The Gambia: 4th July 2001-19th July 2001

Participants: Tiemen De Smedt (desmedtlier@pi.be) and Wim Deloddere (wim.deloddere@skynet.be)

Books and trip reports:

For preparing the trip, there is 'A Birdwatchers Guide to the Gambia' by Rod Ward with excellent descriptions of the sites with maps; 116 pages.

Indentification: almost a necessity is: 'A field guide to birds of the Gambia and Senegal' by Clive Barlow, Tim Wacher and Tony Disley. It's a book with accurate color plates and text and it's very up-to-date.

Residence:

We stayed at Badala Park Hotel in the Kotu area. The rooms are clean but simple (no air-con, but was available). Badala Park Hotel is superbly situated for birdwatchers, along the casino cycle track, Kotu creek and ponds and within walking distance of Fajara Golf Court.

Weather:

It was the rainy season so there were some days (just a few) that we had some showers for a couple of hours. But most of the showers were during the night.

Guides:

We contacted a professional bird guide Ebrima Sidibeh in advance and we did most of the trips with him. Ebrima is not really a cheap guide, we paid 900 Dalasi for a whole day and 2000 Dalasi for the trip to Tendaba (transport is included in the price). He also guided us for free to Faraba Banta (half a day; but we only had to pay the transport).

You can contact him at the following address: Ebrima Sidibeh

c/o Paul Baldeh
Gambia port Authority
PO. Box 617
Banjul
The Gambia

e-mail: ebrimasidibeh@hotmail.com

We also met there an other guide: Yaya Jallow. With him we did some walks around the Kotu Creek and we want with him to Bijolo Forest park. He's much cheaper than Ebrima Sidibeh. We paid 100 Dalasi for half a day and 300 Dalasi for a whole day (the prices are without transport, because we never went him him to somewhere where we had to take a car for).

You can contact him at the following address: Yaya Jallow

PMB 733
Serekunda
Banjul
The Gambia

e-mail: toplink@gamtel.gm

Transport:

We did most of our trips with Ebrima Sidibeh and he always arranged the transport. When we took a taxi, we took a bush taxi (yellow with green stripes along the sides), because they are much cheaper than the tourist taxis (these taxis are all green with a white diamond on the door).

Daily log:

4/07

Before flying to Banjul, the plane stopped in Conakry (Guinea) and there we saw our first African Palm Swifts of the trip.

After there waiting for an hour we flew to Banjul and on the airport, we saw lots of Little Swifts, some Pied Crows, Speckled Pigeons, Red-eyed Doves and Red-chested Swallows. On the way to our hotel, we saw also some Village Weavers, Yellow-billed Shrikes, 2 Common Bulbuls (in the trees at the entrance of the Senegambia Hotel) and at least 2 Laughing Doves.

5/07

In the morning, we met Ebrima Sidibeh (a local professional birdguide) and with him we made a trip around the Kotu creek and the casino cycle track.

On the way to the Kotu lower bridge and on and around the lower bridge, we saw a Long-tailed Commorant, 4 Straited Herons, lots of Cattle Egrets, 2 Western Reef Herons, some Grey Herons, some Pied Crows, a Black Kite, at least 10 Double-spurred Francolins, a male Greater Painted Snipe, a few African Jacanas, at least 5 Senegal Tick-knees, a lot of Spur-winged Plovers, a Wattled Plover, a Whimbrel, some Grey-headed Gulls, at least 1 Slender-billed Gull, at least 2 Caspian Terns, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, 3 Royal Terns, some Laughing Doves, at least 5 Speckled Pigeons, some Red-eyed Doves, some Vinaceous Doves, some Piapiacs, quite a lot Senegal Coucals, also quite a lot Levaillant's Cuckoos, lots of Little Swifts, some African Palm Swifts, 2 Woodland Kingfishers, a lot of Pied Kingfishers, a Broad-billed Roller, lots of Little Bee-eaters, some Rose-ringed Parrots, a Senegal Parrot, some Western Grey Plantain-eaters, a Violet Turaco (flying over at the entance of our hotel), at least 10 Red-billed Hornbills, an African Grey Hornbill, a Plain-backed Pipit, at least 10 Red-chested Swallows, a Wire-tailed swallow (between the Red-chested Swallows), 15+ Common Bulbulls, an African Thrush, 2 Northern Black Flycatchers, a Splendid Sunbird, 2 Copper Sunbirds, 10+ Yellow-billed Shrikes, 2 Yellow-crowned Gonoleks, lots of Grey-headed Sparrows, quite a lot White-billed Buffalo Weavers, at least 15 Nothern Red Bishops, large flocks of Village Weavers, about 3 Red-cheecked Cordon Blues, quite a lot of Red-billed Fire Finches and quite a lot of Bronze Mannikins.

On the Kotu ponds, we saw 6 Little Grebes, 20+ White-faced Whisling Ducks, at least 40 Hooded Vultures (some of them were sitting in the trees around the ponds), 6 Black Terns, a Great Spotted Cuckoo (sitting in a tree along the ponds), a juv. African Cuckoo (also sitting in a tree), 2 Green Wood Hoopoes, a Lesser Blue-eared Glossy Starling and 3 Long-tailed Glossy Starlings.

After that we went to the cycle track and there we saw (expect from most of the species we already saw on the places at the first part of our trip), 6 Squacco Herons, 2 Intermediate Herons, a Sacred Ibis (sitting in a tree behind our hotel), a Red-necked Falcon, a Black-billed Wood Dove, 2 Diederik Cuckoos (on the trees along our hotel), 2 Pearl-spotted Owlets (in the palms between our hotel and hotel 'Palama Rima'), a Blue-bellied Roller, an Abbysinian Roller, 3 Bearded Barbets, 1 Grey and 1 Fine-spotted Woodpecker, a Brown Babbler (in the trees along hotel Palama Rima), some Singing Cisticolas, a Zitting Cisticola, a Grey-backed Camaroptera, some Tawny-flanked Prinias, 2 Northern Crombecs, 2 Variable Sunbirds (in the trees along our hotels), 2 Beautiful Sunbirds and 2 Village Indigobirds.

Around 10h30 it started raining very hard and we decided to return quickly to our hotel.

In the evening, we did (again with Ebrima) the Fajara Golf Track and the Kotu scrub. On the golf track, we saw 2 Black-headed Plovers, about 4 Wattled Plovers, a Long-tailed Cormorant, quite a lot Pied Kingfishers, quite a lot Bronze Mannikins, a Hamerkop (it had a nest in a tree somewhere at the golf track), a Blue-breasted Kingfisher, about 3 Senegal Parrots, some Brown Babblers, a few Grey-backed Camaropteras and 2 African Silverbills.

In the Kotu scrub, we saw 2 Snowy-crowned Robin Chats, lots of African Jacanas, a few Bearded Barbets, 2 Vieillot's Barbets, 2 Yellow-fronted Tinkerbirds, a Grey Kestrel, a Great White Egret, 2 Red-necked Falcons, 2 Slender-billed Gulls, 2 Diederik Cuckoos, some Brown Babblers and in the twilight a White-faced Scops Owl, some Standard-winged Nightjars and at least 1 Long-tailed Nightjar calling.

6/07

In the morning we went with a bush taxi to Bijolo forest park which was rather a disappointement. The best things we saw were: at least 2 Blue-spotted Wood Doves, some Blackcap Babblers, some Brown Babblers, some Royal Terns (along the coast), some Grey-headed Gulls (also along the coast) and an Abbyssinian Roller.

In the evening, we did the Kotu Creek and except from the usual things, we saw a female Giant Kingfisher (sitting in a tree along the creek), a Pink-backed Pelican (flying over) and a Black-headed Heron.

7/07

A whole day with Ebrima: in the morning Brufut and in the afternoon Tanji.

In Brufut, we saw 2 groups White Pelicans flying over (a total of about 40), a male African Harrier Hawk, 2 Palm-nut Vultures, a Lizzard Buzzard, a Grey Kestrel, at least 5 Wattled Plovers, an African Mourning Dove, 3 Klaas's Cuckoos, at least 5 Mottled Spinetails, 3 Striped Kingfishers, a Pygmy Kingfisher, 2 Swallow-tailed Bee-eaters, a Vieillot's Barbet, at least 5 Pied Hornbills, at least 5 Fanti Saw-wings, 2 African Golden Orioles, an African Thrush, a singing Whistling Cisticola, 2 Green-backed Eremomelas, a male Senegal Batis, 3 males Scarlet-chested Sunbirds, at least 5 Purple Glossy Starlings, 1 female and at least 10 males Violet-backed Starlings, 5 Yellow-billed Oxpeckers, a Yellow-fronted Canary, at least 5 Lavender Waxbills, a lot of Little Bee-eaters, 3 Swallow-tailed bee-eaters, a Copper Sunbird, a Variable Sunbird, some Splendid Sunbirds, some Yellow-crowned Gonoleks and some Long-tailed Shrikes.

In Tanji Bird Reserve we saw an Osprey, a Pygmy Kingfisher, 2 Rofous-crowned Rollers (sitting in the trees along the road), a Yellow-throaded Leaflove, a lot Royal and some Caspian Terns sitting on the beach, some Pink-backed Pelicans, some Grey-headed Gulls, some Yellow-crowned Gonoleks, a Black-crowned Tchagra and a Northern Crombec.

8/07

In the morning I was sick so I had to stay at the hotel. Wim did with Yaya (also a local professional birdguide) a walk around the Kotu ceek and scrub and the best things he saw were a Yellow-billed Kite, a Malachite kingfisher, a Standard-winged Nightjar and 3 White-throated Bee-eaters.

In the evening again a walk around the Kotu creek and the best things we saw were some flying Hamerkops.

9/07

Today we went with Ebrima in the morning to Abuko, at noon to Lamin Lodge and in the afternoon to Yundum south. Before leaving to Abuko, we saw at the parking of the hotel 2 White-crowned Robin Chats.

In Abuko we saw a Long-tailed Cormorant, 3 African Darters, a Little Greenbull (although we heard a lot of birds calling), a lot of Hooded Vultures, a Malachite and a Pygmy Kingfisher, a Palm-nut Vulture, a Hamerkop, 3 White-backed Night Herons, a Black-crowned Night Heron, a Black-headed Heron, 2 Black Crakes (1 ad., juv.), a Woodland Kingfisher, a Violet Turaco, 5 Common Wattle-eyes, a Lavender Waxbill, some Yellow-billed Kites, a couple of Black-necked Weavers (making a nest), a Purple Heron, 2 Bearbed Barbets and we also heard some Western Bluebills (our guide saw them).

At noon we went to Lamin Lodge to eat something and to rest a little bit. During our meal, we observed a flying Goliath Heron (flying above the mangroves), a Lesser Blue-eared Glossy Starling, a Rofous-crowned Roller and an African Harrier Hawk.

During our walk (a rather short walk) in Yundum south we observed some African Harrier Hawks, some Hooded Vultures, a few Black-shouldered Kites, a Dark-chanting Goshawk, a Lanner Falcon, an African Cuckoo, a Great Spotted Cuckoo, 2 Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, some Little Bee-eaters, a Vieillot's Barbet, a Grey Woodpecker, a Mosque Swallow, 4 Yellow Penduline Tits, 2 Northern Crombecs, a Little Weaver and a male Heuglin's Weaver.

10/07

Today again a walk around the Kotu Creek and the golf course. The best things we saw were a Senegal Parrot, 2 Great Spotted Cuckoos and a Black-shouldered Kite.

11/07

Today we left with Ebrima for two days to Tendaba.

Our first stop was Pirang where we saw about 10 Yellow-billed Storks, some Pink-backed Pelicans, a Black Tern, a Black-shouldered Kite, some Black Kites and some Yellow-billed Kites, a Common Redshank, a Common Sandpiper, a Crested Lark, a Whimbrel, a Black-tailed Godwit, about 20 Black-winged Stilts, a Mosque Swallow, a Mottled Spinetail, some Pied Kingfishers, 3 (1 male and 2 females) Violet-backed Starlings, about 5 Yellow-billed Oxpeckers and 3 African Green Pigeons.

Between Pirang and the Brumen bridge, we saw the following things: a few Hamerkops sitting in the creeks along the road, at least 2 White-backed Vultures, at least 5 Bateleurs, a few Grasshopper Buzzards and some Dark-chanting Goshawks.

The next stop was the Brumen bridge and there we saw (the best things) some Woolly-necked Storks, some Spur-winged Geese and a female Abyssinian Ground Hornbill sitting in a tree.

Between the Brumen Bridge and Kwinella, we saw an African Fish Eagle, some Red-rumped Swallows and a male Red-shouldered Cuckoo-shrike.

At 5 pm we starded a walk to the Tendaba 'airport' field and the best things we saw were: a few Collared Pratincoles, a few Common Greenshank, a few African Mourning Doves and a few males Yellow-crowned Bishops.

12/07

At 7h30, we left at Tendaba camp with a small boat for a trip to the Creeks of the northbank from the River Gambia. While sailing through the creek, we saw 2 flying African Blue Flycatchers, 2 Goliath Herons, some Pink-backed Pelicans, a few Yellow-billed Storks, some Spur-winged Geese, some flying Mouse-brown Sunbirds (only very short observations of flying birds), some Woodland and some Blue-breasted Kingfishers, 2 Common Sandpipers, a Common Redshank, a few Caspian and Black Terns flying around on the river Gambia, a Sacred Ibis, about 3 African Darters, a Long-tailed Cormorant and some Woolly-necked Storks.

On our way back to our hotel, we could observe a Bateleur, 2 Striped Kingfishers, 2 Black-headed Herons, at least 1 African Harrier Hawk, 4 Woolly-necked Storks (from the Brumen Bridge) and 1 Yellow-billed Oxpecker (at Kwinella).

13/07

Again a walk around the Kotu Creek. The best things we saw in the creek were a Yellow-throated Longclaw, 7 Sacred Ibises, a Long-tailed Cormorant and a Green Sandpiper.

In the bushes at the entrance of the Kotu Strand hotel we saw a singing Oriole Warbler (a good and famous place for seeing them!) and a Bearbed Barbet. In the kotu scrub we saw a female Bush Petronia and at the end of the cycle track we saw 3 White-throated Bee-eaters and a Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird.

14/07

Today we went with Yaya to Bijolo Forest Park. The best things we saw there were some Oriole warblers, a Common Wattle-eye, a female Nothern Puffback, a Pygmy Kingfisher and a Rufous-crowned Roller.

Around the Senegambia Hotel we saw a Mosque Swallow. In the evening we did again a short walk in the Kotu Creek and the best thing we saw was a Grey-headed kingfisher in the bushes at the lower bridge.

15/07

In the moning until the early afternoon we went to Ebrima his house. He has a small pool in his garden where you can see different birds (see below).

When we went to the restaurant in the morning for breakfast we saw 3 African Silverbills sitting in a bush near a small place where birds can drink (in the garden of our hotel).

Before we took a taxi to Ebrima's house we did a short walk in the Kotu Creek. The best things we saw were: on the path along the creek were sitting between the Nothern Red Bishops 2 Orange-cheeked Waxbills, in a bush in the fields along the casino cycle track: 7 Sacred Ibis and in the Kotu scrub: a female Bush Petronia, a Tinkerbird and a few Standard-winged Nightjars (even sitting!).

When we were in the garden of Ebrima's house the best things we saw were 2 Beautiful Sunbirds, a few Lavender Waxbills and a Pygmy Kingfisher.

In the late afternoon we went again to the place where we saw the nightjars and again we saw a few Standard-winged Nightjars. In the evening we went again to the place of the nightjars and we saw 2 African Silverbills, a Black-crowned Tchagra, 2 Vieillot's Barbets, a Tinkerbird and at twilight some flying Standard-winged Nightjar and a flying male Long-tailed Nightjar.

16/07

Today again a whole trip with Ebrima to Marakissa woods.

The best things we saw in and around Marakissa were: a few Hamerkops, 2 Long-tailed Cormorants, some African Darters, a Black-headed Heron, some African Harrier-Hawks, a Long-crested Eagle (flying over), a Wahlberg's Eagle (also flying over), some Black-shouldered Kites, some Shikras, some Dark-chanting Goshawks, a Lizard Buzzard, a few Green Pigeons, a (juv.) Diederik Cuckoo, a Great Spotted Cuckoo, a Pearl-spotted Owlet, a Giant Kingfisher, a Violet Turaco, a Green Turaco, some Senegal Parrots, some Bearded Barbets, a male Greater Honeyguide, an African Oriole, a Yellow-throaded Leaflove, some Singing Cisticolas, a Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher (in the same tree as the Pearl-spotted Owlet), 2 White-crested Helmet Shrike (a couple of times seen flying together), a Violet-backed Starling, a Greater Blue-eared Glossy Starling, some Purple Glossy Starlings, some Yellow-fronted Canaries, a Little Weaver and 2 Green-backed Eremomela.

17/07

In the morning a free trip (except transport) with Ebrima to Fajara Banta and in the evening a free trip with Yaya around the Kotu (to the Nightjars again).

Fajara Banta: a Square-tailed Drongo, a Western Banded Snake Eagle, 2 Brown Snake Eagles, a sitting Long-crested Eagle, 2 Grasshoper Buzzards, a few Yellow-fronted Canaries, a Mosque Swallow, 3 Bearbed Barbets, a flock of 6 Brown-necked Parrots, a Diederik Cuckoo and some Dark-chanting Goshawks.

At the hotel: 2 Mosque Swallows flying around. In the fields behind the hotel grounds: 3 (2 females + 1 male) Greater-painted Snipes sitting together there and a few Intermediate Egrets. Around the Kotu scrub: a male Long-tailed Nightjars and some Standard-winged Nightjars.

18/07

At noon we had to leave our hotel room and at 4 pm the bus picked us up at our hotel.

In the morning we had a last very short walk (because of the raining weather) around our hotel. he best thing we saw was a male Greater-painted Snipe flying away from the field where we saw on the 17th the 3 birds.

1. Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
About 10 ex. on the Kotu ponds; 5 ex. on the pond behind the Badala Park Hotel.

2. Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus
About 40 ex. flying over Brufut.

3. Pink-backed Pelican Pelecanus rufescens
1 ex. flying over Badala Park Hotel; 1 ex. at Tanji; a few ex. at Tendaba

4. Hamerkop Scopus umbretta
Small numbers on several locations.

5. Long-tailed Cormorant Phalacrocorax africanus
A few ex. in the Kotu Stream area; 1 ex. at Abuko; 1 ex. at Tendaba; 2 ex. at Marakissa.

6. African Darter Anhinga rufa
3 ex. at Abuko; a few ex. at Tendaba and Marakissa

7. White-backed Night Heron Gorsachius leuconotus
3 ad. at Abuko

8. Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
1 ad. at Abuko

9. Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Everywhere.

10. Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides
Small numbers in each wetland.

11. Striated Heron Butorides striatus
Small numbers in appropriate habitat (mangroves); once 2 ex. in a palm tree at Badala Park.

12. Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia
A few ex. at the Kotu Stream area and around the Casino Cycle Track.

13. Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis
Small numbers in most wetlands

14. Little Egret Egretta garzetta
A few ex. at Tendaba

15. Great White Egret Casmerodius albus
A few ex. at the Kote Stream area and te Casino Cycle Track, also singles at Pirang and Tendaba.

16. Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala
2 ex. flying over Kotu Creek; 1 ex. at Abuko; 1 ex. at Tendaba

17. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Small numbers in most wetlands.

18. Goliath Heron Ardea goliath
1 ex. at Lamin Lodge; 2 ex. at Tendaba

19. Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
Sinles at Abuko, Tendaba and Kotu.

20. Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus
About 5 ex. at Brumen Bridge; 1 ex. at Tendaba

21. Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis
About 15 ex. at Pirang; a few ex. at Brumen Bridge; 2 ex. at Tendaba.

22. Spur-winged Goose Plectropterus gambensis
A few ex. at Brumen Bridge and Tendaba.

23. White-faced Whistling Duck Dendrocygna viduata
Daily seen and heard at the Kotu Stream area.

24. Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus
7 ex. in the fields around the Casino Cycle Track; 1 ex. flying over at Tendaba.

25. Osprey Pandion haliaetus
1 ex. at Tanji.

26. African Harrier-hawk Polyboroides typus
Small numbers on most locations.

27. Palm-nut Vulture Gypohierax angolensis
Singles on most locations.

28. Pied Crow Corvus albus
Everywhere at the coast.

29. Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus
Abundant everywhere.

30. White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus
2 ex. along the road to Tendaba.

31. African Fish Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer
1 ex. flying over at Tendaba.

32. Wahlberg's Eagle Aquila wahlbergi
1 ex. of the dark phase flying over at Marakissa.

33. Long-crested Eagle Lophaetus occipitalis
1 ex. flying over at Marakissa; 1 ex. in a tree at Faraba Banta bushtrack.

34. Bataleur Terathopius ecaudatus
5 ad. along the road to Tendaba.

35. Brown Snake Eagle Circaetus cinereus
1 ad. flying over at Faraba Banta bushtrack

36. Western Banded Snake Eagle Circaetus cinerascens
1 ad. at Faraba Banta bushtrack

37. Black Kite Milvus migrans
Seen on most locations.

38. Yellow-billed Kite Milvus migrans parasitus
1 ex. flying over the Casino Cycle Track; 1 ex . along Black Kites at Abuko; a few ex. along the road to Tendaba.

39. Grasshopper Buzzard Butastur rufipennis
A few ex. along the road to Tendaba; 2 ex. at Faraba Banta bushtrack.

40. Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus
Singles seen at most locations.

41. Dark-chanting Goshawk Melierax metabates
Singles seen at Yundum South, along the road to Tendaba, Marakissa and Faraba Banta bushtrack.

42. Shikra Accipiter badius
Small numbers om most locations.

43. Lizard Buzzard Kaupifalco monogrammicus
1 ex. at Brufut Woods; a few ex. at Marakissa.

44. Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus
1 ad. at Yundum South.

45. Red-necked Falcon Falco chiquera
Min. 2 ex. along the Casino Cycle Track; 1 ex. at Yundum South.

46. Grey Kestrel Falco ardosiaceus
2 ex. at Bijolo Forest Park; 1 ex. at Brufut; 1 ex. along the Cycle Track; 1 ex. at Marakissa.

47. Double-spurred Francolin Francolinus bicalcaratus
Daily a few birds.

48. Black Crake Amaurornis flavirostris
1 ad. + 1 juv. at Abuko.

49. Greater Painted-snipe Rostratula benghalensis
1 male at the fields along Kotu Creek; 1 male + 2 females along the Casino Cycle Track.

50. African Jacana Actophilornis africanus
A few ex. at the Kotu Stream area, the Casino Cycle Track and Marakissa.

51. Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola
A few ex. at Tendaba 'Airport' field.

52. Senegal Thick-knee Burhinus senegalensis
Small numbers in most wetlands, once 7 at Kotu Creek.

53. Black-headed Plover Vanellus tectus
A few ex. on the Fajara Golf Court.

54. Spur-winged Plover Vanellus spinosus
Everywhere.

55. Wattled Plover Vanellus senegallus
Seen on most locations, especially the Fajara Golf Court.

56. Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola
1 at Kotu Creek.

57. Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
2 ex. at Kotu Creek; 1 ex. at Pirang; 1 ex. at Tendaba.

58. Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa
1 ex. at Pirang.

59. Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia
1 ex. at Kotu Creek; a few ex. at Tendaba 'Airport' field.

60. Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
2 ex. at Tendaba.

61. Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus
1 ex. along the Casino Cycle Track.

62. Common Redshank Tringa totanus
1 at Pirang; 2 at Tendaba

63. Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
About 20 ex. at Pirang.

64. Grey-headed Gull Larus cirrocephalus
Abundant at the coast.

65. Slender-billed Gull Larus genei
A few ex. at the Kotu Stream area and Tanji; 1 ex. at Pirang.

66. Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus
1 ad. flying over Kotu Creek.

67. Caspian Tern Sterna caspia
Regulary seen at the coast, great numbers at Tanji.

68. Royal Tern Sterna maxima
Regulary seen at the coast, great numbers at Tanji.

69. Black Tern Chlidonias niger
A few ex. at the Kotu ponds, many ex. flying over sea.

70. Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis
Abundant everywhere.

71. Blue-spotted Wood Dove Turtur afer
2 ex. at Bijolo Forest park; 2 ex. at Brufut.

72. Black-billed Wood Dove Turtur abyssinicus
Seen on most locations.

73. Speckled Pigeon Columba guinea
Seen on most locations.

74. African Green Pigeon Treron calva
3 ex. at Pirang; 4 ex. at Marakissa

75. Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata
Abundant everywhere.

76. African Mourning Dove Streptopelia decipiens
1 at Brufut; a few ex. at Tendaba 'Airport' field; 1 ex. at Marakissa.

77. Vinaceous Dove Streptopelia vinacea
Abundant everywhere.

78. Piapiac Ptilostomus afer
Small numbers on most locations.

79. Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator glandarius
Juv. seen on most locations.

80. Senegal Coucal Centropus senegalensis
Everywhere.

81. Levaillant's Cuckoo Clamator levaillantii
A few ex. at the Kotu Stream area and the Casino Cycle Track; 2 at Brufut.

82. African Cuckoo Cuculus gularis
1 juv. at the Kotu ponds; 1 ad. + 1 juv. at Yundum South; 1 ad. at Marakissa; 1 ad. at Faraba Banta bushtrack.

83. Klaas's Cuckoo Chrysococcyx klaas
3 ad. at Brufut

84. Diederik Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius
2 ad. along the Casino Cycle Track; 1 juv. at Marakissa; 1 ad. at Faraba Banta bushtrack.

85. White-faced Scops Owl Otus leucotis
1 ex. at the Casino scrub.

86. Pearl-spotted Owlet Glaucidium perlatum
2 ex. along the Casino Cycle Track; 1 at Marakissa.

87. Long-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus climacurus
1 male at the Casino Scrub.

88. Standard-winged Nightjar Macrodipteryx longipennis
A few ex. at the Casino scrub ( without the extended flags )

89. Little Swift Apus affinis
Everywhere.

90. Mottled Spinetail Telacanthura ussheri
About 5 ex. at Brufut; 1 ex. at Pirang; 1 ex. at Bijolo Forest Park.

91. African Palm Swift Cypsiurus parvus
Abundant everywhere.

92. Green Wood Hoopoe Phoeniculus purpureus
Seen on most locations, usually small flocks.

93. Giant Kingfisher Megaceryle maxima
1 female at Kotu Creek; 1 female at Marakissa.

94. Woodland Kingfisher Halcyon senegalensis
Small numbers on most locations.

95. Blue-breasted Kingfisher Halcyon malimbica
Singles on most locations.

96. Striped Kingfisher Halcyon chelicuti
2 ex. at Brufut; 2 ex. along the road to Tendaba.

97. Grey-headed Kingfisher Halcyon leucocephala
1 ex. at Kotu Creek

98. Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis
Commonest kingfisher, seen on most locations.

99. African Pygmy Kingfisher Ceyx picta
Singles at Brufut, Tanji, Abuko and Bijolo.

100. Malachite Kingfisher Alcedo cristata
Seen on most locations.

101. Broad-billed Roller Eurystomus glaucurus
Seen on most locations.

102. Blue-bellied Roller Coracias cyanogaster
Seen on most locations.

103. Rufous-crowned Roller Coracias naevia
2 ex. at Tanji; 1 ex. at Lamin Lodge; 1 ex. at Bijolo Forest Park; 1 ex. at Marakissa; 1 ex. at Faraba Banta

104. Abyssinian Roller Coracias abyssiniica
Seen on most locations.

105. Swallow-tailed Bee-eater Merops hirundineus
3 at Brufut; 2 at Yundum South.

106. Little Bee-eater Merops pusillus
Everywhere.

107. White-throated Bee-eater Merops albicollis
3 at the Casino scrub; 1 at the scrub around the Senegambia Hotel.

108. Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri
Everywhere.

109. Senegal Parrot Poicephalus senegalus
A few ex. at the Fajara Golf Court, Tendaba, Marakissa and the Casino Cycle Track.

110. Brown-necked Parrot Poicephalus robustus
A flock of 6 birds flying over at Faraba Banta bushtrack.

111. Violet Turaco Musophaga violacea
1 ex. flying over Kotu Creek; 1 ex. at Abuko; 1 ex. at Marakissa

112. Western Grey Plantain-eater Crinifer piscator
Seen on most locations.

113. Green Turaco Turaco persa
1 ex. at Marakissa.

114. Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus chrysoconus
Occasionally seen, heard everywhere.

115. Bearded Barbet Lybius dubius
Small numbers on most locations.

116. Vieillot's Barbet Lybius vieilloti
2 ex. at the Casino scrub; 1 at Brufut; 1 at Yundum South.

117. African Pied Hornbill Tockus fasciatus
About 5 ex. at Brufut; 2 ex. at Abuko; 1 ex. along the road to Tendaba.

118. Red-billed Hornbill Tockus erythrorhynchus
Everywhere.

119. African Grey Hornbill Tockus nasatus
Small numbers on most locations.

120. Abyssinian Ground Hornbill Bucorvus abyssinicus
1 female at Brumen Bridge.

121. Grey Woodpecker Dendropicos goertae
Small numbers on most locations.

122. Fine-spotted Woodpecker Campethera punctuligera
2 ex. along the Casino Cycle Track; 1 ex. at Tanji; 2 ex. at Marakissa.

123. Greater Honeyguide Indicator indicator
1 male at Marakissa.

124. Crested Lark Galerida cristata
1 ex. at Pirang.

125. Plain-backed Pipit Anthus leucophrys
1 ex. along Kotu Creek.

126. Fanti Saw-wing Psalidoprocne obscura
About 5 ex . at Brufut; about 20 ex. at Abuko; 1 ex. at Marakissa; 1 ex. at Faraba Banta bushtrack.

127. Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica
A few ex. at Tendaba .

128. Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii
A few ex. at the Kotu Stream area ( about 30 at the Higher Bridge ) and Pirang; 3 ex. at Marakissa.

129. Mosque Swallow Hirundo senegalensis
1 ex. at Yundum South, 2 ex. at Pirang; 1 ex. at the Senegambia Hotel; 1 ex. at Faraba Banta bushtrack; 2 ex. at the Kotu Ponds.

130. Red-chested Swallow Hirundo lucida
Commonest swallow, seen on most locations.

131. African Golden Oriole Oriolus auratus
2 ex. at Brufut; 1 ex. at Marakissa.

132. Red-shouldered Cuckoo-shrike Coracina phoenicea
1 male at Tendaba.

133. Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis
Small numbers on several locations.

134. Square-tailed Drongo Dicrurus ludwigii
1 ex. at Faraba Banta bushtrack.

135. Yellow-throated Longclaw Macronyx croceus
1 ex. at the fields along Kotu Creek.

136. Common Bulbul Pycnonotus barbatus
Everywhere.

137. Yellow-throated Leaflove Chlorocichla flavicollis
1 ex. at Tanji; a few ex. at Marakissa.

138. Little Greenbul Andropadus virens
Many heard at Abuko, difficult to see (only 1).

139. Oriole Warbler Hypergerus atriceps
1 ex. at Kotu Creek ( entrance Kotu Beach Hotel), 2 ex. at Bijolo Forest Park.

140. Blackcap Babbler Turdoides reinwardtii
Small numbers on several locations.

141. Brown Babbler Turdoides plebejus
Small numbers on most locations.

142. White-crowned Robin-chat Cossypha albicapilla
2 ex. at the entrance of the Badala Park Hotel; 1 ex.at the Senegambia Hotel .

143. Snowy-crowned Robin-chat Cossypha niveicapilla
1 ex. along Kotu Creek; 2 ex. at Tanji; 3 ex. at Bijolo Forest Park.

144. African Thrush Turdus pelios
Small numbers on most locations.

145. Singing Cisticola Cisticola cantans
Singles at several locations.

146. Whistling Cisticola Cisticola lateralis
1 ex. at Brufut.

147. Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis
Small numbers on several locations.

148. Tawny-flanked Prinia Prinia subflava
Small numbers on most locations.

149. Green-backed Eremomela Eremomela pusilla
2 ex. at Brufut; 1 ex. at Tendaba; 1 ex. at Marakissa; a few ex. at Faraba Banta bushtrack.

150. Northern Crombec Sylvietta brachyura
1 ex. along the Casino Cycle Track; 1 ex. at Tanji; 2 ex. at Yundum South.

151. Grey-backed Camaroptera Camaroptera brachyura
Small numbers on several locations.

152. Yellow Penduline Tit Anthoscopus parvulus
4 ex. at Yundum

153. African Blue Flycatcher Elminia longicauda
2 ex. at Tendaba.

154. Common Wattle-eye Platysteira cyanea
About 5 ex. at Abuko; a few calling at Lamin Lodge; 1 ex. at Bijolo Forest Park.

155. Senegal Batis Batis senegalensis
1 male at Brufut.

156. Northern Black Flycatcher Melaenornis edolioides
Singles seen at the Casino Cycle Track, Tanji and Marakissa.

157. Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher Tersiphone rufiventer
1 female at Marakissa.

158. Variable Sunbird Nectarinia venusta
Small numbers on most locations.

159. Scarlet-chested Sunbird Nectarinia senegalensis
2 males + 1 female at Brufut

160. Splendid Sunbird Nectarinia coccinigaster
A few ex. at te Kotu Stream area and Brufut.

161. Beautiful Sunbird Nectarinia pulchella
Small numbers on most locations.

162. Copper Sunbird Nectarinia cuprea
Single males at Brufut, Fajara Golf Court, Badala Park Hotel. 2 males at Kotu Creek.

163. Black-crowned Tchagra Tchagra senegala
Small numbers on several locations.

164. Northern Puffback Dryoscopus gambensis
1 female at Bijolo Forest Park.

165. Yellow-crowned Gonolek Laniarius barbarus
Many heard, also seen on several locations.

166. White-crested Helmet Shrike Prionops plumatus
2 ex. at Marakissa.

167. Yellow-billed Shrike Corvinella corvina
Everywhere.

168. Greater Blue-eared Glossy Starling Lamprotornis chalybaeus
At least 1 ex. at Tendaba; 1 ex. at Marakissa

169. Lesser Blue-eared Glossy Starling Lamprotornis chloropterus
2 ex. at Lamin Lodge; a few ex. at Tendaba; 1 ex. at Fajara Golf Court.

170. Purple Glossy Starling Lamprotornis purpureus
Small numbers on several locations.

171. Long-tailed Glossy Starling Lamprotornis caudatus
Everywhere.

172. Violet-backed Starling Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
About 5 males + 1 female at Brufut; 1 male at Tanji; 1 male + 2 females at Pirang.

173. Yellow-billed Oxpecker Buphagus africanus
5 ex. at Brufut; about 5 ex. at Pirang; 1 ex. at Tendaba

174. Yellow-fronted Canary Serinus mozambicus
1 male at Brufut, Pirang and Faraba Banta bushtrack; 2 ex. at Marakissa.

175. House Sparrow Passer domesticus
Small numbers on several locations.

176. Grey-headed Sparrow Passer griseus
Everywhere.

177. Bush Petronia Petronia dentata
1 female at the Casino scrub.

178. White-billed Buffalo-weaver Bubalornis albirostris
Some colonies on several locations (Kotu Stream area, Marakissa)

179. Northern Red Bishop Euplectes fransiscanus
Everywhere, but in non-breeding plumage. Some males were moulting.

180. Yellow-crowned Bishop Euplectes afer
A few males in breeding plumage at Tendaba 'Airport'.

181. Heuglin's Masked Weaver Ploceus heuglini
1 male at Yundum South.

182. Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus
Abundant everywhere.

183. Little Weaver Ploceus luteolus
1 male at Yundum South; 1 male at Marakissa.

184. Black-necked Weaver Ploceus nigricollis
About 5 ex. at Abuko. (males and females)

185. Orange-cheeked Waxbill Estrilda melpoda
2 ex. along Kotu Creek.

186. Lavender Waxbill Estrilda caerulescens
A few ex. at Brufut, Abuko, Yundum South en Marakissa.

187. Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu Uraeginthus bengalus
Small numbers on most locations.

188. Red-billed Firefinch Lagonostica senegala
Small numbers on most locations.

189. African Silverbill Lonchura cantans
2 ex. at Fajara Golf Court; 3 ex. at the garden of the Badala Park Hotel; 2 ex. along the Casino Cycle Track.

190. Bronze Mannikin Lonchura cucullata
Everywhere.

191. Village Indigobird Vidua chalybeata
2 males at the Casino Cycle Track.