Species list birding trip Gambia 18-25 November 2002 in www.jvanderw.nl  (trip report)   -   John van der Woude

Description of sites see text part of this trip report. Note: Abuko = Abuko national park Brufut = Brufut national park/reserve Tanji - beach at village port Pirang = abandoned shrimp ponds, unless indicated otherwise (like rice fields near village) Kololi = area of hotels and shops just outside Senegambia hotel

This list is in Sibley & Moore sequence.

Double-spurred Francolin------------ sev. heard, some seen e.g. Abuko, Bush Track White-faced Whistling-Duck------------ 1 family (?) Kotu ponds; Pirang two groups Greater Honeyguide------------ Marakissa female in low bush along small trail Fine-spotted Woodpecker------------ one only!, Marakissa in scope after long walk to southern marsh Grey Woodpecker------------ sev. sites, also Senegambia hotel garden Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird------------ often heard, once seen in low bush Marakissa Vieillot's Barbet------------ Bush Track sev. around open savanna plot Bearded Barbet------------ sev. in savanna woodlands (first at Fajara golf course) Red-billed Hornbill------------ many places e.g. Senegambia hotel garden African Pied Hornbill------------ Brufut in treetop, a few later at other sites African Grey Hornbill------------ sev. places, e.g. Bijilo park Abyssinian Ground-Hornbill------------ Bush Track pair in small tree in woodland savanna Green Woodhoopoe------------ some groups e.g. Bijilo park left of entrance Abyssinian Roller------------ a few only e.g. Fajara golf course Rufous-crowned Roller------------ Bush Track 1 in open treetop, scope view Blue-bellied Roller------------ Casino cycle track 3 in different palms; sev. later in wooded savannas Broad-billed Roller------------ Senegambia hotel garden group in air at dusk; Brufut aerial group at midday Malachite Kingfisher------------ just inland of Kotu bridge at small reed fringe African Pygmy-Kingfisher------------ Brufut in low bushy savanna, close to the Striped Kingf. Woodland Kingfisher------------ Bijilo park in small tree; only once later (Brufut?) Blue-breasted Kingfisher------------ Pirang village below large shady tree along dusty road Striped Kingfisher------------ Brufut close view in small tree Giant Kingfisher------------ Abuko park Crocodile pond male and later female (preening) Pied Kingfisher------------ sev. sites, once even hovering above sea (Tanji) Little Bee-eater------------ best at Bijilo park, confiding group Swallow-tailed Bee-eater------------ Brufut clear view in open tree Blue-cheeked Bee-eater------------ Pirang sev. ar and in mangroves right Levaillant's Cuckoo------------ Brufut well seen in small tree and in flight Klaas's Cuckoo------------ Brufut well seen on top of small tree Senegal Coucal------------ singles here and there, e.g. Fajara Senegal Parrot------------ Bijilo park on palm stump Rose-ringed Parakeet------------ opp. Bijilo park (a garden), few elsewhere Mottled Spinetail------------ Brufut clear view, few elsewhere African Palm-Swift------------ sev. throughout Little Swift------------ sev., best seen at Pirang Green (Guinea) Turaco------------ Abuko hoping from tree to tree a end of shortcut trail Violet Turaco------------ Abuko 1 at shortcut trail, swallowing fruit; Brufut several! Western Grey Plantain-eater------------ Abuko very noisy groups inside forest Pearl-spotted Owlet------------ Brufut at end one seen at eye-level Long-tailed Nightjar------------ Casino Cycle Track side track at dusk near beach Speckled Pigeon------------ Senegambia hotel garden 3 on roof; few other places, singles Laughing Dove------------ many places, e.g. Senegambia hotel garden, often highly visible Mourning Collared-Dove------------ where? Vinaceous Dove------------ calling on many places Red-eyed Dove------------ e.g. Senegambia hotel garden, on ground Black-billed Wood-Dove------------ often heard (or Blue-spotted); good view in Brufut area Blue-spotted Wood-Dove------------ best seen in Marakissa and Abuko: blue spots in sunshine Namaqua Dove------------ several Bush Track African Green-Pigeon------------ Pirang at town rice fields in trees; Marakissa village (video) Black Crowned-Crane------------ Pirang 2 closeby in old shrimp ponds, landing at only 70 m distance Black Crake------------ Abuko Croc. pond 2 walking on left-hand border; also heard at Marakissa river camp Black-tailed Godwit------------ 2 in Kotu stream Fajara golf course; large group (c. 40) on beach Tanji Whimbrel------------ a few throughout Common Redshank------------ four at Kotu ponds Common Greenshank------------ Fajara: Kotu stream; a few later on (e.g. Pirang) Wood Sandpiper------------ one at Kotu ponds Common Sandpiper------------ a few Ruddy Turnstone------------ sev. at Tanji beach Sanderling------------ many at Tanji beach Little Stint------------ Pirang 1 between 5 Curlew Sandp. Curlew Sandpiper------------ one Kotu ponds; several Pirang Ruff------------ Pirang 1 in flight African Jacana------------ Abuko Croc. pond and at first hide Senegal Thick-knee------------ sev., best at Pirang 2 below dike; first one at end of Brufut area, at small creek Eurasian Oystercatcher------------ one at Tanji beach Black-winged Stilt------------ c. 6 at Kotu ponds; some at Pirang Pied Avocet------------ Pirang a few Common Ringed Plover------------ Tanji beach a few Spur-winged Lapwing------------ one at Fajara golf course Black-headed Lapwing------------ sev., first at Fajara golf course (two together) Wattled Lapwing------------ two along road to Bijilo park entrance Lesser Black-backed Gull------------ Tanji beach a few Grey-headed Gull------------ sev. along coast Gull-billed Tern------------ Pirang a few flying around Caspian Tern------------ sev. along coast Royal Tern------------ Pirang group to the right Sandwich Tern------------ Tanji beach a few Common Tern------------ Tanji beach sev. Little Tern------------ Pirang a few near mangroves right Osprey------------ a few throughout Black-winged Kite------------ Kotu bridge, and a few later on Black Kite------------ common but should be more visible in other seasons Palm-nut Vulture------------ Abuko male a while before zoo, nearby in flight; later a few only (e.g. Pirang) Hooded Vulture------------ common, e.g. at Senegambia hotel Bateleur------------ Bush Track 1 adult overhead Western Marsh-Harrier------------ Pirang 1 subad. male; Marakissa swamp 1 African Harrier-Hawk------------ sev., best at Abuko Croc.pond close view in tree Lizard Buzzard------------ sev. Marakissa; first at Brufut, in palm Dark Chanting-Goshawk------------ in flight sev. places e.g. Casino Cycle Track Gabar Goshawk------------ Brufut overhead (format; rump); Marakissa perched, scope view early a.m. Shikra------------ a few, first at Fajara golf course, chased by Pied Crows Grasshopper Buzzard------------ first bird of Bush Track, splendidly exposed in tree (video) Tawny Eagle------------ Marakissa dark female adult, circling overhead near marsh far at right Wahlberg's Eagle------------ probably one at Brufut: narrow straight wings and tail Martial Eagle------------ Bush Track 1 adult circling overhead Common Kestrel------------ a few, e.g. in Kololi, chased by Little Swifts Grey Kestrel------------ Bijilo park Ornith. trail 1 on palm stump African Hobby------------ Pirang small rice fields twice closeby overhead Lanner Falcon------------ Marakissa low flight across road Little Grebe------------ sev. Kotu ponds African Darter------------ Marakissa river camp on river bank Long-tailed Cormorant------------ Kotu ponds 1 flying out; sev. at Pirang Black Heron------------ a few at Pirang (first ones: 2 overhead) Little Egret------------ Pirang in large flight group of egrets and spoonbills Western Reef-Egret------------ one closeby along Casino Cycle Track marshy spot Grey Heron------------ Abuko 1 , Pirang 1 Black-headed Heron------------ dozens Abuko evening roost flight; Abuko Croc.pond sev. in flight Purple Heron------------ Pirang a few Great Egret------------ some, esp. Pirang Intermediate Egret------------ sev. Pirang, e.g. on dikes Cattle Egret------------ sev. throughout in pastures Squacco Heron------------ Abuko Croc.pond two; one Kotu bridge Striated Heron------------ Abuko just before Croc.pond Black-crowned Night-Heron------------ Abuko Croc. pond sev. Hamerkop------------ Abuko Croc.pond and some elsewhere (Casino Cycle Track) Greater Flamingo------------ Pirang 4 ad. plus 2 young in upper right-hand corner Eurasian Spoonbill------------ Pirang a few African Spoonbill------------ Pirang sev., esp. in large group of egrets etc. Pink-backed Pelican------------ sev. Pirang Yellow-billed Stork------------ Pirang a few Woolly-necked Stork------------ Pirang one on small dike between shrimp ponds, in distance Woodchat Shrike------------ male Bush Track in same tree as Vieillot's Barbet Yellow-billed Shrike------------ sev. open places a.g. along road to Bijilo park entrance Piapiac------------ group at drip system Senegambia hotel garden; few elsewhere Pied Crow------------ small groups of 2 or 3 on sev, places e.g. Senegambia hotel garden African Golden-Oriole------------ Brufut (female), Marakissa male close view in small tree Fork-tailed Drongo------------ Kotu ponds first one; later few elsewhere Red-breasted/Black-headed Paradise-Flycatcher------------ Abuko several, some with white on wing! (video) Northern Puffback------------ Abuko one in large acacia in savanna part near cross trail; more at Marakissa  Black-crowned Tchagra------------ Brufut sev. heard, finally seen one hidden in top of small tree Common (Yellow-crowned) Gonolek------------ easy in Senegambia hotel garden; elsewhere only heard Grey-headed Bushshrike------------ near Marakissa river camp one in big tree (other side of road) White(-crested) Helmetshrike------------ Marakissa close view in small tree at trail (video) Senegal Batis------------ Brufut female close view in small tree while we searched a calling tinkerbird Brown-throated Wattle-eye------------ male Abuko dense tall forest part close view right at trail African Thrush------------  in garden Senegambia hotel, and often elsewhere on shady places Northern Black-Flycatcher------------ singles at sev. placese.g. Senegambia hotel garden near small pond Common Nightingale------------- one singing at Brufut Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat------------ a few in the elevated part of Bijilo park, on forest floor White-crowned Robin-Chat------------ a few in garden Senegambia hotel Whinchat------------ one on small stake Brufut Purple Glossy-Starling------------ Brufut in tall tree along road Greater Blue-eared Glossy-Starling------------ e.g. Senegambia hotel garden Long-tailed Glossy-Starling------------ e.g. Senegambia hotel garden Yellow-billed Oxpecker------------ two at border of small rice fields near Pirang town Barn Swallow------------ Pirang next to Red-chested Swallow on twigs Red-chested Swallow------------ a group at Brufut; some at Pirang Wire-tailed Swallow------------ Kotu ponds several; Pirang one group Mosque Swallow------------  few passing overhead at Pirang while waiting for the cranes Red-rumped Swallow------------ Pirang in group of other swallows at Marshy pond Fanti Sawwing------------ Abuko Croc. pond one or two circling around; only once later (Marakissa?) Garden (Common) Bulbul------------ singles at many places, e.g. Senegambia hotel garden Little Greenbul------------ Abuko one shortly after entrance in shady tree Yellow-throated Greenbul------------ agitated group inside forest Abuko Singing Cisticola------------ close view in grass Brufut, with song Siffling Cisticola------------ Brufut well seen Zitting Cisticola------------ Brufut in grass; also Pirang at marsh left side Tawny-flanked Prinia------------ calling in many places; first seen at weedy patch before entrance Bijilo park Oriole Warbler------------ sev. heard and some seen Bijilo park esp. lower part Grey-backed Camaroptera------------ Bijilo close views Olivaceous Warbler------------ Pirang rice fields in tree together with Bonelli's Warbler Melodious Warbler------------ one seen singing Brufut near Nightingale Senegal (Green-backed) Eremomela------------ close view in sun in low tree Brufut Northern Crombec------------ two in small tree Bijilo ornith. trail; Brufut one too Bonelli's Warbler------------ Brufut: best view ever (light conditions), inside tree Blackcap Babbler------------ noisy group in Senegambia hotel garden Brown Babbler------------ two quarreling with bulbuls at Senegambia hotel garden; few elsewhere Subalpine Warbler------------ sev. singing and some seen e.g. Brufut Crested Lark------------ sev. on dikes Pirang Collared Sunbird------------ one adult (Bush Track?) Variable Sunbird------------ male in small tree along Casino Cycle Track Splendid Sunbird------------ a few, e.g. female Bijilo park, male Casino Cycle Track near nightjar spot Beautiful Sunbird------------ many places, often well visible; first at Senegambia hotel garden House Sparrow------------ a few at Kololi Grey-headed Sparrow------------ sev. places, fist in bush along Casino Cycle Track Yellow Wagtail------------ Pirang a few White-billed Buffalo-Weaver------------ small group in tree at Casino Cycle Track (side track to nightjar spot) Black-necked Weaver------------ many wooded places; first Bijilo park a few low in dense trees Village Weaver------------ many places e.g. Senegambia hotel garden Orange (Northern Red) Bishop------------ Brufut and Bush Track male in transition plumage; sev. female types Red-billed Firefinch------------ undergrowth Bijilo park Red Trail Red-cheeked Cordonbleu------------ small groups and singles e.g. weedy patch before entrance Bijilo park Lavender Waxbill------------ groups in bushes e.g. at small pond Senegambia hotel garden African Silverbill------------ group in high grass along Casino Cycle Track Bronze Munia (Mannikin)------------ small groups sev. places, e.g. Senegambia hotel garden Village Indigobird------------ female types in dry bush along Casino Cycle Track Pin-tailed Whydah------------ male with short tail Brufut exposed in tree Yellow-fronted Canary------------ Brufut in small tree in open savanna (video)