Bird names generally follow "A Field Guide to Birds of The Gambia and Senegal" (Barlow et al.). The number of days on which a species was seen (out of a total of eight and including the two part-days) is given after the name (e.g.4/8).
LITTLE GREBE 1/8: only at Kotu sewage farm where 20+.
GREAT WHITE PELICAN 1/8: a flock of 30 soaring near Brumen Bridge on 20 Nov.
PINK-BACKED PELICAN 5/8: 100+ at Pirang and a few on the Tanji islands. Widespread up-river: present at Brumen Bridge and Tendaba plus additional sightings of soaring flocks.
HAMERKOP 5/8: small numbers (between one and three) seen at Kotu Bridge, Pirang, Tendaba and Brufut.
LONG-TAILED CORMORANT 4/8: seen in small numbers only (maximum of four at Pirang): also at Kotu and Basse (singles).
GREAT CORMORANT 1/8: four on the islands off Tanji.
AFRICAN DARTER 2/8: seen at Pirang (two) and Tendaba (six plus).
WHITE-BACKED NIGHT HERON 1/8: one skulking in dense mangrove at Tendaba as we drifted slowly past with the engine cut. The eyes of this species are truly huge!
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON 4/8: seen at Kotu bridge (four), Georgetown (ten plus) and Abuko (one). The Abuko bird was in daylight but elsewhere at dawn and dusk only.
CATTLE EGRET 7/8: common and widespread (e.g. up to 100+ at both Pirang and Jakhaly).
SQUACCO HERON 5/8: 20+ at Kotu and at Jakhaly; also at Tendaba (ten) and Brufut (two).
STRIATED HERON 6/8: widespread in small numbers (up to four at Tendaba; one or two at Kotu, Basse, Brufut, Abuko and Pirang).
BLACK EGRET 1/8: only at Pirang were probably at least 50.
INTERMEDIATE EGRET 2/8: the least common of the white egrets in our experience. We saw singles at Kotu sewage farm and Pirang but may have overlooked others.
WESTERN REEF HERON 7/8: frequent and widespread (up to ten) on the coast (Kotu, Tanji) and at wetlands (Pirang, Tendaba). All the birds we saw were dark phase.
LITTLE EGRET 3/8: uncommon. We saw small numbers (ones and twos only) at Pirang, Tendaba and near Soma.
GREAT WHITE EGRET 5/8: fairly frequent (up to ten) in wetlands and at Kotu.
BLACK-HEADED HERON 3/8: ten at Abuko, six at Pirang and two at Soma.
GREY HERON 6/8: widespread but in small numbers only, except at Tendaba where up to ten.
GOLIATH HERON 1/8: seen only in the Tendaba mangroves (at least four birds).
PURPLE HERON 2/8: three at Pirang and one at Tendaba.
WOOLLY-NECKED STORK 1/8: about a dozen in the mangroves at Tendaba.
MARABOU 1/8: four in trees at a small roadside village near Georgetown (known colony site).
YELLOW-BILLED STORK 2/8: a large flock of 100+ was at Pirang and six were soaring with Great White Pelicans near Brumen Bridge.
AFRICAN SPOONBILL 1/8: just one at Pirang (in flight amongst Yellow-billed Storks).
BLACK CROWNED CRANE 1/8: two adult birds seen well on one of the ponds at Pirang.
GREATER FLAMINGO 1/8: a solitary immature bird at Pirang was our only record.
SPUR-WINGED GOOSE 2/8: two at Jakhaly rice-fields and one at Tendaba airfield.
WHITE-FACED WHISTLING DUCK 2/8: only seen around Kotu, with up to nine birds at the sewage farm and in the marsh by the cycle track.
NORTHERN SHOVELER 1/8: two at Pirang.
GARGANEY 1/8: two with the Shovelers at Pirang.
SACRED IBIS 1/8: two at Pirang.
HADADA 1/8: at least six from the dawn river crossing at Georgetown.
OSPREY 3/8: one at Pirang and up to three at Tendaba, but eclipsed by at least 20 loafing on the islands off Tanji.
AFRICAN HARRIER-HAWK 7/8: widespread and frequent, typically in ones and twos but with a total of six at Faraba Banta.
PALM-NUT VULTURE 2/8: not particularly widespread but quite numerous around Pirang (six) and Faraba Banta (eight), plus one at Brumen Bridge.
PIED CROW 8/8: common and widespread. Up to 50 in a day at the coast but much smaller numbers up-river.
HOODED VULTURE 8/8: common everywhere, typically soaring overhead (100+ seen most days). Also scavenging for scraps at Tanji seafront and Abuko animal sanctuary.
RUPPELL'S GRIFFON 1/8: one or two soaring amongst Hooded Vultures at Bansang (well up-river).
WHITE-BACKED VULTURE 1/8: two or three spotted from the car between Basse and Bansang.
MARTIAL EAGLE 1/8: a single high overhead at Faraba Banta. A monster!
AFRICAN FISH EAGLE 1/8: an adult along the river at Tendaba and an immature in the mangroves there.
TAWNY EAGLE 1/8: one seen well at Faraba Banta.
WAHLBERG'S EAGLE 1/8: two seen while driving up-river on 18 Nov (one perched in a tall tree near Pirang and one over the road in CRD).
AFRICAN HAWK EAGLE 1/8: one passed overhead near Brumen Bridge on 18 Nov.
BOOTED EAGLE 1/8: one dark-phase over the road near Bansang.
LONG-CRESTED EAGLE 3/8: one at Yundum, three at Pirang/Faraba Banta and one Brumen Bridge.
BATELEUR 1/8: three seen from Brumen Bridge on 18 Nov - a female at quite close range and two more distant birds.
SHORT-TOED EAGLE 3/8: three roadside singles seen, all at the coast - all appeared to be of the European race.
BLACK KITE: 7/8: widespread but not in huge numbers. Day max near the coast was ten; up to 20 at Tendaba. All birds seen well enough were "Yellow-billed Kites" - a worthy split?
GRASSHOPPER BUZZARD 3/8: one at Faraba Banta was our only sighting near the coast. Another half-dozen were seen up-river, in ones and twos.
BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE 4/8: fairly frequent and widespread at the coastal sites (up to six in a day). One at Basse was our only up-river record.
MONTAGU'S HARRIER 2/8: single 'ringtails' at Faraba Banta and Jakhaly.
EURASIAN MARSH HARRIER 4/8: two or three at Pirang, one at Jakhaly, one at Basse and two at Tendaba.
DARK CHANTING GOSHAWK 5/8: a few scattered singles at the coast, including four at Faraba Banta. Fairly frequent up-river (ten seen on the drive to Georgetown).
SHIKRA 6/8: one or two seen most days; regular around Kotu.
LIZARD BUZZARD 2/8: singles at Brufut, Tanji and near Kotu. All perched prominently.
LANNER 3/8: singles at Yundum and Basse and two at Pirang.
GREY KESTREL 3/8: singles at Faraba Banta and Brufut and two at Jakhaly.
DOUBLE-SPURRED FRANCOLIN 6/8: small numbers (typically two or three) seen at most coastal sites. Showed well early morning at Kotu sewage farm.
FOUR-BANDED SANDGROUSE 2/8: ca.20 at Seleti water hole, arriving during 1850-1900hrs. Also one or two flew past at Georgetown as we left the ferry at dusk on 18 Nov.
BLACK CRAKE 1/8: one skulking in the small marsh at Brufut.
AFRICAN JACANA 4/8: small numbers (one or two only) at Abuko, Pirang and Brufut pool; about six at Jakhaly rice fields.
EGYPTIAN PLOVER 1/8: eight seen from the jetty at Basse were the highpoint of the trip.
SPOTTED THICK-KNEE 1/8: a single bird seen briefly at close range in thick bush between Basse and Bansang, just a few yards in off the main road.
SENEGAL THICK-KNEE 5/8: regular at Kotu creek (up to six); a flock of 20 at Pirang and a few at Tendaba.
BLACK-HEADED PLOVER 1/8: about a dozen at Basse fields and two at Tendaba airfield.
SPUR-WINGED PLOVER 7/8: frequent (up to 20 birds together) in fields and wetlands, from coast to Basse. Daily in Kotu creek.
WATTLED PLOVER 6/8: frequent and widespread (flocks up to 15), usually in dry fields/open ground but also in Kotu creek. Also well up-river.
GREY PLOVER 4/8: small numbers in Kotu creek; 20+ at Pirang.
AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER 1/8: one (in juvenile type plumage) flew past at close range on Tanji spit, late afternoon on 21 Nov. It continued north without stopping, calling frequently.
LITTLE RINGED PLOVER 4/8: one or two at Kotu and Pirang; up to 20 at Tendaba.
RINGED PLOVER 3/8: small numbers (up to ten) at Kotu, Pirang and Tanji.
KENTISH PLOVER 2/8: at least two at Pirang and one at Tanji.
EURASIAN CURLEW 1/8: two birds at Tanji; they showed features of the race orientalis.
WHIMBREL 6/8: frequent both at the coast and on the river; max of up to 30 at Tendaba.
BLACK-TAILED GODWIT 2/8: a few at Kotu but ca.30 at Pirang.
BAR-TAILED GODWIT 4/8: a few at Kotu but ca.50 at Tanji.
GREENSHANK 6/8: widespread in small numbers; max 30+ at Tendaba.
MARSH SANDPIPER 2/8: just two singles, at Pirang and Tendaba.
COMMON SANDPIPER 7/8: common (up to 20+) at coast and all wetlands.
GREEN SANDPIPER 3/8: scattered ones and twos (Pirang, Seleti, Jakhaly and Basse).
WOOD SANDPIPER 7/8: frequent in usual areas (max 20+ at Kotu sewage farm).
REDSHANK 4/8: widespread in small numbers, but up to 20 at Kotu sewage farm.
OYSTERCATCHER 1/8: a single at Tanji was the only sighting.
BLACK-WINGED STILT 2/8: ca50 at Kotu sewage farm and ca15 near Soma.
RUFF 2/8: ten at Pirang, then a flock of 200+ in flight at Jakhaly rice fields.
COMMON SNIPE 1/8: one flushed at Jakhaly rice fields.
TURNSTONE 2/8: ten at Pirang; 50+ at Tanji.
RED KNOT 1/8: at Pirang only, where about half a dozen among other small waders.
LITTLE STINT 3/8: at least 200 on one of the lagoons at Pirang; ten at Tendaba and Tanji.
SANDERLING 2/8: ten at Pirang and ca50 at Tanji.
DUNLIN 1/8: only at Pirang, where half a dozen among the other waders.
CURLEW SANDPIPER 1/8: ca200 mixed with the stints etc at Pirang.
ARCTIC SKUA 1/8: a single bird among the gulls and terns on the Tanji islands.
AUDOUIN'S GULL 1/8: ca.100 birds on the Tanji islands.
GREY-HEADED GULL 3/8: common (maybe 500) at Tanji; a few at Kotu creek. We didn't see any Black-headed Gulls, despite checking carefully at Tanji (trip-tick!).
SLENDER-BILLED GULL 2/8: 11 at Pirang and ca.20 around Tanji.
KELP GULL 1/8: a single bird among other gulls at Tanji seafront. It was an adult bird and surprisingly distinctive, with a rather awkward jizz and small-eyed look.
YELLOW-LEGGED GULL 1/8: small numbers only at Tanji - greatly outnumbered by LBBs.
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL 3/8: small numbers around Kotu and Pirang, but an estimated 3000 on the Tanji islands.
CASPIAN TERN 4/8: small numbers at Kotu and up-river at Tendaba. At Tanji there were small numbers on the seafront but then a massive flock of ca. 4,000 on the islands.
ROYAL TERN 3/8: small numbers at Kotu (but note that we spent very little time looking at the sea here). At Tanji there were small numbers on the seafront, then a huge flock (estimated at around 10,000 Royals) roosting on the islands, mixed with Caspians - wow!
LESSER CRESTED TERN 1/8: a single bird among Royals along Tanji seafront.
SANDWICH TERN 2/8: small numbers at Kotu; ca. 1,000 on the Tanji islands.
GULL-BILLED TERN 3/8: singles at Pirang and Tendaba, and two on the wetland at Soma.
COMMON TERN 3/8: in numbers off Kotu and ca. 2,000 at Tanji. Islands.
BLACK TERN 1/8: two along Tanji seafront and a single on the islands among other terns.
LITTLE TERN 1/8: three at Pirang.
LAUGHING DOVE 7/8: common and widespread.
BLUE-SPOTTED WOOD DOVE 3/8: common at Abuko (though more often heard than seen); also at Brufut).
BLACK-BILLED WOOD DOVE 6/8: common in the bush (e.g. Faraba Banta and up-river); two or three seen daily but calls heard frequently in bush areas.
SPECKLED PIGEON 6/8: common (e.g. around airport); flocks up to ca50 birds.
BRUCE'S GREEN PIGEON 1/8: two perched up in a tree at Tendaba airfield gave close views.
NAMAQUA DOVE 5/8: widespread and quite frequent in ones and twos, typically flying up from the roadside.
RED-EYED DOVE 8/8: abundant (daily estimates up to 100+). The call is ubiquitous and transcribes as: "I am the Red-eyed Dove" (speeds up towards end).
AFRICAN MOURNING DOVE 2/8: by far the least common of the "collared doves". Not seen near the coast but frequent at Tendaba (mangroves) and also a few roadside birds up-river.
VINACEOUS DOVE 8/8: abundant everywhere (100+/day) and calls ubiquitous; probably even commoner than Red-eyed Dove (and much smaller).
PIAPIAC 5/8: quite frequent in flocks of up to ten (usually not far from human habitation); present around Kotu and up-river as far as Basse. The pink-billed juveniles are especially smart.
BLACK COUCAL 1/8: two birds (an immature and a black adult) perched up at Basse fields.
SENEGAL COUCAL 8/8: frequent. A few seen daily and others heard (a skulker, but up to six showed well around Kotu).
LEVAILLANT'S CUCKOO 3/8: singles at Yundum, Pirang, Faraba Banta and Tendaba.
KLAAS'S CUCKOO 1/8: one male at Brufut.
VERREAUX'S EAGLE OWL 1/8: one roosting in a tall tree at Abuko on our last morning. It was along the western trail, in the vicinity of (I think) marker post 34, high up under the canopy.
AFRICAN SCOPS OWL 1/8: one spotlighted at Brufut, close to the main path; several heard at Tendaba.
PEARL-SPOTTED OWLET 2/8: two in an acacia at Faraba Banta; one at Kotu.
EUROPEAN NIGHTJAR 1/8: one was spotlighted (and photographed) on the road at Tendaba airfield on 19 Nov: according to Barlow et al there are no modern Gambian records of this species. Our bird was possibly of the paler North African race meridionalis.
LONG-TAILED NIGHTJAR 3/8: seen on two evenings (up to two birds together) in the Palma Rima scrub (behind the beach) at Kotu; one spotlighted at Tendaba.
STANDARD-WINGED NIGHTJAR 1/8: one with the Long-tailed Nightjars at Kotu on the first evening (without standards a small stumpy nightjar with very rapid flight).
PALLID SWIFT 1/8: one over Basse was, amazingly, the only "common-type" swift of the trip.
LITTLE SWIFT 6/8: locally abundant upriver (in 100's); small numbers at the coast.
MOTTLED SPINETAIL 3/8: small numbers (up to six) at Seleti, Brufut and at a couple of roadside stops up-river (e.g. near Brumen Bridge).
AFRICAN PALM SWIFT 5/8: widespread and common at the coast (day estimates up to 500); also up-river as far as Brumen Bridge at least.
GREEN WOOD HOOPOE 5/8: fairly common at the coast (e.g. up to ten around Kotu).
HOOPOE 2/8: one near Pirang and one at Tendaba.
GIANT KINGFISHER 1/8: a female from one of the small hides at Abuko.
WOODLAND KINGFISHER 3/8: singles at Kotu, near Pirang and at Tendaba.
BLUE-BREASTED KINGFISHER 2/8: only in the Tendaba mangroves (where up to10+).
STRIPED KINGFISHER 1/8: one at Faraba Banta.
GREY-HEADED KINGFISHER 1/8: three in the Tendaba mangroves.
PIED KINGFISHER 5/8: common at wetlands (e.g. at Kotu creek).
MALACHITE KINGFISHER 3/8: singles at Pirang, Brufut pool and Tendaba mangroves.
BROAD-BILLED ROLLER 4/8: small numbers (no more than two or three together) seen at Kotu (near the bridge at dusk), and at Pirang, Brufut and Tendaba.
BLUE-BELLIED ROLLER 5/8: seen at most of the coastal sites (up to ten in a day), but only once up river.
RUFOUS-CROWNED ROLLER 3/8: the least frequently seen roller - two near Yundum, one roadside bird up-river, and one at Tendaba.
ABYSSINIAN ROLLER 6/8: widespread, with up to six in a day at the coast; 20+ on the drive up-river and frequent also at for example Tendaba and Basse fields.
SWALLOW-TAILED BEE-EATER 4/8: singles at Yundum, Abuko and Tendaba; six Brufut.
NORTHERN CARMINE BEE-EATER 1/8: about a dozen flying high over Basse fields.
BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATER 5/8: widespread and frequent, typically hawking high overhead (e.g. up to 20+ at Abuko and Pirang); also up-river and at Tendaba.
EUROPEAN BEE-EATER 2/8: groups of ca.12 seen up-river near Brumen Bridge and Basse.
LITTLE BEE-EATER 7/8: widespread in small numbers (up to half a dozen together); seen several times near Kotu bridge.
WHITE-THROATED BEE-EATER 1/8: at least ten in the mangroves at Tendaba.
RED-THROATED BEE-EATER 1/8: seen at the Bansang quarry stakeout (20+). These are stunning birds and arguably the best looking bee-eater in Gambia..
ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET 7/8: widespread; day maximum of 20+ at Tendaba.
SENEGAL PARROT 6/8: widespread. Small numbers seen at many coastal sites, including Kotu.; commonest at Tendaba, where up to 20+ in a day.
VIOLET TURACO 3/8: up to ten seen on both trips to Abuko (surprisingly showy - expect them in the tall forest a few hundred meters inside the entrance); also two at Brufut (one of which was a juvenile, lacking the bright bill shield).
GREEN TURACO 2/8: at least one with Violet Turacos at Abuko, and two showed well at Brufut.
WETSERN GREY PLAINTAIN-EATER 6/8: common and widespread.
YELLOW-FRONTED TINKERBIRD 1/8: only at Faraba Banta, where one seen well and several others heard calling.
BEARDED BARBET 6/8: widespread, both at the coast and up-river; up to ten in a day.
VIEILLOT'S BARBET 1/8: only at Tendaba (three in tree-tops near the airfield).
AFRICAN PIED HORNBILL 1/8: four on the first visit to Abuko.
RED-BILLED HORNBILL 7/8: common and widespread - a frequent roadside bird (up to 20 in a day or until we stopped counting!).
AFRICAN GREY HORNBILL 6/8: fairly common (up to six in a day) at several coastal sites and also at Tendaba.
GREY WOODPECKER 5/8: seen at several coastal sites, with a maximum of four at Brufut.
FINE-SPOTTED WOODPECKER 2/8: one at Kotu and a pair at Yundum.
GREATER HONEYGUIDE 1/8: one in the mangroves at Tendaba.
BLACK-CROWNED SPARROW-LARK 1/8: what appeared to be an obvious male of this species was seen perched (briefly but well) on top of a bush near Bansang on 19 Nov - there are no Gambian records of this species according to Barlow et al. but it is apparently spreading south in Senegal. The bird showed the black underparts and striking black and white head pattern of a sparrow-lark, but the wings and upperparts were pale grayish brown, without any trace of chestnut.
CHESTNUT-BACKED SPARROW-LARK 1/8: good views of a pair on a track at Pirang.
CRESTED LARK 1/8: quite numerous (10+) at Pirang.
PLAIN-BACKED PIPIT 1/8: two at Pirang showed well.
TREE PIPIT 1/8: at least one among flava wagtails at Pirang.
FANTI SAW-WING 3/8: small numbers (max. four) at Abuko, Seleti and Brufut.
RED-RUMPED SWALLOW 4/8: fairly common at Pirang (20+) and widespread up-river (for example around roadside villages).
PIED-WINGED SWALLOW 1/8: one showed briefly as it flew over the road near Pirang.
WIRE-TAILED SWALLOW 4/8: singles at Kotu Bridge and Yundum, a dozen at Pirang and small numbers among other hirundines during drive up-river.
MOSQUE SWALLOW 3/8: on the coast at Pirang and Yundum (up to ten); one at Bansang.
BARN SWALLOW 2/8: surprisingly rare - just one or two among other hirundines at Pirang and Tendaba.
RED-CHESTED SWALLOW 5/8: fairly widespread but not in huge numbers - maxima of about 20 at Tanji and Tendaba.
HOUSE MARTIN 2/8: small numbers seen while driving up-river, then 100+ at Tendaba.
SAND MARTIN 1/8: one or two among other hirundines at Tendaba.
AFRICAN GOLDEN ORIOLE 1/8: three (one male and two females) gave excellent views at Brufut.
FORK-TAILED DRONGO 5/8: fairly widespread in wooded habitats - peak of six at Tendaba.
YELLOW WAGTAIL 1/8: ca50 unidentified flavas along one of the bunds at Pirang.
WHITE WAGTAIL 2/8: two or three at Tendaba were the only ones of the trip.
COMMON BULBUL 5/8: fairly common and widespread - typically up to a dozen in a day.
LITTLE GREENBUL 2/8: up to two seen at Abuko (both visits).
GREY-HEADED BRISTLEBILL 1/8: a group of six skulking in undergrowth near the animal sanctuary at Abuko on the last morning eventually gave excellent views.
BLACKCAP BABBLER 4/8: up to a dozen at several coastal sites - typical babbler in behaviour.
BROWN BABBLER 4/8: similar status to Blackcap Babbler, but also seen at Tendaba.
WHINCHAT 1/8: one at Pirang.
NORTHERN WHEATEAR 1/8: one at Pirang.
COMMON NIGHTINGALE 1/8: one popped up briefly in full view at Brufut.
WHITE-CROWNED ROBIN-CHAT 2/8: singles near Pirang and at Kotu.
SNOWY-CROWNED ROBIN-CHAT 1/8: three seen at Abuko on our last morning, one of which showed very well (others glimpsed in dense cover).
COMMON REDSTART 1/8: one near Tendaba airfield on 19 Nov.
AFRICAN THRUSH 6/8: frequent in dense undergrowth, especially at Abuko where up to 20+.
GREATER SWAMP WARBLER 1/8: one along a flooded ditch at Jakhaly rice fields.
OLIVACEOUS WARBLER 3/8: not common - we saw a total of three or four at coastal sites and one at Tendaba; some decent views though.
MELODIOUS WARBLER 1/8: one gave good views at Brufut.
SUBALPINE WARBLER 1/8: one in the Kotu mangroves one morning.
WILLOW WARBLER 1/8: one near Pirang was our only sighting.
CHIFFCHAFF 1/8: seen only at Tendaba where there were three in the mangroves.
ZITTING CISTICOLA 2/8: two or three at Pirang and Jakhaly were our only cisticolas of the trip - presumably the rest were all skulking somewhere close-by.
RED-WINGED WARBLER 1/8: a male showed well at Yundum.
TAWNY-FLANKED PRINIA 5/8: fairly frequent in grass/scrub (up to three or four together).
GREEN-BACKED EREMOMELA 3/8: up to three at Yundum, Brufut and near Basse.
NORTHERN CROMBEC 2/8: singles at Yundum and at a roadside stop up-river.
GREY-BACKED CAMAROPTERA 4/8: fairly common in wooded habitats, including at Kotu, Abuko etc.
YELLOW WHITE-EYE 1/8: two or three with Eremomelas in the bush near Basse.
COMMON WATTLE-EYE 3/8: frequent in the Abuko extension (6+ seen) and in the Tendaba mangroves (many calling and one or two seen).
SENEGAL BATIS 1/8: one seen briefly at Basse fields.
NORTHERN BLACK FLYCATCHER 1/8: two at Brufut.
AFRICAN PARADISE FLYCATCHER 1/8: one male at Abuko extension.
RED-BELLIED PARADISE FLYCATCHER 3/8: up to three at Abuko extension; two at Brufut showed white in wings, indicating AfricanXRed-bellied hybrid origin?
SOUTHERN PYGMY SUNBIRD 1/8: one was seen in the Mangroves at Tendaba.
VARIABLE SUNBIRD 5/8: quite frequent at most of the coastal sites, up to two males together.
MOUSE-BROWN SUNBIRD 1/8: at least half a dozen seen in the mangroves at Tendaba.
SCARLET-CHESTED SUNBIRD 2/8: singles on both visits to Abuko (one a male).
SPLENDID SUNBIRD 3/8: in small numbers at the coast (a male at Faraba Banta, a female at Abuko and a pair at Brufut).
BEAUTIFUL SUNBIRD 6/8: the commonest sunbird, fairly frequent at most coastal sites (up to four males together).
COPPER SUNBIRD 2/8: single males near Pirang and at Abuko.
BLACK-CROWNED TCHAGRA 2/8: one gave stunning views at Yundum; heard at Faraba Banta - probably quite common but overlooked due to skulking behaviour.
SULPHUR-BREASTED BUSH SHRIKE 1/8: one in a mixed flock in the Abuko extension on the last morning didn't give itself up easily.
NORTHERN PUFFBACK 4/8: one or two at each of Kotu, Faraba Banta, Brufut and Abuko.
YELLOW-CROWNED GONOLEK 4/8: common based on calls (often pointed out by guides) but not seen that often - one or two showed well at Kotu, Seleti and Tendaba.
YELLOW-BILLED SHRIKE 5/8: fairly frequent at the coast in twos and threes, including at Kotu; also seen at Tendaba. First sighting was from the coach during airport transfer.
GREATER BLUE-EARED GLOSSY STARLING 5/8: identified with certainty at Kotu, Faraba Banta, Yundum and Tendaba - the glossy starlings were often in mixed flocks and when at moderate range or just flying over it was difficult or impossible to be sure of the species; unspecified flocks of up to 30 birds were seen several times at the coast and while driving up-river.
PURPLE GLOSSY STARLING 4/8: small numbers of this relatively distinctive species (the forehead and bill/lores look swollen) were seen at Yundum, Faraba Banta, Tendaba and Brufut.
BRONZE-TAILED GLOSSY STARLING 2/8: identified with certainty at Yundum, Basse fields and Tendaba.
LONG-TAILED GLOSSY-STARLING 6/8: widespread both at the coast and up-river, in flocks of up to 20 birds.
YELLOW-BILLED OXPECKER 1/8: a flock of about a dozen birds was seen on domestic animals by the roadside during our drive up-river (well inland), but flew off as got out of the car.
YELLOW-FRONTED CANARY 3/8: smallish numbers (up to about six together) seen at Yundum, Faraba Banta and Bansang.
HOUSE SPARROW 2/8: just one or two seen in villages at the coast.
GREY-HEADED SPARROW 4/8: fairly common around Kotu and at Faraba Banta.
BUSH PETRONIA 3/8: small numbers (up to six) at Faraba Banta, Bansang and Tendaba.
WHITE-BILLED BUFFALO-WEAVER 5/8: widespread and locally very common. For example 40+ along Kotu cycle track and over 200 at Yundum.
YELLOW-SHOULDERD WIDOWBIRD 1/8: a stunning male flew past along one of the bunds at Pirang.
NORTHERN RED BISHOP 5/8: widespread and fairly common on the coast and up-river at Jakhaly - maximum flock size was 20 birds. Most were female-types but quite a few stunning breeding plumaged males were also seen.
CINNAMON-BREASTED BUNTING 1/8: about six on the cliff face at Bansang quarry.
HEUGLIN'S MASKED WEAVER 2/8: three at Yundum (including a male) and one at Tendaba.
VILLAGE WEAVER 8/8: very common - largest flocks were 100+ at Kotu and 500+ at Pirang.
BLACK-NECKED WEAVER 3/8: one or two seen on both visits to Abuko, and one at Brufut.
ORANGE-CHEEKED WAXBILL 1/8: one coming to drink with other finches at Brufut pool.
LAVENDER WAXBILL 4/8: two or three seen at Kotu cycle track, Tendaba, Brufut and Abuko.
BLACK-RUMPED WAXBILL 1/8: small numbers (up to four together) seen at Faraba Banta, Seleti water-hole and Tendaba.
RED-CHEEKED CORDON-BLEU 6/8: common and widespread.
RED-BILLED FIREFINCH 8/8: common and widespread.
BRONZE MANNIKIN 4/8: up to 20 at Abuko, Faraba Banta and Brufut.
EXCLAMATORY PARADISE WHYDAH 1/8: a male with a full tail was seen in flight during the drive up-river - like a flying stick!
PIN-TAILED WHYDAH 1/8: at least six at Brufut.
VILLAGE INDIGOBIRD 3/8: one or two seen at Faraba Banta and Tendaba, and also during the drive up-river.
QUAIL-FINCH 2/8: three seen in flight only at Pirang were a bit unsatisfactory, but four at Jakhaly rice-fields included stunning close-range views of a male on the ground (after careful stalking and a bit of luck).
253 species