Arrived in Dakar in late evening, we slept at the Hotel Sogipres inside the airport, a very bad idea as it was expensive and very dirty. There are several hotels 2 to 4km from the airport. Having rent a car by email before our trip, a driver came in the morning to meet us and took us to the office in town where we filled the papers. Our car was a good small 4x4 Suzuki Jimmy, 46€ per day/140km without driver booked with COSELOC, www.coseloc.sn, a serious local company (english spoken).
Having visited several african countries before, we concentrated our efforts on the birds never seen, that's why we didn't visit all the birding sites of Gambia, principally near the coast where we had no lifers to find.
As usual, the Birdquest trip reports where our base for finding the birds, their tours are always very productive and their birdlists always interesting with all the last splits mentionned. We had other trip reports on the web, but none gave good indications, anyway they are useful for the lists of birds to look for on the sites.
The sites are not described in the order of visit, but from north Senegal to Gambia. Before your trip it would be useful to check the sites on Google Earth, and see the road details. Books : A field Guide to the birds of the Gambia and Senegal by Barlow/Wacher, Birds of Western Africa by Borrow/Demey.
SENEGAL:
RICHARD TOLL
We stayed at Auberge de la cité, 23600CFA for a large room with aircon, some are cheaper with share bathroom. We had no idea of the areas to bird for our target species but we found them after east of town on the Podor road; put on KM0 on the bridge, after 5km there is a large track on the right, we scanned all these areas of short dry grasses and bushes, and saw Temminck's and Cream-coloured Courser, Spotted Thick-knee, Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark, Cricket Warbler, many Wagtails and Northern Wheatears and others. We didn’t know where the Rufous Babbler is, and we didn't see any. Back on the main road, about 6km from the bridge is a big antenna on the left, we turned here and joined a main track after 600m, took right and parked; we walked in all this area of acacia trees where we found the Sennar Penduline Tit, a pair of Little Grey Woodpecker, a pair of Brubru.
We birded the area about 5km before Richard Toll coming from St Louis on the left side of the road, a mixed of small canals fringed by reeds, acacias and bushes. Sedge Warbler, Winding Cisticola, Black Crake, many Subalpine Warblers, Sudan Golden Sparrow, Black Scrub-Robin, African Silverbill... Many Chestnut-bellied Starling.
PARC NATIONAL DES OISEAUX DU DJOUDJ
There are 2 dirt roads leading to the park, one is signposted on a small track on the right side of the tarred road to Diama, just after Djeuss bridge, and passes for about 30km through semi-desert vegetation. The other is well signposted on the left just before the town of Ross-Bethio, and passes through rice fields for about 23km. Many birds on this track.
Entrance 2000CFA/pers/24h, car 5000CFA. The station biologique was full (room 7000CFA), so we stayed at the Hotel du Djoudj at 25000CFA + tax 600CFA, but had our meals at the station because they are much cheaper; there is another cheap camp in the adjacent village but we didn’t visit it. We stayed 2 nights. We saw 2 Arabian Bustard, one on the track to the Grand Lac in the morning, in flight above an area of long dry grasses on the left; the other was very close along the track after Lac de Gainth (not signposted, follow the marks Mirador Tantale, Dortoir des pélicans), at 12:30. At the same time along this track after Lac de Gainth, several Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse in the shade of the small trees. The River Prinia answered to the tape in the rank vegetation along the track just after the Embarcadère. We saw 2 Zebra Waxbill along the track to Grand Lac in some tall dry rank grasses on the right. Further on, on the same track we parked and walked in the short dry grasses on the left and flushed 2 Common Quail, then we walked on the right side along the trees bordering some swamps with reeds and flushed a Marsh Owl.
PARC NATIONAL DE LA LANGUE DE BARBARIE
There is no really need to go there, but as Birdquest looks for the Audouin's Gull here we gave a try. We stayed 1 night at Hotel Zebrabar in a good room for 16000CFA, and birded the area around from a small trail leaving on the left side just before the entrance, a few waders, Black Oystercatchers, Spoonbills.... Then by car we headed back to the junction and turned right until a sign of the national park; we parked and went through the houses to the beach facing the Ile aux Oiseaux wich is close, no need to go there by boat; we scanned with the telescope but didn't find the Audouin's Gull.
As the Zebrabar was too noisy for our rest (kids, djumbe), we spent our second night in the area at Hotel Teranga, very good and nice place to relax at 21000CFA. We saw the Audouin’s Gull from the small beach of the hotel.
AROUND KAOLACK
South-east of the town is the roosting site of thousands of Lesser Kestrels and Swallow-tailed Kites on a small island called Ile de Kousmar; we were lucky to go there as we had some friends from the LPO and CNRS studying the site. The ornithologists working on the site and trying to create a protected area with the officials and the villagers may be upset if we give the details of the site on the web so we don’t give any for the moment. We camped between the river bank and the village, and birded the fields around in early morning, many birds where there and we saw the only Savile's Bustard of our trip. A film was made about the dormitory by Allain Bougrain-Dubourg called « L’Ile aux faucons ».
AROUND KOLOBANE
We visited this region as there are some Montagu's Harriers roosting sites (one with more than 2500 birds) and we went there with our friends of LPO and CNRS of Chizé who are studying their diet and try to read the tags on the wings. All the area east of Kolobane until Khelkom is peanut cultivations and good areas of dry savanna. We had a good birding, like Black-crowned Sparrow-lark, Desert Cisticola, Harlequin Quail, Tawny Pipit, Northern Anteater Chat, African Scrub-Robin, Temminck's Courser, Woodchat and Grey Shrike and many vultures. Montagu's Harrier's tags to be reported on www.busards.com
ROAD TAMBACOUNDA-KEDOUGOU
We didn't visit the Niokolo Koba NP because a guide was compulsory and that we were told that there are very few animals to see in this park due to too much poaching; we prefered to stay in different hotels (called campement) along the road which had all different type of habitats and birds:
1-CAMPEMENT WASSADOU (1/02)
Expensive camp with bungalows at 24500CFA, camping for 5000CFA, but the place is nice and the Egyptian Plover was on the ground of the restaurant, another one on the river bank. Pearl-spotted Owlet in the garden.
2-CAMPEMENT KEUR ANNICK (29/01)
There are bungalows but we camped for 3500CFA. We had a good birding from the camp and along the trail leading from the back of the camp along the river, with African Finfoot, and many others;
3-AFRICA SAFARI
Another nice camp with a good patch of forest along the river. We camped for 3500CFA, the food is great. They receive hunters, but the owner doesn't hunt; the trail leaves from behind the pool; Finfoot was seen there, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Stone Partridge; in the drier part when the trail joins the main access road we saw Northern Carmine Bee-eater, a pair of Black-faced Firefinch. At dusk we saw an African Puff Ader (bitis arietans) at the last second, so watch your steps. A tap dropping in the garden gave Red-winged Pytilia.
GOULOUMBOU
Hostellerie de Gouloumbou: This is a campement for hunters, and we met 7 of them during our stay but they were nice persons and all went off smoothly; The bungalow is 30000CFA so we camped for 10000CFA, the owner gave us the key of a bungalow for the bathroom; we asked if there was the Pel's Fishing Owl but as the motor of the boat was out we could'nt go on the river to find it; one of the trackers (named Djuldé) took us in the morning around his village close to Gouloumbou to see the Verreaux's Eagle Owl, and we luckily flushed a pair of White-throated Francolin, wich was a good tick; we gave him 4000CFA for the morning.
There is a big marshy area that you can join by car from the hotel, on the right when you leave it, at about 1,5km. We flushed some Common Snipes, saw Standard-winged Nightjars at dusk.
THE GAMBIA
When you cross the frontier, don't forget to ask your Laisser-passer for the car, the gambian customs didn't give it to us, permitting to the first checkpoint encountered in Bansang to ask 15€ to do this paper wich normally costs 1,5€.
Be prepared to the numerous controls on the gambian roads, sometimes every 5km, don't show your personnal things, wrap all your luggage in plastic bags or under a tarp, and always stop to all the controls, waiting for them to make sign to pass or to park. We never accepted to give money, but always stayed polite, sometimes we had to leave a pen, or a bottle of water, or some medecines, but the guards never were agressive. On the south road, from Brikama the controls are more lax, they are used to see many tourists.
BANSANG - BANSANG QUARRY 13°26’16.69’’N 14°39’56.86’’O
Coming from Janjanbureh the small track leading to the quarry is exactly 500m on the right (13°26’21.24’’N 14°39’45.65’’O) after the customs check point at the entrance of Bansang. In early february there was a nice colony of Red-throated Bee-eaters, Cinnamon-breasted Buntings were here. Waiting for dusk the Four-banded Sandgrouses come to drink, and we saw the Standard-winged and the Long-tailed Nightjars.
There is a good hotel in Bansang, the Bintous Paradise Lodge, along the river, 350D/pers, well signposted, it is much more convenient to stay there and avoid the ferry from Janjanbureh to visit the quarry until dusk.
KUNKILLING FOREST RESERVE
100D/pers, 10km from Bansang, signposted on the right, then 2,5km until the forest. We lost the phone n° of the guide Arona, but the owner of Bintou’s hotel in Bansang has the information. Adamawa Turtle Dove was the highlight of this small forest, seen in early morning.
TENDABA CAMP
Different prices of bungalows; the camp offers boat trips to the mangroves at 200D/pers, 4 persons minimum; good birding with African Finfoot, African Scops-Owl, White-backed Night-Heron, Mouse-coloured Sunbird, African Blue Flycatcher and many others, we made 3 trips but failed to see the Pel's Fishing Owl or the rare White-crested Tiger-Heron; there are 2 guides for the boat trips : Lamin and Wandy, we prefer Wandy; with him we landed on the island and he took us to a place whee we saw 2 Bronze-winged Coursers. This is possible when the tide is high and permits to visit the 2 bolongs, so before going check with them the best hours to go depending the birds you want.
Adam, at the reception told us that a guide was compulsory for the NP Kiang West, but in fact we think that it is not. He proposed us the service of the guide Omar, with whom we went to the park with our car for 3 hours for 20€ wich is too expensive for his competence, but we saw Greyish Eagle-Owl during the day, Standard-winged Nightjar and Brown-necked Parrot but no more specials. Omar is independant from the camp, so it is probably possible to discust the price;
We didn't like the atmosphere of the Tendaba restaurant, so once we had dinner in a small restaurant wich is outside the camp, and the owner, Fey, told us that he can take people by boat until the National Park, with our without guide, he can organise boat trips too for cheaper than the camp, so the best is to meet him before booking through Tendaba. He can propose a very basic room to the budget birders.
We had a good birding outside the camp around the hill close to the airstrip (see Wheatley's map in Where to watch birds in Africa).
From the bottom of the camp, there is a small gate opening on the Bateling Trail on the right; we followed it but all was burnt in the area, but after about 3/4h we reached a small forest, then woodland savanna before seeing the village of Batele. Around 8am we taped the Brown-rumped Bunting who came and sang but was not easy to locate. Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Fine-spotted Woodpecker, Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-Weaver; slow birding in general.
FARABA BANTA BUSH TRACK
As usual, the birders follow their guides and don't give any indication for the independant birders. Some time lost again in research of the good place : coming north you pass Brikama and follow the tarred road towards Pirang, you'll see a sign indicating Farasuto Forest, still follow the road for 7km700, you'll be in the village of Faraba Banta, turn right at the junction (13°14’53.64’’N 16°31’30.43’’O) on a small dirt track (there is the board Faraba Banta Cycle School, if you want to confirm ask if it is the track to Jiboroh), follow this track, you'll pass a small mosque, you go straight and bird all the area; quickly you'll be in a good habitat of savanna woodland. We stopped and walked in the bush, at last we had a pair of Senegal Batis that we missed everywhere else. We saw African Hawk-Eagle, African Harrier-Hawk, Pied-winged Swallow, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Plaintive Cisticola, Yellow-fronted Canary, Red-winged Warbler and others, but we didn't find the White-fronted Black-Chat wich was a lifer for us.
MARAKISSA RIVER LODGE
From Brikama take the right fork at the petrol station, and go straight, the tarred road becomes dirt, then follow the signs or ask. We stayed at the lodge for 1 night, 425D/pers with breakfast, no electricity. It is very peaceful, the dutch owner doesn't speak much, but his wife Adama is nice. The water in the garden attracts many birds and particularly the Spotted Honeyguide in the afternoon, we have been waiting for him in vain. Following the main road after the lodge, there is a bridge with swamps full of Painted Snipes. We saw 2 Allen's Gallinules, Black Crakes, Swamp Flycatcher.... A small trail on the left before the bridge leads through gardens and plantations, with many birds too (Pied Hornbill).
TANJI
We stayed 1 night at the Nyanya's Hotel along the main road in Tanji, on the left before the bridge if coming from the south. The double room was an expensive 600D without electricity, but it is facing the beach where we had many Grey-headed and 1 Cape Gull, Royal, Caspian and Whiskered Terns at the end of the afternoon. The spectacle of the birds flying over the village and the boats in the evening is great.
TANJI RESERVE
Just north of Tanji it is well signposted on the left coming from the south. The entrance fee is 35D, guide no compulsory. We had a good birding with Western Bluebill, Grey-headed Bristlebill, Oriole Warbler, Lanner Falcon, Buff-spotted Woodpecker, Red-bellied Paradise-Flycatcher...
If you have an Ipod Touch or a labtop, you can park as we did in front of an orange building facing the second gate of the Sheraton north of Tanji Reserve, along the main tarred road, there is a good wifi.
During a few days in south Banjul area, we were glad to find the Woodpecker lodge in Yundum, between the airport and Abuko Nature Reserve, 100m from the airport entrance, a quiet place with the double room at 400D. There is a good cheap restaurant and bar with a friendly staff. No pool and no garden, it is not luxuous, but we were away from the coast and the tourists, and close to most of the birding places. Tel : 3636000.
BRUFUT WOODLANDS (13°22’16.07’’N 16°45’32.53’’O)
None of the reports give the indications for this site so it took us some time. Coming from the north, the track leaves from the AU HIGHWAY wich is going from the roundabout at the west and the semaphore junction of the airport at the east. From the roundabount going east, turn on the dirt track on the right after 1km200, if coming from the semaphore junction turn left after 8km400 (there is a tall tree with big Sparrow-weavers nests). Follow this dirt track leading straight to Brufut on 4km300, turn left in the street, after 100m take right at the big mango tree, the reserve is on the right after 500m. If you come from Tanji, turn right on the large dirt road, not far from the reserve, follow the track until the Brufut village and turn right at WP13°22’50.12’’N 16°45’10.14’’O, follow the track bending right and the woods are on the right. Entrance fee 50D, it is very small, a guide is useful if you need to see White-faced Scops-Owl, Verreaux's Eagle-Owl and Long-tailed Nightjar as they know where they roost. The Green Crombec answered to tape on the main small trail just after the sign 2nd Owl Track; at the main entrance they put water in 2 small containers and many birds come to drink, like Green-headed Sunbird, Northern and Black-winged Red Bishop, Green Touraco... at midday the staff of the reserve left, so we came back and stayed at the water alone in the shade. Sulphur-breasted Bush-Shrike attracted by the tape. The main road along and before the reserve is to bird too, we saw Copper Sunbird.
ABUKO NATURE RESERVE
Coming from the airport the entrance is on the left after the village of Lamin. The entrance fee is 35D, a guide is not compulsory although they are trying to convince you that you need them. Anyway as usual we prefered to find the birds by ourselves, it takes more time of course but that's our pleasure. We saw the Ahanta Francolins close to the entrance; Green and Purple Turacos, Fanti Saw-Wing, Little Greenbull, Leaflove, Grey-headed Bristlebill, Oriole Warbler, Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat...
All the tourists of Gambia have a lunch at the Lamin Lodge, signposted from the Lamin Village, so we did so; if the lodge is funny in the middle of the mangrove, it is the way to eat a chicken yassa for 3 times the price, amongst many tourists and with musicians... just see if you like it, we didn't stay too long...
TUJERING
Having no indications, we tried several tracks around the village, south of Tanji, but we are not sure that we found the good site where all the tours go. Anyway we didn't find any target species supposed to be in this area, like the Whistling and Rufous Cisticolas, White-fronted Black-Chat (all lifers for us), or White-shouldered Black-Tit; all very disappointing.
1 LITTLE GREBE tachybaptus ruficollis
2 GREAT WHITE PELICAN pelecanus onocrotalus
3 PINK-BACKED PELICAN pelecanus refescens
4 HAMERKOP scopus umbretta
5 GREAT CORMORANT phalacrocorax carbo
6 LONG-TAILED CORMORANT phalacrocorax africanus
7 AFRICAN DARTER anhinga rufa
8 WHITE-BACKED NIGHT-HERON gorsachius leuconotus
Tendaba boat trip (G)
9 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON nycticorax nycticorax
10 CATTLE EGRET bubulcus ibis
11 SQUACCO HERON ardeola ralloides
12 STRIATED HERON butorides striatus
13 BLACK EGRET egretta ardesiaca
14 INTERMEDIATE EGRET egretta intermedia
15 WESTERN REEF HERON egretta gularis
16 LITTLE EGRET egretta garzetta
17 GREAT WHITE EGRET egretta alba
18 BLACK-HEADED HERON ardea melanocephala
19 GREY HERON ardea cinerea
20 PURPLE HERON ardea purpurea
21 BLACK STORK ciconia nigra
A group between Kaolack and Passi (S)
22 WOOLLY-NECKED STORK ciconia episcopus
Tendaba boat trip (G)
23 MARABOU STORK leptoptilos crumeniferus
24 YELLOW-BILLED STORK mycteria ibis
25 AFRICAN SPOONBILL platalea alba
26 EUROPEAN SPOONBILL platalea leucorodia (rings sightings to be sent to o.overdijk@home.nl)
27 BLACK CROWNED CRANE balearica pavonina
2 Djoudj NP
28 LESSER FLAMINGO phoenicopterus minor
Djoudj NP with Greater Glamingo
29 GREATER FLAMINGO phoenicopterus ruber
30 EGYPTIAN GOOSE alopochen aegyptiacus
31 KNOB-BILLED DUCK sarkidiornis melanotos
32 SPUR-WINGED GOOSE plectropterus gambensis
33 FULVOUS WHISTLING DUCK dendrocygna bicolor
34 WHITE-FACED WHISTLING DUCK dendrocygna viduata
35 NORTHERN SHOVELER anas clypeata
36 GARGANEY anas querquedula
37 NORTHERN PINTAIL anas acuta
38 SACRED IBIS threskiornis aethiopicus
39 GLOSSY IBIS plegadis falcinellus
40 HADADA IBIS bostrychia hagedash
41 OSPREY pandion haliaetus
42 AFRICAN HARRIER-HAWK polyboroides typus
43 PALM-NUT VULTURE gypohierax angolensis
44 PIED CROW corvus albus
45 HOODED VULTURE necrosyrtes monachus
46 RÜPPELL'S GRIFFON VULTURE gyps rueppellii
46 EUROPEAN GRIFFON VULTURE gyps fulvus
between Mbake and Louga (S)
47 WHITE-BACKED VULTURE gyps africanus
48 WHITE-HEADED VULTURE trigonoceps occipitalis
between Mbake and Louga (S)
49 LAPPET-FACED VULTURE torgos trachelios
50 MARTIAL EAGLE polemaetus bellicosus
east of Kolobane (S) + Sine Saloum NP (S)
51 AFRICAN FISH EAGLE haliaeetus vocifer
52 TAWNY EAGLE aquila rapax
53 WAHLBERG'S EAGLE aquila wahlbergi
54 AFRICAN HAWK EAGLE hieraaetus spilogaster
55 BOOTED EAGLE hieraaetus pennatus
56 LONG-CRESTED EAGLE lophaetus occipitalis
57 BATELEUR terathopius ecaudatus
58 BROWN SNAKE EAGLE circaetus cinereus
59 WESTERN BANDED SNAKE EAGLE circaetus cinerascens
only seen one on the road crossing the Niokolo Koba NP
60 BEAUDOUIN'S SNAKE EAGLE circaetus beaudouini
61 BLACK KITE milvus milvus
62 YELLOW-BILLED KITE milvus aetyptius
63 GRASSHOPPER BUZZARD bustatur rufipennis
only seen one on the road crossing the Niokolo Koba NP
64 BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE elanus caerulus
65 AFRICAN SWALLOW-TAILED KITE chelictinia riocourii
66 MONTAGU'S HARRIER circus pygargus
Montagu's Harrier's tags to be reported on www.busards.com
67 EURASIAN MARSH HARRIER circus aeruginosus
68 DARK CHANTING GOSHAWK melierax metabates
69 GABAR GOSHAWK micronisus gabar
70 SHIKRA accipiter badius
71 LIZARD BUZZARD kaupifalco monogrammicus
72 LANNER FALCON falco biarmicus
Tanji reserve (G)
73 AFRICAN HOBBY falco cuvierii
74 RED-NECKED FALCON falco chicquera
75 GREY KESTREL falco ardosiaceus
76 LESSER KESTREL falco naumanni
77 COMMON KESTREL falco tinnunculus
78 DOUBLE-SPURRED FRANCOLIN francolinus bicalcaratus
79 WHITE-THROATED FRANCOLIN francolinus albogularis
flushed near Gouloumbou (S)
80 AHANTA FRANCOLIN francolinus ahantensis
Abuko Reserve (G)
81 STONE PARTRIDGE ptilopachus petrosus
82 HELMETED GUINEAFOWL numida meleagris
83 COMMON QUAIL coturnix coturnix
84 HARLEQUIN QUAIL coturnix delegorguei
flushed east of Kolobane (S)
85 CHESTNUT-BELLIED SANDGROUSE pterocles exustus
Djoudj NP
86 FOUR-BANDED SANDGROUSE pterocles quadricinctus
Bansang (G) + near Faraba Banta (G)
87 COMMON MOORHEN gallinula chloropus
88 ALLEN'S GALLINULE porphyrio alleni
2 seen near Marakassi River Lodge (G)
89 BLACK CRAKE amaurornis flavirostris
90 GREATER PAINTED-SNIPE rostratula benghalensis
91 AFRICAN JACANA actophilornis africanus
92 AFRICAN FINFOOT podica senegalensis
93 SAVILE'S BUSTARD eupodotis savilei
1 seen near Ile de Kousmar (S)
94 ARABIAN BUSTARD ardeotis arabs
Djoudj NP 26/02
95 EGYPTIAN PLOVER pluvianus aegyptius
Campement Wassadou (S) 1/02
96 BRONZE-WINGED COURSER rhinoptilus chalcopterus
Tendaba Camp (G)
97 CREAM-COLOURED COURSER cursorius cursor
several near Richard Toll (S)
98 TEMMINCK'S COURSER cursorius temminckii
99 COLLARED PRATINCOLE glareola pratincola
100 SPOTTED THICK-KNEE burhinus capensis
between Gossas and Mbar (S) + near Richard Toll (S)
101 SENEGAL THICK-KNEE burhinus senegalensis
102 BLACK-HEADED PLOVER vanellus tectus
103 SPUR-WINGED PLOVER vanellus spinosus
104 WATTLED PLOVER vanellus senegallus
105 WHITE-CROWNED PLOVER vanellus albiceps
106 GREY PLOVER pluvialis squatarola
107 LITTLE RINGED PLOVER chariadrius dubius
108 RINGED PLOVER charadrius hiaticula
109 KENTISH PLOVER charadrius alexandrius
110 KITTLITZ'S PLOVER charadrius pecuarius
Djoudj NP (S)
111 EURASIAN CURLEW numenius arquata
112 WHIMBREL numenius phaeopus
113 BLACK-TAILED GODWIT limosa limosa
114 BAR-TAILED GODWIT limosa lapponica
115 COMMON GREENSHANK tringa nebularia
116 MARSH SANDPIPER tringa stagnatilis
117 COMMON SANDPIPER actitis hypoleucos
118 GREEN SANDPIPER tringa ochropus
119 COMMON REDSHANK tringa totanus
120 EURASION OYSTERCATCHER haematopus ostralegus
121 PIED AVOCET recurvirostra avosetta
122 BLACK-WINGED STILT himantopus himantopus
123 RUFF philomachus pugnax
124 COMMON SNIPE gallinago gallinago
125 RUDDY TURNSTONE arenaria interpres
126 LITTLE STINT calidris minuta
127 SANDERLING calidris alba
128 DUNLIN calidris alpina
129 POMARINE SKUA stercorarius pomarinus
130 AUDOUIN'S GULL larus audouini
Langue de Barbarie (S)
131 BLACK-HEADED GULL larus ridibundus
132 GREY-HEADED GULL larus cirrocephalus
133 SLENDER-BILLED GULL larus genei
134 CAPE GULL larus vetula
Tanji (G)
135 YELLOW-LEGGED GULL larus cachinnans
136 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL larus fuscus
137 CASPIAN TERN sterna caspia
138 ROYAL TERN sterna maxima
139 SANDWICH TERN sterna sandvicensis
140 GULL-BILLED TERN gelochelidon nilotica
141 COMMON TERN sterna hirundo
142 WHISKERED TERN chlidonias hybridus
143 BLACK TERN chlidonias niger
144 LAUGHING DOVE streptopelia senegalensis
145 EUROPEAN TURTLE DOVE streptopelia turtur
146 BLUE-SPOTTED WOOD DOVE turtur afer
147 BLACK-BILLED WOOD DOVE turtur abyssinicus
148 SPECKLED PIGEON columba guinea
149 BRUCE'S GREEN PIGEON treron waalia
150 AFRICAN GREEN PIGEON treron calva
seen only in Brufut Reserve (G)
151 NAMAQUA DOVE oena capensis
152 RED-EYED DOVE streptopelia semitorquata
153 AFRICAN MOURNING DOVE streptopelia decipiens
154 AFRICAN COLLARED DOVE streptopelia roseogrisea
155 VINACEOUS DOVE streptopelia vinacea
156 ADAMAWA TURTLE DOVE streptopelia hypopyrrha
Kunkilling Forest Reserve (G)
157 PIAPIAC ptilostomus afer
158 SENEGAL COUCAL centropus senegalensis
RED-CHESTED CUCKOO cuculus solitarius
heard only in the forest of Tumani Tenda Camp (G)
159 VERREAUX'S EAGLE OWL bubo lacteus
160 GREYISH EAGLE OWL bubo cinerascens
Kiang West NP (G)
161 AFRICAN SCOPS OWL otus senegalensis
162 BARN OWL tyto alba
163 WHITE-FACED SCOPS OWL otus leucotis
164 PEARL-SPOTTED OWLET glaucidium perlatum
165 SHORT-EARED OWL asio flammeus
Djoudj NP
166 LONG-TAILED NIGHTJAR caprimulgus climacurus
167 STANDARD-WINGED NIGHTJAR macrodipteryx longipennis
168 ALPINE SWIFT apus melba
169 COMMON SWIFT apus apus
170 LITTLE SWIFT apus affinis
171 MOTTLED SPINETAIL telacanthura ussheri
172 AFRICAN PALM SWIFT cypsiurus parvus
173 BLUE-NAPED MOUSEBIRD urocolius macrourus
174 BLACK WOOD HOOPOE rhinopomastus aterrimus
175 GREEN WOOD HOOPOE phoeniculus purpureus
176 EURASIAN HOOPOE upupa epops
177 AFRICAN HOOPOE upupa senegalensis
178 GIANT KINGFISHER megaceryle maxima
179 BLUE-BREASTED KINGFISHER halcyon malimbica
180 STRIPED KINGFISHER halcyon chelicuti
181 MALACHITE KINGFISHER alcedo cristata
182 BROAD-BILLED ROLLER eurystomus glaucurus
183 BLUE-BELLIED ROLLER coracias cyanogaster
184 RUFOUS-CROWNED ROLLER coracias naevia
185 ABYSSINIAN ROLLER coracias abyssinica
186 SWALLOW-TAILED BEE-EATER merops hirundineus
187 NORTHERN CARMINE BEE-EATER merops nubicus
188 BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATER merops persicus
189 EUROPEAN BEE-EATER merops apiaster
190 LITTLE BEE-EATER merops pusillus
191 WHITE-THROATED BEE-EATER merops albicollis
192 RED-THROATED BEE-EATER merops bullocki
193 LITTLE GREEN BEE-EATER merops orientalis
194 ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET psittacula krameri
195 SENEGAL PARROT poicephalus senegalus
196 BROWN-NECKED PARROT poicephalus robustus
Kiang West NP (G)
197 VIOLET TURACO musophaga violacea
198 WESTERN GREY PLANTAIN-EATER crinifer piscator
199 GREEN TURACO tauraco persa
Abuko and Brufut Reserves (G)
200 YELLOW-FRONTED TINKERBIRD pogoniulus chrysoconus
201 BEARDED BARBET lybius dubius
202 VIEILLOT'S BARBET lybius vieilloti
203 AFRICAN PIED HORNBILL tockus nasutus
near Marakissa River Lodge (G)
204 WESTERN RED-BILLED HORNBILL tockus kempi
205 AFRICAN GREY HORNBILL tockus nasutus
206 ABYSSINIAN GROUND HORNBILL bucorvus abyssinicus
only seen along the Kedougou road south of Campement Wassadou (S)
207 GREY WOODPECKER dendropicos goertae
208 CARDINAL WOODPECKER dendropcos fuscescens
209 FINE-SPOTTED WOODPECKER campethera pucntuligera
210 BUFF-SPOTTED WOODPECKER campethera nivosa
211 LITTLE GREY WOODPECKER dendropicos elachus
near Richard Toll (S)
212 GREATER HONEYGUIDE indicator indicator
213 LESSER HONEYGUIDE indicator minor
214 SINGING BUSH LARK mirafra cantillans
common east of Kolobane (S)
215 BLACK-CROWNED SPARROW-LARK eremopterix nigriceps
east of Kolobane + around Richard Toll + Djoudj
216 CHESTNUT-BACKED SPARROW-LARK eremopterix leucotis
217 CRESTED LARK galerida cristata
218 PLAIN-BACKED PIPIT anthus leucophrys
219 FANTI SAW-WING psalidoprocne obscura
Abuko Reserve (G)
220 RED-RUMPED SWALLOW hirundo daurica
221 PIED-WINGED SWALLOW hirundo leucosoma
only 1 on Faraba Banta track, hunting low above a field for a long time.
222 WIRE-TAILED SWALLOW hirundo smithii
223 MOSQUE SWALLOW hirundo senegalensis
224 RUFOUS-CHESTED SWALLOW hirundo semirufa
225 BARN SWALLOW hirundo rustica
226 RED-CHESTED SWALLOW hirundo lucida
227 COMMON HOUSE MARTIN delichon urbica
228 SAND MARTIN riparia riparia
229 AFRICAN GOLDEN ORIOLE oriolus auratus
230 RED-SHOULDERED CUCKOO-SHRIKE coracina phoenicea
231 FORK-TAILED DRONGO dicrurus adsimilis
232 BLUE-HEADED WAGTAIL motacilla flava
233 SPANISH WAGTAIL motacilla iberiae
234 WHITE WAGTAIL motacilla alba
235 COMMON BULBUL pycnonotus barbatus
236 YELLOW-THROATED LEAFLOVE chlorocichla flavicollis
237 LITTLE GREENBUL andropadus virens
Abuko reserve (G)
238 LEAFLOVE pyrrhurus scandens
we heard the bird, put the tape and had a brief view when he crossed the trail in Abuko Reserve (G)
239 GREY-HEADED BRISTLEBILL bleda canicapilla
Tanji and Abuko Reserves (G)
240 ORIOLE WARBLER hypergerus atriceps
Tanji and Abuko Reserves (G)
241 BLACKCAP BABBLER turdoides reinwardtii
242 BROWN BABBLER turdoides plebejus
243 AFRICAN STONECHAT saxicola torquatus
244 WHINCHAT saxicola rubetra
245 AFRICAN STONECHAT saxicola torquatus
246 NORTHERN WHEATER oenanthe oenanthe
247 NORTHERN ANTEATER CHAT myrmecocichla aethiops
248 AFRICAN STONECHAT saxicola torquatus moptanus
Djoudj NP
249 WHITE-CROWNED ROBIN-CHAT cossypa albicapilla
250 SNOWY-CROWNED ROBIN-CHAT cossypha niveicapilla
Abuko Reserve + near Tujering (G)
251 AFRICAN SCRUB-ROBIN cercotrichas minor
East of Kolobane (S)
252 BLACK SCRUB-ROBIN cercotrichas podobe
253 COMMON REDSTART phoenicurus phoenicurus
254 AFRICAN THRUSH turdus pelios
255 REED WARBLER acrocephalus scirpaceus
256 OLIVACEOUS WARBLER hippolais pallida
257 MELODIOUS WARBLER hippolais polyglotta
258 ORPHEAN WARBLER sylvia hortensis
259 COMMON WHITETHROAT sylvia communis
260 SPECTACLED WARBLER sylvia conspicillata
Richard Toll (S)
261 SUBALPINE WARBLER sylvia cantillans
262 WILLOW WARBLER phylloscopus trochilus
263 CHIFFCHAFF phylloscopus collybita
264 IBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF phylloscopus ibericus
Djoudj NP (S)
265 WESTERN BONELLI'S WARBLER phylloscopus bonelli
266 SINGING CISTICOLA cisticola cantans
267 WINDING CISTICOLA cisticola galactotes
Tendaba (G) + Richard Toll (S)
268 PLAINTIVE CISTICOLA cisticola dorsti
269 DESERT CISTICOLA cisticola aridulus
East of Kolobane + Richard Toll (S)
270 ZITTING CISTICOLA cisticola juncidis
271 SEDGE WARBLER cacrocphalus schoenobaenus
Richard Toll + Djoudj NP (S)
272 RIVER PRINIA pluvia fluvatilis
Djoudj NP (S)
273 RED-WINGED WARBLER heliolais erythropter
Faraba Banta track (G)
274 CRICKET WARBLER stiloptila clamans
Richard Toll (S)
275 TAWNY-FLANKED PRINIA prinia subflava
276 GREEN-BACKED EREMOMELA eremomela pusilla
277 GREY-BACKED (YELLOW-BELLIED) EREMOMELA eremomela icteropygialis
near Ile de Kousmar se of Kaolack (S)
278 GREEN CROMBEC sylvietta virens
Brufut Woddlands (G)
279 NORTHERN CROMBEC sylvietta brachyura
280 GREY-BACKED CAMAROPTERA camaroptera brachyura
281 YELLOW-BREASTED APALIS apalis flavida
282 YELLOW WHITE-EYE zosterops senegalensis
283 YELLOW PENDULINE TIT anthoscopus parvulus
in the woods about 15km before Tambacounda (S)
284 SENNAR PENDULINE TIT anthoscopus punctifrons
Richard Toll (S)
285 AFRICAN BLUE FLYCATCHER elminia longicauda
heard then seen in flight during the Tendaba boat trip (G)
286 PIED FLYCATCHER ficedula hypoleuca
287 SWAMP FLYCATCHER muscicapa aquatica
288 COMMON WATTLE-EYE platysteira cyanea
289 SENEGAL BATIS batis senegalensis
this highly wanted bird was difficult to find, a pair seen on the Faraba Banta Track (G)
290 NORTHERN BLACK FLYCATCHER melaenornis edolioides
291 AFRICAN PARADISE FLYCATCHER terpsiphone viridis
292 RED-BELLIED PARADISE FLYCATCHER terpsiphone rufiventer
Tanji Reserve (G)
293 PYGMY SUNBIRD anthreptes platurus
294 COLLARED SUNBIRD anthreptes collaris
Abuko Reserve (G)
295 VARIABLE SUNBIRD nectarinia venusta
296 MOUSE-BROWN SUNBIRD anthreptes gabonicus
Tendaba boat trip (G)
297 SCARLET-CHESTED SUNBIRD nectarinia senegalensis
298 SPLENDID SUNBIRD nectarinia coccinigaster
299 BEAUTIFUL SUNBIRD nectarinia pulchella
300 GREEN-HEADED SUNBIRD nectarinia verticalis
Brufut Woodlands (G)
301 COPPER SUNBIRD nectarinia cuprea
Brufut Woodlands (G)
302 BLACK-CROWNED TCHAGRA tchagra senegala
303 GREY-HEADED BUSH SHRIKE malaconotus blanchoti
304 SULPHUR-BREASTED BUSH SHRIKE malaconotus sulfureopectus
305 BRUBRU Nilaus afer
306 NORTHERN PUFFBACK dryoscoppus gambensis
307 YELLOW-CROWNED GONOLEK laniarius barbatus
308 WHITE-CRESTED HELMET SHRIKE prionops plumatus
309 SOUTHERN GREY SHRIKE lanius meridionalis
East of Kolobane + Richard Toll (S)
310 WOODCHAT SHRIKE lanius senator
311 YELLOW-BILLED SHRIKE corvinella corvina
312 GREATER BLUE-EARED STARLING lamprotornis chalybaeus
313 LESSER BLUE-EARED STARLING lamprotornis chloropterus
314 PURPLE GLOSSY STARLING lamprotornis purpureus
315 BRONZE-TAILED GLOSSY STARLING lamprotornis chalcurus
316 LONG-TAILED GLOSSY STARLING lamprotornis caudatus
317 CHESTNUT-BELLIED STARLING lamprotornis pulcher
between Kolack and Tambacounda + Richard Toll (S)
318 YELLOW-BILLED OXPECKER buphagus africanus
319 SUDAN GOLDEN SPARROW passer luteus
320 WHITE-RUMPED SEEDEATER serinus leucopygius
321 YELLOW-FRONTED CANARY serinus mozambicus
322 HOUSE SPARROW passer domesticus
323 GREY-HEADED SPARROW passer griseus
324 BUSH PETRONIA petronia dentata
325 CHESTNUT-CROWNED SPARROW-WEAVER plocepasser superciliosus
near Tendaba camp on the Batelling trail (G)
326 SPECKLE-FRONTED WEAVER sporopipes frontalis
327 WHITE-BILLED BUFFALO-WEAVER bubalornis albirostris
328 NORTHERN RED BISHOP euplectes franciscanus
329 BLACK-WINGED RED BISHOP euplectes hordeaceus
330 CINNAMON-BREASTED BUNTING emberiza tahapisi
Bansang quarry (G)
331 BROWN-RUMPED BUNTING emberiza affinis
near Tendaba camp on the Batelling trail (G)
332 VITELLINE MASKED WEAVER ploceus velatus
333 VILLAGE WEAVER ploceus cucullatus
334 LITTLE WEAVER ploceus luteolus
335 BLACK-NECKED WEAVER ploceus nigricollis
336 YELLOW-BACKED WEAVER ploceus melanocephalus
337 RED-HEADED WEAVER anaplectes rubriceps
Near Tendaba Camp (G)
338 GREEN-WINGED PYTILIA pytilia melba
around the airstrip south of Tambacounda (S)
339 RED-WINGED PYTILIA pytilia phoenicoptera
Africa Safari Camp on Kedougou road (S)
340 ORANGE-CHEEKED WAXBILL estrilda melpoda
341 LAVENDER WASBILL estrilda caerulescens
342 BLACK-RUMPED WAXBILL estrilda troglodytes
343 RED-CHEEKED CORDON-BLEU uraeginthus bengalus
344 BLACK-FACED FIREFINCH lagonosticta larvata
Africa Safari Camp on Kedougou road (S)
345 RED-BILLED FIREFINCH lagonosticta senegala
346 ZEBRA WAXBILL amandava subflava
347 AFRICAN SILVERBILL lonchura cantans
348 BRONZE MANNIKIN lonchura cucullata
349 EXCLAMATORY PARADISE WHYDAH vidua interjecta
near Hostellerie de Gouloumbou (S)
350 SAHEL PARADISE WHYDAH vidua orientalis
several sightings in the Kolobane region (S)
351 WILSON'S INDIGOBIRD vidua wilsoni
around the airstrip south of Tambacounda (S)
352 VILLAGE INDIGOBIRD vidua chalybeata
353 CUT-THROAT FINCH amadina fasciata
354 RED-BILLED QUELEA quelea quelea
355 WESTERN BLUEBILL spermophaga haematina
Tanji and Abuko Reserves (G)