Mum and Dad dropped us off at Manchester airport at 0030. We tried to catch some sleep in the cafe that was open throughout the night (most of the airport was shut overnight, due to resurfacing work on the runway), but failed. Eventually, we checked our baggage in and finally borded the plane (a 757), taking off at 0710. British skies were cloudy, but we had good views of Britanny on our way down. The plane stopped to refuel at Tenerife. This was a little frustrating, since we were there for over an hour and weren't allowed off the plane, so I couldn't go looking for Berthelot's Pipit, etc. Looking from the top of the steps, I only managed to see 6 Feral Pigeons and a Grey Heron. Eventually we took off again, and soon came within sight of the African coast; the views of the Sahara were rather impressive. We flew over a large city that we assumed was Dakar, and eventually came in to land at 1540, overflying the Kotu area on our way in. The first bird of the trip was noted whilst we were still several hundred feet up, then a few more species were noted at Yundum airport.

Cattle Egret 2 flocks in flight, totalling about 30 birds, were seen from the plane on our approach to the airport.

Hooded Vulture At least 12 of these small (for a vulture at least), dark vultures were around the airport; by far the commonest raptor in The Gambia.

Little Swift c20 were seen around the airport terminal building. This species was widespread in The Gambia, and often seen in flocks, but quite scarce on the coast.

Blue-bellied Roller A roller was seen sat on a sign as we were taxiing along the runway; blue below with a pale buff head, it was thought to be this species, and verified as such later.

[Swallow sp.] 2 flying over were probably Red-chested Swallows, but weren't seen well enough to tick.

Pied Crow c5 were seen around the airport, and then c100 flew over as we were about to leave on the coach; by far the largest flock of the trip. Rather large corvids, like a cross between a Raven and a Hooded Crow.

House Sparrow A pair were nesting in the terminal building. This wasn't a common species in The Gambia, but did occur around hotels and in Banjul.

After going through passport control, we had to wait for the baggage to be unloaded. Then, porters attempted to carry our bags for us for a tip, or just asked for a tip anyway! We boarded the coach, already sweating profusely in the heat, and eventually set off for the hotel. The journey took us past Abuko, and through Lamin and Serrekunda (the largest town in the country) and eventually past the top of the Kotu stream and to the Palma Rima. A few birds were noted from the bus.

Cattle Egret 1 flew over and another 2 were perched in a tree.

[Kite sp.] 2 Black/Yellow-billed Kites weren't seen closely enough to i.d.

Hooded Vulture c50 seen, many of which were perched in palms by the roadside.

[Falcon sp.] 1, possibly a Grey Kestrel.

Feral Rock Dove 10 in Lamin; this species wasn't as common as might be expected in built up areas.

[Doves] Various unidentified Streptopelia spp & 1 Wood Dove sp.

Blue-bellied Roller 2 more seen on wires near the Kotu stream.

Red-billed Hornbill 2 flew past near the Kotu stream; bizzare, prehistoric looking birds. These were very common throughout the country.

[Sunbird sp] 1 on a wire.

Piapiac 1 flew past near the Kotu stream. A fairly unremarkable bird, all black with a long tail. Juveniles have red bills. These were fairly common on the coast, especially on the golf course, but scarce inland.

Pied Crow c50

Eventually we made to our hotel, the Palma Rima. The hotel itself was alright, with apparently the biggest swimming pool in The Gambia, and our room was sparse but clean. Air-conditioning had to be paid for and since it was expensive, we didn't bother. With only about an hour of daylight left, we had a wander about the hotel grounds, and a quick walk down to the beach. Outside the hotel though, we were immediately hassled by taxi drivers, and seeing as we were exhausted, we couldn't quite cope with it so we beat a hasty retreat. The hotel gardens themselves were quite good for birds anyway.

Hooded Vulture 5 seen low over the hotel.

Palm Dove 4; the same species as in Israel, and usually the commonest dove in The Gambia.

Grey Plantain-eater 2 of these bizzare birds were seen sitting on a wire. Better views later of this big turaco showed its bright yellow bill and in flight it was easily recognised by its general shape and the large white patches in the wing.

Green Wood Hoopoe 4 flew over our room whilst we were sat outside; big birds with very long, graduated tails and long, curved bills. In flight, this species displays a lot of white in the wing and also on the outer tail feathers. The other species of Wood Hoopoe (Lesser or Black) was never seen, but is apparently smaller with less (or no?) white in the wings.

Blackcap Babbler 1 seen in the tree by our room; typical babbler shape with a black face cap coming to below the eye. This species was not as common as Brown Babbler, and was only seen on the coast.

Variable Sunbird A male was seen out by the Casino scrub. This species was fairly common. The males were dark metallic green/blue above and yellow below, with a broad purple breast. Told from the much more localised Collared Sunbird by its relatively long bill.

A male was seen briefly, displaying his long tail. This was the commonest sunbird. Quite a small sunbird; males were black above, with a red chest and yellow chest sides, and elongated central tail feathers.

c10 were seen around the hotel; a drab bird but quite nice when seen close up.

Spectacled Weaver A good find here! A pair were seen well in the tree by our room here, but not identified until we saw more at Abuko a few days later. Both sexes have a well defined black streak through the eye, and the male also has some dark red on the face (around the lores/chin I think?) and black on the chin. Green above and yellow below. This species is called Black-necked Weaver in Howard & Moore I think.

[Weaver sp] A few other unidentified weavers around the hotel were in retrospect Village Weavers, but weren't looked at properly today.

2 males were seen; an ace little blue waxbill with red on the cheek (in the males). This was a common and widespread species, but never abundant. The flight call was unusually high-pitched, and sounded more like it should be coming from a sunbird.

Lavender Waxbill 1 was seen in the tree next to our room (this tree seemed to be the best place in The Gambia for this species!) A really smart little waxbill; all pearl grey except for red tail, rump and undertail-coverts, and black lores.

Finally, after eating our sandwiches and having a pint of "Joyful" Julbrew at the hotel bar, we had an early night. Initially though, our attempts to catch up on sleep were denied, first by a cicada that was singing in the room every time we turned the light out (until I caught him), and secondly by the disco. The disco was the worst thing about the hotel as far as birders were concerned; it was exceptionally loud and made getting to sleep rather difficult.

Triplist = 19 species, 14 ticks.

I woke at dawn (about 7 a.m.) and spent an hour wandering around the hotel grounds on my own before going back to wake Trudy for breakfast.

1 flew over; a small cormorant with a long tail, these were fairly common around the Kotu area and elsewhere.

Hooded Vulture 1

Lizard Buzzard 1 was seen to fly into a palm tree, then watched perched for a while before it flew off. This species was regularly seen around the hotel area. Smaller than expected (size of a big Sp'hawk?) The black line on the white throat patch was distinctive and much more visible than I'd expected it to be.Otherwise, mostly grey above, white below and with a black and white barred tail.

Red-eyed Dove 1 seen; a big, dark dove with a grey forehead and red eyes. Although Red- eyed and Vinaceous Doves caused problems at first, after a while they became more distinctive. Note that Red-eyed Dove doesn't show white in the tail. Like many other birds in the Gambia, the main problem in identification is the lack of a decent fieldguide. Generally common.

Palm Dove

Grey Plantain-eater 2 flew over and 1 seen well perched outside our room.

Senegal Coucal 1 was seen near the hotel entrance; a big distinctive bird, quite common throughout and sometimes in small parties, but generally quite skulking.

Palm Swift 1 flew over. A common species, especially along the coast. Pale brown and very fine in its proportions; very thin wings and thin, long, deeply-forked tail.

Pied Kingfisher 2 flew over; the same species as in Israel.

Red-billed Hornbill 2

Common Bulbul 1 seen. A very common species throughout the country, this species is very similar to the Yellow-vented Bulbuls in Israel (except that it doesn't have a yellow vent) and it may be conspecific with it.

This ace bird was seen scrabbling about through leaf litter on the floor like a Blackbird. A much larger bird than expected (about the size of a Mistle Thrush) with a large diffuse area of white on the crown, orange below and with a dark back. Disappointingly, this was the only one I saw all trip.

Brown Babbler 4 seen and notes taken, since I wasn't sure what the features were until I checked in John's West African book. A typical babbler, mostly grey brown bit with a striking orange eye and a scaly appearance to the throat, formed from white tips to the throat feathers. These were common and noisy birds, and always seen in small parties; usually 5-10 birds.

[Sunbird sp] 2 females near the pool; female sunbirds were rarely attempted although would probably be OK given a decent book.

Gonolek My first tick of the day was this absolute crippler; a large shrike, bright red below, black above and with a yellow crown. What a bird! Gonoleks were fairly common but skulking. We discovered lots of them once we'd sussed out the call, a loud whistled "wheeoo", like a whiplash. Often, a pair would duet, with one bird doing this and the other following with a "tac tac".

Piapiac 1 juvenile.

House Sparrow 1

Grey-headed Sparrow 1

[Weaver sp] A colony of weavers were nesting in palms by the pool, later identified as Village Weavers.

Senegal Firefinch 1 male sat in a palm; a dinky little red waxbill with a red bill; females are similar but a little browner on the back. These were very common birds.

Red-ch. Cordon-bleu 1

Breakfast consisted of bread and fruit mostly, though on this first day we also had sausages. Most days though, we were first into breakfast in order to get out in the field as early as possible. Afterwards we set out down to the beach, along this to the Kotu stream and across it and then over the golf course. We returned via the top of the stream, the palms at the back of the Kotu ponds and the cycle track. It was a bit of a long way, since we got slightly lost, and we were exhausted by the time we returned. The hassle got to us a bit on this first day, on our own, although the golf course was pleasantly hassle free.

Cattle Egret c50

Western Reef Heron c5 along the Kotu stream; 2 were seen closely where the stream met the sea. Reef Herons here are all dark-phase birds, and are darker than the ones at Eilat.

Grey Heron 1 at the Kotu stream.

[Kite sp.] Another couple of Black/Yellow-billed that weren't close enough to identify.

Harrier Hawk 1 adult seen flying through the palms behind the scrub. This was one of the more regularly seen raptors.

Lizard Buzzard 1 flew past at the golf course.

[Falcon sp.] Brief views of a probable Red-necked Falcon which shot over.

Grey Plover 2 at the Kotu stream.

Spur-winged Plover c15 seen; another species which was familiar from Israel.

Black-headed Plover At least 5 were seen on the golf course; their favourite habitat. These were really smart plovers- the best of the 3 plovers here.

Wattled Plover 2 were seen in the scrub along the edge of the beach; these were fairly common but seldom numerous.

Black-tailed Godwit 2 at the top end of the Kotu stream.

Whimbrel c5 around the Kotu stream.

Curlew 1 heard at the Kotu stream was the only record of the trip.

Redshank c5 at the Kotu stream.

Greenshank 2 at the Kotu stream.

Common Sandpiper c10 around the Kotu stream.

Turnstone c5 at the Kotu stream.

Grey-headed Gull c50 were seen along the coast. Mostly in winter plumage, but a few had grey hoods. The immatures, especially, are rather similar to Black-headed Gull at rest, but the wing pattern in flight is very different.

Caspian Tern 1 offshore.

[Royal/L.C. Tern] 2 were seen offshore, but I wasn't sure what to look for, so I left them for today.

Sandwich Tern c5 were offshore.

Speckled Pigeon 1 was watched feeding on the mud of the Kotu stream. These big Columba pigeons are quite common throughout, and in flight the pale grey rump is noticeable, contrasting with the darker back.

Vinaceous Dove The first 2 were identified on the golf course. A much smaller and neater dove than Red-eyed, and paler overall. Also had a pink forehead, black lores and dark eyes. The call of this dove was distinctive, but I couldn't describe it.

Black-billed Wood Dove 1 seen well on the golf course, and another later. A small dove, with a black bill and black spots on the wing coverts. In flight, shows reddish primaries like Namaqua Dove.

Senegal Coucal 5 in the Casino scrub.

Palm Swift c30, mostly over the golf course.

Pied Kingfisher c10 around the Kotu stream.

Malachite Kingfisher 1 was seen where a small creek came out the scrub by the beach.

Rufous-crowned Roller 1 sat on a dead tree in the scrub; white supercilium and a streaky breast, combined with a reddish-brown back. This is apparently sometimes a tricky species to catch up with and so I was pleased to see it here on the first morning.

Broad-billed Roller 1 was watched preening quietly in a bush on the golf course for about 20 minutes. These rollers have a rather peculiar front-heavy appearance. They weren't all that common though; we saw 6 in total during the holiday.

Green Wood Hoopoe c10 seen on the golf course, mostly just in flight.

A woodpecker was watched for about 10 minutes, sat still in the top branches of a tree. I couldn't immediately identify it from the books I had, so I took a description and verified it later as a female of this species. Had a red nape, fine spots on the breast, a green back/wings with fine spots also, a black-streaked forecrown and a greenish-yellow tail.

Crested Lark 1 heard and then seen on the edge of the beach.

Red-chested Swallow c10 on wires at the Kotu bridge. These are very similar to the Barn Swallow except for having shorter tail and a narrower breast band. They are sometimes considered to be conspecific with Barn Swallow.

Willow Warbler 1 at the golf course.

Yellow-billed Shrike 1 seen in the scrub and another seen on the golf course. These were pretty common throughout, and were often seen in small family parties. They were the nearest in behaviour to our Lanius shrikes; i.e. they were usually seen perched out in a prominent position.

Piapiac c20 on the golf course.

The easy one to identify. 2 were seen at the far end of the golf course. This species was common throughout.

[Glossy Starling sp.] At least 2 on the golf course that weren't seen well. Glossy Starlings were one of the more difficult groups to identify.

Senegal Firefinch c5 seen.

Bronze Mannikin 2 seen on the golf course. These little waxbills were common throughout and we sometimes saw reasonably large flocks of them.

On returning to the Palma Rima, all hot and sticky, the pool was very welcome. We sat around then for a few hours to relax a bit.

Black-headed Heron 1 flew over just before I got in the pool. This species is easily told in flight by its white underwing coverts contrasting with black flight feathers.

Blackcap 1 male bathing at a watering pipe.

Brown Babbler 3 by our room.

Variable Sunbird 1 male feeding on some big blue flowers.

Beautiful L-t. Sunbird 1 male.

Gonolek 2 seen well from our room.

Village Weaver I finally got round to having a proper look at one of the numerous weavers; at the beginning of our trip, many were still in good plumage although most were getting grotty-looking by the end of November. Main features were a black head, a large bill and big black spots on the back; otherwise mostly yellow.

Lavender Waxbill 6 by our room.

At about 4 p.m. we went for another walk. This time, we went inland along the roads, and did a small circuit that eventually brought us to the cycle track. We walked back along the track, talking to a few other British birders.

Shikra 1 flew over; basically a plain grey sparrohawk, quite non-descript really. Actually probably closer to a Levant Sparrowhawk in general appearance.

1 sat on a wall along the cycle track, first seen by Trudy. These were fairly common, and although often seen around the golf course and cycle track, were also regularly just heard.

Namaqua Dove 1 male was seen; these were quite scarce in the coastal areas, but more common inland.

Senegal Parrot 1 found sat in the top of a tree along the edge of the Palma Rima, first detected by its call (a typical parrot-like squwark). Senegal Parrots are medium sized parrots, with yellow bellies, grey heads and green backs.

Ring-necked Parakeet 2 flew over; my first really wild ones!

Grey Hornbill 2 were seen well. This species was not as common as Red-billed Hornbill, but still seen most days in small numbers.

Tawny-flanked Prinia A small (family?) party of 4 seen along the cycle track; same shape as a Graceful Warbler, with a long, cocked tail, but a prominent supercilium and rufous wings.

Beautiful L-t. Sunbird 1 male

Long-t. G. Starling 2 along cycle track.

Red Bishop 2 males, both still in storming breeding plumage, were seen. These weren't quite as numerous as I'd expected, but I may have overlooked a few females or non-breeding plumaged males, since they were rather drab brown birds.

As we approached the hotel, we saw John and Janette up in their room. We went up to see them, and whilst chatting, saw;

Little Bee-eater 2 were seen in the scrub, from John's balcony. These tiny bee-eaters were common throughout.

Redstart 1 female-type in the casino scrub, seen from John's balcony.

Then, just before dusk, we wandered down through the Casino scrub to look for nightjars; on his last visit John saw both Standard-winged and Long-tailed Nightjars. We had poor silhouetted views of the latter.

Long-tailed Nightjar At least 2 seen at dusk; a fairly long tail could be made out, but not well. However, the white in the wings that was seen is only seen in Long-tailed Nightjar. Better views were had later in the trip.

After dark, we went back to our room and then had a meal at the hotel bar; ladyfish for me and chicken curry for Trudy; food here was good but more pricy than outside the hotel.

Triplist = 74 species, 49 ticks.

We got up for breakfast at 7 a.m.; first in. Then, we walked slowly along the cycle track and again to the Kotu bridge. After a drink at the Kotu Strand hotel, we then went up through the palms and stole over to the back of the Kotu ponds (sewage works). By this time it was getting hot again, so we wandered back to the hotel and lazed about the pool for a while.

Little Grebe At least 6 at Kotu ponds, presumably of race capensis.

Long-t. Cormorant 4

Striated Heron 1 flew over at the hotel and landed up in a palm. Later, 2 seen flying over the cycle track.

Black-headed Heron 2 over near hotel, 1 over Kotu ponds.

Hammerkop 1 flew past as we were watching the Pearl-spotted Owlet. These weird, brown heron-like birds were more common than I'd expected, and were regularly seen around the hotels.

Hooded Vulture c40

Palm-nut Vulture A pair flew over as we were leaving the hotel; brief views but ultra- distinctive black and white vultures. One of the more regularly seen raptors.

Lizard Buzzard 1 at the hotel before breakfast, and another (or the same?) along the cycle track.

Shikra Probably at least 4 seen; 2 in display over Kotu ponds.

Grey Kestrel A pair flew over just outside the hotel and landed in palms allowing good scope views. 1 also seen perched on the ground well. All grey with yellow cere, eyes and legs.

Double-sp. Francolin 2 along cycle track.

Black-winged Stilt c40 at Kotu ponds.

Senegal Thick-knee 3 seen from the Kotu bridge; very like Stone-curlews basically.

Grey Plover

Wattled Plover 5

Ruff 1 at Kotu ponds.

Whimbrel

Redshank

Marsh Sandpiper 2 at Kotu ponds.

Greenshank

Wood Sandpiper 1 at Kotu ponds.

Common Sandpiper

Grey-headed Gull c20

Gull-billed Tern 1 at the Kotu stream.

Black Tern 1 hawking over Kotu ponds

Speckled Pigeon 3

Vinaceous Dove c10

Namaqua Dove 1 seen near entrance to the hotel.

Senegal Coucal 5

Ring-necked Parakeet 3 over the cycle track.

Pearl-spotted Owlet 1 was whistled up by a Gambian birder; pretty impressive! The owl was up at the base of the palm fronds, and flew across to another tree; a small, Little-type Owl (actually closely related to Pygmy, but it didn't seem quite that small). The call is a highly distinctive rising series of whistles followed by falling whistles. Whilst we saw this, another was also calling a little way off. The call is regularly imitated by local birders to attract small birds; like pishing. A good bird to get.

Little Swift 1 over the hotel with Palm Swifts.

Little Bee-eater 5

Red-billed Hornbill 3

Green Wood Hoopoe c15

Grey Woodpecker 2 seen along the cycle track. These were the commonest woodpecker, and identified by the combination of a plain green back with a red rump and red crown.

Red-chested Swallow c10 at Kotu bridge again.

Wire-tailed Swallow 1 was seen briefly at Kotu bridge, but not well. Glossy blue uppers combined with a chestnut crown identify this species.

Winding Cisticola Poor views of a large, Zitting-like, cisticola with a long tail hanging down, sat on a wire. Seen later at Pirang also. Never really got to grips with this species.

Tawny-flanked Prinia 3

[Black Flycatcher] 1 at top of a palm but since we couldn't see its tail, we couldn't be 100% sure that it wasn't a Drongo; in retrospect, I'm pretty sure it was a Black Flycatcher; we saw some later anyway.

Blackcap Babbler 4 along the cycle track, at the side of the Palma Rima.

Brown Babbler c15

Variable Sunbird 1 excellent male along the cycle track. Also 1 male at hotel.

Splendid Sunbird At least 2 males seen near start of cycle track; a regular spot for them. Big sunbirds with a blue back and tail and a purple-red face and breast; long, dark bill.

Beautiful L-t. Sunbird At least 4 seen during the morning.

Gonolek 2

Yellow-billed Shrike c10

Piapiac c50, mostly around Kotu stream.

Long-t. G. Starling c20 flew over the hotel.

Red Bishop At least 5 males and 1 female (being displayed to).

Senegal Firefinch 5

African Silverbill 2 were seen in the grounds of the Kotu Strand hotel; very like the Indian Silverbill seen at Eilat but without a white rump. These were quite scarce, but seen on a few occasions in the Kotu area.

Bronze Mannikin 4, then later flock of c40 amongst the rice paddies along the cycle track.

In the afternoon, Trudy and I wandered down the beach towards Bijilo, and John and Jannete caught us up later. A few birds were seen around the lawns of the Senegambia hotel. Since Bijilo reserve was about to shut for the evening, we wandered along the perimeter fence for a while, before heading back up to the hotel.

Black-shouldered Kite Excellent views of one hovering over the low scrub between our hotel and the Senegambia.

Palm-nut Vulture 1 at Bijilo; good views.

Lizard Buzzard 2 Bijilo

Shikra 2 flying through Bijilo woods; also seen perched.

Common Kestrel 1 female at Bijilo

Grey Kestrel 1 seen well perched in a palm. Flew down and took a fledgling from a nest (a dove?) and then fed back up in the palm.

Sandwich Tern Several

Common Tern 2 flew past

Pallid Swift At least 4 passed over; appeared to be moving southwards.

Rufous-cr. Roller 1 seen well perched and in flight over the coastal scrub north of the Senegambia hotel.

Grey Hornbill At least 2 seen, calling noisily.

1 male picked up by John and seen perched in dense vegetation through scope; poor views.

Crombec Good views of the ace "Nuthatch" warbler; reddish in colouration with virtually no tail. 1 perched on top of low bushes and scrub.

Brown Babbler At Senegambia

Gonolek Good views of one at Senegambia

Yellow-billed Shrike On lawns of Senegambia

Purple Glossy Starling At least 3 were on the lawn of the Senegambia, although not fully identified for several days. Upperparts glossy blue but distinct purple tone to thighs and uppertail. Rather larger than the LBE Glossies with a distinctive flat bill/forehead profile; bill also heavy in appearance. I should have spent more time writing notes on these. I think they had a rather proportionately short tail. Eyes large and bright yellow. Spots on wings. Greenish coverts.

At least 3 were on the lawn of the Senegambia. Obviously much smaller than the Purples and Long-taileds. Well defined black mask around eye and ear-coverts defined these as one of the Blue-eareds. Identified as Lessers by the small size and the fact that one appeared to be moulting out of juvenile plumage and showed just a hint of orange colouration to the breast. Otherwise, redder eyes (?) and more delicate bill. I'm not sure about the colouration of them though. Again, I'd like to have studied these in more detail in retrospect.

Long-tailed G.Starling Several seen well around the Senegambia; bright yellow eyes.

Vervet Monkey At least 8 at Bijilo were my first monkeys anywhere. A family troop, comprising of a mixture of ages. These were common throughout the Gambia.

Red Colobus At least 1 at Bijilo; a really smart animal; seen better at Abuko.

In the evening, we braved a restaurant outside the hotel, which was excellent and much better value.

Triplist = 100 species, 64 ticks.

First in to breakfast again and then off we went with two other groups of birders (the "London Lads" and the "Birmingham Three") in a taxi to Abuko. The ride there was a little hairy but we survived.

Lizard Buzzard 1 around the hotel again at dawn.

Red-necked Falcon 1 flew over the hotel with prey as we were about to leave; reddish throat is the best feature in this race. Unfortunately, although I saw several of these, I never really felt I'd got to grips with them, since they were all fly-overs.

Abuko is an amazing place! We paid our money at the entrance and set off quietly along the tracks. However, for the first 5 minutes or so, we didn't see anything. Not until we got to the small second hide did the ticks start to flow! This hide overlooked a small pool which was connected to the main lake; that in turn was overlooked by a larger hide.We later walked slowly along the tracks through the forest to the drinks area, which was also very good for birds. In the afternoon, we had a quick march out into the extension on a Verreaux's Eagle Owl twitch, and then made our way back to the gate for 6 pm. to be picked up by the taxi for the ride back to the hotel.

Long-tailed Corm. 1 at main pool in afternoon.

Night Heron Adult and juvenile at the main lake; John had brief views of an adult White- backed Night Heron here in the evening but it went into cover before anyone else saw it!

Black-headed Heron 3 in tops of trees around the main lake, and sometimes seen in flight elsewhere in the reserve.

Hammerkop Excellent views of 4 birds around the pools; two had a huge nest near the path.

[Black/Y-b. Kite] 1 high overhead.

Hooded Vulture Probably at least 200 seen, especially around the hyena cage where they fed on the offal provided giving exceptionally close views (a few feet away!)

Palm-nut Vulture 1 adult flew over and perched by the main lake.

Harrier Hawk At least 2 seen in flight and perched.

Lizard Buzzard 1 sat on a post by roadside on the journey home.

[Shikra/African Gos.] 1 flew over quickly; could have been either.

[West African Little Sparrowhawk?]

A hawk almost certainly of this species flashed through the forest in front of me. A small Accipiter, bluish above, reddish below with a striking white rump. Unfortunately, Gabar Goshawk couldn't be fully ruled out on these views, although the habitat makes it less likely.

Osprey 1 flew over at the extension.

Double-sp. Francolin 2 at the extension.

African Jacana Brilliant views of an adult around the main lake, and it had two juvs. on the lily-covered pool behind the hide. I wasn't really expecting to see this species, so it was rather a bonus.

Spur-winged Plover 3 by pool

Wattled Plover 3+ over

Green Sandpiper 1 by pool

Common Sandpiper 2 by pool

Speckled Pigeon c10, mostly flying over.

Red-eyed Dove 2+

Vinaceous Dove 3+

Palm Dove

Blue-spotted Wood Dove At least 1 around the photo hide pool; distinguished from Black-billed Wood Dove mainly by its red bill.

Ring-necked Parakeet 3+

Grey Plantain-eater c10

Violet Turaco A pair of these superb birds was seen well in the trees by the big hide. Possibly the most wacky birds I've ever seen!

Green Turaco 1 of these mega birds seen in the trees opposite the second hide. Weird looking things that hop around in the trees looking quite spectacular, and then open their bright red wings and look extremely spectacular! At least 2 more seen later.

Klaas' Cuckoo 1 immature cuckoo at top of a tree was grilled for a while, with John hoping to regain the mythical Didric Cuckoo on me! This juv. was identified as a Klaas mostly by its dark bill (Didric has red bill) and fine flank barring. Also, doesn't show white moustachial stripe of Didric. As we were watching, it was joined by a splendid bright green adult male Klaas. However, aren't these supposed to be parasitical?

Verreaux's Eagle Owl One had been seen in the extension by the other birders, so we followed their directions and I eventually found this bird sat high in an acacia. A huge owl, mostly pale grey with pink eyelids! As we turned to go away, we found another in a nearby tree and the two started duetting with an unlikely sounding whistle.

Little Swift c10 over Serrekunda on the way home.

Giant Kingfisher A pair were frequently seen around the lake, often perching in full view; wow!

Pied Kingfisher 1 at main pool.

Malachite Kingfisher 1 immature at main pool; dark bill of immature prompted thoughts of Shining-blue Kingfisher, but it wasn't!

Pygmy Kingfisher 5+ seen, mostly around the photo pool but also some in the forest.

Woodland Kingfisher 1 seen well perched above the photo hide pool.

Little Bee-eater 4+

Swallow-tailed Bee-eater 2 were seen well in the extension; a green bee-eater with a yellow throat and a long blue forked tail.

Blue-ch. Bee-eater 3 flew high overhead by the main pool and another flew over the zoo area. My second sighting of this species (not very good views.)

Abyssinian Roller 1 of these, displaying its long, thin tail streamers, was seen on a wire at the top of the Kotu stream on the way home.

Blue-bellied Roller 1 with Abyssinian Roller.

Pied Hornbill At least 2 of these big hornbills seen; one scoped well from the first hide. Big yellow and black bills and prominent white belly patches were the most notable features.

Grey Hornbill 4+

Red-billed Hornbill c10 seen

Bearded Barbet 4 of these stonking black, white and red birds seen; they bear a resemblance to Toucans!

Black-thr. Honeyguide A female seen opposite the second hide, and a male later in the forest; again, not brilliant views.

Fairly poor views of our only one of these of the trip; seen in the main thick forest. Rather small with a dark brown underside flecked with pale spots (unlike most Woodpeckers with dark spots on light background).

Grey Woodpecker 3+

Fanti Saw-wing Fairly brief views of 3 of these all dark swallows.

Common Bulbul

Little Greenbul At least 5 of these dull green bulbuls were seen in the main forest; good little trilling call though, rising and descending in pitch.

Grey-headed Bristlebill Rather good views of this skulking species near the Spectacled Weaver colony in the main forest. Quite a large bulbul with a grey head, yellow underparts and a long, graduated tail.

Redstart 1 male in the extension.

West African Thrush c30 of these rather drab thrushes seen, throughout the reserve. May be a separate species, or may be part of Olive Thrush.

1 seen fairly well in the forest; this was my only definite sighting of this supposedly common species.

Crombec 1 seen well near the Spectacled Weaver colony.

Moho (Oriole Warbler) 1 was seen well several times going to a nest at the end of a palm frond over the pool opposite the second hide. This West African speciality is a big warbler with a yellow underside, black head and greenish back; it bears a strong resemblance to an American oriole.

Blackcap Male and female seen separately.

At least 3 of these ace birds were seen. Very distinctive song which was heard many more times throughout the holiday; a simple collection of whistled notes, though not all the same one. One bird's song sounded exactly like the first line of "Three Blind Mice"!

First was seen near the second hide, and a couple more seen in the forest later. Stunning birds, this species is apparently sometimes seen in joint displays with African Paradise Flycatcher and the two may be conspecific. Some birds seem to be intergrades.

At least 2 seen; see above for note.

Collared Sunbird 1 male was seen in trees from the second hide, allowing scope views. Another male was seen later in a clearing in the forest (and was misidentified by a local guide as a Variable). Similar to Variable Sunbird but smaller with a shorter bill; yellow belly and green above. These were the only ones of the trip.

Variable Sunbird 1 male seen on track at start of the extension.

Beautiful L-t. Sunbird At least 5 males noted.

Yellow-billed Shrike 1 on the way home.

Long-t. Glossy Starling 4 over on the way home.

Spectacled Weaver A few singles seen and then a colony of c30 birds found in the forest.

Village Weaver c5

Crimson-winged Pytilia A comparative Gambian rarity. I saw this bird well at the photo hide and thought it was a Lavender Waxbill but thought it was odd that it had red wings. A few minutes later, Steve Madge (who was leading a trip there) said he'd seen a Pytilia, and it was then obvious that that was what I'd seen.

Senegal Firefinch 10+

Orange-cheeked Waxbill 2 were seen well at the photo hide, but nowhere else.

Bronze Mannikin 40+, especially around the photo hide.

Nile Crocodile 2-4 seen floating about in the pools; basically look like submerged logs with eyes, and were not easy to spot.

Monitor Lizards 3+ seen; none huge but up to c3 ft long?

Snake sp. 1 dead one seen outside the hotel at dusk; small and sandy coloured.

Harnessed Antelope A small antelope seen several times around the pools; brown with white spots and stripes. Also known as Bush Buck.

Squirrel spp. 4+ seen; some with striped sides (Sun Squirrel?)

Red Colobus At least 7 + 2 seen.

Green Vervet 5+ seen; one very tame one by the zoo area.

Triplist = 131 species, 91 ticks.

Up early for breakfast and off to Tanji by taxi. We got dropped at the official entrance, which isn't as good as the area a little further down the road. We walked down the beach to the lagoon, fought a painful battle with the "welcome-grass" and wandered around the scrubby area for a while, before returning to the hotel for lunchtime.

Long-tailed Cormorant 2

Striated Heron 3

Reef Heron 2

Grey Heron 1

Hammerkop 3

[Kite sp.] 1 by roadside

Hooded Vulture c50

Lizard Buzzard 1 hotel a.m.

Osprey 1 over with fish.

African Hobby 1 flew past at fairly close range several times, and also seen perched. In shape, very Hobby-like but all underparts reddish; perhaps not quite so thin- winged as our Hobby?

[Falcon sp.] Pair flew over hotel a.m. too quickly to identify.

Black-winged Stilt 2

Senegal Thick-knee 2 in sandy area near entrance, 2 by marsh.

Ringed Plover 10

Kentish Plover 3

Grey Plover 1

Spur-winged Plover 1

Knot 1

Sanderling c40

Whimbrel 3+

Redshank 1

Greenshank 5

Common Sandpiper 2

Turnstone c20

Grey-headed Gull c10

Caspian Tern 2

Gull-billed Tern 1 flew along coast.

Royal Tern At least 1 identified; a big tern with an paler red-orange bill than Caspian; this was a first-winter, and had more contrasting wing pattern than equivalent LCT.

Lesser Crested Tern At least 1 seen; size of a Sandwich Tern but with a pale orange/yellow bill.

Sandwich Tern 5+

Black-billed W. Dove Good views of at least 3 in the sandy areas near entrance. Grey head contrasts with brown back and wings and mauve underparts.

Senegal Parrot 1

Ring-necked Parakeet 25+

Grey Plantain-eater 2

Senegal Coucal 2

Pied Kingfisher 3

Striped Kingfisher 1 of these relatively small Halcyon kingfishers seen in the dry scrub, perched in a thorn bush.

Swallow-t. Bee-eater 2

Grey Hornbill

Red-billed Hornbill

Green Wood Hoopoe 2; note prominent white in tail.

Vieillot's Barbet 1 seen rather poorly in the scrubby area. A scruffy bird with red and yellow head.

Bearded Barbet 1 flew over

Grey Woodpecker 2

Crested Lark 2 along shore.

Yellow Wagtail 2 heard flying over

Siffling Cisticola 1 seen quite well in scrub. Extremely dull and non-descript. Buffy flanks, grey breast-sides, whitish tip to undertail, plain face, decurved bill, no streaking.

Tawny-flanked Prinia 2

Olivaceous Warbler 1 singing.

Melodious Warbler 1

Subalpine Warbler 1 male; my first except for the grotty one at Polgigga in 1993.

Whitethroat 1 male

Black Flycatcher 2 of this big black flycatchers seen in the scrubby area.

Variable Sunbird At least 4 males seen.

African Golden Oriole 1 of these stunners seen fairly well in scrubby area.

A flock of 8 of these crazy-looking birds flew in to a nearby tree and could be scoped up for a few minutes, before they moved on again. Largely black and white but with a pearl-grey head with distinctive "backwards-crest", yellow eye and orange legs. Our only record of this species.

Black-crowned Tchagra 1 scoped up in a bush near the entrance, a striking-looking bird, but very skulking.

Gonolek 1 heard at entrance to Tanji

Fork-tailed Drongo 1 of these unusual little black birds seen in the scrubby area; smaller than I'd expected.

Village Weaver

Red Bishop Roadside

Senegal Firefinch 2

Red-ch. Cordon-bleu 2

Green Vervet 3

Monitor Lizard 1

We sat around at the hotel early afternoon, spending a little time looking out of John's balcony (for a Mourning Dove he'd just seen), and later walked down the cycle track and over the golf course checking out a Copper Sunbird stake-out, unsucessfully. Dinner was at the excellent Paradise Beach Bar.

Striated Heron 1

Reef Heron 2

Black-headed Heron 1

White-faced Tree Duck 1 flew through the palms by the cycle track and then disappeared again.

Hooded Vulture

Palm-nut Vulture 2 adults over the Kotu stream.

Lizard Buzzard 1

Harrier Hawk 1

Double-sp. Francolin 2 heard cycle track, 2 seen golf course

African Jacana 2 were found on a lily-covered pool by the cycle track; one mostly hidden but another "lily-trotting".

Black-headed Plover 2 on roof of ruined casino. c10 on golf course.

Black-tailed Godwit 1 over

Whimbrel 3

Greenshank 1

Common Sandpiper 1

Speckled Pigeon 3

Black-billed W. Dove 1

Senegal Parrot 2 on golf course

Senegal Coucal 1

Blue-bellied Roller 1 in an acacia, appeared to be lying in a nest, but later thought to just be resting; also another perched nearby.

Green Wood Hoopoe 5

Wryneck 1 seen in the casino scrub from John's balcony; unexpected!

Fine-sp. Woodpecker Pair showing well from John's balcony. Fine spots all over scapulars and coverts. Male has full red crown, female has red just on nape. Male has dark red malar stripe; female's is less obvious. No red on rump.

Grey Woodpecker 2

Singing Cisticola 1 seen quite well in rice paddies along the cycle track; reddish wings notable.

Melodious Warbler 1

Subalpine Warbler 1 female

Blackcap 1 male

Black Flycatcher 1-2 along cycle track

Splendid Sunbird 2 males again along cycle track.

Beautiful L-t. Sunbird 2

Gonolek 1 heard giving its whiplash call.

Yellow-billed Shrike 3

Fork-tailed Drongo 2

Spectacled Weaver 1 male along cycle track

Red-cheeked C-bleu. 1

Monitor Lizard 2 by a pool on the golf course.

Triplist = 154 species, 104 ticks.

After breakfast, we took a taxi to the fields at the end of Yundum airport with the Birmingham three. This seemingly uninspiring area provided some excellent birding for a couple of hours in the morning. There were lots of local kids about, but they weren't too troublesome and even gave us some watermelons!

Black-headed Heron 1 over

Black Kite 2+

Yellow-billed Kite 1 bird was seen low as we arrived, allowing us to see the diagnostic yellow bill. Additionally, the tail of this species/subspecies is much more deeply forked than that of Black Kite, allowing identification of more distant birds later. However, basically very similar to a Black Kite (like the Barn/Red- chested Swallow pair).

Hooded Vulture 50+ as day warmed up.

Common Kestrel 1

African Hobby 1 flew past

Red-necked Falcon 1 flew over quickly.

Double-sp. Francolin 2 seen and another heard.

Temminck's Courser 2 seen in a dirt field; ace birds with chestnut crown and belly, white supercilium, black "eye-stripe" and pale lores; smaller than CCC?

Black-headed Plover 3 in Courser field.

Wattled Plover 2 over

Levaillant's Cuckoo At least 3 of these stonking cuckoos seen, including one at close range, another more distantly and later 2 flew over. Big birds, like Great Spotted Cuckoo, with spiky crest and black and white chequered throat.

1 seen well low down showing mottled throat, white rump and vent and short tail. Another two seen later.

Pallid Swift A flock of c50 passed over; could have included Common Swifts also?

Little Swift 1

Striped Kingfisher 2 sat in the shade of a small tree.

Little Bee-eater 4

Rufous-crowned Roller 2

Blue-bellied Roller 3

Red-billed Hornbill c5

Bearded Barbet 1-2

Fine-sp. Woodpecker 1 male

Grey Woodpecker 1

Pied-winged Swallow 1-2 seen including 1 perched. Black above, white below and with white patches on upperwings.

Fanti Saw-wing 1

Whinchat 3

West African Thrush 1

Tawny-flanked Prinia 2

3 of these bright little warblers seen. Yellow belly, green back, white throat and orangey bill.

Willow Warbler 1 heard and another seen

Black Flycatcher 1

Senegal Batis A pair of these smart black and white flycatchers seen; striking head pattern with a white supercilium and a yellow eye.

Yellow Penduline Tit 2 of these cute little yellow birds seen, but only quite briefly; also 3 seen briefly later.

Scarlet-chested Sunbird 2 ace males; all black except for dark red chest and green crown and moustachial stripe. Probably also a female, but not 100% on these. Big sunbirds.

Variable Sunbird Pair and another male.

Beautiful L-t. Sunbird 2

African Golden Oriole 1

Black-cr. Tchagra 2 seen well

Yellow-billed Shrike c5

Fork-tailed Drongo 4

Long-t. Glossy Starling c5

Buffalo Weaver 20+ of these big black weavers with white bills and some white in the wing.

Little Weaver A tiny weaver feeding quietly in the top of an acacia like a warbler; yellowish head and uppertail coverts; unstreaked white belly. Not a breeding plumaged bird.

A breeding plumaged male (fortunately!) Black face patch with orange below the black. Dark eye. Main confusion species appears to be Heuglin's masked Weaver which also occurs in the Gambia; eye-colour differs?

Red Bishop 4

All black except for bright yellow back. One had moulted its long tail feathers, but another was seen in full plumage.

Yellow-fronted Canary 1 bright male seen, and another duller one later.

After another few hours relaxing around the pool, we wandered along the cycle track again later on.

Striated Heron 2

Grey Heron 1

Hammerkop 1

White-faced T. Duck 1 flew over.

Harrier Hawk 1 adult and later 1 immature seen perched (when a little confusing, since not like adult) and in flight (when like a giant ringtail harrier, hence the name I suppose?)

Lizard Buzzard 1

Double-sp. Francolin 1 seen, 2 heard.

Senegal Thick-knee 8

Wattled Plover 1

Royal Tern 1 flew along the coast.

Black Tern 1

Black-billed W. Dove 1

Senegal Parrot 1

Senegal Coucal 1

Long-tailed Nightjar 1 flew past at dusk near the Kotu bridge; poor views again.

Blue-bellied Roller 1

Singing Cisticola Musical call note, grey underparts, reddish wings, white throat.

Zitting Cisticola 1

Splendid Sunbird 1 male

Fork-tailed Drongo 2

Red Bishop 10+ around rice paddies.

+

Fruit Bats 2 species, one of which was huge; I mistook them for Night Herons flying over! At least 15 of these seen, obviously flying out from a roost somewhere to feed in the palms.

Triplist = 171 species, 118 ticks.

Another early start got us to Banjul for 8 a.m. where we hoped to be in time to catch the ferry to Barra. Unfortunately, we then had to wait about 2 hours before crossing; not a huge amount of fun! The boat was crowded and hot as expected. A few birds were noted around Banjul and from the ferry.

Cattle Egret 3

Reef Heron 1

Black Kite 1

[Black/Y-b. Kite] 1 Banjul, 3 Barra

Hooded Vulture c50 over Barra

Grey Plover 1 Barra

Sanderling c20 Barra

Common Sandpiper 2 Banjul

Turnstone 2 Barra

[Skua sp.] 1 probable Pom. from the ferry

Grey-headed Gull lots

Lesser B-b. Gull 1 adult

Caspian Tern 1

Royal Tern 5, maybe also L.C. Tern.

Black Tern 3

Feral Rock Dove

Speckled Pigeon a few over Banjul

Grey Plantain-eater 1

Little Swift c500 Banjul, c100 Barra

Pied Kingfisher 1

Red-chested Swallow 3+

White Wagtail 2

Pied Crow

House Sparrow

Upon disembarking, an argument broke out between two taxi drivers as to who was going to transport us, and this nearly degenerated into a fight. We got some cold cokes as this was going on, and then escaped to Essau. We were here rather later than we'd hoped, due to the ferry being late, and so it was very hot. We wandered around the edge of the village and into the nearby savannah, where some good birds were found.

Pink-backed Pelican 2 were seen soaring high; much greyer than White Pelicans.

Shikra 1 seen perched

Wahlberg's Eagle 1 flew over the savannah. A small Aquila, fairly unremarkable except for its long, narrow tail.

Osprey 1 over

Namaqua Dove 1 flew past

Senegal Coucal

M-t. S-t. Swift 2

Striped Kingfisher 1

Little Bee-eater

Blue-cheeked B-eater 3 flew over

Abyssinian Roller 4 around the savannah

Red-billed Hornbill

Viellot's Barbet 1 in a big tree in the savannah

Fanti Saw-wing 1

Yellow Wagtail

Whinchat 1

Ant Chat 1 of these big black chats on a stone wall in the savannah area near Essau; fairly uninspiring.

Tawny-flanked Prinia

S. G-b. Eremomela 1

Olivaceous Warbler 1

Blackcap 1 male

Bonelli's Warbler 1

Scarlet-ch. Sunbird 1 female

Woodchat Shrike 2

Yellow-billed Oxpecker 2 of these classic birds seen on cattle (where else); zany wax-like beaks. Later, 4 flew over.

Buffalo Weaver 4

One of the specialities of the site, we found 1 perched in a large tree in the savannah, and when it flew off, was accompanied by two more. Chestnut crown, white supercilium, black malar stripe and two white wingbars gave it a striking appearance, a little reminiscent of a Lark Sparrow.

Bush Petronia 1 on a wire; fairly dull but distinctive.

Scaly-fronted Weaver Poor views of a distantly perched bird at Essau.

Vitelline M. Weaver 1 male near Essau village.

Red Bishop

Bronze Mannikin 2

Soon, we had to return to Barra to make sure we managed to get the ferry back. After a bumpy journey, I managed to drop my already battered binoculars and smash them beyond hope of repair. However, Trudy lent me hers for a while to stop me getting in too much of a mood. After a quick drink at Barra, we had a short wander around the fort (being told to watch out for the cobras!) before enduring the trip back. John gripped me off with White-fronted Sandplover here, as well as potential Kelp Gull! One pickpocket was caught by the boat owners on the journey, and was handed over to the police at the other side. Our taxi driver was waiting at Banjul and we made a quick getaway!

Little Egret 1, the first of the trip, seen near Camaloo corner.

Black Heron 2 seen at Camaloo corner when we stopped because the other taxi had got a puncture! Only seen in flight.

Purple Heron 1 in flight at Camaloo corner.

White-faced W. Duck c10 over cycle track ponds as we got back to the hotel.

Grey Kestrel 1 by the road near Camaloo corner.

Pomarine Skua 1 from ferry; not seen brilliantly unfortunately.

Black-headed Gull 1 from ferry; first of the trip

Gull-billed Tern 1 from ferry

Royal Tern 1 from ferry

Lesser Crested Tern 1 from ferry

Black Tern 5 from ferry

Didric Cuckoo Whilst wandering around the fort, John went off to the beach. Soon, Nick said he had a Klaas's Cuckoo in a bush. I commented that we'd better check it for Didric for John (who'd missed the Eilat bird and consequently was desperate for the species). As soon as I put my scope on it, the head pattern identified it as a Didric (a juvenile). I bombed off to get John who fortunately returned in time to see it.

Pallid Swift 2 over

[Yellow-cr. Bishop?] 1 female with rather a yellow face, but not fully identified.

White-rumped Seedeater At least 3 of these dull grey serins were seen around Barra and the peanut compound there; actually quite smart when looked at carefully.

Dolphin sp. 2 from ferry, possibly Bottle-nosed?

Triplist = 189 species, 127 ticks.

We had a fairly relaxed day today, to recover from the trauma of the Barra trip! John, Trudy and I took a taxi to the Bund Road and walked along from the edge of Banjul to the pumping station, where we climbed on the roof. The area is noisy and dirty, but didn't seem particularly threatening.

African Darter 1 flew past, like a bizzare Cormorant with a very long neck and tail.

Pink-backed Pelican 150 seen, mostly sat on wrecks out in the river.

Striated Heron 2

Night Heron c10

Black Heron Good views of c15 of these.

Reef Heron 20+

Little Egret 2

Intermediate Egret 1 picked out; not the most exciting bird in the world! Intermediate in size with small black tip to rather thick yellow bill.

Great White Egret 20+

Sacred Ibis Distant views of 5+ perched in a dead tree.

Shikra 1 over the road on the way back to the hotel.

Osprey 1 perched in mangroves

Grey Kestrel 1

Black-winged Stilt 50+

Avocet 20+

Ringed Plover 20+

Knot 1

Little Stint 30+

Curlew Sandpiper 10+

Ruff 30+

Bar-tailed Godwit c50

Whimbrel c5

Redshank 2

Greenshank 2

Green Sandpiper 1 flew over the hotel grounds before breakfast.

Common Sandpiper 5+

Turnstone 10+

Black-headed Gull 1+

Grey-headed Gull c500

Slender-billed Gull At least 1 seen with the Grey-heads.

Caspian Tern 30+ (John reckoned 80) in a large flock on one lagoon.

Royal Tern 1

Lesser Crested Tern 1

Little Tern 30+

Whiskered Tern 2 in winter plumage; pale back, black legs, black bill and small dark spot behind the eye.

Red-eyed Dove 2

Mourning Dove At least 5 seen. Red eye, white tail corners (unlike Red-eyed Dove), no dark band on uppertail, paler above than Red-eyed Dove and with larger orange eye-ring.

Namaqua Dove 1 male

Senegal Coucal 1

Pallid Swift 1

Little Swift c50

Woodland Kingfisher Good views of 1 on a wire

Malachite Kingfisher 1

Blue-ch. Bee-eater c50, many giving excellent views perched on wires.

Yellow Wagtail 2

White Wagtail 1

Zitting Cisticola 2

Olivaceous Warbler 1

Subalpine Warbler Male and 2 females.

Sc-spec. Wattle-eye Heard singing from the pumping station.

Beautiful L-t. Sunbird Pair

Gonolek 1 heard, then seen.

Bronze Mannikin 20+

After a laze about the pool, we caught a taxi to the MRC grounds in Bakau, in a vain attempt to look for Chestnut-bellied Starlings. The grounds were very pleasant and shaded however. We walked back along the Atlantic Road, and had a meal at a beach-bar on the way back.

Shikra 1

Double-sp. Francolin 1

[Helmeted Guineafowl] A pair with a juvenile were found in a clump of trees; very wary but Baba later confirmed that they weren't wild!

Black-headed Plover 10

Wattled Plover 30+

Mourning Dove 1 in gardens along Atlantic Road

Senegal Parrot 2

Ring-necked Parakeet 3

Senegal Coucal 5

Broad-billed Roller Good views of a pair along Atlantic Road, calling to each other with a call like a "joke duck quack".

Green Wood Hoopoe 1

[Yellow-fr. Tinkerbird] 1 was heard calling monotonously "poop-poop-poop-..." but could not be seen.

West African Thrush 3

Tawny-flanked Prinia 2

Olivaceous Warbler 2

Blackcap 1 male

Chiffchaff 1

Blackcap Babbler 2

Beautiful L-t. Sunbird 2

Gonolek 1 heard

Fork-tailed Drongo 2

Purple Glossy Starling Good views of one; flat forehead, big bill, huge yellow eyes, spots on wing coverts, purple tail and underparts and greeny sheen to coverts.

L-t. Glossy Starling 10

Pin-tailed Whydah 1 grotty fem/imm outside the American embassy; sparrow-like bird with pinkish bill, strong supercilium, black lateral crown stripes and buff central crown.

Lavender Waxbill 1

African Silverbill 1

Triplist = 203 species, 132 ticks.

We took another trip to Tanji this morning, but this time got dropped off at the good bushy area first. Lots of birds here, although only a few new ones. When we went back to be picked up, our taxi wasn't there so we walked along the road to Tanji village where we found a cafe. Trudy and Janette were guided around the local fish-smelting barn and then as we left, we witnessed a rare sight; a Gambian circumcision ceremony!

Long-tailed Cormorant 2

Pink-backed Pelican 12 flew over

Reef Heron 5

Grey Heron 2

Hammerkop 2

Black Kite 2

Palm-nut Vulture 2 with a juvenile; latter rather like a imm White-tailed Eagle.

Marsh Harrier 1

Lizard Buzzard 1

Senegal Thick-knee 2

Ringed Plover 5

Kentish Plover 1

Grey Plover 3

Spur-winged Plover 1

Sanderling 4

Whimbrel 5

Greenshank 4

Turnstone 5

Lesser Crested Tern 2; grey rumps.

Vinaceous Dove 1

Black-b. Wood Dove 1

Ring-necked Parakeet c20

Verreaux's Eagle Owl 1 being mobbed by babblers in the tall forest; rapidly flew off.

Pallid Swift 2

Mottled Spinetail 1

Woodland Kingfisher 2; unusual whistling song.

Pygmy Kingfisher 1

Swallow-tailed B-e. 5

Broad-billed Roller 1

Green Wood Hoopoe 6

Pied Hornbill 1 flew over, our only non-Abuko sighting.

Grey Hornbill 3

Bearded Barbet 2

Vieillot's Barbet 3

Small black and white stripey barbet with a square yellow patch on the forehead. Later, at least 2 were singing (as heard the day before).

Cardinal Woodpecker A small woodpecker with red nape, white underparts well streaked, barred back and spotted coverts. Distinguished (later) from Brown-backed Woodpecker principally on strength on underpart streaking. My only record.

Crested Lark 2

Fanti Saw-wing 3

Yellow Wagtail c20

West African Thrush 3

Tawny-flanked Prinia 3

Crombec 1 watched feeding a youngster.

Olivaceous Warbler 3

Melodious Warbler 1

Whitethroat 1 male

Black Flycatcher 2

Sc-spec. Wattle-eye 1 singing

Blackcap Babbler 3

Violet-backed Sunbird A party of c5 birds were our only record of this species; rather big for sunbirds. Males with violet back and white bellies. Females with pale bellies and thin supercilium.

Variable Sunbird 8

Black-cr. Tchagra 2+ singing; song is a descending series of whistles.

Gonolek 5

Woodchat Shrike 1

Fork-tailed Drongo 3

[Purple/Splendid G St.] Several unidentified starlings.

L-t. Glossy Starling 2

Lavender Waxbill 3

Green Vervet Monkey c30 in a troop.

Crimson Speckled 1

The rest of the day was spent around the hotel, the cycle track and a look at the lovely-smelling Kotu ponds.

Little Grebe 10 Kotu ponds

White-faced T. Duck 20 at Kotu ponds, with 15 over the hotel at dusk.

Pintail 1 female Kotu ponds

Shoveler 1 female Kotu ponds

Palm-nut Vulture 2 adults at Kotu ponds.

Lizard Buzzard 1

Grey Kestrel 1

Black-winged Stilt c100 at Kotu ponds.

Ruff 10

Redshank 1

Greenshank 1

Marsh Sandpiper 2

Wood Sandpiper 4

Common Sandpiper 2

Black Tern 10 Kotu ponds

Black-b. Wood Dove 1 cycle track

Blue-bellied Roller 2 along cycle track

Green Wood Hoopoe c20 Kotu ponds

Yellow Wagtail 1 cycle track

Zitting Cisticola 1

Melodious Warbler 1 by the room

Brown Babbler 8 by our room

Splendid Sunbird Usual 2 along cycle track

Gonolek 1 outside our room.

Lavender Waxbill 2 by the room.

Triplist = 209 species, 135 ticks.

Up for an early start at 0600 today, to set off up-country. An early start is usually necessary in order to get to Pirang around dawn to see Crowned Crane. After seeing a few common birds on the way, we arrived at Pirang at about 0700, a swampy area by the River Gambia, with an area of disused (I think) shrimp pools. The area was pretty good for birds, particularly hirundines, and would probably have repaid further exploration if we hadn't been in a rush to carry on inland.

Darter 1

Pink-backed Pelican 1 flew past in the distance.

Striated Heron 2

Squacco Heron 5, our first of the trip.

Reef Heron

Intermediate Egret 1 flew over

Black-headed Heron 1

White-faced T.Duck 12

[Kite sp.] 2 by roadside

Hooded Vulture

Palm-nut Vulture 2 by roadside, 1 at Pirang.

Marsh Harrier 1 by roadside, male at Pirang.

Shikra 1

Red-necked Falcon 2 flew over at Pirang shrimp farm

Double-sp. Francolin 1 heard

Crowned Crane 1 flew over, giving good but quite distant views. Then another 2 flew past at much closer range; excellent!

Senegal Thick-knee 15

Wattled Plover 1

Spur-winged Plover

Whimbrel 1

Greenshank 2

Marsh Sandpiper 2

Red-eyed Dove

Mourning Dove 1

Vinaceous Dove

Palm Dove

Blue-spotted W. Dove 1

Senegal Parrot 5

Ring-necked Parakeet 1

Little Swift

Palm Swift

Malachite Kingfisher 1

Pied Kingfisher

Giant Kingfisher 1 flew past at Pirang.

Abyssinian Roller 1

Blue-bellied Roller 3

Grey Hornbill 2

Red-billed Hornbill

Bearded Barbet 3

Crested Lark 1-2

Sand Martin 1

Red-chested Swallow

Wire-tailed Swallow 5+ with good views of 2 perched.

Pied-winged Swallow Good views of c10, some perched.

Mosque Swallow 2 seen well at shrimp farm; big swallows, pale orange below, red rump and white underwing coverts.

House Martin c5

Plain-backed Pipit Close views of 1 at Pirang, around dried out pool beds. A big pipit, most like a Tawny but with a very plain back.

Wheatear 1, my only one of the trip.

Zitting Cisticola 1 heard.

Winding Cisticola 2 seen; pretty poor views again.

Subalpine Warbler 1

Beautiful L-t. Sunbird 1

Gonolek heard

Yellow-biiled Shrike 4

Fork-tailed Drongo 1

L-t. Glossy Starling

Yellow-b. Oxpecker 3 on a donkey.

Village Weaver

Grey-headed Sparrow

Senegal Firefinch

Quailfinch Very disappointing, since c8 seen in flight (short tails and "odd" call), but always landed in long grass and so never seen properly.

After a quick stop to buy some bread and fruit, we carried on inland. The road from Pirang to Brumein bridge was amazing for raptors. We got a puncture which required a stop and gained me two more ticks, and then a two hour wait at Brumein bridge whilst the tyre was fixed provided more stunning birds, and some good food (although the crowds of kids here were tiresome!) Probably the best few hours of the holiday, bird-wise!

Pink-backed Pelican c100 along roads, c30 Brumein bridge

Cattle Egret

Reef Heron 2 Brumein bridge

Little Egret c20 Brumein bridge

Great White Egret

Grey Heron

Goliath Heron One of the top ambition birds for the trip; a huge beast of a bird, seen fishing upstream from Brumein bridge.

Yellow-billed Stork 3 flew over Brumein bridge with 4 pelicans; unfortunately not seen again.

Woolly-necked Stork 3 flew over at Brumein bridge whilst we were buying fish pasties, and were later seen from the bridge; highly identifiable birds!

Yellow-billed Kite 1 roadside, 1 Brumein bridge

[Kite sp.] 1

African Fish Eagle 1 flew over at Brumein village, and was later seen from the bridge, fishing in the river.

Hooded Vulture Hundreds.

White-backed Vulture An adult and an immature, then more, totalling c15 over Brumein bridge; adults easily recognised by their white underwing-coverts.

White-headed Vulture One of the rarest birds of the trip, but not seen all that well; a fairly small dark vulture over Brumein bridge, flying away from us but seen to have a distinctively pale belly.

Palm-nut Vulture 1 by road, 1 Brumein bridge

[Eagle sp.] 1-2 birds (may have been same individual) claimed by Baba to be Short- toed Eagle, didn't look right, since had all dark underwing coverts. Otherwise, dark head/breast and white belly with narrow bars. Beaudouin's Snake Eagle seemed a possibility, but on further investigation, also doesn't seem to fit. Martial Eagle fits the description, and does occur in the area, but jizz looked rather like a Snake Eagle.

Brown Snake Eagle Seen a few miles after the Western Banded Snake Eagle, this was a much bigger bird; snake eagle jizz but dark brown underwing coverts and looked rather like a giant Marsh Harrier.

Another gripper, found whilst watching the Long-crested Eagle and identified initially by me. Plain grey upperparts but with a black and white banded tail; my notes record tail as having, from end to end, black-white- black-white-black. Fine bars on flight feathers below. Carrying a snake!

Bateleur The highlight of an outstanding day! Shortly before we were about to leave Brumein bridge, an adult male was found soaring high and then glided directly overhead. Red bill and legs obvious, black under with white underwing coverts, goldish colour above.

Dark Chanting Goshawk A pair seen well by the roadside at km 77. Strikingly orange bill and legs (long). Black wing tips obvious in flight.

Harrier Hawk 4 along road, 1 Brumein bridge

Grasshopper Buzzard 4 singles seen. When perched, a dull rufous colour with a yellow bill and long wings. In flight, the outer half of the upperwing was a red colour, with a narrow white trailing edge, whilst the inner half of the underwing was black. Long wings give an odd shape in flight, almost falcon like.

Shikra 1 Brumein bridge

Long-crested Eagle One of the top birds of the trip. I was staring out of the back of the van and saw a black and white patterned raptor fly across the road behind us and land. We screeched to a halt and reversed up to get cracking scope-filling views of this ace bird. The crest itself was as long as the rest of the head, and blew around in the wind. The yellow eye was also striking.

Osprey 2 distant ones caused a little confusion, plus another later.

Grey Kestrel Brumein bridge

Feral Pigeon Few in villages

Namaqua Dove 4

African Cuckoo Whilst we were sheltering under a tree whilst our tyre was being changed, a cuckoo flew past and landed in a nearby bush. Fortunately we could get a good view, and identify it as an African Cuckoo by its strongly barred undertail and large amount of yellow on both mandibles (unlike Eurasian Cuckoo).

Little Swift c100 Brumein bridge

Mottled Spinetail 1

Pied Kingfisher

Rufous-cr. Roller 3 by roadside

Blue-bellied Roller 2

A pair seen in a dirt field whilst we had broken down; the male was a particularly stunning bird.

Mosque Swallow 1 seen from the van.

Melodious Warbler 1

Gonolek 1 heard Brumein bridge

Buffalo Weaver 1 Brumein bridge

[Red Patas Monkey] c15 seen by roads; an open-country animal.

Finally, we set off again and fairly soon came to Tendaba camp. This is a fabulous place; extremely peaceful away from the noise of the hotel, with no disco! A bar and restaurant overlook the river, which is still very wide at this point. Before dark, we had a quick stroll behind the back of the camp.

Pink-backed Pelican 4

Hammerkop 1

African Hobby 2

Senegal Coucal 1

Woodland Kingfisher 1 in view with the Blue-breasted Kingfisher. In comparison, the Woodland Kingfisher is smaller, neater, has a greyer head and smaller bill.

3 of these big beasts seen. Very heavy bill (black and red), with blue on breast and also more blue on the face than Woodland Kingfisher (which conveniently perched nearby!)

Abyssinian Roller 3

Green Wood Hoopoe several

Fine-sp. Woodpecker 1

Chiffchaff 1

Sc-sp. Wattle-eye 1 singing

Gonolek

Fork-tailed Drongo 2

Purple Glossy Starling 4

At least 1 bird judged to be this species; obviously one of the blue-eareds", but not so obviously small in comparison to PGS as the Lessers were.

Bush Petronia c5

After it got dark, we had dinner (Warthog in a pepper sauce) and saw a huge Praying Mantis, which was soon unfortunately squashed by the waitress!

Triplist = 233 species, 155 ticks.

The lads got up at first light for a look round the peanut compound area before breakfast, whilst Trudy and Janette had a lie in. The whole Tendaba area was excellent for birds, and I'd like to spend much more time there, exploring more sedately.

Darter 1 flew over

Pink-backed Pelican 2

African Spoonbill 30 flew over at dawn, flying downstream; Trudy and Janette had seen these fly over the night before whilst we'd been off birding, so we were glad to get them back!

Spur-winged Goose 1 of these grotty birds flew over whilst we'd stopped the van for an emergency toilet stop. Another, or same, flew over at breakfast.

Yellow-billed Kite 1

African Fish Eagle 1 heard "yelping".

Lizard Buzzard 1

Shikra 1

Osprey 1 over the river

African Hobby 1

Lanner 3 flew past together, causing initial confusion as to their identity (partly also because of poor light); seen better later in the day, including one which flew over at breakfast.

Bruce's Green Pigeon Not brilliant views, but one at least seen fairly well at the top of a tree, showing yellow belly, grey breast and green wings.

Senegal Parrot 3

Senegal Coucal

Mottled Spinetail 1

Fine-sp. Woodpecker 1 male

Red-chested Swallow

Red-rumped Swallow Excellent close views of c20 around the peanut compound.

White Wagtail c5, including around the camp/village.

S. G-b. Eremomela 1 seen well near the camp.

Beautiful L-t. Sunbird

African Golden Oriole Good views of a crippling male.

Yellow-billed Shrike

Fork-tailed Drongo

Purple Glossy Starling

Bush Petronia c10 today

Black-rumped Waxbill Not brilliant views of a small party of c10 in bushes on the way back to the camp. Male with red patch through eye, red "waxy" bill and black tail; female drabber.

Cut-throat A pair seen well perched on wires at the peanut compound. Male was obvious, female less so but with the same scaly patterning.

After an excellent breakfast, we took a boat trip across the river Gambia, and up the creek called Kisi Bolong into the mangrove swamp. This was great, and unfortunately we didn't have a good enough tide to explore the Tunku Bolong as well.

Long-t. Cormorant 4

Darter 1 seen well perched, then seen several times along Kisi Bolong; also another?

Pink-backed Pelican Several

Striated Heron 3

Squacco Heron 3

Reef Heron c10

Little Egret 1

Intermediate Egret c5

Great White Egret c5

Grey Heron c10

Goliath Heron 1 seen in flight as we approached Kisi Bolong, and two more further up the creek.

Hammerkop 6+

Woolly-necked Stork c10, mostly in flight soaring high.

Sacred Ibis 1 flew over.

White-faced T.Duck One flock of 67 on the banks of Kisi Bolong.

Black-shouldered Kite 1

Yellow-billed Kite 1

[Kite sp.] c10

White-backed Vulture 1 adult overhead.

Short-toed Eagle 1

Brown Snake Eagle 2 over Kisi Bolong.

[Eagle sp.] 1 seen as leaving Kisi Bolong defied identification; soaring high. Baba didn't know either, and suggested imm. Fish Eagle (which I don't think it was). Could possibly have been Martial Eagle?

Marsh Harrier 1

Montagu's Harrier 1 ringtail

Grasshopper Buzzard 3

Osprey 3

African Hobby 1

Lanner 1 perched by peanut compound, seen from boat.

Avocet 1

Whimbrel c30 in a single flock, as well as a few singles.

Redshank 2

Greenshank 2

Wood Sandpiper 1

Common Sandpiper c8

Gull-billed Tern 1 over the river.

Royal Tern 1 over the river.

Mourning Dove 1

Brown-necked Parrot Unfortunately, the only one was seen briefly flying overhead near the entrance to the creek. Green belly, brown head and yellow underwings.

Ring-necked Parakeet c5

Malachite Kingfisher 3

Blue-br. Kingfisher c5 along the creek.

Pied Kingfisher c5

Blue-ch. Bee-eater c5

Carmine Bee-eater 4 overhead along Kisi Bolong, a real bonus bird! Beautiful red-pink bee- eaters with very long tails, rather larger than Blue-cheeked Bee-eater?

Grey Hornbill 3

Grey Woodpecker 1

Sc-sp. Wattle-eye 1 heard

Mouse-brown Sunbird 6+ were seen along the edges of the mangroves, mostly near entrance to the creek. Brown but with striking white spectacles.

Puff-back Shrike A pair of these black and white shrikes seen several times in the taller trees along Kisi Bolong; I'm pretty sure I glimpsed one on the the first trip to Tanji, but this was the only definite sighting.

Buffalo Weaver 8 over, then another 4.

[Mongoose sp. Possibly Marsh Mongoose, along edge of Kisi Bolong.]

On returning from the boat trip, we lazed around the pool for a while in the heat of the day, and then explored the airfield in the evening to look for Ground Hornbills and sandgrouse.

Squacco Heron 3

Little Egret 1

Great White Egret 3

Purple Heron 2 on pools on disused airfield.

Woolly-necked Stork 2

White-faced T. Duck 2 over

Spur-winged Goose 5 flew over in the distance; white belly and underwing coverts; black under- flight feathers; rules out Comb Duck.

Yellow-billed Kite 1

Black Kite 1

Palm-nut Vulture 1 adult

Marsh Harrier 1

Gabar Goshawk 1 seen briefly in flight low across the airfield; white rump very obvious, barred tail. Generally brownish so immature?

Lizard Buzzard 1

Grasshopper Buzzard 2 airfield (perched)

Shikra 1 juv and maybe another.

Wahlberg's Eagle 1 over the airfield, initially strung as a Black Kite!

African Hobby 1

Crowned Crane 1 heard in the distance, though I can't now remember what it sounded like.

Black-winged Stilt 3

Grey Plover 1, surprising this far inland.

Greenshank 23 counted on airfield pools.

Caspian Tern 1 seen from swimming pool

2 seen in flight at dusk near terminal 3; typical sandgrouse shape with black outerwing and beige innerwing.

Namaqua Dove 5 flew over the pool.

Verreaux's Eagle Owl 1 sat on a tree at dusk on the airfield, seen silhouetted.

Abyssinian Roller 2

Vieillot's Barbet 1 heard, though can't remember what it sounded like.

Yellow Wagtail

African Golden Oriole 1 in the camp.

Fork-tailed Drongo 1

Purple Glossy Starling Several around the camp (I've got a feather from one) and airfield.

Gr. B-e. Glossy St. c5 along edge of the airfield; Baba reckoned they were Splendid but we considered that he was wrong (or mistranslating?)

Les. B-e. Glossy St. 1 with the Greaters; much smaller.

Yellow-b. Oxpecker At least 8 with a herd of cattle.

Senegal Indigobird A tick from the swimming pool! A male was seen in a nearby tree whilst I was floating about!

Cut-throat Another pair.

Triplist = 249 species, 168 ticks.

Up at dawn again for the lads for a quick look at the airfield for Ground Hornbills. This wasn't successful so we had another walk there after breakfast, which was similarly Ground Hornbill-less. Two new birds however!

Squacco Heron 3

Great White Egret 3

Goliath Heron 1 adult flew across to far side of river; watched from Tendaba itself.

Hammerkop 1

Woolly-necked Stork 2

African Spoonbill 11 flew over whilst watching the White-eyes.

Spur-winged Goose 1 flew upriver

Yellow-billed Kite 2

African Fish Eagle 1 adult hunting over the river; 1 heard later from airfield.

Palm-nut Vulture 2

[Harrier sp.] 1 ringtail Montagu's or Pallid on far side of airfield.

Gabar Goshawk Flew across airfield and then seen well perched. White rump. Black tail with grey bars and white tip. Orange bill with black tip. Red legs.

(West) African Goshawk 1 seen in flight with Shikras then perched in a nearby tree; see notes on golf course one tomorrow.

Shikra 1 before breakfast, then 4 together afterwards.

Wahlberg's Eagle 1 seen again over airfield, and again initially strung as Black Kite.

Long-crested Eagle 1 perched at far side on airfield.

Osprey 1

Double-sp. Francolin 1

Little Ringed Plover 1 at pools on airfield.

Bruce's Green Pigeon 1

Grey Plantain-eater 1 (scarce here)

Senegal Coucal 2

Abyssinian Roller 2

Rufous-cr. Roller 2 on airfield

Blue-bellied Roller 1

Hoopoe 1, the only one of trip. Seen too briefly to establish which subspecies.

Bearded Barbet 3

Plain-backed Pipit 2 airfield.

Olivaceous Warbler 1

Blackcap 1 female at camp.

Bonelli's Warbler 1 by airfield.

Yellow White-eye At least 3 seen well in a small tree in Tendaba village, a short way from the camp. Dinky little yellow birds with white specs.

Gonolek

Yellow-billed Shrike

Fork-tailed Drongo

Pin-tailed Whydah 1 female/imm in same tree as White-eyes.

Bush Petronia c10

Cut-throat 2 pairs by airfield.

[Mongoose sp.] 1 on airfield.

Finally, we set off back for the coast. We hadn't even reached Brumein bridge when we had our first puncture stop! Only a quick stop at the bridge today then we carried on, but only made it about 10 miles before the tyre blew again. This time, we decided to change tactics and Baba somehow flagged down the Banjul-Barra express bus (which appears to stop for nothing else!) We sped along in this as far as the Pirang turn (in incredible speed) and then one of Baba's friends took us from there back to the hotel.

Yellow-billed Kite 1

White-backed Vulture c15 along the road.

2 flew over Brumein bridge; not brilliant views, but bigger than White- backed Vulture, with different shape (more arched wings?)

Brown Snake Eagle 1 high over Km 137; yellow legs, thin long tail, big head

Dark Chant. Goshawk 1 at Brumein bridge, 1 at next stop

Harrier Hawk 1

Grasshopper Buzzard 1 at second puncture and another along the road.

Shikra 1

African Hawk Eagle 2-3 of these were seen flying high over our second puncture stop; very distinctive black and white pattern. Very like Bonelli's Eagle in shape.

Namaqua Dove 2 by road, 3 at Km 137 stop.

Barn Owl 1 flushed at our first puncture stop (Km 137)!

Long-tailed Nightjar At least 2 in flight at dusk over Kotu scrub.

Abyssinian Roller 3

Sand Martin 2 Brumein bridge

Chestnut-bellied Starling

3 on wires on Yundum football pitch.

Yellow-b. Oxpecker 2 by road, 2 at second puncture stop

Triplist = 257 species, 173 ticks.

A fairly laid back day around the hotel area today. We walked around the Kotu area in the morning, and in the evening, Trudy and I walked to Bijilo and had a good look in here. We didn't see much of interest at all until we were about to leave, and turned up two ticks! The two hours 1600-1800 in Bijilo only produced 29 species (all of which are noted).

Striated Heron 1

Black-headed Heron 2

Hammerkop 3 Kotu stream

Hooded Vulture 1 over Bijilo

Palm-nut Vulture 2 Bijilo; running battle with local Pied Crows!

Lizard Buzzard Usual one sat along the cycle track.

W. African Goshawk 1 seen well, perched in a palm on the golf course, and in flight. Darker above than Shikra, with dark grey head, white nape spots and dark barred tail. Also, bigger than Shikra.

Shikra 1 in Bijilo

Double-sp. Francolin 1

Stone Partridge 2 ran across path in front of us at Bijilo, then seen for a while as they walked through the undergrowth. Dumpy brown birds with speckly white heads and cocked tails.

Senegal Thick-knee 1 Kotu stream

Grey Plover

Spur-winged Plover

Black-headed Plover 3

Black-tailed Godwit 1

Whimbrel

Common Sandpiper

Turnstone

Arctic Skua 2 chasing terns offshore

Grey-headed Gull Seen from Bijilo

Gull-billed Tern 1 Kotu stream

Caspian Tern 1

Royal Tern 1

Lesser Crested Tern 1 a.m. and 1 flew past at dusk.

Sandwich Tern Seen from Bijilo

Common Tern 1

Black Tern 10

Speckled Pigeon Bijilo

Vinaceous Dove Bijilo

Palm Dove Bijilo

Black-billed W. Dove 1 cycle track and 1 Bijilo

Grey Plantain-eater 1 Bijilo

Senegal Coucal 1 Bijilo

Mottled Spinetail 1 over Bijilo

Palm Swift Bijilo

Pygmy Kingfisher 1 heard calling as it flew past at Bijilo; seen by Trudy

Little Bee-eater c5 cycle track; c5 at Bijilo including one seen to catch a bee!

Swallow-tailed B-e. c5 over the golfcourse.

Grey Hornbill Bijilo

Red-billed Hornbill Bijilo

Grey Woodpecker 1 cycle track; 1 female Bijilo

Common Bulbul Bijilo

Wow! At least one, maybe as many as three, in undergrowth of the thick forest at Bijilo. White on crown forms a relatively thin band, contrasting with black to cheeks, orange nape and reddish underparts, rump and outertail feathers.

Moho 1 seen in thick forest at Bijilo, only the second of the trip.

Subalpine Warbler 1 Kotu stream

Brown Babbler 2 hotel; 6 Bijilo

Gonolek 1 hotel; pair heard and another 2 seen at Bijilo

Yellow-billed Shrike 2 Bijilo

Pied Crow Bijilo

Village Weaver Bijilo

Red-ch. Cordon-bleu 2 hotel; also Bijilo

Senegal Firefinch 8 hotel; also Bijilo

Lavender Waxbill 2 hotel

Green Vervet Monkey 3 Bijilo

Triplist = 260 species, 175 ticks.

Our last full day in The Gambia was spent at Abuko. This reserve could quite easily keep me happy for weeks on its own! We started at the extension in the morning, walked around it and back to the drinks area, then slowly back to the hides and the main lake. A slight miscalculation meant that we forgot to bring any food, so a lady selling bananas at the hide was greatly appreciated! The number of new species today was perhaps a little disappointing, but this means there's plenty to go back for!

Night Heron At least 3 adults and a juvenile around the second pool, roosting in the palms.

After missing the adult on the previous visit, I was pleased to eventually manage to see a juvenile of this species, extremely well hidden at the base of the palms on the other side of the pool. Although difficult to see, the large white patch around the eye was distinctive.

Striated Heron 2

Intermediate Egret 1

Black-headed Heron 1

Hammerkop 2

[Kite sp.] 2

Palm-nut Vulture 1 adult

Dark Chanting Gos. 3; a pair seen perched showed a large difference in size between the sexes.

Harrier Hawk 1 adult

Lizard Buzzard 1

Double-sp. Francolin 4+

Stone Partridge A covey of six flushed just into the extension first thing in the morning.

Black Crake A juvenile seen in front of the second hide; good views. Dull yellow bill and red legs. Wings browner than the black body.

African Jacana 1 adult with 2 juvs from first hide again.

Spur-winged Plover 2

Common Sandpiper 1

Speckled Pigeon 10

Red-eyed Dove 3

Vinaceous Dove 2

Red-billed W. Dove 3

Senegal Parrot 2

Grey Plantain-eater 2

Violet Turaco 3

Green Turaco 1

Didric Cuckoo 1 juvenile seen in the extension. Heavily streaked below. Red bill, browny head, white supercilium, moustachial stripe and lores.

Klaas' Cuckoo 6+ including excellent views of an adult with 2 juvs.

Yellow-bill One of the best finds of the trip; brief but gripping views of this small blue- green coucal with a banana in place of its bill!

Verreaux's Eagle Owl 1 in same large trees as before, mobbed by starlings, crows and a DCG!

Long-tailed Nightjar at least two at the Casino Scrub in the evening; 1 seen well perched at last.

Malachite Kingfisher 1 juv again by first hide.

Pygmy Kingfisher 1

Giant Kingfisher 1

Little Bee-eater 2

Swallow-tailed B-e. 4

Blue-cheeked B-e. c20 over

Broad-billed Roller 2

Green Wood Hoopoe 2

Bearded Barbet 3

Greater Honeyguide 1 female seen in the extension; brown back and white outertail feathers.

Fine-sp. Woodpecker 1 male

Grey Woodpecker 2

Pied-winged Swallow 2

Fanti Saw-wing c10

1 female in a mixed feeding flock in the extension. The yellow underwings were notable.

Little Greenbul 1

[Leaflove?] 1 unidentified bird in the extension could have been this species, but views and books were not sufficient for identification.

Snowy-cr. Robin Chat 2 in the extension.

Redstart 1 male

West African Thrush 4

Singing Cisticola 2

S. G-b. Eremomela 1

Northern Crombec 1 drinking pool

Melodious Warbler 2

Garden Warbler 1

Pied Flycatcher 1 female

Sc-sp. Wattle-eye 3

Paradise Flycatcher 1

R-b. Paradise Fly. 1

Brown Babbler 5

Variable Sunbird 1

Beautiful L-t. Sunbird 4

Gonolek at least 3 heard

Fork-tailed Drongo 1

Purple Glossy Starling 6

Buffalo Weaver c20 in the extension; huge nests.

Spectacled Weaver 1 male

Orange-ch. Waxbill 2 drinking pool

Bronze Mannikin 20

[Nile Crocodile] 1

[Red Colobus] 3

[Green Vervet] 20+

[Squirrels sp.] one with a stripe down its side; two without.

[Harnessed Antelope] 1

Triplist = 266 species, 179 ticks.

As it was our last morning here, Trudy and I took it easy wandering about the Kotu area and shopping for souvenirs. John went off to grip me off with Black-winged Red Bishop and Brown-backed Woodpecker. We only saw a few birds before catching our plane back to the UK. After long delays, we finally flew at 1700 arriving back at Manchester at 2230.

Hammerkop 1

Black Kite 1 airport

Marsh Harrier 1 airport

Double-sp. Francolin 1 heard

Grey Plover

Whimbrel 2

Greenshank

Common Sandpiper

Turnstone

Caspian Tern 1

Little Tern 1

Black Tern 16 offshore

Grey Plantain-eater 1

Senegal Coucal 1

Striped Kingfisher 1 on wires near the Senegambia hotel (from the coach)

Little Bee-eater 4

Wire-tailed Swallow 1 by Kotu bridge

Singing Cisticola 1 heard

Subalpine Warbler 2 (including good views of a nice male)

Blackcap 1 female

Variable Sunbird 1 male

Splendid Sunbird 1 male by the hotel.

Beautiful L-t. Sunbird 1 male

Black-crowned Tchagra 1 heard

Gonolek 2

Red Bishop a male seen along the cycle track was still in good plumage.

African Silverbill 2 along the cycle track and 1 at the Senegambia Hotel later.

Triplist = 266 species, 179 ticks.