| Information
on:
STOP PRESS
August 2005
Kunkilling Forest Park and Tankandam Community Forest
Eco Trails - 5 kms east of Janjanbureh. New trails opened, dusk visits
encouraged. Site for Adamawa Turtle Dove, African Finfoot, Shining-blue
Kingfisher and more click here
September 2004
WABSA's reserve at Brufut now has a hide to enable visitors
to watch the Eagle Owls whilst reducing the disturbance to the birds.
Banjul Quarry now has a hut providing some shelter from
the sun.
December 2003
Don't miss out on the
waterhole in Kiang West National Park click here
for more info
August 15 2003
Latest timetable for autumn/winter
crossings to the Bijol Islands linked to this page.
click
here
Note: The Dept of Parks
and Wildlife Management boat makes the only authorised landings on the
Bijol Islands
Boat back from the Bijol
Islands
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BIRDING SITES
We have divided this page
into 4 sections:
1) Banjul Peninsular;
2) Tanji, The Bijol Islands,
Brufut and Marikissa; Go to Tanji etc.
3) Kiang West National
Park & Tendaba; Go to Tendaba
4) Georgetown & Basse;
Go
to Georgetown etc.
For site maps see "Birding
in The Gambia" by Ward (published 1994) or contact Foreign Birdwatching
Reports & Information Service which has reports from 1999. see Books
etc. If anyone has site diagrams or their recent
bird lists for particular sites, and they are willing to share with the
rest of the world, we would be delighted to use these. Dawn
to Dusk permits should be booked through the headquarters of each reserve.
Banjul Peninsular
Abuko Nature Reserve:
Many birders are happy to make at least 2 visits to the reserve as it is
difficult to cover the whole reserve in 1 day. The main pool is always
worth a visit and the new education centre here is a good place to find
out from the park wardens what is about. The tour groups that pass
through are a temporary distraction - they rarely stay in the hide for
more than 15 minutes. Photographers will enjoy the photo hide at
the end of the track by the main pool visitor centre. Good for Violet
and Green Turacos, Verreaux's Eagle Owl, Pygmy and Giant Kingfishers,
Black-headed Paradise Flycatcher, Splendid Glossy Starling. Also
red colobus, green vervet and red patas monkey and some big monitor lizards
for detailed comments click
here
.
Bijilo Nature Reserve
An interesting piece of coastal forest worth visiting if you are staying
nearby. You have a very good chance of seeing red colobus monkey here.
for detailed comments click here
Bund Road, Banjul There
is a stand of terns and pelicans opposite the wrecks. Waders, egrets etc
on the opposite side of the road in the mangroves as far as the pumping
station . Good views from the roof of the pumping station (at your own
risk). The pool at the prison end of the road is worth a look. We wouldn't
recommend walking there from the pumping station in the heat of the day
Camalou Corner, Botanical
Garden and Cape Creek: A
traditional taxi round with plenty of variety. Bird Cape Creek from the
track west of the bridge on the Cape road from Denton Bridge. At
the botanic garden don't miss the large tree in the nursery area next door
- it can be a real treasure trove.
Koto Creek: For
many years this site was not to be missed if you are staying on this part
of the coastal strip. However, an oil leak from thepower station
higher up the creek and the development of hotels has degraded the
bhabitat. The West African Bird Study Association have an information
point at the bridge here so it is a good place to pick up a registered
guide. The bridge used to be a good place to see Senegal Thick-knee,
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater and a range of waders. Sacred Ibis are common
in the nearby fields
Kotu Pools: otherwise
know as the sewage pools - an excellent place for for White-faced Whistling
Duck amongst other birds. Regrettably, the hotels have been pressing for
these to be closed.
Lamin Lodge and Makasutu:
Both have proved popular as opportunities for non bird watchers to be introduced
to the delights of ornithology. Lamin Lodge is an extraordinary eating
place serving food throughout the day, although the monkies can be a nuisance
as they rush in to grab any bread on the table (tough if you are having
a sandwich).
Makasutu in particular has attracted
favourable comments, because of the large areas of undisturbed forest.
The development of Makasutu, with strong links with the local community,
provides a good model for linking conservation and economic development
for local communities. For more information about this see the conservation
page.
It is important to understand that Makasutu is not just a birdwatching
site. The entrance fee is expensive by Gambian standards but
makes for a pleasant day out. The delight of being paddled through
a creek with no engine sounds enables you to get much closer to the birds
on the mudbanks and roosting in the trees (but try to ensure you avoid
the noisy tour groups). Anyone visiting the site has to pay the full fee.
The site is open from 08.00-18.00. Email:
makasutu@hotmail.com.
Sightings include African
Wood Owl. African Cuckoo Hawk, African Silverbill, African Finfoot.
The local guide also claims to have seen Shining Blue Kingfisher in November
2003 There is a small population of West African Manatees in the bolons.
for a trip report from March 2005 click here
To get there if you are not
part of a group or with a local guide, you follow the Banjul Basse Highway
to Brikama. Go beyond the main turn off to Brikama, carry along for
a short while until you see a blue sign on the left (Kindergarten Bottrop
from memory). Pass this sign for about 100 meters until you see a
tarmac turn-off to the left. Follow the track through the village
until it turns into a dirt track And the advice we have at this point
is hire a local to show you the final 3 km! Gerri and Maurice from
the Safari Garden Hotel also take small number of visitors to MCF.
Yundum: Site best known
for Temminck's Courser. Also seen around here Yellow Penduline Tit,
Yellow-shouldered Widowbird.
Tanji, The Bijol
Islands, Brufut and Marikissa
Brufut: Always worth
a visit in conjunction with Tanji. Woodland around the village produces
a wide range of birds, this area was managed by WABSA: Birdfinders
and the Exmoor Falconry Centre have funded the reserve which has a well
and a hide to enable visitors to view the Verraux Eagle Owls that breed
in the area. We understand that the area is now being managed by a local
community group with the intention that all the revenue will go direct
to the community. For a report of a visit click
here
Tanji (Karinti) Nature Reserve
and The Bijol Islands: Despite the damage done by the road widening,
the site is still worth a visit. although for autumn 2005 you might check
first with the guides as to its opening status. There is an area
around the seasonal pool, behind the reserve office, with a walk towards
the lagoon area (the guides on the reserve will be happy to show you and
tell you what is around) Good site for Moho, Bruce's Green Pigeon. The
tern stand is best viewed from a track that goes across the scrub nearer
to the bridge into Tanji itself.
Bijol
Islands Royal Tern, Caspian Tern and waders nest, roost and feed on
the Bijol Islands. You may see turtles and dolphins during the trip over.
To minimise disturbance to the birds the Department of Parks and Wildlife
Management run trips to islands twice a week from October
to March and just once a week from April to September. Access is
prohibited at other times. Just five visitors are allowed,
In February 2003 the charge was D200 per person with a minimum of D400.
You will be given an official receipt and the money goes towards the cost
of patrolling the area to deter egg thieves and other disturbances. The
boat departs from Brufut fishing centre, as it is launched from the beach
wear appropriate clothing and shoes - you may get a little wet. And
remember to take your shoes on to the Island - European feet get burned
very quickly. The trip usually lasts for about two hours but will
be affected by the tide and conditions. To book the boat to the Bijol Islands
contact Famara Drammeh, R&D unit, Department of Wildlife email: wildlife@gamtel.gm,
If you are already in the country you can contact Mr Amadou Camara
at the Tanji reserve HQ tel 919219 For the 2003 timetable click
here.
Tanji Nature Park / Paradise
Inn. A good place for lunch and a drink followed by a little
bird watching in the shade of trees overlooking the river. Follow the signs
from Tanji village. Sightings around the grounds have included African
Finfoot and, during the rainy season, Shining Blue Kingfisher. Also good
for an overnight - see accommodation
Marikissa: South of Brikama
on the road to Darisalmi. The area around the bridge and back towards Marikissa
is particularly profitable. Good for kingfishers, raptors, rollers, parties
of migrating birds. Black Crake is seen regularly around the pond
by the bridge. A local co-operative is developing the fields beyond
the bridge - please remember that the crops are their livelihood and do
not trample over the seedlings. For some helpful information
on reaching the site click here
Then drive on to Darisalmi
and turn right following the sign to River Lodge. The causeway is
an excellent viewing point for waders and raptors and the grassland around
River Lodge (which has an upper viewing platform), produces more species.
Do not attempt to cross the causeway in a vehicle unless you are confident
you can do so safely. But if you make it we recommend the fish
and chips.
Pirang
East of Brikama, the dried
shrimp pools are probably the best known site for Black Crowned Cranes
which have been seen there again in autumn 2003. But there has been
some difficulty in gaining access, although some of the local bird guides
seemed to have come to an arrangement with the new management.
Vaughan Ashby reports in 2004 "Pirang Shrimp Farm has
now been completely closed to birders with metal gates built across the
only access track. Up to 4 Black Crowned-cranes are still in the area but
many of the specialist birds can now only be seen from a distance. Habitat
Africa are trying to make arrangements for their guides to accompany birdtours
on to the site."
Kiang
West National Park
Bird Kiang West National
Park en route for Tendaba or whilst you are based at the camp. The
track to Batelling from the Kwinella Tendaba road is just about manageable
and will take you to some excellent birding with plenty of shaded cover
for the birds, it is well known for sandgrouse which fly up from under
your feet, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, White-shouldered Black Tit.
But we are disappointed that
many local guides do not take you into the park itself - we have heard
tales that the road from Batelling to Toubab Kolon point is impassable
or that the water hole is dried up and then find this is not the case at
all - the road to Toubab Kolon point is better than the Kwinella Batelling
track and in the third week in December there was still plenty of water
in the water hole. Even if the birding is not of the same order as
the aforementioned track the view at the waterhole provides some welcome
relief to the flatness of The Gambia and there is always a good chance
of something interesting arriving to drink. Lamin Sanyang of
the Dept of Parks and Wildlife Management is often around in Batelling
to direct you to the waterhole but if not, just follow the road towards
Toubab Kollon Point and stop when you come to a clearing with a shelter
to the right of the road. The footpath to the waterhole heads off
just to the right of the road. . Sitatunga and roan antelopes may
be seen in the park if you are particularly fortunate.
.
Tendaba
There are three main areas to
visit around Tendaba itself. The essential trip is by boat across to Kisi
and Tunku Bolons which produce a wonderful array of birds including African
Blue Flycatcher (at the entrance of the bolons), African Darter, Woolly-necked
Stork, Striated Heron, Mouse-brown Sunbird, African Fish Eagle, Goliath
Heron.. White-backed Night Heron is seen frequently and occasionally Pel's
Fishing Owl and African Finfoot. Clawless Otters are a strong possibility
here. Organise your boat as soon as you arrive, bearing in mind that tides
will determine when you can go across. Sunhat and water are essential.
The airstrip produces raptors
Abysinnian Ground Hornbills and sandgrouse.
The third area is the savannah/
track to Batelling described under Kaing West above.
Georgetown &
Basse
There are many pools on the
road on the north side of the river from Farafenni (just east of Tendaba)
to Georgetown. At Georgetown itself the camps will direct you to profitable
spots around the island and will organise boat trips for you - keep your
eyes peeled for finfoot along the river.
Kunkilling Forest Park and
Tankandam Community Forest Eco Trails
5 kms east of Janjanbureh. A new community based
site managed by the Forestry Department. It is an intact piece of
Sudan-Guinea savannah by the River Gambia. There has been no forest
fire here for many years. Key species include Adamawa Turtle Dove,
African Finfoot, Shining-blue Kingfisher lead-coloured Flycatcher, breeding
White-backed Vulture, Black-faced Firefinch, Yellow-bellied Hyliota, Violet-tipped
Courser, Spotted thick-knee plus all 5 species of primate found in the
Gambia. Tickets are D100 per person (about £2.00), includes
dusk access 60% goes to the local community and 40% to the Forestry Dept.
tickets should be puchased at Forestry HQ in Janjanbureh. Guides
will also require tickets. The site is open throught the day and
dusk walks are encouraged. Clive Barlow, ornitholigical consultant
for the project has developed four trails, Named after nearby villages,
these were opened up by local people and not a single tree was destroyed
in the process. For further information about the site contact clivebarlow@gambianet.gm
Bansang Quarry:
This site is now being managed by WABSA, Gambia Birding having funded the
fencing off of half the quarry to protect the nest holes of the Red-throated
Bee-eaters. Watching these wonderful birds at their roost just
before sunset could be one of the most magical experiences of your trip.
And there will be other birds drinking from the pools to distract you further.
Be careful not to miss the last ferry back to Georgetown. It is good at
other times of day but as it is a sun trap and you will not want to stay
long, until WABSA build the planned hut there. For a recent report
of a visit click here
Basse: For many years
the recognised spot for viewing Egyptian Plover - Start at the jetty or
the veranda of Traditions. However we have been told that the birds are
seen less frequently following floods earlier in 2003 - although the owners
of Traditions say they still see them early in the morning.
Carmine Bee-eaters can be seen
in the fields east of Basse, but you may have to walk some distance to
find them.
Great Snipe used to be seen
in the marsh area just east of Basse, but changes in drainage
meant this species had not been seen (or at least reported) for some years.
But we are delighted to reported that Kev Roy, who birds the Prufut Swamp
as his local patch, reported seeing a Great Snipe here in January 2004.
He also saw a Bluethroat, with complete blue patch, on the same day.
We continue to particularly welcome reports from east of Basse.
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