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There appears to be very little about birding in The
Gambia in April on the web, so I thought why not give it a go for a
week. So, as I did for my previous trip back in 1998, I booked a weeks
package holiday through
Thomson Holidays and was based
once again in the well known Senegambia Beach hotel.
The weather throughout the trip, was sunny every day
with some days becoming hazy in the late afternoon. The wind was
generally light to moderate but on the hazy days it became quite strong,
enough to make a 'scope vibrate on a tripod. The temperature on the
coast was pleasant throughout being in the region 28c - 30c most of the
time, however, in land, away from the coast it was very hot indeed with the
temperature in the sun being well in excess of 40c.
Having already been to The Gambia, I wanted to see a
few more species that I'd missed on the previous trip, but being out for
only a week had little opportunity of getting up river in that time.
However, I did intend to go slightly further inland this time and visit the
Pirang shrimp farm and the Faraba Banta Bush track. So with this in mind,
I contacted, prior to this visit, a bird guide based at the Senegambia by
the name of Modou Colley who can be e-mailed by clicking on his name above.
Modou is a very hard working guide and works in conjunction with Mass Cham,
the senior bird guide at the hotel. I would certainly recommend
Modou's services.
With my previous experiences of birding in Africa, I
covered a lot of the coastal sites under my own steam. However, I also
met up with another bird guide who I would also recommend, Babagallah Bah,
or Baba for short. He is one of the original Gambian bird guides and
very good he is too. He can be often found outside the Senegambia
hotel with a pair of binoculars around his neck. I used him to visit
Yundum but although relatively unsuccessful found him to be great company
and a mine of information.
I don't intend to repeat the site guide included on
my previous November 1998 trip page but I do provide details of
six sites
not previously visited during that trip.
ITINERARY
| 8th April |
Arrive late pm,
Senegambia grounds |
| 9th April |
Sengambia grounds
am, Bijilo forest park pm |
| 10th April |
Abuko to mid pm,
Palma Rima nightjar site pm |
| 11th April |
Kotu ponds, creek
& Fajara golf course am, Badala park ponds pm |
| 12th April |
Yundum am,
Bijilo forest park pm |
| 13th April |
Bijilo forest park
am, Brufut woods & Tanji pm |
| 14th April |
Madina ba, Pirang
shrimp farms & Faraba Banta bush track |
| 15th April |
Sengambia and
Kairaba grounds am, Flight home pm |
SITE LIST
Yundum
This area of land, near to the airport, is famed for Coursers, but alas I was to draw a blank.
Apparently the best time to see them is around December for a couple of
months. By the time I had visited in April, the land was parched
and very dry. However, it is well worth visiting for other species such as Red-winged
Warbler, Black-headed Plover and Orange-cheeked Waxbill.
Brufut Woods
An area of woodland a couple of miles inland near the village of Brufut.
I had a brief but fruitful visit with Dark-chanting Goshawk, Standard-winged
Nightjar, African Pied Hornbill and quite a few Fanti Saw Wings. This
is also supposed to be a good site for Verraux's Eagle Owl although I didn't
see one. Well worth a visit.
Tanji
A superb reserve on the coast with plenty of woodland amongst sand
dunes. Beyond the woodland, there are a few islands close to
shore which provide a safe haven for sea birds and waders.
Well worth a visit with a 'scope but preferably in the morning with
the sun behind you. I made the mistake of visiting towards sun
set and of course I was trying to pick out the sea birds looking
into a setting sun. However, supposed to be a reliable site for
both Kelp Gull and White-fronted Plover, although I failed to find
either. I will return.
Mandina Ba
The only known site in the Gambia for Hadada Ibis. Found a single bird
here and it is worth wandering through the paddy fields to see what else can
be flushed.
Pirang shrimp farm
This site's main claim to fame is the Crowned Cranes, however, these are usually
only able to be found during the main winter months. When I visited the
site, at least half of it was being worked on and apparently the disused farm is
to be re-opened as a working shrimp farm.
The area itself is a large flat area adjacent to the River Gambia and
consists of a series of what appear to be large disused salt pans. A good
place for Pipits and also a good spot for Quail Finch. Check out the
mangroves as well near to the farm for waders.
Faraba Banta Bush track
This is the place to come for raptors. An excellent spot to visit but not
worth turning up much before midday as the birds tend to wait for the thermals
to be at their peak. I will warn you that if you tend to stay most of the
afternoon, which you need to to pick up a lot of raptors, it will be very very
hot so take plenty of liquid refreshment with you. However, the heat and
flies may be a pain but the raptor watching is excellent. Also check out
the woodland as I heard a Verraux's Eagle Owl calling and also look for
White-backed Black Tit here.
SYSTEMATIC LIST
| Little Grebe |
12 Kotu ponds 11th |
| Great White Pelican |
3 Tanji 13th |
| Pink Backed Pelican |
2 Tanji 13th |
| Hammerkop |
1 Kotu creek 11th |
| Long Tailed Cormorant |
5 Kotu creek 11th, 1 Tanji 13th,
2 Madina Ba 14th |
| African Darter |
5 Abuko 10th, 1 Kotu creek 11th |
| Black-crowned Night Heron |
8 Abuko 10th, 1 Senegambia 14th |
| Cattle Egret |
Common |
| Squacco Heron |
3 Abuko 10th, 20+ Kotu area, 10
Madina Ba 14th |
| Green-backed Heron |
1 Kotu creek 11th |
| Black Heron |
2 Abuko 10th, 3 Kotu creek 11th |
| Intermediate Egret |
2 Abuko 10th, 2 Kotu creek 11th |
| Western Reef Heron |
2 Kotu creek 11th, 1 Pirang 11th |
| Little Egret |
2 Kotu ponds 11th |
| Great White Egret |
4 Kotu 11th, 3 Pirang 14th |
| Black-headed Heron |
3 Abuko 10th, 1 Tanji 13th, 5
Pirang 14th |
| Grey Heron |
Frequent |
| African Spoonbill |
12 Madina Ba 11th |
| White-faced Whistling-duck |
100+ Kotu ponds 11th |
| Sacred Ibis |
4 Kotu creek 11th |
| Hadada |
1 Madina Ba 14th |
| Osprey |
3 Tanji 13th |
| African Harrier-hawk |
Frequent |
| Palm-nut Vulture |
1 Abuko 10th |
| Hooded Vulture |
Common |
| Wahlberg's Eagle |
1 Bush track 14th |
| Long crested Eagle |
3 Bush track 14th |
| Bateleur |
1 Bush track 14th |
| Short-toed Eagle |
1 Bush track 14th |
| Brown-snake Eagle |
2 Bush track 14th |
| Black Kite |
Common |
| Grasshopper Buzzard |
3 Bush track 14th |
| Black-shouldered Kite |
1 Airport 8th, 2 Abuko 10th, 4
Bush track 14th, 3 Airport 15th |
| Dark-chanting Goshawk |
1 Brufut 13th, 3 Bush track 14th |
| Shikra |
Frequent |
| Lizard Buzzard |
2 Bush track 14th |
| Lanner Falcon |
1 Senegambia 9th, 2 Abuko 10th,
1 Bush track 14th |
| Red-necked Falcon |
Singles Brufut 13th, Bush track
14th |
| Grey Kestrel |
1 Abuko 10th, 3 Yundum 12th, 4
Bush track 14th |
| Double-spurred Francolin |
2 Bijilo 12th, 15+ Bijilo 13th |
| Ahanta Francolin |
2 Abuko 10th |
| Stone Partridge |
1 Bijilo 13th |
| Black Crake |
2 Kotu ponds 11th |
| Greater Painted Snipe |
6 Badala park ponds 11th |
| Jacana |
2 Abuko 10th, 50+ Kotu ponds
11th |
| Senegal Thicknee |
4 Kotu creek 11th, 6 Pirang 14th |
| Black-headed Plover |
6 Fajara 11th, 20+ Yundum, 1
Pirang 14th |
| Spur-winged Plover |
Frequent |
| Wattled Plover |
Frequent |
| Grey Plover |
4 Kotu creek 11th |
| Ringed Plover |
3 Tanji 13th, 10 Pirang 14th |
| Whimbrel |
Frequent |
| Black-tailed Godwit |
4 Kotu creek 11th |
| Greenshank |
10+ Kotu creek 11th |
| Redshank |
2 Kotu creek 11th, 1 Tanji 13th |
| Common Sandpiper |
1 Abuko 10th, 25+ Kotu 11th |
| Wood Sandpiper |
50+ Kotu 11th, 1 Pirang 14th |
| Black-winged Stilt |
20+ Kotu ponds 11th, 1 Pirang
14th |
| Turnstone |
1 Kotu creek 11th, 2 Tanji 13th |
| Little Stint |
2 Pirang 14th |
| Sanderling |
5 Tanji 13th |
| Curlew Sandpiper |
3 Pirang 14th |
| Grey-headed Gull |
Common |
| Slender-billed Gull |
2 Kotu creek 11th, 4 Tanji 13th |
| Lesser Black-backed Gull |
1 Senegambia 10th, 10+ Tanji
13th, 4 Senegambia 15th |
| Caspian Tern |
3 Senegambia 9th, 13 Kotu 11th,
50+ Tanji 13th |
| Royal Tern |
Frequent |
| Lesser Crested Tern |
2 Senegambia 12th, 3 Tanji 13th |
| Sandwich Tern |
2 Senegambia 10th, 50+ Tanji
13th |
| Gull Billed Tern |
2 Tanji 13th |
| White-winged Black Tern |
1 Kotu ponds 11th |
| Laughing Dove |
Common |
| Blue-spotted Wood Dove |
Frequent |
| Black-billed Wood Dove |
3 Bijilo 13th, 1 Bush track 14th |
| Speckled Pigeon |
Common |
| Namaqua Dove |
1 Yundum 12th |
| African Green Pigeon |
2 Bush track 14th |
| Red-eyed Dove |
Common |
| Mourning Dove |
Frequent |
| Vinaceous Dove |
Common |
| Pied Crow |
Common |
| Piapiac |
Frequent |
| Senegal Coucal |
Frequent |
| Barn Owl |
1 Senegambia 10th |
| Verraux's Eagle Owl |
1 Abuko 10th |
| Long-tailed Nightjar |
5 Badala park 10th |
| Standard-winged Nightjar |
1 Brufut 13th |
| Palm Swift |
Frequent |
| Green Wood-hoopoe |
Frequent |
| Woodland Kingfisher |
1 Madina Ba 14th |
| Blue-breasted Kingfisher |
1 Senegambia 15th |
| Striped Kingfisher |
2 Yundum 12th, 1 Pirang 14th |
| Pied kingfisher |
2 Abuko 10th, 6 Kotu 11th, 1
Pirang 14th |
| Broad-billed Roller |
1 Senegambia 15th |
| Blue-bellied Roller |
Frequent |
| Rufous-crowned Roller |
1 Kotu creek 11th, 1 Pirang 14th |
| Abyssinian Roller |
1 Yundum 12th, 3 Bush track 14th |
| Swallow-tailed Bee Eater |
2 Brufut 13th |
| Little Bee Eater |
Frequent |
| White-throated Bee Eater |
Frequent at Senegambia |
| Ring-necked Parakeet |
4 Kotu ponds 11th, 2 Bush track
14th |
| Senegal Parrot |
Frequent |
| Violet Turaco |
Singles Abuko 10th, Bijilo 12th,
Bush track 14th |
| Green Turaco |
2 Abuko 10th |
| Western Grey Plantain-eater |
Common |
| Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird |
Singles Senegambia 12th, Bush
track 14th |
| Bearded Barbet |
2 Senegambia 8th, 3 Yundum 12th,
1 Bush track 14th |
| Vieillot's Barbet |
1 Brufut 13th |
| African Pied Hornbill |
2 Brufut 13th |
| Red-billed Hornbill |
Common |
| Grey Hornbill |
Frequent |
| Grey Woodpecker |
Frequent |
| Cardinal Woodpecker |
1 Yundum 12th |
| Fine Spotted Woodpecker |
2 Abuko 10th |
| Greater Honeyguide |
Singles Yundum 12th, Bush track
14th |
| Crested Lark |
10 Pirang 14th |
| Plain-backed Pipit |
2 Pirang 14th |
| Fanti Saw Wing |
2 Abuko 10th, 4 Brufut 13th |
| Wire-tailed Swallow |
1 Kotu 11th, 20+ Pirang 14th |
| Mosque Swallow |
1 Senegambia 8th |
| Barn Swallow |
1 Yundum 12th |
| Red-chested Swallow |
Frequent |
| African Golden Oriole |
2 Pirang 14th |
| Fork-tailed Drongo |
1 Bijilo 9th, 3 Brufut 13th |
| Yellow Wagtail |
1 Kotu creek 11th |
| Blue-headed Wagtail |
1 Pirang 14th |
| Common Bulbul |
Common |
| Little Greenbul |
2 Abuko 10th |
| Oriole Warbler |
Singles Bijilo 9th, 13th |
| Blackcap Babbler |
Common |
| Brown Babbler |
Common |
| White-crowned Robin-chat |
Frequent |
| Snowy-crowned Robin-chat |
Frequent |
| African Thrush |
Frequent |
| Olivaceous Warbler |
2 Senegambia 11th |
| Willow Warbler |
Singles Senegambia 9th, 11th,
13th & 3 15th |
| Singing Ciscticola |
2 Yundum 12th |
| Croaking Cisticola |
1 Pirang 14th |
| Zitting Cisticola |
20+ Pirang 14th |
| Red-winged Warbler |
3 Yundum 12th, 1 Bush track 14th |
| Tawny-flanked Prinia |
Frequent |
| Green-backed Eremomela |
4 Brufut 13th, 6 Pirang 14th |
| Northern Crombec |
Frequent |
| Grey-backed Camaroptera |
Frequent |
| White-shouldered Black Tit |
1 Bush track 14th |
| Common Wattle Eye |
6 Abuko 10th |
| Senegal Batis |
1 Bush track 14th |
| Northern Black Flycatcher |
2 Bijilo 12th |
| African Paradise Flycatcher |
Singles Abuko 10th, Brufut 13th |
| Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher |
1 Abuko 10th |
| Pygmy Sunbird |
3 Brufut 13th |
| Variable Sunbird |
Frequent |
| Scarlet-chested Sunbird |
Frequent |
| Western Violet-backed Sunbird |
1 Bush track 14th |
| Splendid Sunbird |
Frequent |
| Beautiful Sunbird |
Common |
| Copper Sunbird |
1 Senegambia 11th, 2 Yundum 12th |
| Black-headed Tchagra |
2 Yundum 12th |
| Sulphur-breasted Bush-Shrike |
1 Bush track 14th |
| Northern Puffback |
Singles Senegambia 9th, Abuko
10th, Bush track 14th, 3 Brufut 13th |
| Yellow-billed Shrike |
Frequent |
| Gonolek |
Frequent |
| Woodchat Shrike |
Singles Yundum 12th, Bush track
14th |
| Greater Blue-eared Glossy
Starling |
4 Abuko 10th, 8 Bush track 14th |
| Purple Glossy Starling |
Frequent |
| Long-tailed Glossy Starling |
Common |
| Violet-backed Starling |
2 Brufut 13th & Bush track
14th |
| Bronze-tailed Glossy Starling |
3 Bush track 14th |
| Yellow-billed Oxpecker |
1 Madina Ba 14th |
| House Sparrow |
2 Senegambia 9th, 11th, 4 on
13th, 2 15th |
| Grey-headed Sparrow |
Frequent |
| White-billed Buffalo-weaver |
30+ Yundum 12th |
| Northern Red Bishop |
20+ Yundum 12th, singles Brufut
13th, Pirang 14th |
| Village Weaver |
Common |
| Little Weaver |
10 Yundum 12th, 1 Pirang 14th |
| Black-necked Weaver |
Frequent |
| Orange-cheeked Waxbill |
5 Yundum 12th |
| Lavender Waxbill |
Frequent |
| Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu |
Frequent |
| Red-billed Firefinch |
Frequent |
| Bronze Mannikin |
Common |
| Quail Finch |
5 Pirang 14th |
| Western Bluebill |
2 Abuko 10th |
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