Crew: Angie Baldock, Brian Baldock, Dave Knight, John Wright
Introduction
The Gambia has been a popular birding destination for many years and as a consequence the itineraries and sites are well known and make for familiar reading. This trip was no exception and in the main we visited the well documented locations both on the coast and up river to Basse.
This was my second trip to Gambia, I went for a week in March 1999 but only went up river as far as Tendaba. This was the first visit to Gambia for Angie, Brian and Dave.
We gleaned information from birding internet sites e.g. Surfbirds for trip reports etc prior to travelling. We used A Birdwatchers’ Guide to the Gambia by Rod Ward, which is in need of an update but nevertheless still very useful and A Field Guide to Birds of The Gambia and Senegal by Barlow et al.
We booked a 2 week package holiday from a high street travel agents and stayed in the Hotel Tafbel (3 star) on a bed and breakfast basis. Fortunately the serve yourself breakfast began at 07:00, in fact some mornings it was ready earlier. This suited us fine as it was light enough to start birding around about 07:00 and it got dark at about 19:00. We usually had a break in the early afternoon when it got hot and bird activity ceased. If we were out in the field we just found some shade and ate a packed lunch, otherwise we had a light snack around the pool at the Tafbel.
The location of the Hotel Tafbel (Kololi area) was also ideal for us as it was a 5 minute walk from the Hotel Senegambia with its excellent bird friendly grounds and only a 10 minute walk from the Bijilo forest reserve.
We hired a local guide via the internet some months in advance of travelling and I put together our own itinerary, which was flexible to take advantage of our guides local knowledge and to maximise our birding opportunities once in the Gambia. Our guide was Tijan Kanteh or 'Tijan the Birdman' as he is better known. He is a very good birder, very good on bird calls/songs, knows all the locations and was a good companion. The only time we didn't use his services was when we birded the grounds of the Hotel Senegambia or Bijilo Forest.
As is the norm in Gambia we were constantly asked by would be guides if we required their services - which we didn't. Tijan is well known to the local guides and as soon as we said that we have Tijan as a guide their persistence tended to ebb away. So to sum up we thoroughly recommend Tijan the Birdman as a guide. At the time of booking him the deal was a flat rate fee per person per day (£10) plus petrol. He drove a VW van which gave us plenty of room and was ideal for all the day trips in the coastal area. However, what was sprung upon us once there was that for our day trip to Pirang/Faraba Banta Bush Track and our 5 day up-river trip was the need for a Land Rover. Now I can understand this as the roads and terrain required that type of vehicle. But it would have been helpful to be told in advance that our planned itinerary would need another vehicle as the VW would not be suitable for all trips and more importantly was that we would have to pay extra for the hire of the vehicle and another driver to go with it. So I recommend that you sort all this type of thing out with your guide in advance of travelling. As a matter of interest the Land Rover owner/driver was a very nice man named Camarra and although not a birder was an excellent driver and was willing to go anywhere and more than happy to do night drives for Owls/Nightjars.
As other people have experienced the Gambian people are friendly and helpful and we didn’t encounter any unpleasantness. We were hassled in the coastal resorts just like any other tourist but as long as you remain cool and polite it is easily coped with. Up river the children wave and shout ‘tubab’ and ask for pens or minties (sweets) which we were more than happy to oblige them with.
The whole trip was good value birding but even so there was some highlights – Pygmy Geese, Egyptian Plovers (of course), Helmeted Guineafowl, a group of 13 Abyssinian Ground Hornbills, Yellow-bellied Hyliota and Carmine Bee-eaters.
We were due to return home on Thursday 2nd December but unfortunately a passenger on our flight had a heart attack soon after take-off and so we had to land back at Banjul. We were then not allowed to take-off again due to flight safety regulations and so were put up for an extra night in the Sun Beach Hotel a 10 minute walk from Cape Point. Which was a bonus for us as it meant we had an extra morning birding. The good news was that the passenger who had the heart attack was okay but would have to remain in a Gambian hospital for a week or so.
Itinerary
Thursday 18th November
Arrived Banjul Airport from Gatwick late afternoon and transferred to the Hotel Tafbel arriving at about 18:30.
Friday 19th November
Birded the grounds of the Hotel Senegambia until about 10:00. Met our guide Tijan at the Tafbel as arranged, then birded the Kotu Creek area for the rest of the morning. Relaxed around the pool at the hotel for a couple of hours in the early afternoon before going out again and birding the Kotu Creek and Fajara Golf course area until dusk.
Saturday 20th November
Pirang shrimp farm and Pirang Creek and Mangroves all morning. Faraba Banta Bush Track afternoon.
Sunday 21st November
Met up for the day with two birdwatching friends - Pat and Christopher Dandridge - who were staying in the Senegambia for the week.
Abuko Forest all morning. Marakissa early afternoon till dusk.
Monday 22nd November
The start of our 5 day (4 night) trip up river.
Travelled to Tendaba birding en-route. Arrived Tendaba late afternoon. Tanku Bolon Creek crawl till dark. Night drive for Nightjars/Owls.
Tuesday 23rd November
Pre-breakfast birding around Tendaba. After breakfast, birding en route, we left for the Janjangbureh Tented Camp on the north bank of the Gambia River (crossed to the north bank near Soma). The camp is situated opposite Georgetown Island. Although the accommodation is a bit basic the camp has a great atmosphere and plenty of really good food. We certainly recommend a stay here – good value for money.
Wednesday 24th November
Janjangbureh to Basse, via Bansang Quarry (crossed to the south bank via Georgetown). Overnight at Bird Safari Tented Camp, Georgetown.
Thursday 25th November
Pre-breakfast spent birding the area around the Bird Safari Camp, Georgetown and then travelled back on the south bank to Tendaba, birding en-route. Night drive for nightjars/owls.
Friday 26th November
Birded Tendaba area pre-breakfast. Travelled back to the coast, via Batelling bush track/Brikama Forest/Kiang West. For convenience all bird sightings at Batelling bush track and Brikama have been lumped together in the systematic list as Kiang West.
Saturday 27th November
Tanji all morning and into early afternoon. Grounds of the Senegambia late afternoon till dusk.
Sunday 28th November
Morning: Kachikally Crocodile Pool (Bakau area) - Cape Point - Old Cape Road - Camaloo Corner. It’s worth mentioning here that if you are at all worried about crocodiles you actually walk amongst them at Kachikally Crocodile Pool, albeit they are well fed and very used to people but don’t touch them!!!
Afternoon: Second visit to Kachikally Crocodile Pool - Bund Road and then Kotu Sewage Ponds till dusk.
Monday 29th November
Brufut Woods all morning. Back to the Tafbel for lunch. Yundum for the rest of afternoon till dusk.
Tueday 30th November
Marakissa all day.
Wednesday 1st December
Abuko Forest all morning. Bijilo Forest early afternoon and the Senegambia late afternoon till dusk.
Thursday 2nd December
Would have been the last day.
Bijilo Forest in the morning, Senegambia afternoon. Coach pick-up at 15:00 to take us to Banjul Airport. But arrived at midnight at the Sun Beach Hotel, Cape Point, where we were to stay for the night.
Friday 3rd December
The actual last day.
Birded Cape Point all morning. Coach pick-up early afternoon to take us to Banjul for our early evening flight back to Gatwick.
John Wright
Email: Johnpw2@tiscali.co.uk
Little Grebe
4 at Njau wetland and 15 at Kotu sewage ponds.
Great White Pelican
A few seen at Pirang and Tanji, commoner up river e.g. Tendaba area.
Pink-backed Pelican
Common, for example 100 Bund Road, 70 Pirang. Also seen in good numbers up river.
Hammerkop
Common
Great Cormorant
Just a few seen on the coast.
Long-tailed Cormorant
Common
Little Bittern
1 seen at dusk at Marakissa on the 30th
Dwarf Bittern
1 showed briefly at Marakissa on the 30th
African Darter
Small number noted at Kotu Creek, Bund Road, Tanku Bolon and Georgetown.
White-backed Night Heron
2 flew out from roost at dusk and landed in a tree near our boat whilst we were on the Tanku Bolon creek crawl.
Black-crowned Night Heron
Small numbers seen Kotu Creek, Tendaba, Janjangbureh and Marakissa.
Cattle Egret
Common.
Squacco Heron
Common.
Striated Heron
Common, particularly on the Tanku Bolon creek crawl.
Black Egret
Common.
Intermediate Egret
Fairly common.
Western Reef Heron
Common at the coastal sites
Little Egret
Common
Great White Egret
Common
Black-headed Heron
Common
Grey Heron
Common
Goliath Heron
Singles seen at the following sites: Pirang, Tendaba and the Bund Road.
Purple Heron
Seen at Pirang, Tendaba, Georgetown and Marakissa.
Woolly-necked Stork
2 on the Tanku Bolon creek crawl.
Marabou Stork
3 birds, about 15 minutes drive west of the Georgetown ferry, on the south bank.
African Spoonbill
1 on the Tanku Bolon creek crawl.
Black Crowned Crane
2 at Pirang shrimp ponds on the 20th.
Spur-winged Goose
3 Panchang, 1 Janjangbureh, 10 Prufu swamp, 15 Georgetown and 2 Tendaba.
White-faced Whistling Duck
Small parties in the Kotu Creek area, Pirang, Tendaba, Jakhaly wetland and Tendaba.
African Pygmy Goose
An adult male and female with an Immature. At a lake near Dabala village, between Jakhaly and Tendaba on the 25th
Sacred Ibis
2 on the Tanku Bolon creek crawl and 2 flew over Kotu sewage ponds.
Osprey
Fairly common, seen in small numbers most days.
African Harrier-Hawk (Gymnogene)
Common
Palm-nut Vulture
Common on the coast but also seen up river.
Pied Crow
Common, mainly coastal.
Hooded Vulture
Common
White-backed Vulture
Seen in small numbers from Pirang eastwards, but at least 100 in the Basse area.
Martial Eagle
An immature seen near Soma on the 23rd
African Fish Eagle
A pair along the river at Tendaba and a single at Brumen Bridge.
Wahlberg's Eagle
Singles seen at Kiang west, Janjangbureh and near Basse.
African Hawk Eagle
Singles seen near Kiang West on two occasions, and a single seen near Tendaba.
Booted Eagle
Singles seen at Faraba Banta bush track and near Tendaba.
Red-necked Buzzard
A brief view of a soaring ’buteo’ was almost certainly this species - Bansang Quarry on the 24th.
Long-crested Eagle
Fairly common.
Bateleur
2 seen at Marakissa, 4 Faraba Banta bush track, 5 en-route to Tendaba, 2 Janjangbureh area and 3 Kiang West.
Brown Snake Eagle
1-3 seen at each of the following sites: Faraba Banta bush track, Tendaba area, Janjangbureh area and Prufu swamp near Basse.
Western Banded Snake Eagle
1 Marakissa, 1 Janjangbureh and 1 near Basse.
Beaudouin's Snake Eagle
2 Prufu swamp, 1 near Tendaba and 1 Kiang West.
Black Kite
Common
Yellow-billed Kite
Common
Grasshopper Buzzard
Common inland
Black-shouldered Kite
1-3 at each of the following sites: Faraba Banta bush track, Camaloo Corner, Kotu Creek, Yundum and Marakissa
Montagu's Harrier
2 between Tendaba and Soma, 4 Kaur wetland and 2 near Basse.
Eurasian Marsh Harrier
Fairly common.
Dark Chanting Goshawk
Fairly common away from the coast.
Gabar Goshawk
A dark phase bird near the Bird Safari Camp, Georgetown, on the 25th and a pale phase at Kiang West on the 26th
Shikra
Common
Ovambo Sparrowhawk
Excellent views of one plucking and eating a weaver at Marakissa on the 30th
Lizard Buzzard
Common
Lanner Falcon
1 near the Tafbel Hotel, 2 near Faraba Banta,1 near Soma, 2 Tanji and 3 (a pair and immature) at Yundum.
African Hobby
Singles seen at Faraba Banta bush track, Tendaba and Brufut Woods.
Red-necked Falcon
A pair seen en-route to Pirang and a single at Tendaba
Grey Kestrel
Fairly common
Common Kestrel
A sinlge at Tendaba.
Double-Spurred Francolin
Common, some good views but often flight views only.
Stone Partridge
2 at Faraba Banta bush track and 3 on the side of the road near Soma.
Helmeted Guineafowl
4 in the mangroves and scrub about a kilometre west of Tendaba camp, early morning on the 26th.
Four-banded Sandgrouse
4 on the roadside west of Basse, a confiding individual near the Bird Safari Camp, Georgetown and 14 one evening along the river adjacent to Marakissa River Camp.
Common Moorhen
4 on the roadside lake near Dabala village.
Black Crake
Only seen on 2 occasions – a family party in the Kachikally Crocodile Pool and 3 on a small pond en-route to Tendaba
Greater Painted-Snipe
2 flushed by a dog in the wetland near the Bird Safari Camp, Georgetown.
African Jacana
Commonly seen in suitable wet areas.
Egyptian Plover
All seen east of Tendaba at the following wetlands: 1 at Soma, 10 at Kaur, 8 at Njau, 4 at Panchang and 3 Basse river side.
Collared Pratincole
Approx 600 at Kaur and about 250 at Prufu swamp.
Senegal Thick-Knee
Common, particularly around the mangroves.
Black-headed Plover
Common.
Spur-Winged Plover
Common.
Wattled Plover
Common.
Grey Plover
A few seen at such places as Kotu Creek, Tanji and Bund Road.
Little Ringed Plover
1 at the Kotu Creek rice fields, 1 at Tendaba, 1 Kaur wetland and 2 Cape Point.
Ringed Plover
Fairly common on the coast but also noted up river.
White-fronted Plover
2 at Tanji on the 27th
Kittlitz's Plover
33 at the Kaur wetland on the 23rd
Eurasian Curlew
1-3 seen at each of the following sites: Bund Road, Tanji and Cape Point.
Whimbrel
Small numbers seen at Kotu creek, Pirang, Tanji and Cape Point.
Black-tailed Godwit
Seen at Kotu Creek and near Tendaba.
Bar-tailed Godwit
Seen at Tanji and Bund Road.
Greenshank
Common
Marsh Sandpiper
1 at Soma wetland and 1 at Cape Point.
Common Sandpiper
Common
Green Sandpiper
Fairly common.
Wood Sandpiper
Small numbers seen at Kotu rice fields, Kotu sewage ponds and at various wetlands up river.
Common Redshank
Seen at Kotu Creek, Pirang and Tendaba.
Oystercatcher
1 at Tanji.
Avocet
1 on the Tanku Bolon creek crawl.
Black-winged Stilt
Common
Ruff
10 at Pirang.
Common Snipe
1 at Prufu wetland
Ruddy Turnstone
Seen at Pirang, Tanji and Bund Road.
Red Knot
Only seen at Tanji.
Little Stint
2 at Pirang.
Sanderling
Good numbers at Tanji and Bund Road.
Pomarine Skua
1-3 seen offshore from Tanji and Bijilo.
Grey-headed Gull
Common along the coast.
Slender-billed Gull
2 at Tanji fish beach (south of Tanji reserve), 38 at Bund Road and 6 Cape Point.
Kelp Gull
2 at Tanji fish beach (south of Tanji reserve).
Yellow-legged Gull
Fairly common at Tanji fish beach and Bund Road.
Lesser Black-backed Gull
A few at Tanji reserve and fish beach, Bund Road and Cape Point.
Caspian Tern
Common on the coast but also seen at Pirang.
Royal Tern
1 on the river at Tendaba, 15 at Tanji reserve and alot (no count done) in a mixed flock with Caspian Terns at Bund Road.
Lesser Crested Tern
2 at Bund Road.
Sandwich Tern
Common at the coast.
Gull-billed Tern
Common.
Roseate Tern
1 at Tanji reserve and 2 at Bund Road.
Common Tern
1 offshore from Bijilo.
White-winged Black Tern
1 at Tanji.
Laughing Dove
Common.
European Turtle Dove
2 at Njau.
Blue-spotted Wood Dove
Seen at Abuko and Marakissa.
Black-billed Wood Dove
Common
Feral Pigeon (Rock Dove)
Common around human habitation.
Speckled Pigeon
Common
African Green Pigeon
Small parties seen at Abuko and Marakissa.
Bruce's Green Pigeon
Seen in good numbers up river.
Namaqua Dove
Common, mainly up river.
Red-eyed Dove
Common
African Mourning Dove
Common
Vinaceous Dove
Common
Piapiac
Common in the coastal area.
Senegal Coucal
Common
Levaillant's Cuckoo
1-3 seen on each of 6 days.
African Cuckoo
1 at Yundum on the 29th.
Klaas's Cuckoo
An adult at Brufut Woods on the 29th.
Diederik Cuckoo
An immature at Yundum on the 29th.
Verreaux's Eagle Owl
A single at Tendaba during a night drive. A single at dusk as we approached the Bird Safari Camp, Georgetown and a pair at Brufut Woods at a day roost.
African Scops Owl
A roosting bird near Faraba Banta village.
Barn Owl
A roosting bird seen at Pirang, 1 roosting at Marakissa by the River Camp and 1 flew out of a Hammerkop nest also at Marakissa.
White-faced Scops Owl
1 seen well on a night drive at Tendaba.
Pearl Spotted Owlet
Seen at Fajara Golf Course and Marakissa but heard at a lot of other places.
European Nightjar
1 near the Bird Safari Camp, Georgetown, whilst we were on a night walk and 1 at a daytime roost at Jakhaly wetland.
Long-tailed Nightjar
At least 15 seen on 3 different night drives at Tendaba, Georgetown and near Marakissa..
Little Swift
Common
Pallid Swift
Fairly common
Mottled Spinetail
Only 1 seen, at Kiang West, no doubt overlooked amongst the Little Swifts.
African Palm Swift
Common
Green Wood Hoopoe
Common
Eurasian Hoopoe
1 seen en-route to Tendaba and another at Tanji
Giant Kingfisher
A pair at Marakissa, singles at Cape Point and Abuko.
Woodland Kingfisher
Fairly common away from the coast.
Blue-breasted Kingfisher
Fairly common
Striped Kingfisher
1 on roadside wires just outside the coastal strip and singles at Tendaba, Abuko, Faraba Banta bush track and Kiang West with 2 at Brufut.
Grey-headed Kingfisher
1 seen on the Kantu Bolon creek crawl.
Pied Kingfisher
Common. Of interest 23 came in to a tree roost at Marakissa at dusk on the 30th.
African Pygmy Kingfisher
1 or 2 at Abuko at the crocodile pool and 1 very close from the ‘photographers hide’ by the animal orphanage/zoo also Abuko. 1 at Marakissa.
Malachite Kingfisher
1-2 seen on each of 4 days at: Marakissa, Pirang, Tanku Bolon creek crawl, Jakhaly wetland and Tendaba.
Broad-billed Roller
Common. Often seen in good numbers hawking for insects in the early evening.
Blue-bellied Roller
Common
Rufous-crowned Roller
Common
Abyssinian Roller
Common
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater
Seen in widely scattered locations from the coast e.g. Tanji, Bijilo, Brufut woods and up river at Tendaba.
Northern Carmine Bee-eater
After a rather long and frustrating search at Prufu swamp we finally connected with 2 birds.
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
About 50 Pirang, 30 Cape Point, 100+ Bund Road and about 30 Abuko.
European Bee-eater
100’s on the Tanku Bolon creek crawl with smaller numbers seen in the Tendaba area, Kiang West and Tanji.
Little Bee-eater
Common.
White-throated bee-eater
Small numbers seen en-route to Tendaba and at Tanji.
Red-throated Bee-eater
Excellent views of the breeding colony at Bansang quarry and about 20 birds at Prufu swamp.
Little Green Bee-eater
1 only, in dry thorn bush scrub, way up river on the north bank.
Rose-ringed Parakeet (Ring-necked Parakeet)
Common
Senegal Parrot
Common
Brown-necked Parrot
2 birds at Ndenban wetland.
Violet Turaco
Apart from Abuko, also seen well near Faraba Banta village, Brufut woods and Marakissa.
Western Grey Plantain-eater
Common
Green Turaco
Abuko – 1 on the 21st and 2 on the 1st
Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird
Small numbers seen in a wide scattering of sites.
Bearded Barbet
Fairly common
Vieillot's Barbet
2 at Tanji and 4 at Yundum.
African Pied Hornbill
2 at Brufut woods and 2 at Marakissa.
Red-billed Hornbill
Common
African Grey Hornbill
Common
Abyssinian Ground Hornbill
A group of 13 between Tendaba and Soma on the 23rd.
Grey Woodpecker
Fairly common
Fine-spotted Woodpecker
Fairly common
Brown-backed Woodpecker
1 Faraba Banta bush track and 1 near Tendaba.
Greater Honeyguide
1 Abuko, 1 Panchang, 1 Yundum and 1 Marakissa.
Lesser Honeyguide
4 at Tanji.
Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark
A pair at Soma wetland and about 20 seen at different locations on the north bank en-route to Janjangbureh, plus 2 Jakhaly wetland, 2 Dabala and 3 Kiang West.
Crested Lark
Seen in small numbers at Pirang, Tanji and Cape Point.
Plain-backed Pipit
1 at Cape Point on the 3rd.
Fanti Saw-Wing
Small parties seen at Abuko and Tanji.
Red-rumped Swallow
Common
Pied-winged Swallow
2 at Tanji on the 27th.
Wire-tailed Swallow
Common
Mosque Swallow
Seen in small numbers at Pirang, Tendaba and Georgetown.
Rufous-chested Swallow
Seen in small numbers at Pirang.
Barn Swallow
Seen in small numbers at various locations.
Red-chested Swallow
Common
House Martin
Seen at Pirang and Jakhaly.
Sand Martin
About 40 at the lake near Dabala village.
African Golden Oriole
Fairly common
Red-shouldered Cuckoo-Shrike
A pair in roadside trees, seen whilst en-route to Tendaba on the 23rd.
Square-tailed Drongo
1-2 seen on 4 days, all away from the coast.
Fork-tailed Drongo
Common
Yellow Wagtail
Fairly common.
White Wagtail
Fairly common.
Yellow-throated Longclaw
1 at the Kotu rice fields on the 19th and 3 at Cape Point on the 3rd.
Common Bulbul
Common!!
Yellow-throated Leaflove
3 or 4 seen at Georgetown and about 4 birds at the Kachikally Crocodile Pool.
Little Greenbul
Singles seen at Abuko and Kachikally Crocodile Park.
Oriole Warbler
1-3 seen at each of the following sites: Abuko, Bijilo, Kachikally Croodile Pool and Tanji.
Blackcap Babbler
Common
Brown Babbler
Common
Whinchat
A single bird seen near Kiang West.
Northern Wheatear
A single at Cape Point.
Northern Anteater Chat
2 birds in a village on the north bank, east of Panchang.
White-crowned Robin-Chat
Seen in the Hotel Senegambia grounds, Abuko, Kachikally Crocodile Pool, Georgetown and Marakissa.
Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat
Singles seen at Abuko, Kachikally Crocodile Pool and Bijilo Forest.
African Thrush
Common
Eurasian Reed Warbler
1 at Tendaba.
Western Olivaceous Warbler
Singles at Georgetown, Jakhaly wetland, Hotel Tafbel, Yundum and Cape Point with 2 at the Hotel Senegambia.
Melodious Warbler
Singles seen at Fajara Golf Course, Jakhaly and Brufut woods.
Blackcap
Common.
Subalpine Warbler
Singles at Soma wetland and Tanji and 2 at Cape Point.
Chiffchaff
Fairly common.
Bonelli’s Warbler
1 at Kotu Creek.
Black-backed Cisticola
2 at Cape Point on the 3rd.
Zitting Cisticola
Common in suitable habitat.
Singing Cisticola
A single at Marakissa on the 30th.
Red-Winged Warbler
A single bird seen at Kiang West.
Tawny-Flanked Prinia
Common.
Green-Backed Eremomela
1 or 2 birds seen in the Senegambia, Tendaba, Brufut, Marakissa, Tanji and Brufut.
Grey-backed Camaroptera
Singles at Abuko, Kiang West, Tanji and Kachikally Crocodile Pool.
Yellow-Breasted Apalis
1-2 birds seen at Abuko and Kachikally Crocodile Pool.
Yellow-bellied Hyliota
1 at Faraba Banta bush track on the 20th.
Swamp Flycatcher
A family party of 5 birds seen at the Jakhaly wetland.
Common Wattle-Eye
1-2 birds seen at the Faraba Banta bush track, Abuko and Kachikally Crocodile Pool.
Senegal Batis
A pair and then a single male at two sites east of Tendaba and a pair on the north bank west of Janjangbureh. All at random roadside stops.
Northern Black Flycatcher
Singles seen at the Faraba Banta bush track, Brufut woods and the Senegambia.
African Paradise Flycatcher
1-2 at each of the following sites: Faraba Banta Village, Tendaba and Kachikally Crocodile pool.
Red-Bellied Paradise Flycatcher
Singles seen at Abuko, Kachikally Crocodile Pool and Brufut Woods.
Pygmy Sunbird
1 in dry savannah scrub, north bank en-route to Janjangbureh.
Variable Sunbird
Fairly common.
Mouse-Brown Sunbird
4 or 5 on the Tanku Bolon creek crawl.
Scarlet-chested Sunbird
Fairly common.
Splendid Sunbird
1 or 2 near Fajara golf course and 1 at Yundum.
Beautiful Sunbird
Common
Black-crowned Tchagra
1-2 seen on each of 4 days.
Northern Puffback
1-2 seen on each of 4 days.
Yellow-crowned Gonolek
Fairly common but can be elusive.
White-crested Helmet Shrike
5 at a roadside stop near Basse, 10 at Kiang west and 4 Bijilo Forest.
Woodchat Shrike
Fairly common
Yellow-billed Shrike
Common
Greater Blue-eared Glossy Starling
Common
Lesser Blue-eared Glossy Starling
Common
Purple Glossy Starling
Common
Long-tailed Glossy Starling
Common
Yellow-billed Oxpecker
Only seen up river where small parties where fairly common on domestic livestock.
White-billed Buffalo-Weaver
Common
Yellow-fronted Canary
Fairly common up river.
House Sparrow
Common around human habitation.
Grey-headed Sparrow
Common
Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-weaver
1 at a roadside stop east of Tendaba and 2 in Kiang West.
Northern Red Bishop
Common in suitable habitat.
Black-winged Red Bishop
About 4 in wet grassland, near Pirang, on the 20th.
Cinnamon-breasted Bunting
A pair at Bansang Quarry on the 24th.
Brown-rumped Bunting
A single bird at Kiang West on the 26th.
Vitelline Masked Weaver
Small numbers seen at Fara Banta bush track and in the Tendaba area.
Heuglin’s Masked Weaver
4 at Cape Point on the 3rd.
Village Weaver
Common
Little Weaver
4 or 5 birds at Jakhaly wetland and Cape Point.
Black-necked Weaver
Fairly common
Yellow-backed Weaver
A pair attending a nest at Jakhaly wetland.
Orange-cheeked Waxbill
4 at Brufut Woods and about 6 at Abuko.
Lavender Waxbill
The Senegambia, Tanji, Brufut woods, Abuko and Bijilo.
Black-rumped waxbill
About 6 at Pirang and then seen on 4 days whilst up river.
Red-cheeked Cordon-Bleu
Common
Bar-breasted Firefinch
A single bird showed well at the Kachikally Crocodile Pool on the 28th.
Red-billed Firefinch
Common
African Silverbill
Seen in small numbers around Kotu Creek, Njau wetland and Bansang Quarry.
Bronze Mannikin
Common
Exclamatory Paradise Whydah
Superb breeding plumaged males, plus females and immatures, seen on 4 days whilst up river. Plus a male at Marakissa.
Pin-tailed Whydah
Fairly common with breeding plumaged males being most obvious.
Village Indigobird
1 at Kotu Creek and then 1’s and 2’s seen up river.
Cutthroat Finch
Singles near Janjangbureh and Njau, 4 Kiang West and a pair at the lake near Dabala Village.
Quail-Finch
6 seen in flight and 2 on the ground at Pirang and about 8 in flight at Brumen Bridge.
Western Bluebill
An immature male from the ‘photographers hide’, Abuko Forest, on the 1st.
Total number of species = 284
OTHER WILDLIFE
Amphibians & reptiles
Square-marked Toad
Frog sp.
Nile Crocodile
Nile Monitor
Agami Lizard
‘Green’ Chameleon
House Gecko
Lizard sp.
Snake sp.
Mammals
Gambian Giant Rat
Gambian Sun Squirrel
Striped Ground Squirrel
Gambian Fruit Bat
Epulatted Fruit Bat
Scrub Hare
Gambian Mongoose
Between Janjangbureh and Tendaba a troop of 40 crossed the road in front of our vehicle.
Baboon
A troop crossed the road as we were en route to Basse
Patas Monkey
A small group was seen at the Faraba Banta bush track, another group just west of Tendaba and a third group between Janjangbureh and Tendaba.
Vervet Monkey - common
Red Colobus – Abuko & Bijilo
Bushbuck – Abuko
Butterflies
Citrus Swallowtail
African Swallowtail
Guineafowl
Blue Pansy
Yellow Pansy
John Wright
Email: johnpw2@tiscali.co.uk