In providing us with this list Steve said "This list is based on only 9-10 days of casual birding @ Makasutu. Given more intensive birding over both wet & dry seasons I have no doubt this list would become more extensive. "

Which is an open invitation to others to provide information additional sightings and species to add to this list.

 1/ PINK-BACKED PELICAN:overflying birds seen on a number of occasions in march & november 2005.
 2/ GREAT WHITE PELICAN:seven overflying birds seen once in march 2005.
 3/ LONG-TAILED CORMORANT:small numbers seen daily on Mandina bolong creeks/mangrove in both march & november 2005. 
 4/ AFRICAN DARTER: small numbers seen daily on Mandina bolong creeks/mangrove in both march & november 2005.
 5/ HAMERKOP: small numbers seen daily in mangroves in both march & november 2005.
 6/ CATTLE EGRET: large numbers overflying daily to & from roosts in both march & november 2005.
 7/ INTERMEDIATE EGRET: small numbers seen in flight on a few days in november 2005.
 8/ GREAT WHITE EGRET: small numbers seen daily on the bolong/mangroves in february & november.
 9/ WESTERN REEF HERON: common along the mangrove edges.
10/ PURPLE HERON: a few singles seen on morning creek trips in march 2005.
11/ GREY HERON: a few singles seen in march 2005.
12/ GOLIATH HERON: single birds seen on every extended creek trip in march & november with a group of three birds being flushed
from a roost near the 'Lake area' on one morning in november 2005.
13/ BLACK-HEADED HERON: single birds seen as flyovers from the lodge in november 2005.
14/ STRIATED HERON: common (but secretive) in the mangroves in both march & november 2005.
15/ WHITE-BACKED NIGHT HERON: a single bird found roosting in mangroves 15-20 metres from lodge 3 on the morning of
26/11/05.
16/ SQUACCO HERON: a single bird seen near the 'Lake area' on 27/11/05.
17/ OSPREY: common along the mangroves in march & november 2005.
18/ PALM-NUT VULTURE: single birds common around the mangroves with an old (?still active) nest 700metres downstream along
the Mandina bolong from Mandina lodges..
19/ HOODED VULTURE: common throughout with a few birds roosting in the taller mangroves.
20/ AFRICAN HARRIER-HAWK: common in the palm forest area between Mandina lodges & Basecamp.
21/ BLACK KITE: both Yellow-billed & Eurasian races seen in both march & november 2005. Large loose roost of possibly 3-400
birds @ Bird Island deep in the Mangroves.
22/ BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE: birds regularly seen almost daily over the open wooded area behind Mandina Lodges in march &
november 2005.
23/ BEAUDOUIN'S SNAKE EAGLE: seen once in march 2005. Overflying birds (often a pair) seen almost daily in november 2005.
24/ EURASIAN MARSH HARRIER: a single bird seen lazily overflying the lodges in march 2005.
25/ MARTIAL EAGLE: not seen in march but noted almost daily overflying Mandina Lodges generally in the afternoon -maximum of 2
adults + 1 immature seen at once.
26/ WAHLBERG'S EAGLE: not seen in march but seen 3/7 days in november 2005.
27/ AFRICAN HAWK EAGLE: not seen in march 2005, seen on one afternoon over the savannah woodland to the north of Mandina
Lodges in november 2005.
28/ LONG-CRESTED EAGLE: perched bird seen once distantly in savannah woodland to the north of Mandina Lodges in march,
soaring birds seen on two days in november 2005.
29/ DARK CHANTING GOSHAWK: seen most days in both march & november 2005 in the savannah woodlands north of the lodges.
30/ SHIKRA: singles seen most days around the lodges/swimming pool area in both march & november 2005.
31/ LANNER: not seen in march but seen on 3/7 days overflying Mandina Lodges in november 2005 -including a hunting pair  on one
afternoon.
32/ GREY KESTREL: seen almost daily in both march & november 2005  -often a few times each day.
33/ DOUBLE-SPURRED FRANCOLIN: shy but commonly heard & seen in the savannah woodland north of the lodges in march &
november 2005.
34/ STONE PARTRIDGE: commonly heard in the woodland around the lodges & often seen especially just after sunrise both in
march & november 2005.
35/ AFRICAN FINFOOT: a single male seen swimming over the bolong at high tide from lodge 3 on a single morning at dawn in
november 2005.
36/ SENEGAL THICK-KNEE: common along the mangroves in march & november 2005.
37/ SPUR-WINGED PLOVER: common along the mangroves in march & november 2005.
38/ WATTLED PLOVER: common along the mangroves in march & november 2005.
39/ RINGED PLOVER: singles seen on 2/7 days on exposed mud along the mangroves in november 2005.
40/ WHIMBREL: common along the mangroves in march & november 2005.
41/ EURASIAN CURLEW: singles seen on 2 days on the extensive muddy areas between Mandina Lodges & Basecamp in
november 2005.
42/ GREENSHANK: common along the mangroves in both march & november 2005.
43/ COMMON REDSHANK: singles seen on most days along the mangroves in march & november 2005.
44/ COMMON SANDPIPER: common along the mangroves in march & november 2005.
45/ GREY-HEADED GULL: seen once on the bolong in march 2005.
46/ CASPIAN TERN: small numbers seen fishing on the bolong in march & november 2005.
47/ ROYAL TERN: seen twice on the bolong in march 2005.
48/ SANDWICH TERN: small numbers seen on the bolong in march & less commonly in november 2005.
49/ LAUGHING DOVE: common in both march & november 2005.
50/ BLUE-SPOTTED WOOD DOVE: seen once in the 'Big Forest' in november 2005.
51/ BLACK-BILLED WOOD DOVE: common in march & november 2005 with a pair nesting in the bamboo clump in the island in the
middle of the swimming pool.
52/ SPECKLED PIGEON: common, with birds easily seen around the lodges in both march & november 2005.
53/ AFRICAN GREEN PIGEON: not noted in march but seen in good numbers(20+) in fruiting figs on a few mornings in november
2005.
54/ RED-EYED DOVE: common in march & november 2005.
55/ AFRICAN MOURING DOVE: fairly common in the mangroves in both march & november 2005.
56/ VINACEOUS DOVE: common in both march & november 2005.
57/ SENEGAL COUCAL: commonly seen & heard in march & november 2005.
58/ LEVAILLANT'S CUCKOO: seen once in the savannah woodland north of the lodges in november 2005.
59/ KLAAS'S CUCKOO: seen on 2 days in the savannah woodland north of the lodges in november 2005.
60/ BARN OWL: roosting bird seen in woodland north of the lodges in march 2005 & a  bird 'invaded' the Makasutu owners' house at 
Baobab in november 2005.
61/ AFRICAN SCOPS OWL: heard calling each night in march 2005.
62/ NORTHERN WHITE-FACED SCOPS OWL: heard calling on one night only in march 2005.
63/ LITTLE SWIFT: overflying birds seen in march & november 2005.
64/ AFRICAN PALM SWIFT: common in & over the Makasutu Palm Forest in both march & november 2005.
65/ GREEN WOOD HOOPOE: commonly seen in Makasutu Palm Forest in both march & november 2005.
66/ GIANT KINGFISHER: both sexes commonly seen in various parts of the mangrove in march & november 2005.
67/ BLUE-BREASTED KINGFISHER: commonly seen & heard in november, less common but still frequent in march 2005.
68/ PIED KINGFISHER: common along the mangroves in march & november 2005.
69/ MALACHITE KINGFISHER:singles seen once in march & on a few days in november 2005.
70/ BROAD-BILLED ROLLER: common in november with good numbers of roosting birds in the mangroves, not seen in march 2005.
71/ BLUE-BELLIED ROLLER: common in the palm forest/savannah woodland in both march & november 2005.
72/ LITTLE BEE-EATER: common in the scrubby grassland north of Mandina Lodges in both march & november 2005.
73/ SWALLOW-TAILED BEE-EATER: fairly common in the savannah woodland with occasional birds seen in the mangroves in both
march & november 2005.
74/ BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATER: common in & over the mangroves in march 2005 but not seen in november 2005.
75/ WHITE-THROATED BEE-EATER: common in & over the mangroves in march 2005 but not seen in november 2005.
76/ ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET: common with birds frequently overflying the lodges both in march & november 2005.
77/ SENEGAL PARROT: commonly seen in the Palm forest & overflying the lodges in march & november 2005.
78/ WESTERN GREY PLANTAIN-EATER: very common throughout the area in march & november 2005.
79/ VIOLET TURACO: small numbers seen regularly in fruiting figs & in the 'Big Forest' in both march & november 2005 with birds
seen even in the grounds of Mandina Lodges.
80/ GUINEA TURACO: a single bird seen in a fruiting fig just north of the lodges in march 2005 with three birds seen in the 'Big
Forest' on one evening in november 2005.
81/ YELLOW-FRONTED TINKERBIRD: frequently heard & often seen in the savannah woodland north of the lodges in march &
november 2005.
82/ BEARDED BARBET: commonly seen in the savannah woodland & surrounding forest in march & november 2005.
83/ AFRICAN PIED HORNBILL: frequently seen in the 'Big Forest' & surroundings in both march & november 2005.
84/ RED-BILLED HORNBILL: common throughout the Makasutu area in both march & november 2005.
85/ AFRICAN GREY HORNBILL: frequently seen in the 'Big Forest' & Makasutu Palm Forest in both march & november 2005.
86/ FINE-SPOTTED WOODPECKER: seen once at the edge of the 'Big Forest' in march 2005.
87/ GREY WOODPECKER: seen on 2 days in the Palm Forest in november 2005.
88/ CARDINAL WOODPECKER: a pair were regularly seen in a large dead tree at the edge of the 'Big Forest' in november 2005.
89/ LESSER HONEYGUIDE: birds were seen almost every day in & around the swimming pool area in both march & november
2005.
90/ FANTI SAW-WING: between 3 & 6 birds frequented the savannah woodland north of the lodges in november 2005, often drinks
from the swimming pool; not seen march 2005.
91/ PIED-WINGED SWALLOW: common around the swimming pool area in november & march 2005.
92/ RED-CHESTED SWALLOW: common in & around the lodges in march & november 2005.
93/ AFRICAN GOLDEN ORIOLE: heard & seen in the savannah woodland north of the lodges (particularly in a fruiting climber-Fig) in
november 2005, not seen in march 2005.
94/ FORK-TAILED DRONGO: a single bird seen on the edge of the 'Big Forest' on 2 days in november 2005.
95/ COMMON BULBUL: common in & around the lodges in march & november 2005.
96/ LITTLE GREENBUL: seen in the 'Big Forest'  once & seen each afternoon at the 'drinking bowls' by the lodges swimming pool.
97/ ORIOLE WARBLER: heard on a number of occasions duetting in the scrub between the lodges & Basecamp in november 2005
but only seen once. Not seen/heard in march 2005.
98/ BLACKCAP BABBLER: common in the woodland surrounding the lodges in march & november 2005.
99/ BROWN BABBLER: common around the lodges in march & november 2005.
100/ COMMON NIGHTINGALE: a single bird seen & heard in full song in scrub 500m north of the lodge entrance in november 2005.
101/ AFRICAN THRUSH: common in the scrub woodland around the lodges in march & november 2005.
102/ WHITE-CROWNED ROBIN-CHAT: single skulking birds seen in march & november 2005.
103/ SNOWY-CROWNED ROBIN-CHAT: a remarkably confiding bird seen & photographed by the edge of the 'Big Forest' near the
Palm-tappers camp in november 2005.
104/ SUBALPINE WARBLER: single birds frequently seen feeding in the mangroves alongside the floating lodges in november 2005.
105/ WILLOW WARBLER: fairly common in the savannah woodland north of the lodges in both march & november 2005. 
106/ CHIFF-CHAFF: a single singing bird frequented the mangroves around the lodges for at least 5 days in november 2005.
107/ SINGING CISTICOLA: not uncommon in the scrubby woodland north of the lodges in november 2005.
108/ RED-WINGED WARBLER: seen in the scrubby woodland north of the lodges in november 2005.
109/ TAWNY-FLANKED PRINIA: common in the scrub north of the lodges in march & november 2005.
110/ NORTHERN CROMBEC: single birds seen in the savannah woodland north of the lodges in march & november 2005.
111/ GREY-BACKED CAMAROPTERA: common in the scrubby woodland north of the lodges in march & november 2005.
112/ YELLOW PENDULINE TIT: single birds twice seen in the savannah woodland north of the lodges in november 2005. Not seen in
march 2005.
113/ YELLOW-BELLIED HYLIOTA: a family party was seen once in the savannah woodland adjacent to the 'Big Forest' in november
2005.
114/ COMMON WATTLE-EYE: very common in the mangroves & surrounding denser woodland in march & november 2005.
115/ NORTHERN BLACK FLYCATCHER: birds seen almost daily in the savannah woodland north of the lodges in november 2005,
not seen in march 2005.
116/ AFRICAN PARADISE FLYCATCHER: fairly common in the woodland around the lodges being seen in both march & november
2005.
117/ RED-BELLIED PARADISE FLYCATCHER: single birds seen on 2 days in the 'Big Forest' in november 2005. Not seen in march
2005.
118/ VARIABLE SUNBIRD: common in the savannah woodland north of the lodges in both march & november 2005.
119/ MOUSE-BROWN SUNBIRD: very common in the mangroves & seen regularly at the swimming pool drinking bowls in both
march & november 2005.
120/ SCARLET-CHESTED SUNBIRD: single birds seen in the savannah woodlands on 4 days in november 2005 but not seen in
march 2005.
121/ SPLENDID SUNBIRD: common in the savannah woodland & around the lodges in both march & november 2005.
122/ BEAUTIFUL SUNBIRD: common in & around the lodges in march & november 2005.
123/ GREEN-HEADED SUNBIRD: seems to be fairly common in the surrounding savannah woodland & a high profile bird at the
swimming pool drinking bowls in march & november 2005.
124/ BLACK-CROWNED TCHAGRA: common in the scrubby savannah north of the lodges gate in march & november 2005.
125/ GREY-HEADED BUSHSHRIKE: melodic monotone 'whistle' frequently heard between the lodges & Basecamp where single
birds seen in november 2005, also present in the 'Big Forest'.
126/ NORTHERN PUFFBACK: seems to be fairly common in the extensive areas of mangrove around the lodges.
127/ YELLOW-CROWNED GONOLEK: common around the lodges & in the surrounding mangroves.
128/ WHITE-CRESTED HELMET SHRIKE: a family party seen once briefly at the edge of the 'Big Forest' in november 2005.
129/ YELLOW-BILLED SHRIKE: common in the scrubby woodland/Palm forest between Mandina Lodges & Basecamp.
130/ PIED CROW: common around the lodges in both march & november 2005.
131/ PIAPIAC: common around Basecamp in march & november 2005.
132/ PURPLE GLOSSY STARLING: commonly seen around the lodges area in march & november 2005.
133/ LONG-TAILED GLOSSY STARLING: common around the lodges & around Basecamp & Baobab centre in march & november
2005.
134/ YELLOW-FRONTED CANARY: small numbers visited the poolside drinking bowls on a daily basis in november 2005.
135/ GREY-HEADED SPARROW: small numbers seen around the lodges in march & november 2005.
136/ NORTHERN RED BISHOP: two breeding-plumage males seen in november in the grassy savannah north of the lodges, small
congregations of drab eclipse plumage birds seen in march 2005.
137/ VILLAGE WEAVER: common throughout the area in march & november 2005.
138/ BLACK-NECKED WEAVER: adults of both sexes seen in the denser woodland near the 'Big Forest' in november 2005 but not
noted in march.
139/ ORANGE-CHEEKED WAXBILL: small numbers seen on some days in november 2005 in the grassland on the edge of the 'Big
Forest'.
140/ LAVENDER WAXBILL: small numbers seen around the Basecamp area in november 2005.
141/ RED-BILLED FIREFINCH: common in & around the lodges in march & november 2005.
142/ BRONZE MANNIKIN: common in & around the lodges in march & november 2005.
143/ VILLAGE INDIGOBIRD: obvious around the lodges in november 2005, not noted but probably missed in march when in eclipse
plumage.

             A number of birds were only heard, or seen briefly/inadequately & are thus not included in the above list. Details of these
birds are given below:
      a) 3 Yellow-billed Storks seen soaring high & distantly to the south of the lodges on the afternoon of 25/11/05.
      b) 1 Sacred Ibis seen distantly on a large sandbank downstream of Joya camp on the morning of 27/11/05.
      c) 2 African Spoonbill -2 birds seen distantly on a large sandbank downstream of Joya camp on 27/11/05 were probably this
species rather than Eurasian Spoonbill.
      d) Bateleur -a very distant soaring bird was seen through heat-haze on the afternoon of 28/11/05 & was provisionally identified by
Modou Colley.
      e) Western Little Sparrowhawk -a single bird seen briefly but well near the entrance road of the lodges in march 2005 was
probably this species.
      f)  Zitting Cisticola -a small brown-streaked Cisticola seen repeatedly but briefly in long grass to the north of the Basecamp
entrance in november 2005 was almost certainly this species.
      g) Olive Sunbird: 2 large uniformly dull-olive long-billed sunbirds seen repeatedly at the lodges drinking bowls in november 2005
matched this species more closely than any other in the guidebook; however as the Olive Sunbird has not been recorded in The
Gambia (closest known location is Casamance, Senegal) it is more likely that the birds seen were juveniles of a commoner species.
      h) Sulphur-breasted Bush Shrike -a repeated  3-4 note melodic whistle heard repeatedly on the southern edge of the 'Big Forest'
in november 2005 was thought to be this species.
      i)  Greater blue-eared Glossy Starling -a small group of glossy starlings feeding in a distant fruiting fig to the north of the Baobab
Cultural Centre on 25/11/05 were probably this species.
      j)  House Sparrow -birds briefly noted in the village at the start of the road to Makasutu on our arrival were probably this species
but were never seen again.

 Additional Birds seen by David Porter in Early November 2005

    1/ HONEY BUZZARD
    2/ TAWNY EAGLE
    3/ SHORT-TOED EAGLE
    4/ BLACK CRAKE
    5/ WOOD SANDPIPER
    6/ GREY PLOVER
    7/ GULL-BILLED TERN
    8/ VERREAUX'S EAGLE OWL
    9/ COMMON SWIFT
   10/ RUFOUS-CROWNED ROLLER
   11/ WOODLAND KINGFISHER
   12/ WIRE-TAILED SWALLOW