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Sightings and Reports
This is your page
- with reports of birds seen during your trip. And don't feel you
have to account for every day - just one day or highlights will be equally
interesting. As with similar birding services sightings of unusual birds
have not necessarily been verified - we feel it is more important to share
the news about what is around.
For the Record - organisations
needing your sightings - See the foot of the left-hand
column.
13th January 2007
Ya Ya Barry reports that he saw a Common Starling when birding at Tendaba
airfield at 17.00 on 13th January. He was with an English couple,
Jim and Rose Smith. He drew the attention of Mustapha Kassama and
a group of Dutch birders to the bird and they also saw it. The European
Starling does not appear in the Barlow et al feld guide for Gambia and
Senegal, Borrow & Demey's Birds of West Africa records 2 sightings
in N.Mauritania and 2 in the Cape Verde Islands ( in October and
March). So whilst it may seem a long way to go and see a starling
whilst they are eating us out of house and home in Yorkshire, this is a
most unusual sighting for West Africa and far enough from the coast to
not assume that it was ship assisted.
Further information from Kingbirders@hotmail.com
27 November
A Danish Ringed Marsh Harrier - unfortunately an air
strike at Yundum Airport
retrieved by Clive Barlow and reported to Department
of Parks and Wildlife Management.
November 24
Male and female Blackcaps seen on Banjul peninsular
- CRB's first for 2006
November 9
European Cuckoo seen 20th October on Banjul peninsular
in an area of mangrove and tamarisk. John High reported to Clive
Barlow seeing another Europena cuckoo further south (9 November?).
Clive Barlows reports that these would be the first seen in the Gambia
for about 80 years.
10 Oct 2006
Clive Barlow reports a large
fall of warblers on Banjul using tamarisk trees. this included
a Willow Warbler (in full song),
Sub-alpine Warbler (all
females) - these 2 spp are '1st's this year, Olivaceous and Melodious
Warbler & Chiffchaff. Clive says
"This is the 1st time I
have heard Willow Warber sing on return in The Gambia but have witnessed
this further south in W Africa in Oct (eg Nigeria)."
For more sightings see from
Clive see www.birdsofthegambia.com
September 2006
The White-bellied Bustard
sightings.
The birdfair provided
an opportunity to straighten out the sequence of White-bellied Bustard
sightings over the last year, The Birdfinders record breaking 2005
autumn trip, guided by Solomon Jallow had the first sighting of a bird
as it flew past at Tendaba click
here for details The Kingbirders party then had a longer look
on the 22nd July 2006
First week August
2006
at Kaur Wetlands - 95 White-crowned
Plovers, 5 Egyptian Plovers plus Collared Pratincoles. from Kev
Roy.
22nd July 2006
At
long last - a much needed sighting of a live White-Bellied Bustard
- last recorded in the Gambia in the late 1980s YaYa
and Alieu Barry of Kingbirders (kingbirders@hotmail.com),
together with Steve, Jonathan, Rosemary and Julia Henman saw the bird at
13.36 on Saturday 22nd July 2006 travelling down from Georgetown on the
north bank of the river Gambia towards Barra between Njaba Kunda and Dobo.
Ya Ya says that they saw
the White-Bellied Bustard fly across the road and land about 10 yards away
from their vehicle, enabling them to get a good look at it. He says
that it is the first time he has ever seen this bird - and Ya Ya is one
of the most experienced guides operating in The Gambia.
Clive Barlow reported on
wing parts of a White-Bellied bustard (This was found some distance
away near N'jau on North Bank in January 2002. (Click
here to see this report and photo). Cclive Barlow also says that a
bird was reported on the north bank earlier in the year, but we have
no details to hand at the moment.
23 June 2006
Does anyone have a picture,
didgipix etc - no matter how poor - of Indicator
minor lesser honeyguide
taken in The Gambia ? Any specific details of lesser honeyguide sightings
also please - location & any behavioural notes. Gambia &
Senegal.
With thanks Clive
R Barlow
clivebarlow@gambianet.gm
22nd June Banjul
1st Woodland Kingfisher
for 2006 heard singing . See www.birdsofthegambia.com
9th and 10th February 2006
Laibo Manneh reports the Pel's Fishing owls and African
Blue Flycatcher on 9th February in the bolons opposite Tendaba in a party
that included Leen and Martina Bakker and two local guides Kebba
Sosseh and Wandy Touray. Laibo's party also saw Jack Snipe
at the Jahali Swamps.
18/12/2005 -
ringed Brown Babbler retrieved
I colour ringed a brown
babbler at the Atlantic Hotel, Banjul on 07 03 98 with plastic rings yellow
over black secured with crazy glue. This bird showed up 2 miles east of
the ringing site on 18/12/2005 drinking at a garden pool with a clan of
four birds . The bird was adult when ringed.
Clive Barlow
13-18 December Upriver
sightings from Clive Barlow
13 12 2005 Greyish Eagle-Owl
2 near Barra NBD at roost late morning in planted eucalyptus near open
degarded agric' land. Heavily blotched Short-toed Eagle over N'julah
Kebbeh NBD
13 12 2005 Greyish Eagle-Owl
1 road kill w of Farrafenni NBD WC 312 mm. Open marsh land.
13 12 2005 Standard-wingd
Nightjar - road kill with standards and one without N'dungu Kebbeh NBD
- both collected.
13 12 2005 Saville's
Bustard edge of road m. just w of Farrafenni NBD
13 12 - 18 12 2005
considerable number of juv pl. Shrikra throughout CRD, NBD & WD
14 12 2005 N. Carmine
Bee-eater 20 foraging from newly installed overhead electric cable nr Wassau
CRD N of River
15 2 2005 Adamawa
Turtle Dove - several vocal & seen at Kunkilling and Tankandama Eco-Trails
CRD
16 12 2005 east of
Ka-aur CRD n of River - immaculate juv Beaudouin's Snake-Eagle soaring
low. Clive Barlow
13 12 2005
Heavily blotched Short-toed
Eagle over N'julah Kebbeh NBD
CRB
12th December
Greater
Sand Plover at Palm Grove Lagoon 12.05pm on sandflats some 150-200 mtrs,
ecellent visibility, light wind. Noticeably larger plover (compared
with a Ringed Plover nearby), legs light and long. Pale grey/sandy upper
plumage, white underside, small white forehead patch, nearly complete breast
patches, small white supercilium,distinct larger bill. White wing bar on
flight,dark rump.
Derek Lister via Clive Barlow
9/12/2005
A group of Belgium birders
led by Laiboh Manneh saw Bat Hawk at Tendaba Airport on the 9th of December
2005 around 6pm.
Birdseekers
Tour 2-9th December 2005
Steve Bird writes"Once again
our tour to The Gambia (2nd - 9th Dec 05) proved to be the most successful
week long tour there is. Every year we find great birds, with several new
species for the country recorded over the previous few years. Although
nothing new was seen on this tour, we did see 284 species, which is the
highest total (we believe) for a week’s tour based on the coast. Amongst
many, many great sightings we saw Franklin’s Gull , as well as a
rather misplaced Ferruginous Duck, whilst Black Crowned Cranes, African
Spoonbills, Western Banded Snake-eagle, Ahanta Francolin, Kelp Gull,
Buff-spotted Woodpecker, Green-headed Sunbird, Spotted Honeyguide, Green
Crombec, Black-backed Cisticola, Diederik Cuckoo, Oriole Warbler, Sulphur-breasted
Bush-shrike, Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-weaver, Western Bluebill, and a pair
of Abyssinian Ground Hornbills provided the highlights along the coast.
Our mini-adventure inland to Tendaba Camp was again very exciting with
flocks of Sudan Golden Sparrows, Red-billed Queleas, Bruce’s Green Pigeons,
White-headed Vulture, White-shouldered Black Tit and Exclamatory Paradise-whydahs,
whilst for the 4th tour in a row Nick had a pair of Savile’s Bustards.
And that’s not forgetting the Egyptian Plovers that once again showed well
and the Goliath Heron and White-backed Night-heron seen on our cruise through
the mangroves. A full tour report will be available soon on our
website www.birdseekers.co.uk
in the near future"
 Female
Abyssinian Ground Hornbill photographed by Steve Bird, Birdseekers
4th December
American
Golden Plover seen at Cape creek near Banjul observed at distance
on sand flats (200mtrs) and close around pool by bridge 20 mtrs.
Seen at 11.30am observed for 10 minutes - light wind and excellent visability.
A small to medium plover with sleek appearance and longish legs, very distinct
whitish supercilium almost to the nape, under wing pale greyish,wings long
when closed extend beyond tail. Darkish grey upper body pale underbody,no
rump patch,legs dark. No sign of brown or sandy colours in plumage.Noticeably
smaller then Grey Plover which was viewed along side this bird, relatively
tame the bird flew and landed close to us,affording excellent close up
views.
Derek Lister via Clive Barlow
30/11/2005
F. Marsh Harrier coming
in to Banjul low over the sea a.m (CRB)
Makasutu
25th November - 2nd December 2005
Steve Garvie has provided
us with an interesting report with photographs on Makasutu. This
fills in a major gap in our knowledge of this site.
Following his trip earlier
in the year he says "the status of Green-headed Sunbird at Makasutu is
now clear. These birds are common around the lodges & adults of both
sexes as well as a juvenile male were clearly & repeatedly seen. These
birds visit the lodge bird-drinking bowls daily but can also be seen, with
a little luck, in the surrounding savannah woodland. The following
images of the birds which appear slightly different from, & much more
colourful than the fieldguide illustrations. The male has a bright metallic
blue-green head & blue breast whilst the female has the blue-green
head but lacks the blue breast. The young male is only recently fledged
as witnessed by the soft yellow tissue at the base of the mandibles indicating
that these birds breed locally.
 adult
male Green-headed Sunbird
Another guest remarked at
how close they had got to the funny heron with the huge eyes -the one just
roosting 15 metres from Steve's lodge. Steve briefly hijacked their canoe
and was rewarded with a view of an adult male White-backed Night Heron
only 4 metres away from the boat. On questioning the guide, Buba, he was
told that they see these birds fairly frequently but he was vague about
any faithful roosting sites.
 White-backed
Night Heron
Sundowner trips provided
good sightings of kingfisher species including Giant, Blue-breasted, Malachite
and Pied whilst a few Goliath Herons were also seen. Apart from Swallow-tailed
Bee-eater, Steve saw no other species of bee-eaters although last March
Blue-cheeked & White-throated were common in the mangroves. Bird island,
a small mangrove island within a larger mangrove island, must have
held 3-400+ (probably many more) kites in scattered small close groups
of 10-30 birds. Most of the birds seen were Yellow-billed Black Kites
though a few of the eurasian race were also present. On this particular
trip Steve reports, in addition to the species already mentioned earlier,
he saw 8-9 Ospreys, 2 Palm Nut Vultures, Striated Heron, Senegal
Thick-knees, Wattled & Spur-winged Plover, Greenshank, Redshank,
Common Sandpiper, Common Wattle-Eye, Mouse-brown Sunbird, Plantain-eaters,
numerous Broad-billed Rollers . Large numbers of Cattle Egrets with lesser
numbers of Great White, Intermediate & Western Reef Heron were also
seen flying over low, presumably to roost - somewhere in that mangrove
complex there must be a large communal roost.
Another creek trip yielded
a pair of Beaudouin's Snake Eagles which were also seen on subsequent days
and close views of Pied Hornbill were also obtained. Just before
dawn Steve saw a male Finfoot from the veranda of his lodge, by the time
he had grabbed his camera and removed the converter because of the low
light level, he was able to grab the photograph below
 Finfoot
photographed from a lodge veranda
The small water dishes &
the swimming pool drew in many thirsty birds including African Paradise
Flycatcher, Common Bulbuls, Little Greenbul, sunbirds, Lesser Honeyguide,
Estrildid finches, Fanti Saw-wing, Pied-winged & Red-breasted Swallows,
Black-billed Wood Dove, Shikra & Broad-billed Roller. From the shade
of the nearby Bantaba it was possible to have close views of Mouse-brown
Sunbird, Common Wattle-Eye, Subalpine Warbler, Yellow-crowned Gonolek,
Gambian Puffback (pair) & a Blue-breasted Kingfisher in the nearby
mangroves.
Steve was also amazed at
the number and range of raptors flying over The action started
between 1 & 2 pm & continued till around 4pm. The flyover raptor
list included: Lanner, Grey Kestrel, Shikra, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Harrier-hawk,
Hooded & Palm-nut Vultures, Osprey, Black Kite, Black-shouldered Kite,
Beaudouin's Snake Eagle, African Hawk Eagle, Wahlberg's Eagle, Long crested
Eagle & most amazing of all Martial Eagle. After first noticing the
overhead
raptors he saw Martial Eagles every day - usually 2 ( & once
3) birds -a juvenile & an adult (pair once). Some of the pictures are
shown below. Unfortunately he didn't have his camera by the pool when
a pair of Lanners flew past at very close range; possibly buzzing the local
doves that drink at the water bowls.
 Martial
Eagle and Hooded Vulture
Beaudouin's Snake Eagle
Beyond the entrance to Mandina
lodges lies an area of open savannah woodland which is bordered by a very
small remnant of gallery forest - this whole area is called the Makasutu
'big forest'. Steve only birded the heavily wooded section one evening.
Sightings were generally fleeting & partially obscured The 'big forest'
does have at least 3 Green (Guinea) Turacos as well as good numbers of
Violet Turacos. Other birds seen included Snowy-crowned Robin Chat, Little
Greenbul, Scarlet-chested, Splendid, Variable, Beautiful & Green-headed
Sunbirds, Cardinal Woodpeckers, Lesser Honeyguide, Bearded Barbets, Green-backed
Eremomela, Red-winged Warbler, Northern Crombec, Grey-backed Camaroptera
& African Thrush. A group of 2 adult & at least one juvenile Yellow-bellied
Hyliota were seen. Grey-headed Bush Shrike were seen both in the
tall forested area & also in the scrub between Mandina lodges &
Base camp.
The open savannah area had
a few taller trees. A group of four trees all seemed to be covered by a
climbing fig. The fruiting figs in this tree repeatedly held
good numbers of Green Fruit Pigeons (15+), 3-4 Violet Turacos & African
Golden Oriole. Nearby the scrub held Little Bee-eaters & Black-crowned
Tchagra whilst the woodland edge held Swallow-tailed Bee-eaters.
Other species also seen here including Northern Black Flycatchers,
Northern Red Bishop, Village Weavers, Grey-headed Sparrows & Yellow-fronted
Canaries. Steve is sure that there are many other species there to
be seen. The oil palms around Base camp held numerous Blue-bellied
Rollers, Green Wood-Hoopoes, Redbilled & Grey Hornbills, Pied Hornbills,
Yellow-fronted Tinkerbirds, Bearded Barbets, Grey Woodpeckers, Senegal
Parrots, Parakeets, Senegal Coucal, Palm Swifts & African Harrier-hawk.
Both Levaillant's & Klaass's Cuckoos were seen by the savannah woodland/Palm
forest juncture & the area holds an enormous & bad-tempered troup
of Guinea Baboons!
A hot afternoon walk with
Modou Colley yielded a rather distant Bateleur & Brown-backed Woodpeckers
as well as Yellow Penduline Tits which were new for the area. There
was a small group of White-crested Helmet Shrikes. Sulphur-breasted Bush
Shrike was heard but not seen..
Steve says that what really
makes Makasutu special for him is that the birding is without disturbance
or an entourage of hangers-on. There are guides available (they are not
bird guides) & you can bring in your own bird guide, but you
also have the pleasure of being able to find your own birds & this
along with the fact that Makasutu birding still appears uncharted territory
gives the place an edge. For those on day visits, to whom the
whole area is not available The nearby 'big forest' being best visited
at dawn or in the late afternoon; whilst being able to sit in a shady vantage
point with 360 degree view of the sky is almost bound to give good raptor
views in the afternoon thermals.
Report and photographs from
Steve Garvie
11-25
November: Birdfinders Tour (for
the full report click here)
"Firstly, we set two new
records (we believe!). The first one was a record
day count of 161 species
and the second was a record two-week count of 340 species. It proved
to be a fantastic year for birding in Gambia
and with a little more luck
we could have reached the holy grail of 350
species on a tour. The highlights
were as follows:-
Ferruginous Duck - Adult
male at Ka-ur on 19 November.
Ovampo Sparrowhawk - Immature
at Yundum airport on 24 November.
Ayres Hawk-eagle - Immature
near Ka-ur on 19 November.
White-bellied Bustard -
Adult male male flew low over Batelling track on 22 November.
White-crowned Lapwing -
2 at Ka-ur on 19 November.
Baltic Gull - 2 adults at
Tanji on 17 November.
Red-chested Cuckoo - Adult
male at Yundum Woods on 13 November
African Cuckoo - 1 at Yundum
Woods on 13 November.
Yellowbill - 1 in Abuko
on 15 November.
Greyish Eagle-owl - 2 in
Lamin Fields to 12 November when they were
disturbed by children and
not seen again.
White-rumped Swift - 1 near
Bansang on 20 November.
Shining-blue Kingfisher
- 1 at Sapu on 21 November and 1 near Pirang on 22 November.
Golden-tailed Woodpecker
- Pair at Marakissa on 24 November.
Spotted Honeyguide - 1 in
Abuko on 15 November.
Green Crombec - 2 in Pirang
Woods on 23 November.
Pale Flycatcher - 1 on Faraba
Banta Bushtrack on 16 November."
 Golden-tailed
Woodpecker
Photo and report
Vaughan Ashby, Birdfinders
http://www.birdfinders.co.uk
21.11.2005
Yellow-billed Kite increasing
in regularity over Kanifing Industrial Estate. Clive Barlow.
20 11 2005 1st
small group of European Griffon in URD near Sabi. Kev Roy
17.11 2005 1st Namaqua Dove
(a pair) for the dry-season on Banjul Clive Barlow
1 - 8 November at Makasutu
David Porter reports that he spent an excellent week at
Makasutu which he recommends for birders who want to avoid the busy
tourist areas but do not wish to travel up river. He spent most of
the time sound recording around the lodges and on canoe trips. The
stilted lodges are excellent for raptor watching.
David noted the following birds which did not appear on
Steve Garvie's list earlier in the year, presumably representing seasonal
differences.
Honey Buzzard
Tawny Eagle
Wahlberg's Eagle (seen twice including a pair displaying)
Short-toed Eagle (two sightings)
Black Crake
Wattled Plover
Curlew
Ringed Plover
Wood Sandpiper
Gull-billed Tern
African Green Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Verraux's Eagle Owl (seen on 3 evenings, presumably
the same bird))
Common Swift - there were also many indeterminate Common/Pallid
Swifts at great altitude)
Rufous-crowned Roller
Broad-billed Roller (common and noisy, at regfular intervals
along the mangrove margins)
Woodland Kingfisher
Fanti Saw-wing (daily around the pool)
Wire-tailed Swallow
Olivaceous Warbler
Northern Puffback
Black-necked Weaver (nesting in the palm that overhangs
the swimming pool)
Mousebrown sunbirds were feeding well fledged young.
There was only a single sighting of Blue-cheeked Bee-eater compared with
dozens over the mangroves at nearby Lamin Lodge in Dec/January in previous
years. David had sever good views of Malachite Kingfirhsers
and also saw a Giant Kingfisher carrying food, but failed to see a single
kite or harrier. Egrets were only seen overhead flying to and from
their roosts.
At low tide a large area of mud is exposed in front of
the Stilted lodge. David was disappointed and surprised that it attracted
so few birds (W. Reef Heron, Common Sandpiper, Spur-winged Plover, Grey
Plover, Curlew, Whimbrel, Ringed Plover, Redshank and Greenshank were present
in ones and twos). There will probably be larger numbers over the
coming weeks.
David says of Steve Garvie's list "Western Little Sparrowhawk
sounds pretty convincing to me, far more than my bird in "square brackets"
which is at the other end of the scale. This appeared to be a large
long-tailed accipiter, the whole underwing whitish, the underparts pure
white, a black hood,and a dark smudge in the axilla. I could not
see the upper parts. The wing beats were slower than the other hawks
being more falcon-like." David says he has no experience of Great
(Black) Sparowhawk but wonders if this would be a possibility. Given
that it was seen and photographed at Marakissa earlier this year
it does seem possible.
7th November 2005
An immature Dark Chanting
Goshawk has set up home on the telegraph wires along the hectic Banjul
Highway near Denton Bridge - an unusual record
20th October 2005
Osprey with Finnish Ring
My colleague Andy Lamy
was shown a Finnish ring detached from an Osprey on 8 Oct 05 near Wassu,
Central River Divison. He videoed the ring for the details. The hunter
may have possessed the ring for sometime so a date might be impossible
to arrive at. There are other ring returns in The Gambia for Osprey, from
UK and Germany & these are well documented but this is the first from
Finland.
Generally the first wave
of Osprey arrive in coastal Gambia in the first two
weeks of October, they utilise
the coastal beaches and low avicennia
mangrove. On a casual
observational basis many more use the beaches as resting sites (directly
sitting on the sand) in the S-N migration in April.
Clive Barlow
18th October 2005
1st Northern Wheater on
the beach Banjul this year
11 Oct 2005
A nest containing 2 ca. 4-5 day common wattle eye chicks
was knocked down to the ground by am heavy rain at Tanji. The nest was
stitched back in to the mango tree with fine string, the chicks warmed
in clasped hands. The adults returned and relocated the nest by using voice
play back ! The chicks had plain yellow gapes .
Two male copper sunbirds in full breeding plumage were
on Bund Road
Clive R Barlow, Peter Ferrera MD , Andy Lamy www.birdsofthegambia.com
10 October 2005.
Tanji
Ornithological Integrity
of Tanji Bird Reserve. A species inventory 06 50 - 09 40 hrs.
Clive R Barlow & Dr Peter Ferrrera www.birdsofthegambia.com
.
60 spp recorded in 2 hrs
50 mins of observation compares well with 20 years ago before the major
road works through the reserve. Species listed below in order of
appearance:
black-capped babbler, red-billed
hornbill, village weaver,yellow-crowned gonolek. blue-breasted kingfisher,
variable sunbird, grey-backed camaroptera
northern crombec, lizard
buzzard, western grey plantain-eater
common wattle-eye, long-tailed
glossy starling, stone partridge, violet touraco, grey hornbill, vinaceous
dove, spur-winged plover, double-spurred francolin, senegal wattled plover,
common bulbul, osprey (six birds), fantii saw-wing, red-billed firefinch,
grey heron.senegal coucal, sulphur-breasted bush-shrike, oriole-warbler,
red-eyed dove,. brown babbler, black-billed wood-dove,green wood-hoopoe,
laughing dove, african pygmy kingfisher, black-necked weaver, spotted flycatcher,
senegal parrot, malachite kingfisher, senegal thick-knee, caspian tern,
royal tern. common tern, lesser-blacked backed gull, grey plover, common
greenshank, sanderling, common ringed plover. sandwich tern (incl 10 metallic
ringed birds), turnstone, african pied hornbill (six birds), woodland kingfisher,
grey woodpecker, whimbrel, bar-tailed godwit, yellow-billed shrike
senegal coucal, lesser crested
tern (one juv), eurasian curlew, grey-headed gull, crested lark, broad-billed
roller.
A male green-headed sunbird
was at Tanji Village
09 October
A paradise flycatcher with
hybrid features was photographed at Sibanor WD ca. 80 km inland from the
coast in a village mango tree
Two yellowbills with bright
chrome yellow facial skin & bills were interacting in Foni WD
3 brown-necked parrots were
inside the forest at Pirang
Clive R Barlow, Peter Ferrera MD , Andy Lamy www.birdsofthegambia.com
08 October
a circa. 3 week old road kill helmeted guinea fowl poult
was collected 10 km west of N'Jau CRD. This is the 1st proof of breeding
in CRD
107 white-headed plover at Kaur CRD is a record count
2,000 thousand collared pratincoles came to roost at
the same site at dusk
Andy Lamy, an American field onithologist and clarinest
with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra of New Jersey, heard one song
of greater swamp warbler at twilight for the first time in his life. Stunningly
he voice mimicked the complex song with the most accute accuracy on the
basis of this first hearing and the bird came immediately to the front
of the typha bed and showed immaculately. This knocked CRB sideways !!
Clive R Barlow, Peter Ferrera MD , Andy Lamy www.birdsofthegambia.com
07 October
Juvenile dwarf bittern (rail bittern) at a seasonal flooded
pond with marsh plants on N Bank of CRD at Sao Forest Park was well watched
and photographed (photos later for ABC bull). This was the finest views
CRB has ever had of this rare bird in The Gambia
Two ad pl black coucal with barred primaries calling
and interacting on edge of a rice field at dawn JanJanbureh Camp
A new colony of excavating red-throated bee-eater was
found nr Wassu N Bank CRD in a new quarry formed as a result of road works
- indicates a rapid response of nest site exploitation for this spp &
how easily it might be to create habitat for it for studies.
12 northern carmine bee eaters were also at this site
Clive R Barlow, Peter Ferrera MD , Andy Lamy www.birdsofthegambia.com
06 October
5 miles east and west of Georgetown common nightingale
and olivaceous warbler were singing (last olivaceous heard at this site
was 28 April 05 so an absence of five months). Pied flycatchers were in
three forest parks in CRD N Bank. Fresh pl. chiff-chaffs were at Kunkilling
FP. Adamawa Turtle Dove was calling there and was photographed sun bathing
whilst perching in a Parkia globossa
Clive R Barlow, Peter Ferrera MD , Andy Lamy www.birdsofthegambia.com
28th July 2005
There have been reports of Greyish Eagle Owl breeding
in the Gambia and it seems probably that this is the case. The bird
seen by many last autumn and featuring on this page
together with a photograph has generally been taken as the offspring
of a pair of adult birds seen nearby. However Dr Heimo Mikkolo, currently
resident in The Gambia, has come across morphs elsewhere in West
Africa. So if any one else saw the bird with the adults or photographed
them together this would help birders in the Gambia in making a firm record.
8th July 2005
25 Wilson's Storm Petrels
sighted by Clive Barlow and Malcolm Greene when Blue Water Sport Fishing
circa 25 miles off the Gambia Coast 13.30 N 17.02 W
6th July 2005
Clive Barlow reports continuing
heavy rains and spur-winged goose at Camaloou Corner
25th June 2005
Clive Barlow reports 15 White-fronted Bee-eaters Merops
albicollis at Radio SYD, Banjul at 11.30 am - an unusual sighting for
Banjul.
April 2005 - unusual records
from Clive Barlow (and note new telephone number 9936122)
26th April
2 or 3 Saville's Bustards
singing
at Saba, North Bank Divison, pm in 40 degrees C. This bird was generally
thought to be vocal only in the rains but Clive has also heard it in late
January. This suggests that the bird sings throughout all the seasons.
25th. Juvenile plumaged
Beaudouin's Snake Eagle - Kunkilling Forest Park, Central River Division.
23rd. Nest building
Shikra, Georgetown, Central River Division. The only other breeding
record for Thje Gambia is at Abuko - also in April, Fledging at the end
of June.
21st. Adult Abdim's
Stork over Dobbo Forest Park, north of River, Central; River Division.
It's white back was seen clearly whilst it was soaring.
20th. Exclamatory and
Sahel Paradise Whydah, both in eclipse plumage. Both sound recorded
at Kunkilling Forest Park, Central River Division, mimicking Red-winged
and Green-winged Pytilia respectively.
clivebarlow@gambianet.gm
March 2005 - Makasutu Report
from Steve Garvie
Birders visiting Makasutu are asked to report if they
pick up on Western Little Sparrowhawk, and Green-headed Sunbird - particularly
the latter if identified as nesting (Field Guide to Birds of The Gambia
and Senegal suggests this is probably a wet season breeder.)
click here for report
27 March 2005
Clive Barlow reports a very interesting record this morning
"whilst having my breakfast on the river bank at Georgetown Forestry Camp
an immaculate shining-blue kingfisher with no moult gave a single call
". His failure to record this was compensated for by his success
the previous day in his first recording of a Greater Honeyguide.
15th March 12.15 pm Franklin's Gull seen
from Tanji Beach near the fish smoking house. Alf Mullins,
Musa Darboa (from the Badala Park) and John Keep (who took the 2 digiscope
photographs below ). John Keep reports that the gull was seen with
several Grey-headed and Slender-billed Gulls
 Franklin's
Gull John Keep Franklin's
Gull with Grey-headed Gull John Keep
4th February 2005
 This
cuckoo was photographed at Fajara Golf Course on the morning of 4th February
by Raoul Beunen & Bas Van De Meulengraaf. The bird had originally
been picked up by local WABSA members. Raoul and Bas saw 298 species
during their two week trip, including 3 Red-billed Queleas at Kotu on the
2nd February. More photographs (at higher definition that we can show)
at www.extreembirding.atspace.com
This bird had been reported as an African Emerald Cuckoo
by others and this has set off further enquiry. A helpful email
from Professor Bob Payne at the University of Michigan says that he has
been looking at skins of cuckoos for a book that he is working on and he
found that the juvenile African Emerald Cuckoos " have the dark bars
on the underparts as thick as the white bars (dark bars narrow in Klaas's)."
In addition Clive Barlow has commented that Klaas's cuckoo is known
to frequent the golf course area
2nd February
Clive Barlow reports
White-fronted
Plover and Audouin's Gull, the former a rare localised breeder (normally
only seen at and south of Tanji) and the latter a passage migratory seabird
species that breeds in the Mediterranean and is listed by Birdlife International,
are new colonisers of the the reclaimed beach front that runs from downtown
Banjul to Denton Bridge. 100's of Turnstone and Sanderling were frantically
feeding on the tide-line in preparation for the several 1000 km flight
back north to their nesting grounds via the Banc d'auguin in Mauritania.
Shorebirds are back in force along the 'new' sandy beaches of Banjul and
enjoying the massive engineering efforts of the anti coastal-erosion of
the Gambian coastline. This is the first time for nearly two decades that
this has been so on the island of Banjul. I hope those responsible for
this will allow themselves a slap on the back and pass the news on to their
Dutch counterparts.! This is a neat tool for using birds as bio-indicators
of a sound environment showing that food chains are in place and the diners
are coming from near and far. A happy story for Banjul.
18th - 24th January 2005
Steve Hay, guided by Sering
Bojang reported (and photographed) Great Sparrowhawk at Marakissa,
Egyptian Plover at Nyanga & White-backed Night Heron still showing
well at Tunku Bolon.
Lasse Olssen reports
13th December 2004
White-throated Bee-eater
3 birds Tendaba
Martial Eagle, Bateleur,
White-shouldered Black Tit and Spotted Thick-knee around Tendaba 12th -
13th December
12th December.
Golden-tailed Woodpecker
1 bird at Fajara Golf Course See picture.
10th December 2004
Shining-blue
Kingfisher One bird at the Kotu Sewage Ponds, . A
too short observation, but nevertheless there was no doubt about which
species it was.
 Golden-tailed
woodpecker photographed by Lasse Olssen
This was primarily a family
holiday but Lasse Ollsen found it gave him some excellent birding opportunities.Some
stunning pictures of commoner birds of The Gambia from this trip can be
seen on Lasse Olssen's website http://www.birding.se
When
you reach his site just take the English language option and enter Gambia
in the search box
Birdseekers
report
 A
small party of 3 Desert Sparrows were found on the North Bank near No-Kunda.
The next day on the creek crawl from Tendaba Camp, we saw a pair of Little
Green Woodpeckers* for about 20 minutes very close to us. Also a
Savile's Bustard on the way to the Kaur swamp - a pretty amazing week.
Steve Bird & Nick
Bray of Birdseekers
 Little
green woodpecker photographed on the recent Birdseekers trip.
Only a couple of sightings
of Little Green Woodpecker have been recorded previously in The Gambia.
Clive Barlow, Daphne
Gemmill, Bill Mueller were up river the same week, and report the following.
08 12 04 Kwinella
LRD at dusk
8 brown-throated martins
with sand martins
Pirang population of Black-crowned
C.cranes seems to have been reduced to two birds
06 12 04 Tanu CRD
n. of river
3 Sun-lark one in arial
display 1st record for Central River Division - all others URD
04 12 04 Prufu Swamp
URD, CRB, DG, BM & Kev Roy
Single white stork, 2 Orphean
warbler - new for Upper River Div
4 December 2004 - Kev
Roy
A few addenda to
Clive's report of birds seen on Prufu Swamp, 4/12/04. (Mostly seen early
in the morning, before Clive and co joined me.)
Common Snipe Gallinago
gallinago - many singles and small groups around the swamp.
Great Snipe Gallinago
media - two fleeting views. flush pattern - silently flying away low
and straight - contrasting markedly with classic Common Snipe's jinking
flight.
One Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus
schoenobaenus seen and heard.
Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator
glandarius - 1 adult, 1 juv.
Finfoot Podica sengalensis
- female seen on heavily-wooded section of Prufu Bolong. (This is the first
I've seen on Prufu - has anyone else seen Finfoot here?)
Kev Roy Sabi, URD
Clive Barlow, Daphne
Gemmill, Bill Mueller report continues
02 12 04
juv. black coucal Sapu CRD
30 11 04
Red-thighed sparrowhawk
Pirang - WD - bird with very rufous underparts. 1000 + euro bee-eaters
Bao-bolon wetland reserve NBD
Greyish
Eagle Owl
Birdfinders have just completed two tours (28 October
– 12 November and 12-26 November ) The highlight of which was the first
confirmed breeding of Greyish Eagle-owl in The Gambia. Found by Habitat
Africa guide Osman, both Birdfinders groups watched three birds, two adults
and a juvenile, roosting in trees in the Mandina fields. Described as uncommon
but widespread in the field guide, there have been no confirmed breeding
records to date in The Gambia and although there was no evidence of a nest
nearby, it is highly likely that they bred locally in view of the plumage
of the juvenile.
 Photo
by Vaughan Ashby of Birdfinders
Greyish Eagle-owl was of course split from Spotted Eagle-owl
a couple of years ago based on a number of factors including plumage and
vocalisation. The main difference is that Greyish Eagle-owl is largely
grey in colour with fine vermiculations across the breast whereas Spotted
Eagle-owl is much browner with large black spots across the upper breast.
Additionally, the eye colour of Greyish Eagle-owl is dark whereas Spotted
Eagle-owl is orange. The two species also have distinct ranges with Greyish
Eagle-owl occurring in a belt from northern Kenya to The Gambia and Spotted
Eagle-owl occurring further south. There is no evidence of hybridisation.
Interestingly, the juvenile plumage of Greyish Eagle-owl is actually more
like Spotted Eagle-owl, being a lot browner with some black spots on the
upper breast. Both parents however, were normally plumaged Greyish Eagle-owls.
Other highlights of the two Birdfinders tours
Black Stork – Juvenile in the Lamin Fields.
Gabar Goshawk – A melanistic bird in the Yundum Fields.
Ovambo Sparrowhawk – A juvenile between Georgetown And
Bansang.
Eurasian Griffon-vulture – Juvenile along the north bank
road near Farrafenni
Helmeted Guineafowl – A flock of about 15 in woodland
along the Faraba Banta Bush Track.
Lesser Moorhen – Two adults and a juvenile along the
north bank road between Kau-ur and Georgetown Island.
Egyptian Plover – One bird still present at Soma as well
as many birds at regular sites up-river.
Spotted Thick-knee – Three birds roosting under bushes
between Soma and Jakhaly Ricefields.
Yellow-legged Gull – A first winter at Tanji.
Audouin’s Gull – Two first winters at Tanji.
African Scops-owl – Showing extremely well around Bird
safari Camp on Georgetown Island.
Northern White-faced Scops-owl – Difficult to find this
year with many traditional sites abandoned. One bird seen well at Pirang.
White-rumped Swift – One bird taking water at a waterhole
near Kau-ur.
Shining Blue Kingfisher – A pair near Sapu.
Northern Carmine Bee-eater – Around 20 birds at the usual
site near Basse.
White-throated Bee-eater – Three birds at Tendaba, a
difficult bird these days.
Little Green Bee-eater – Three birds along the north
bank road from Kau-ur to Georgetown Island.
Spotted Honeyguide – Still at Marakissa for the fourth
year.
Lead-coloured Flycatcher – Male singing and displaying
at Bamu Kuno Forest Park.
African Blue-flycatcher - Pair at Tendaba.
Square-tailed Drongo – Two sightings, one near Bansang
and another in Kiang West N.P.
Green Crombec – Pair in Yundum Woods.
Sudan Golden Sparrow – Abundant at waterholes along the
north bank.
Western Bluebill – Several birds in Abuko as usual.
House Bunting – Pair at Tendaba and three birds at Bansang
Quarry. Expanding their range?
For further information and photos from Birdfinders 2004
Gambia tours please visit our website at http://www.birdfinders.co.uk
22/11/2004
Two pale phase Pomarine
Skua's very close in off the new beach in front of Radio SYD a.m picking
offal from the surface of the ocean.
21/ 11/ 2004 - adult. Ruppells Griffon Vulture
over Banjul Bund Road came off the sea a.m - unusual for Banjul and the
coast.
20/11/2004 Ist year Audouin's Gull - flew past
Radio SYD a.m
Clive Barlow
Reported to Clive Barlow week ending 19 November 04
Black Stork at Pirang chasing
2 Crowned Cranes - 17 11 04
African Rock Martin over Kombo Beach Hotel - 18
11 04
Yellow-bellied Hyliota Yundum - 17 11 04
17th November 2004
Housebunting reports
- more needed
Clive Barlow reports a flurry
of sightings of this unusual bird for the Gambia. One was seen Kaiaf,
LRD, 01/11/04 female. (This was the 2nd modern record , Clive Barlow
had seen an adult male in CRD north of river in December 2002 near
Belel). Please notify us of any further records.
A covey of 15 Helmeted Guinea-fowl
Karaba-Banta nr Pirang on 17 11 04 where definitely wild birds
16 Nov 04
SE of Basse - Abdims Stork Kev Roy via Clive Barlow
7th November
Laibo Manneh reports seing a
Eurasian Bittern with three English people on the 7th of November at the
Bund Road Banjul
6th November 2004 - latest
report from Upper River Division
Things here continue to
be hot. An influx of Beaudouin's, including birds displaying - locking
talons and tumbling and spinning earthwards together for several hundred
metres. Also heard vocalising. On Prufu Swamp on Saturday (30th October)
also found my first Short-toed Eagle for the Gambia - after grilling well
over a hundred Beaudouin's in hopes of one!
5th November 2004
Spotted Eagle Owl Bubo africanus cinerascens.
Fresh road kill from night previous . Dead on side of murrom raod under
re-construction. Agallen W.D
Note. some authorities now split this form from the yellow
eyed nominate B.africanus in S Africa and call it Greyish or Vermiculated
Eagle-owl B. cinerascens
Saved as a skeleton & part skin
Flattened wing chord 300mm; Length 423 mm; Tarsus 75
mm
upper mandible 35 mm; eyes black-blue, cere black; bill
black
sex ? adult. Stomach contents - two scarab beetles
Clive Barlow
2nd November Upper
River Division - even
hotter - counting House Martins above my compound suddenly saw an Alpine
Swift
drift languidly through them - I think the 5th for Gambia. (The
remains of the fourth were found only 200m away, suggesting small numbers
regularly pass through eastern Gambia - it's just that there's seldom anyone
here to report them.) At the same time there were an amazing SIX swift
species airborne above our compound - Alpine, Common, Pallid, Palm,
Little and Mottled Spinetail!!
Kev Roy
Two road killed Red-necked
Nightjars. 1 at Kaur 31 October and 1 near Georgetown north of river
towards Basse on 2 November. One road killed Spotted Eagle
Owl Bubo africanus near Agallen Western Division - this bird is scarce
in Western Division.
Clive Barlow
31st October
Bao-bolon NBD at dusk a
dark phase Honey Buzzard and Bat Hawk
Clive Barlow
21st October
- Report from Upper River Division
In the east of the country,
considerable bird movements are under way as dry
season begins to kick in.
Cloudless, dry season skies and spiralling
temperatures have been accompanied
by a striking change in numbers, variety and behaviour of birds.
Movements appear to include both Palearctic and Intra-African migration
as well as post-breeding dispersal from the
surrounding savannah.
Migrants passing over our
compound near Basse in the last two days have
included groups of 50+ Black
Kites, 50+ Barn Swallows, 2 Pallid Swifts and a
probable Brown-throated
Martin. Pied Flycatcher, Melodious, Garden and
Willow Warblers also recently
noted.
Other seasonally-related
movements include the appearance of birds
infrequently seen from this
location - including Rufous-crowned Roller,
Viellot's Barbet, 30+ White-throated
Bee-eaters, 30 Long-tailed Cormorants
and even a soaring African
Darter (latter rare for the URD); the
reappearance of birds not
seen for some months - such as Four-banded
Sandgrouse; and the appearance
of large groups of birds, such as Purple and
Greater Blue-eared Glossy
Starlings, Bruce's Green Pigeon and Grey Hornbills (50+), seen only singly
or in small groups for the past few months.
There has also been a notable
upsurge in the numbers and variety of raptors,
including Beaudouin's Eagle,
Dark Chanting Goshawk, Lanner Falcon, Grey
Kestrel, Red-necked Falcon,
and a possible Red-necked Buzzard.
An interesting period and
a dramatically rapid change in the season
Kev Roy, Basse, URD
18 October 2004
A fresh plumaged 1st calendar
year Northern Wheater was on the new beach on Banjul at lunchtime today.
Measurable rainfall middle of night 14 Oct.
Clive Barlow
12 October 2004
Clive Barlow reports
his first returning Osprey sighting at 14.30 coming off the Atlantic ocean
on to Banjul and the surrounding creeks. The last rain was on 1 October
and on 10 & 11 October Clive reports dusty harmattan conditions
! He says there were 30 dolphins off the new re-claimed beach on
Banjul on 9 October a mere 50 metres out and they stayed several
hours. A hump-backed whale and calf were seen 40 kms off the coast two
weeks ago and two monk seals were off the Bijol Islands around the same
date.
30th July 2004
White Bellied Bustard
- confirmed - see News and Pictures
3 July 2004
Clive Barlow reports hearing
his first Didric Cuckoo song of the season
23 June 2004
Clive Barlow reports that
the first flocks of seasonal White-faced Whistlng Duck have turned up at
Stink Corner, Old Jeshwang - 14 00 hrs
Senegal Thick-knee have begun
to use the reconstructed beaches along the Banjul highway - from his bedroom
he can hear their nocturnal whistles mixed with the the noise of
waves
Camaroptera, Prinia &
Zitting Cisticola become vocal on Banjul. It is still very
hot and humid
20 June 2004
Savile's Bustard
- one seen on 20/6/04 on the North Bank Highway West of Bao-bolon. Viewed
briefly through binoculars before bird flew off into low scrub. Kev Roy
19th June
Clive Barlow reports
2 Senegal (Woodland)
Kingfishers were interacting on telegraph wires at 14.00 hrs today on Bund
Rd and one was singing - 1st of this years wet season. The
first record we have for last year (also from Clive) was 10th July at the
same spot.
After the 1st big rain
some days ago little swifts occupied Denton Bridge within 3 hrs (about
the same date as last year - recorded as arriving on the 16th June)
After 3 rains
the greening up process is well under way with a baize of grasses appearing
along the coastal roadsides
16th June 2004
Clive Barlow confirms that
the remains found by Kev Roy below the nest of a Red-necked
Falcon in the east of The Gambia are undoubtedly
those of an Alpine Swift making this the 4th record for The Gambia.
The others were recorded in Western Division.
for records prior to this
see archive file
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