet, Orange-cheeked Waxbill, and Yellow-crowned Gonolek.
Tones of these guys here, many come to roost in the evening.
African Harrier Hawk: There was a resident African harrier hawk in this area and we saw it several times.
Red-cheeked Cordon-Bleu: There are times when people say to me 'birds are boring' or they are dull brown little jobs and I know some species are brown and drab, but take a another look at this.
What a beaut!!!!
This male wasn't shy, I watched it feeding with several fire finch just off the cycle path.
Pearl-spotted Owelet: Here is an image of the owl the bird guide (not Ida) showed me, it was in the trees opposite Badala park hotel.
Apparently this is a good spot as the bird regularly used these trees to roost during the day.
Kotu Beach
Although Koto Beach is an increasingly popular holiday destination, it has so far avoided the over development that has blighted so many exotic destinations. Planning restrictions mean that towering high rise hotels are conspicuous by their absence and instead the attractive resort of Kotu is characterised by low-rise hotel and apartment complexes, built in the traditional style.
Kotu Beach will be well-placed for seeing many of the natural wonders that this African nation has to offer. The Kotu Creek wetlands run east of the Kotu Beach resort and are awash with hundreds of colourful native bird species.
Hooded Vulture: Bird watching safaris are a popular activity with travellers visiting the Gambia, whilst river cruises along the River Gambia provide excellent opportunities to spot hippos, crocodiles and other wetland animals at dramatically close quarters.
Inland safaris are also hugely popular and lucky tourists may even be able to spot chimpanzees as well as the many smaller monkeys that leap from branch to branch overhead.
One afternoon we stopped at
Just as we finished our meal and rinks a couple of hoodies came soring down on the beach, right in front of me.
They spotted a old rotten fish that was getting washed in by the sea and came down for a free meal.
I grabbed my camera and strolled down the over the golden sands to the shoreline, several other tourists followed me with their phones and cameras.
It was a real treat to see these birds up close and personal, the skies were full of them and they were everywhere, but to see a couple so close was great.
soon the fish was gulped and they all took off leaving the area clear for the pied crows to come and look for some scraps.
Pied Crow: There wasn't any!
Grey-headed Gull: The grey-headed gull is a common species of gull in tropical and sub-tropical areas in sub-Saharan Africa and South America.
You can regularly see these skimming over the sea and over the beach at Kotu.
Abuko Nature Reserve
Abuko NR is one of the smallest reserves in Africa, but despite this it is worth spending some time here. Gary and I spent half a day with Ida. The main part of the reserve is heavily wooded, with some semi-open parts.
The best tactic is to walk slowly round stopping regularly for skulkers, and also to spend some time in the hides and exhibition centre terrace. Giant Kingfisher is regular at the first pool, with breeding Hammerkops and various herons & birds of prey around / over the crocodile pool.
Crocodile: Entry fee to Abuko is 30 Dalasis each, but it is well worth paying an extra 50 Dalasis to book the photo hide at the Orphanage.
Violet Turaco: It only comfortably seats 3, but has a constantly filled small pool which attracts a host of birds and animals, including Bluebill, Gonolek, Violet Turaco, Lavender Waxbill, Bushbuck, Red Colobus Monkey, Green Vervet Monkey, and Monitor Lizard.
Giant Kingfisher: The area around the orphanage attracts many Bronze Mannikins, Firefinches, and Hooded Vultures, and we found the toilet area to be reliable for African Paradise Flycatcher. The extension was very disappointing, with very little to see on our visit.
Squacco Heron: Patience is needed here, since it is more often quiet, but goodies included Green-backed Eremomela, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Green Turaco, Grey-headed Bristlebill,
Palmnut Vultcure: From the main hide overlooking the crocodile pool you can see a wide range of birds including kingfishers, turacos, swallows and birds of prey.
Giant Kingfisher: It is here that the giant kingys put on a good show, we watched three birds catching fish from the pool.
Western Bluebill: We spent about an hour in the hide before Ida took us down a trail to a smaller pool and we waited.....and waited....until she said 'look here' and pointed out the western bluebill.
This was a magnificent little bird, so vivid and bold. Apparently small pool area is a reliable place to see them.
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater: Here we also had snowy-crowned robin chat, wattle-eye and black-necked weaver.
Western Plantain-eater: As we walked though the woods Ida would regularly stop and talk to the other bird guides who were touring with their clients.
She would share information and found out that there was a Klaas's cuckoo in the area.
Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher: We searched but was unlucky as we could only hear them calling.
Still as we walked on we saw this superb red-bellied paradise flycatcher.
The woods were filled with both African and red-bellied birds.
Bushbuck: Here is a bushbucks behind.....all I could managed as it crossed out path.
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater:
African Jacana: Back at the small pool where we had the western bluebill we also spotted this Jacana who came right out into the open.
While I was togging the Jacana something moving in the undergrowth caught my eye, looking a little closer I could see a this slender African beauty snake slithering it way though the leaf litter.
Looking closer I could see it had caught a skink and was moving somewhere more secluded to eat it.
A nice things to see in such a dense woodland.
Pygmy Kingfisher: We continued to head to the exit and stopped off back at the hide overlooking the croc pool.
Palmnut Vulture: As Gary and I walked up the steps and looked over the edge of the hide we spotted a stunning pygmy kingy right in front of us.
This was really special, out first and only pygmy of the trip.
The distant palmnut also decided to take off and flew over our heads.
Great birds.
Klaas's Cuckoo (female): Close to the exit of the reserve we could hear the call of the Klaas's and almost as soon as Ida looked up in to the trees she spotted not one but two birds.
Klaas's Cuckoo (male): We were lucky to see both the male and female.
This spectacular, iridescent green cuckoo has a small white stripe behind the eye and can be told from its cousin; the dideric cuckoo, by its lack of white wing spots.
It's found in a variety of habitats including forest, savanna, woodland and gardens where it parasitises batises, warblers, flycatchers and sunbirds.
Blue-cheaked Bee-eater: Abuko has a wooded area and some semi-open parts. Savannah areas, these are particularly good for bee-eaters.
We spotted several little green, blue-cheeked and swallow-tailed bee-eaters in this area.
Although we didn't see a lot in terms of quantity, I really enjoyed this little nature reserve and would recommend it to others.
Faraba Sutu Woods
Farasutu Forest (also spelt Farasuto) is one of the few remaining isolated forest patches left in the whole of the Gambia. In the late 1940’s, the forest surrounding Farasuto was cut down, leaving a small area for ceremonial male and female circumcisions, which now constitutes the reserve.
Farasutu Forest could be compared with the larger Abuko forest, 10 miles to the north-west, but is much smaller, having an area of 4.5ha, (11 acres). Birds likely to be seen in Farasutu Forest are Stone Partridge, Little Greenbul, Leaf-love, Green Crombec, Buff-spotted Woodpecker, White-backed Night-Heron, Grey-headed Bristlebill, African Paradise Flycatcher and Wahlberg’s Eagle.
Bearded Barbet: The Bearded Barbet is one of 43 species of barbets and tinkerbirds in the Family Lybiidae (and one of two barnet species we saw during the trip).
These typically plump birds have short neck and tail and a large head, their crown, back, tail and breast band are black. Their throat and belly are red and the rump is white.
They skin around their eyes is yellow and featherless. The bill is also yellow and large and is surrounded by black bristles. Barbets get their name from the bristles that fringe their bills.
Pin-tailed Whydah: While watching the barbets we were joined by a small flock of whydah feeding in the fields besides us.
Senegal Parrot: You could hear these calling from the top of the trees around the area, but despite their bright colours they are very difficult to spot.
Bearded Barbet: Often near or on fig trees.
Speckled Pideon: The large open community feilds are great place to see the pidgons of The Gambia.
Sulphur-breasted Busk-shrike: As Ida took us from the wide open spaces of the community gardens we entered a small woodland and one of the first birds we came across was this Sulphur-breasted Busk-shrike.
Crocodile: We paid 50 Dalasis to get in and was offered an extra bird guide who took us to see some very special birds.
Mixed Flock: Close to the entrance is the water station that was visited by black-necked weavers, red-cheeked cordon-bleus and the very smart looking lavender waxbill.
Black-rumped Waxbill: Faraba Sutu Woods is also a great place for black-rumped waxbills.
Greyish Eagle Owl: Once we had our fill of the watering hole our Faraba Sutu guide took us out in to the woods and around the croc-pool.
Here there was giant kingfisher and thick-knees.
He then took us to see the local greyish eagle owl, that the local guides find each morning before the birders arrive.
Standard Winged Nightjar: he also took us to see the very superb standard winged nightjar.
The guide says that they spend hours each morning serching for the bird whcih roosts on the ground and is suprbly camufoughed.
We tipped him 100 Dalasis each as a thank you.
Kartong Bird Observatory
Towards the end of our time and the end of our money, we negotiated a trip with Ida to up to Kartong, although something we both had looked forward to, certainly wasn't ever intended as the highlight of our trip, if anything the trip to Kartong Bird Observatory was the most highly anticipated. You can see lots of information here on their web site:-
http://www.kartongbirdobservatory.org
Kartong is near southern Gambian border to Senegal and it a longer trip so Ida requested more money for this day trip, however she gave us a good deal, it's always worth negotiating and bartering the birds guides.
Lizard Buzzard:Before arriving at Kartong Ida in all her wisdom took us to some semi natural Gambian woodland.
This thick, dence wooded areas had dusty tracks which cut through it. Almost as soon as we stood out of the car we bagged our first lizard buzzard.
Green Pigeon: In almost very tall tree there seemed to be groups of stout green blobs looking down on us.
Variable Sunbird: Gary even took a nature wee and had a dark chanting goshawk land in a tree above him.
Namaqua Dove: Along the rack we took we could hear lost of calling pied hornbill and the cooing of the teeny tiny Namaqua dove.
Although these are widespread, this wooded area seemed to hold particularly good numbers.
Pied Hornbill:eeventually we had a flock of five pied hornbill fly right past us, over our heads and a few landed close by.
Abyssinian Roller: It took us another 30-40 minutes before we arrived at Kartong bird obs and upon arriving the place was deserted.
No one was ringing at the obs on the day we arrived, however Ida called a head the day before and got the info on the birds we wanted to see in the area.
African Harrierhawk: When we arrived the the place was full of decent birds including African Jacana, Black-winged Stilt, Senegal Thick-knee, Spur-winged and Grey Plover and Common, Green and Wood Sandpipers. Malachite Kingfisher, Blue-bellied Roller, Red-billed Hornbill.
Abyssinian Roller: Knob-billed Duck, Yellow-billed Kite, Osprey, Palm Nut and Hooded Vulture were also observed.
Zitting Cisticola: The open savannah areas where it was hotter seemed to hold more warblers and larks.
Plenty of ciiticola around.
Osprey: Also plenty of Opsrey, up to this point we had not seen any, non around Kotu Creek or Kotu Beech.
Red-throated Pipit: Standing on the track which overlooks the lagoons is a good vantage point to look at the black-tailed godwit, wood sandpiper, herons, gadwall and other birds feeding on the mud banks and in the water.
Palm Swift: Look up from the track and you will see several species of Hirundinidae whizzing above our heads.
Lots of palm swift with their thin, pointed long tails and rusty plumage.
Little Swift: Not as many, but still numerous was the little swift.
White-faced Whisteling Ducks: Plenty of hunting marsh harrier were hunting over the reedbeds and lagoons, that spooked several dozen ducks and waders.
Violets Barbet: Once we checked the usual areas near the lagoons which are best for the bee-eaters idea decided to checked out the other side of the lagoons.
Zitting Cisticola: This happened to be a really good decision as we picked up violets barbet, brown-headed kingy and many more super species.
Senegal Eremomela: Ida has expert eyes and also picked out this grey headed, white thraoted little yellow bird.
Emerald Cuckoo: One of the best things about Gambia birding is that you can be looking for one bird in one bush and get several brilliant different birds popping up.
As we watched several sunbirds and willow warblers Ida started to get all a fluster, she grabbed me and pointed me in the direction of this cuckoo.
Gray had it in his binoculars all ready, but I struggled o get on it.
Eventually I did, but not after raising my blood pressure.
Brown-headed Kingfisher: As we walked around the back of the lagoons and away from the main track we saw our first brown-headed kingy, there were several birds in this area.
Ruffous-crowned Roller: While looking for the bee-eaters we walked right over to the far end of the reserve near the beech, it was here we saw this superb roller.
Beautiful Sunbird: Plenty of weavers, sunbirds, gulls, and selection of bee-eaters, but no Carmine.
Zitting Cisticola: Numerous all over the area.
Northern Carmine Bee-eater: This bird was the main reason we came all the way down to the Senegal border to Kartong.
This nature reserve is one of the best places to see these mini red arrows.
We literally had to wait until her were walking back to the car at the end of the day to see them, when we first arrived we hoped to see them in their usual location but we had no luck.
We spend extra time here looking and Ida was gutted for us, she even said she felt like she let us down.
Well Ida, we had faith in you and the birds showed up and put on a really good show.
Purple Swamphen (or Purple Gallinule): Each pond and each lagoon with a reedbed had several purple swamphen.
However we didn't see any Allen’s gallinule.
Long-crested Eagle: As we left the site Ida spotted this majestic bird of prey sitting up on to of a tree, a great bird to end the day on.
Janes Boats - River Cruse
This does exactly what it says - a very lazy day on the top deck of the boat going down the river/creeks and mangroves at a leisurely pace. Tea and coffee on board then the fizzy is served. Fishing and swimming available if you so wish. Other soft drinks and beers there for you. Great to sit and lie on the cushions and mattresses on the top deck sunbathing while you drift by slowly watching the world go by. Birdwatching also available along the banks. A thoroughly enjoyable experience had by all.
Grey-headed gull: Picked up at the hotel on time. The boat has a certain charm, but the upper structure was so lopsided you could get seasick on a river.
Janes boats goes sails from Denton bridge and costs around £37.
African Spoonbill: The birding wasn't very good as typically you cant see in to the mangroves, but there was plenty of pied kingys and whimbrel flying around.
Wood Sandpiper: The boat however comes close to a few mud banks which is a great place for wood sands, storks and spoonbills.
Yellow-billed Stork: Although this trip wasn't great for birding it was one of my favorite days out, we had such fun on the boat and got a little tipsy.
http://www.janesboats.gm/
Salagi Forest Park
There's not much information on the net about Salagi Forest park, so maybe this might help anyone who is researching and looking at going. The forest park is a mix of dense Gambian sub-tropical woodland and open savannah, this is a lovely area that is situated right next to a small village. This village is growing in to the park as some of the land has been sold on to the locals for development. So when you walk around the park you will stumble upon small holdings, piles of building materials and half built homes.
Whitethroat: When we parked up we all looked at each other with a look on our faces saying 'is this it?'
We arrived at what looked like a dump, a large area of wasteland full of rubbish and building materials.
Willow Warbler: Ida walked us over to a wall pas a huge flock of cattle egret and we watched as the birds came in.
Plenty of warblers feeding in the fig trees.
Plenty of birds flying over head.
Western Plantain Eater: We made our way around this area to a track that lead between the woods and an open area.
We stood here for a while and watched canaries, copper sunbirds and waxbills feeding in the bush.
Yellow-fronted Canary: We had a lizard buzzard fly past and could hear parakeets and coucals calling from all around us.
Copper Sunbird: We were soon joined by another local bird guide who was a kind of trainee and was very knowledgeable.
Lavender Waxbill: he let us around followed by Ida who were both pointing out green turacos, wattled plovers and much more to us as we strolled around.
Yellow-crowned Gonoleck: Surprisingly widespread and more surprisingly splendid in real life.
Saker Falcon: We didn't see many raptors except a single lizard buzzard and this saker.
Brown Babbler: We walked past a little farm house that was teaming with birds from wood hoopoes, grey-headed sparrow, rollers and these babbler.
Black-headed Heron: In the opposite field stood this heron.
Splendid Sunbird: And in the nearby tress these shiny sunbirds sang.
Lavender Waxbill: This area was great and full of birds.
Pearl-spotted Owlett: not too far from the small farm house we bumped in to another lot of birders with their bird guides.
They were looking very happy and pointing high up in to some trees. When we joined them we saw he bird they were looking at, this little owlett.
Copper Sunbird (female): Almost each path and track had something interesting on it and I felt that I could have spent a lot more time here.
Orange-cheeked Waxbill: Earlier on when we arrived and stood looking in to the big busy bush I saw an orange-cheeked waxbill but was unsure what it was until it flew away.
Thus I was unable to tell Gary who missed it, I felt pretty bad.
So when we saw another small flock feeding on the flowers of this bush I was thrilled.
And they were even closer.
We basically followed a circular tack out the outside of the woods that brought us right back to where we begun. We then followed a track to the where Ida promised us nightjars.
Lavender Waxbill: After the long, hot walk around the fringes of the woods we headed down a long dusty track to the water station.
Black-billed Wood Dove: Here like in Faraba Sutu Woods the local bird guides manage a watering hole to attract the birds.
Lavender Waxbill: Which works brilliantly, we had several species of weaver, orange-cheeked and lavender waxbill, the very smart red-cheeked cordon-bleu, several doves and a few surprise birds too.
Black-billed Wood Dove:
One of the best things about birding in The Gambia was simply sitting at one of these watering stations and waiting for the birds to drop in. You never know whats going to show up.
Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike: This was the best I could do after getting half decent views in the bins.
Shame it didn't come down to the watering station.
Senegal Coucal: The water attracted this coucal.
Black Flycatcher: One of the best birds we saw and a surprise bird at the watering station was this black flycatcher.
The first and only one we saw on the whole trip, and due to the water it showed incredibly well.
Made up (:
Long-tailed nightjar (somewhere in this image): After watching the birds coming fro a drink we followed our birds guides who took us a hundred meters up a small track and showed us one of the most incredible birds.
Much brighter coloured than the standard winged nightjar with more pronounced bristle feathers around the bill.
Wowzer!!! simply stunning birds!!!
African Paradise flycatcher:
Yellow-crowned Gonoleck: As we walked back to the car we spotted another gonoleck and typically it kept itself in the shade and shelter of the brush.
The bird wouldn't stop moving as it foraged higher in a tree and even when i could manage to see t and focus my camera on it, it was still juts out of reach of a good photo.
Red Colobus Monkeys: Before heading back to the hotel we stopped off at Bijilo Forest Park and visited the monkey Park to the south of Senegambia.
If it's just the monkeys that you want to see you really don't need a guide, they are everywhere.
This was one of the best birding trips I have had, great company and great birds.
I can't recommend Ida enough - if you are planning a trip please drop her an email, she was great.
i.colley@yahoo.com
http://www.idasbirdingtours.com/
I ended on
193 birds for the trip. not too bad for a short stay but I was disappointed I never made it to 200.
