Species List
Sites mentioned are as follows:
Fajara Golf Course "A Birdwatchers' Guide to the Gambia" (Rod
Ward) page 46 - we didn't stay long here
Kotu Creek (Ward, p39) we crossed the creek on our way from the
Golf Course to the Ponds, but didn't stop
Kotu Ponds (Ward, p39) we walked through from the Creek to the
Serrekunda Road - didn't stay long
Kotu Bridge - (the lower bridge carrying the Kotu beach road) -
crossed twice en route
Casino Cycle Track (Ward, p43) the whole area between Palma Rima Hotel
and Kotu Bridge, both sides of the cycle track - we spent two hours or more
here
Bijilo (Ward, p29) the Bijilo Forest park is a reserve, ten minutes walk from
the Senegambia Hotel, opens at 8am - we spent a morning there.
Brufut Woods (Ward, p37) we walked through a forested area, into
open scrub-type habitat, and onto agricultural land. I have called the whole of this area "Brufut Woods" -
we spent in the order of two hours there?
Brufut Bridge we rejoined our vehicle here - were there about
fifteen minutes?
Brufut Creek the river and mud near
Brufut Bridge, we walked past at some distance.
Tanji Beach the area of beach from Tanji village southwards to
the next headland (about 1 mile?) - which we drove along in the 4WD
Paradise Beach the area of beach southwards from the above headland,
as far as the Osprey bar - which we drove along, stopping a couple of times.
Abuko we covered the part between the entrance and the zoo, spending a whole
morning
Lamin Creek the boat
ride on "Birds and Breakfast" (about one hour) - tide was low
Lamin Lodge the breakfast venue (there about an hour)
Lamin Fields we took an extensive walk, taking ?two hours
Species seen:
1. Little Grebe
(Tachybaptus ruficollis)
Two at Kotu Ponds
2. Long-tailed Cormorant (Phalacrocorax africanus)
Single flying at Lamin Creek
3. African Darter
(Anhinga rufa)
Singles at Abuko and Brufut Bridge
4. Great White Pelican
(Pelecanus onocrotalus)
Mixed flock (c.20) with 5 flying near Paradise Beach
5. Pink-backed Pelican
(Pelecanus rufescens)
See 4 above
6. Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Seen at Crocodile Pond, Abuko
7. Squacco Heron
(Ardeola ralloides)
Seen
from Casino
Cycle Track, at Abuko and at Lamin Fields
8. Cattle Egret
(Bubulcus ibis)
Abundant, especially near water (or cattle),
including Senegambia grounds
9. Green-backed Heron
(Butorides striatus)
Seen from Casino Cycle Track
10. Black Egret (Egretta ardesiaca)
Singles
seen from Casino
Cycle Track and at Lamin Creek and Fields
11. Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
Small group seen from Kotu Bridge
12. Western Reef-Egret (Egretta gularis)
Frequent on sea coast.
Also seen at Lamin Creek
13. Intermediate Egret (Egretta intermedia)
Two at Lamin Fields
14. Great White Egret (Egretta alba)
One
seen from Casino
Cycle Track
15. Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
Singles at Kotu Ponds, Brufut Creek, Abuko
16. Black-headed Heron (Ardea melancophala)
Seen at Kotu Ponds, Brufut Creek, Abuko, Lamin Creek
17. Hamerkop (Scopus umbretta)
Singles from Casino Cycle Track and at Crocodile Pool,
Abuko
18. Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus)
Singles from Casino Cycle Track and at Tanji Beach
19. African Spoonbill (Platalea alba)
Pair flying over Lamin Lodge
20. White-faced Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna viduata)
One from Casino Cycle Track, flock (20+) at Kotu Ponds
21. Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus caeruleus)
Singles near Casino Cycle Track, at Lamin Creek and Lamin
Fields
22. Black Kite (Milvus migrans migrans)
Senegambia Grounds, Bijilo and Lamin Fields
23. "Yellow-billed" Kite (Milvus migrans parasitus)
Split from above in Rod Ward book. Distinguished by Maas:
Senegambia and nr Paradise Beach
24. Palm-nut Vulture (Gypohierax angolensis)
Flying over Senegambia most days, and at Casino Cycle
Track
25. Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus)
Abundant -
visible most of time once sun is up, all locations
26. Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus gallicus)
Single at Lamin Fields
27. African Harrier-Hawk (Ployboroides typus)
Single flying at Abuko
28. Shikra (Accipiter badius)
Seen at Casino Cycle Track and Lamin Fields
29. Lizard Buzzard (Kaupifalco monogrammicus)
Seen at Casino
Cycle Track, Bijilo and Brufut Woods
30. Long-crested Eagle (Lophaetus occipitalis)
Single near Paradise Beach
31. Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Seen two-three times each at at Bijilo, Paradise Beach
and Lamin Creek
32. Grey Kestrel (Falco ardosiaceus)
Seen almost daily, at Kotu, Brufut, Abuko and Lamin
Fields
33. Red-necked Falcon (Falco chicquera)
Singles Bijilo and Lamin Fields
34. Lanner Falcon (Falco biarmicus)
Single flying at Abuko
35. Double-spurred Francolin (Francolinus bicalcaratus)
Single glimpsed in undergrowth near Crocodile Pool, Abuko
36. Black Crake (Amaurornis flavirostris)
Single
disappearing into long grass, Crocodile Pool, Abuko
37. African Jacana (Actophilornis africanus)
Single from Casino Cycle Track
38. Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)
Single (!) on Paradise Beach
39. Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)
Up to a dozen adults and juveniles, Kotu Ponds
40. Senegal Thick-knee (Burhinus senegalensis)
Single found over wall of building site, near Casino
Cycle Track
41. Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius)
Single on Paradise Beach
42. Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula)
Small parties on Tanji Beach and Lamin Creek mudbank
43. Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)
Small numbers at Kotu Creek
44. Wattled Plover (Vanellus senegallus)
Single at Kotu Creek
45. Black-headed Plover (Vanellus tectus)
Twos and threes on road from Airport, Fajara Golf Course,
and Lamin Fields
46. Spur-winged Plover (Vanellus spinosus)
Several singles and pairs, at Casino Cycle Track, Fajara
Golf Course, Kotu and Lamin Fields
47. Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)
Seen on Paradise Beach
48. Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)
Smallish numbers at Kotu Creek and Lamin Creek
49. Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)
Small numbers at Kotu Creek, Brufut Creek, Lamin Creek
50. Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata)
Single at Lamin Creek
51. Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)
Seen from Kotu Bridge and at Brufut Creek
52. Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)
One or two at Kotu Ponds
53. Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)
Small numbers at Kotu Creek and Lamin Creek
54. Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)
Seen at Paradise Beach
55. Sanderling (Calidris alba)
Party of about a dozen chasing the waves in and out on
the beach near Tanji
56. Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea)
Singe on mudbank at Lamin Creek
57. Ruff (Philoamchus pugnax)
Several at Kotu Ponds
58. Grey-headed Gull (Larus cirrocephalus)
Abundant, especially on coast. Large roosts at Kotu Creek and Paradise Beach
59. Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia)
Seen in mixed tern gull/roost on Paradise Beach. Seen/identified by others at Senegambia.
60. Royal Tern (Sterna maxima)
Seen
in mixed tern gull/roost on Paradise Beach.
Seen/identified by others at Senegambia.
61. Lesser-crested Tern (Sterna bengalensis)
Seen in mixed tern gull/roost on Paradise Beach.
62. Sandwich Tern (Sterna sandvicensis)
Seen daily over the sea and also in Lamin Creek
63. Speckled Pigeon (Columba guinea)
Common in Senegambia grounds
64. Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis)
Very abundant in Senegambia grounds, common at most
locations
65. African Mourning Dove (Streptopelia decipiens)
Seen on Casino Cycle Track and at Lamin Fields
66. Vinaceous Dove (Streptopelia vinacea)
Abundant in Senegambia grounds. Heard constantly at all locations, and sometimes seen
67. Red-eyed Dove (Streptopelia semitorquata)
Common to abundant in Senegambia grounds. Heard frequently at many locations,
sometimes seen
68. Black-billed Wood Dove (Turtur abyssinicus)
Seen at Bijilo and Lamin Fields
69. Blue-spotted (Red-billed) Wood Dove (Turtur afer)
Seen at Bijilo, Brufut Woods and Abuko
70. Namaqua Dove (Oena capensis)
Seen near Paradise Beach and at Lamin Fields
71. African Green Pigeon (Treron calva)
Small flock feeding in a fruit tree off the Brufut-Tanji
road - well camouflaged!
72. Senegal Parrot (Poicephalus senegalus)
Seen in flight over Senegambia grounds (where they are
nesting), Fajara Golf Course, Lamin Fields
73. Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri)
Singles at Casino Cycle Track and Lamin Fields
74. Guinea Turaco (Turaco persa)
One eventually located in tree at Abuko. (Both turacos heard there)
75. Western Grey Plantain-eater (Crinifer piscator)
Seen and heard daily at most locations, including
Senegambia (where they are nesting, apparently)
76. Klaas's Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx klaas)
Single found in tree at Bijilo
77. Senegal Coucal (Centropus senegalensis)
Common to abundant in Senegambia grounds. A few singles at Bijilo and Brufut Woods
78. White-faced Scops owl (Otus leucotis)
One roosting found by guides at Lamin Fields.
79. Verreaux's Eagle Owl (Bubo lacteus)
Adult at nest, chick in nest, near Crocodile Pool, Abuko
80. Pearl-spotted Owlet (Glaucidium perlatum)
One roosting found by guide at Casino Cycle Track
81. African Palm Swift (Cypsiurus parvus)
Small numbers overhead most days at Senegambia, also at
Casino Cycle Track
82. Little Swift (Apus affinis)
Few overhead at Kotu Ponds
83. Blue-breasted Kingfisher (Halcyon leucocephala)
Single close to photo-hide, Crocodile Pool, Abuko
84. Giant Kingfisher (Megaceryle maxima)
Single close to Education Centre, Abuko
85. Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis)
Singles noted at Kotu (beach), Casino Cycle Track and
Lamin Creek (I'm sure we saw others)
86. Little Bee-eater (Merops pusillus)
Singles or groups of 2-3 at Kotu Creek, Bijilo and Lamoin
Fields
87. White-throated Bee-eater (Merops albicolis)
Three in a tree outside entrance to Bijilo Forest Park
88. Rufous-crowned Roller (Coracias naevia)
Single in a tree at Lamin Fields
89. Blue-bellied Roller (Coracias cyanogaster)
One seen near Brufut Bridge
90. Green Woodhoopoe (Phoeniculus purpureus)
Singles or pairs seen daily at most locations (except
Senegambia!)
91. Red-billed Hornbill (Tockus erythrorhynchus)
Common at Senegambia and singles seen several times daily
at most locations
92. African Pied Hornbill (Tockus fasciatus)
Singles seen at Brufut Woods and Abuko
93. African Grey Hornbill (Tockus nasutus)
Singles seen daily at most locations
94. Vieillot’s Barbet (Lybius vieilloti)
One seen near Paradise Beach
95. Bearded Barbet (Lybius dubius)
Singles (and one pair) seen at Casino Cycle Track, Brufut
Bridge and Abuko
96. Grey Woodpecker (Dendropicos goertae)
Singles seen at Casino Cycle Track and Lamin Fields
97. Fanti Saw-wing (Psalidoprocne obscura)
One seen at Abuko
98. Wire-tailed Swallow (Hirundo smithii)
Small group at Kotu
99. Red-chested Swallow (Hirundo lucida)
Small numbers at Casino Cycle Track and Lamin Creek
100. Grey Wagtail
Single seen at
Brufut Woods
101. Little Greenbul (Andropadus virens)
Single found in undergrowth at Abuko
102. Common Bulbul (Pycnonotus barbatus)
Common to abundant in Senegambia grounds, seen daily at
most locations, heard even more often
103. African Thrush (Turdus pelios)
Abundant in Senegambia grounds, singles seen in all forest locations
104. Snowy-crowned Robin-chat (Cossypha niveicapilla)
Single found in undergrowth at Abuko. Single seen by others at Senegambia
105. White-crowned Robin-chat (Cossypha albicapilla)
Common in Senegambia grounds.
106. Melodious Warbler (Hippolais polyglotta)
Single seen near Paradise Beach
107. Green-backed Eremomela (Eremomela pusilla)
Single seen flying at Lamin Fields
108. Northern Crombec (Sylvietta brachyura)
Single pished from bushes at Bijilo
109. Willow Warbler
Single in tree
at Lamin Fields
110. Subalpine Warbler (Sylvia cantillans)
Singles seen at Casino Cycle Track and Lamin Lodge
111. Tawny-flanked Prinia (Prinia subflava)
Singles seen at Casino Cycle Track and pished at Bijilo
112. Grey-backed Camaroptera (Camaroptera brachyura)
Single seen at Bijilo
113. Northern Black-Flycatcher (Melaenornis edolioides)
Pair seen most days in Senegambia grounds. Also seen at Bijilo
114. Common (Brown-throated) Wattle-eye (Platysteira cyanea)
Single called from bushes at Abuko
115. Red-bellied
Paradise Flycatcher (Terpsiphone rufiventer)
Several singles seen at Abuko
116. Brown
Babbler (Turdoides plebejus)
Common to abundant in Senegambia grounds. Also seen
Casino Cycle Track, heard in forests
117. Blackcap Babbler (Turdoides reinwardii)
Common in Senegambia grounds. Also seen Casino Cycle Track and Bijilo.
118. Scarlet-chested
Sunbird (Nectarinia senegalensis)
Pair seen at Abuko
119. Variable Sunbird (Nectarinia venusta)
Seen at Casino
Cycle Track and Brufut Woods
120. Splendid Sunbird (Nectarinia coccinigaster)
Seen at Casino Cycle Track
121. Beautiful Sunbird (Nectarinia pulchella)
Frequent in Senegambia grounds. Seen almost daily at other locations.
122. Yellow-billed Shrike (Corvinella corvina)
Single seen several times in Senegambia grounds, plus
single at Brufut Woods.
123. Yellow-crowned Gonolek (Laniarius barbarus)
Pairs abundant in Senegambia grounds. Also seen at Bijilo and heard in other forests
124. White-crested Helmet Shrike (Prionops plumatus)
A good look through the scope at one single in a tree at
Abuko
125. Fork-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus adsimilis)
One seen at Lamin Fields
126. Piapiac (Ptilostomus afer)
Singles seen at
Casino Cycle Track, Bijilo and Lamin Fields
127. Pied Crow (Corvus albus)
Abundant at all locations (first seen from aircraft!)
Rarely out of view for long
128. Greater Blue-eared Glossy Starling (Lamprotornis chalybaeus)
Small parties of 2-3 seen most days in Senegambia grounds
(but not elsewhere)
129. Lesser Blue-eared Glossy Starling (Lamprotornis chloropterus)
Single
seen at Casino Cycle Track
130. Long-tailed Glossy Starling (Lamprotornis caudatus)
Parties
of 2-3 seen most days in Senegambia grounds.
Also on Brufut-Tanji road and at Lamin Fields
131. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Frequent (seen most days) in Senegambia grounds
132. Grey-headed Sparrow (Passer griseus)
Abundant singles, occasional small numbers, in Senegambia
grounds
133. White-billed Buffalo Weaver (Bubalornis albirostris)
Party seen on Casino Cycle Track (communal nests visible
nearby)
134. Black-necked Weaver (Ploceus nigricollis)
Singles in trees outside Bijilo entrance and at Abuko
135. Village Weaver (Ploceus cucullatus)
Abundant at Senegambia (filmed weaving nest) and
elsewhere, especially fairly open country
136. Black-headed Weaver (Ploceus melanocephalus)
Single seen at Brufut Woods
137. Northern Red Bishop (Euplectes franciscanus)
Singles (non breeding plumage) seen at Brufut Woods and
Lamin Fields
138. Red-billed Firefinch (Lagonosticta senegala)
Abundant in pairs and small flocks in Senegambia grounds.
Also seen daily at most (dry) locations
139. Lavender Waxbill (Estrilda caerulescens)
Singles/pairs common on ground at Senegambia
140. Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu (Uraeginthus bengalus)
Abundant in two's and three's on ground at
Senegambia. Also seen at Brufut Woods
141. African Silverbill (Lonchura cantans)
Single seen in flight near Casino Cycle Track
142. Bronze Mannikin (Lonchura cucullata)
Abundant flocks on ground or in bushes in Senegambia
grounds. Also seen Brufut Woods and
Abuko