Photos with this report (click to enlarge) | |||
 Fraser'sEagle-Owl |
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The report of a 21-day birding tour of Ghana that included the key sites of the Kakum National Park area, Ankasa Conservation Area, Nyamebe Bepo Forest Reserve, the Atewa Range and Mole National Park. Top birds included White-necked Picathartes, Long-tailed Hawk, Forbes’s Plover, Fraser’s Eagle-Owl (above), Nkulengu Rail, Standard-winged Nightjar and Rufous-rumped Lark. A trip highlight was seeing a White-bellied Pangolin. A total of 460 bird species were recorded, with 12 species heard only, along with 39 mammal species.
I planned a private birding tour of Ghana for 2020 in association with the highly regarded Ghanaian tour company, Ashanti African Tours. Covid-19 intervened and the tour was finally able to take place with 8 participants from April 1 to April 21, 2023. We were fortunate to have the services of our sharp-eyed Ashanti guides Victor Owusu and Ibrahim Entsie, along with our capable and patient driver, Christian. Ashanti did an excellent job organising the logistics. Accommodation was of a high standard and our bus was roomy and comfortable. Ashanti was happy to accept a number of changes I proposed during the planning process.
I have published numerous photographs and detail about our movements in a series of blog posts (http://sunshinecoastbirds.blogspot.com/; type “Ghana” in the Search box top right), so will keep this itinerary brief. Some of the group opted for an outing on the first day of the tour, April 1, when no birding activities were scheduled, to Legano Park in Accra. It was a satisfactory introduction to the birds of Ghana with African Cuckoo, Grey-headed Bush-shrike and Brown Babbler among the birds seen.
The morning of the first full birding day of the tour, April 2, was occupied at Winneba Lagoon, west of Accra, where highlights were Brown Sunbird and a flock of Black Herons “canopy fishing”. We headed north to the rainforests of the Kakum National Park area, staying three nights at the Rainforest Lodge in Jukwa. We visited a recently opened logging road in Abrafo Forest in the afternoon, seeing our first West Africa/Upper Guinea/Congo Basin rainforest specialties including a rarely seen Yellow-footed Honeyguide, Brown-cheeked Hornbills and a spectacular Long-tailed Hawk.
The next day was focused on the famed canopy walk in Kakum National Park, with the morning spent on platforms atop the rainforest canopy. Willcocks’s Honeyguide feeding on bees just above us was an impressive sight. Targets seen included Yellow-chinned Sunbird, Sharpe’s Apalis, and Melancholy and Fire-bellied Woodpeckers. In the evening we had fine views of Pel’s Anomalure.
The morning of Day Four saw us in farm bush and secondary growth in the Antikwaa area. Here we saw Red-cheeked Wattle-eye, Puvel’s Illasopsis and Kemp’s Longbill. We visited the Cape Coast Castle in the afternoon, an historic site on the coast south of Jukwa; it was through this fort prison that three million slaves were barbarically shipped overseas over several centuries. We returned late in the afternoon to the Abrafo Forest logging track visited earlier. After dusk we were fortunate to connect with Brown Nightjar and both Fraser’s and Akun Eagle-Owls.
The following morning we again visited the logging track, adding Red-thighed Sparrowhawk, Buff-throated Sunbird and African Piculet to the list. The rest of the day was occupied by a long drive west to the famed Ankasa Conservation Area, a 50,000ha rainforest reserve on the Ivory Coast border. Our accommodation for the next four nights was Ashanti’s comfortable new Ankasa Reserve Lodge. We had the service of two jeeps and drivers to negotiate the muddy and heavily rutted road that penetrates the reserve.
We visited two small pools deep in the rainforest on our first morning at Ankasa seeing Red-fronted Antpecker on its nest, Hartlaub’s Duck and Grey-throated Tit-Flycatcher. Other birds along the road included Western Bearded and Yellow-bearded Greenbuls. From a lookout in the late afternoon we had Black Spinetail, Bates’s Swift and Black Casqued and Yellow Casqued Hornbills in a mixed flock. That evening the guides took us to a roost occupied by four Nkulengu Rails, a trip highlight, and later we encountered a West African Potoo.
Over the next two days we birded the road and small tracks in the forest. Birding was slow and tough going in the ever hot and humid conditions but targets continued to fall. They included Rufous-winged Illadopsis , White-tailed Alethe and a trio of bristlebirds: Grey-headed, Red-tailed and Green-tailed. Fraser’s Eagle-Owl was seen well at the lodge.
Day Nine saw us departing Ankasa and returning eastwards to the beachside hamlet of Brenu Akyinim. Dry coastal thickets and sparsely vegetated plains offered a different suite of birds such as Wilson’s Indigobird, Simple Leaflove and Marsh Tchagra. We dipped on the highly localised Baumann’s Greenbul. That evening we returned to the Rainforest Lodge at Jukwa for an overnight stay.
The next morning we were back at the Abrafo logging road, adding Red-billed Helmetshrike and Blue Cuckoo-shrike to the list. We moved on to the Pra River, where Rock Pratincole showed well, before proceeding to Bonkro, where we had two nights in Ashanti’s new Picathartes Guesthouse. The lodge is named after the White-necked Picathartes, and our late afternoon encounter with four birds hopping about their roosting cave was the top trip highlight for most of the group.
We spent the next day exploring the Bonkro and nearby Kwebene Sam forests seeing some fine targets including Tessmann’s Flycatcher, Yellow-throated Cuckoo and Tiny Sunbird. Our second evening in Bonkro was another trip highlight. Our guide Ibrahim and a local tracker led us through the forest for three hours before locating a much-wanted White-belled Pangolin. The tracker was given a $US50 reward which the group had decided to offer anyone who found us a pangolin, with the proviso that we had to be taken to the animal (not the other way around). Ashanti is doing outstanding work around Bonkro by channelling funds to community projects like building a new school, and employing people to help protect the rainforest: see my blog for further details.
From Bonkro we headed north to Kumasi for an overnight stay at the Royal Basin Hotel. In the late afternoon we visited the Bobiri Butterflying Sanctuary, seeing Dwarf Black Hornbill at its nest feeding young. The next morning – Day 13 - we headed north to a rainforest remnant at Opra, where Fiery-breasted Bush-shrike showed briefly for some. We continued north for a four-night stay at Mole Motel in Mole National Park.
We had left the rainforest behind but not the heat in the wide expanse of savanna surrounding our lodge, which overlooked a fine waterhole much favoured by a family party of African Elephants. Our first morning in Mole took us along Brogbani Road where he had an excellent encounter with a party of Forbes’s Plovers and connected with potentially difficult targets including Rufous-rumped Lark, Brown-rumped Bunting and White-fronted Black Chat. In the afternoon we visited pools below Zina Lodge, adding Long-tailed and Red-necked Nightjars to the list at dusk.
We visited the Magnori River on Day 15 of the tour, our second day at Mole, seeing loads of good birds including Western Square-tailed Drongo and roosting Long-tailed and Plain nightjars. That evening at the airstrip we had fabulous views of a male Standard-winged Nightjar. We checked out the Samole Loop on our third day at Mole and were rewarded with a family group of Four-banded Sandgrouse. Rock-loving Cisticola was found during a second visit to Zina Lodge.
We left Mole on Day 17 of the tour, heading north to the town of Daboya on the White Volta River. Here we had a fine pair of Egyptian Plovers, with other goodies including Black-backed Cisticola and Pied-winged Swallow. We dropped by a waterhole at Fufulso-Damongo, where African Painted-Snipe showed. A Beaudouin’s Snake-Eagle on a roadside powerline tower as we headed south was a welcome addition to the list. We called in again at Opra late-afternoon for slightly better views of Fiery-breasted Bush-shrike for some.
We had a second night in Kumasi, visiting Bobiri Butterfly Sanctuary again the next morning. From there we drove south to New Tafo for a two-night stay at the Nelshan Palace Hotel. Day 19 was occupied in the rainforests of the Atewa Range, including a steep climb to the ridge and the ridge-top road. We failed to find see a key target, Nimba Flycatcher, but added Little Green Woodpecker to the list.
The following morning, the second last day of the tour, we were in farmbush at the base of Atewa, where Black-bellied Seedeater and Black-and-white (Vanga) Flycatcher were among the birds. We continued southwards, enjoying vistas of the south Ghanaian plains as we negotiated the Akwepin Range. In the afternoon we visited Shai Hills Reserve, where we were rewarded with White-crowned Cliff-Chat and a close-up Dwarf Bittern.
The morning of the final day of the tour saw us at Sakamona Lagoon near Accra. On the lagoon and from the nearby beach we saw Little Bittern, Black Coucal and West African Crested Tern. Here we had the only unpleasant encounter with locals during our 21 days in Ghana when we were chased from the site by a group of aggressive robed men.
On the last evening of the tour, a festive affair at Accra’s Erata Hotel, a poll of the participants’ top birds/mammals resulted in: 1. White-necked Picathartes; 2. Egyptian Plover; 3. White-bellied Pangolin; 4. Standard-winged Nightjar; 5. Forbes’s Plover.
In addition to the following list, Jeff Skevington has posted numerous site lists on ebird. Common names in this list follow Birds of Ghana (Borrow & Demey, 2010) with IOC taxonomic and common name changes up to the date of this report’s publication incorporated. Birds recorded by one participant but disputed by others (2 species) or recorded only by the chief guide (1 species) are not included. [H] = Heard only. No annotations are given for common and widespread species.
White-faced Whistling-Duck, African Pygmy Goose (20+ en route to Ankasa),
Hartlaub’s Duck (1 Ankasa), Spur-winged Goose (a few Mole),
Helmeted Guineafowl (common Mole), White-throated Francolin (2 seen well Mole),
Forest (Latham’s) Francolin [H] (Ankasa, Abrafo, Bronko),
Ahanta Francolin [H] (Abrafo, Bobiri), Double-spurred Francolin (common dry areas),
Stone Partridge (a few Mole), Little Grebe, Woolly-necked Stork, Long-tailed Cormorant,
African Darter, Hamerkop, Little Bittern (2 Sakamona),
Dwarf Bittern (2 Ankasa, 1 Shai Hills), Grey Heron, Black-headed Heron, Purple Heron,
Great Egret, Intermediate Egret, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Western Reef Heron,
Black Heron (30+ “canopy fishing” Winneba), Squacco Heron, Striated Heron,
Black-crowned Night-Heron, Hadada Ibis, Spot-breasted Ibis [H] (several at dusk Ankasa),
Black-shouldered Kite, African Harrier-Hawk, Palmnut Vulture (widespread but scarce),
European Honey Buzzard (1 Legono, 1 Antikwaa),
African Cuckoo Hawk (singles Antikwaa, Bobiri, Atewa),
Hooded Vulture (widespread in small numbers), Bateleur,
Congo Serpent-Eagle (1 Ankasa, 1 Atewa),
Beaudouin’s Snake-Eagle (1 roadside between Daboya and Kusami),
Western Banded Snake-Eagle (1 near Daboya),
Crowned Eagle (1 Opra, 2 Atewa), Wahlberg’s Eagle (a few Mole),
Ayres’s Hawk-Eagle (1 Abrafo, 1 Atewa), Tawny Eagle (a few Mole),
Cassin’s Hawk-Eagle (occasional birds Kakum area, Atewa),
African Hawk-Eagle (1 Mole), Lizard Buzzard, Dark Chanting Goshawk (2 Mole),
Gabar Goshawk (a few Mole), Grasshopper Buzzard (quite common in the north),
Pallid Harrier (3 between Daboya and Kumasi),
Red-chested (African) Goshawk (2 Abrafo, 1 Atewa), Shikra,
Red-thighed Sparrowhawk (1 Abrafo, 1 Bobiri),
Black Sparrowhawk (1 Ankasa),
Long-tailed Hawk (2 Abrafo; heard Bonkro, a trip highlight),
Yellow-billed Kite, African Fish-Eagle (1 Mole),
Red-necked Buzzard (widespread in small numbers),
Denham’s Bustard (1 Mole),
White-spotted Flufftail (2 Atikwaa; heard Ankasa, Bobiri, Atewa),
Nkulengu Rail (4 spectacular birds at their night roost in Ankasa was a trip highlight),
Black Crake, Allen’s Gallinule (1 en route to Ankasa), Common Moorhen,
Senegal Thick-knee (widespread), Spotted Thick-knee (a few Mole),
Spur-winged Lapwing, Wattled Lapwing, Grey Plover, Kittlitz’s Plover (2 Winneba),
Common Ringed Plover,
Forbes’s Plover (4 in sparse woodland at Mole was a trip highlight),
Black-winged Stilt, African Jacana, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper,
Common Greenshank, Common Redshank, Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwit (a few Winneba),
Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling (2 Winneba), Little Stint, Curlew-Sandpiper,
Common Buttonquail (2 Mole),
Egyptian Plover (2 on the banks of the White Volta at Daboya was a trip highlight),
Collared Pratincole (a few Sakamona), Rock Pratincole (small numbers Pra River),
Greater Painted-Snipe (2 Fufulso-Damongo),
Gull-billed Tern, Sandwich Tern, Black Tern, Common Tern,
West African Crested Tern (3 offshore Sakamona),
Four-banded Sandgrouse (4 Mole – 2 adults with 2 well-fledged young, another trip highlight),
Feral Pigeon, Speckled Pigeon (a few Daboya),
(Western) Bronze-naped Pigeon (1 Kwebene Sam, heard Bonkro),
Red-eyed Dove, Vinaceous Dove, Laughing Dove,
Black-billed Wood-Dove (widespread but uncommon),
Blue-spotted Wood-Dove (widespread), Tambourine Dove,
Blue-headed Wood-Dove (widespread but sparse southern rainforests),
Namaqua Dove (a few Daboya), Bruce’s Green-Pigeon (fairly common Mole),
African Green-Pigeon,
Great Blue Turaco (small numbers Ankasa), Guinea (Green) Turaco (widespread),
Yellow-billed Turaco (common southern rainforests),
Violet Turaco (widespread but uncommon), Western Grey Plantain-eater,
Levaillant’s Cuckoo (1 Mole, 1 Daboya, 1 Bobiri),
Thick-billed Cuckoo [H} 1 Mole, Red-chested Cuckoo (a few Mole),
Black Cuckoo (widespread in small numbers), African Cuckoo (1 Legano, 1 Mole),
Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo [H] 2 Ankasa,
Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo (singles Ankasa, Abrafo, Bonkro; others heard),
Yellow-throated Coucal (1 Bonkro),
Klaas’s Cuckoo, Didric Cuckoo, African Emerald Cuckoo,
Yellowbill (fairly common southern rainforests), Black Coucal (1 Sakamona),
Black-throated Coucal (calling commonly southern rainforets but not seen often),
Blue-headed Coucal (widespread but sparse), Senegal Coucal,
African Scops-Owl (1 seen others heard heard Mole),
Greyish Eagle-Owl (several Mole),
Fraser’s Eagle-Owl (singles Abrafo, Ankasa; heard Bonkro),
Akun Eagle-Owl (singles Abrafo, Bonkro; heard Ankasa, Atewa),
Pearl-spotted Owlet (a few Mole), African Barred (Chestnut) Owlet [H] 1 Shai Hills,
Red-chested Owlet [H] (Several sites Ankasa, Abrafo),
African Wood-Owl [H] (Abrafo, Ankasa, Atewa),
Standard-winged Nightjar (3 Mole), Red-necked Nightjar (1 Mole), Plain Nightjar (1 Mole),
Long-tailed Nightjar (4 Mole),
Brown Nightjar (1 Abrafo),
Mottled Spinetail (sparse but widespread),
Black Spinetail (small numbers Abrafo, Ankasa),
Sabine’s Spinetail (widespread but sparse southern rainforests),
Cassin’s Spinetail (common southern rainforests),
Common Swifrt (a few Ankasa, Bonkro), Little Swift, White-rumped Swift (a few Mole, Atewa),
Bates’s Swift (2 Ankasa), African Palm Swift,
Narina Trogon [H] (1 Bonkro), Shining-blue Kingfisher (sparse but scarce),
Malachite Kingfisher, White-bellied Kingfisher (2 Ankasa), African Pygmy-Kingfisher,
African Dwarf-Kingfisher (2 Ankasa),
Chocolate-backed Kingfisher (widespread but sparse southern rainforests),
Grey-headed Kingfisher, Woodland Kingfisher, Blue-breasted Kingfisher
(widespread but uncommon), Striped Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher,
Giant Kingfisher (a few Ankasa, 1 Atewa),
Black Bee-eater (common Ankasa where nesting at the lodge; a few Antikwaa, Atewa),
Blue-moustached (Blue-headed) Bee-eater (2 Atewa), Red-throated Bee-eater (common Mole),
Little Bee-eater (sparse but scarce), Swallow-tailed Bee-eater (a few Mole, Atewa),
European Bee-eater (common Mole),
Rosy Bee-eater (40+ flocking Antikwaa; a few Abrafo, Kakum canopy),
Abyssinian Roller (several Mole), Rufous-crowned Roller (a few Mole, Shai Hills),
Broad-billed Roller, Blue-throated Roller (common southern rainforests),
Green Wood-Hoopoe (a few flocks southern dry country),
Forest Wood-Hoopoe (Scimitarbill) [H] Bonkro,
Black Scimitarbill (a few Mole),
White-crested Hornbill (widespread but sparse southern rainforests),
Black Dwarf Hornbill (1 on 2 days Bobiri, 1 Abrafo),
Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill (2 Ankasa, others heard),
Northern Red-billed Hornbill (1 Legano, common in north),
African Pied Hornbill, African Grey Hornbill, Piping Hornbill (sparse southern rainforests),
Brown-cheeked Hornbill (a few Abrafo, Kakum canopy),
Black Casqued-Hornbill (a few Abrafo, Ankasa), Yellow Casqued-Hornbill (2-3 Ankasa),
Abyssinian Ground-Hornbill (2 Ankasa),
Yellow-billed Barbet (goffinii subsp 1 Kwebene Sam, heard Ankasa),
Bristle-nosed Barbet (fairy common Kakum area),
Naked-faced Barbet (common southern rainforests),
Speckled Tinkerbird (common southern rainforests),
Red-rumped Tinkerbird (small numbers southern farmbush),
Yellow-throated Tinkerbird (a few Antikwaa, Atewa), Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird (2 Antikwaa),
Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird (singles Mole, Shai Hills),
Yellow-spotted Barbet (fairly common southern rainforests),
Hairy-breasted Barbet (common southern rainforests),
Vieillot’s Barbet (widespread but sparse dry country),
Double-toothed Barbet (widespread and fairly common dry country),
Bearded Barbet (widespread but scarce dry country),
Cassin’s Honeybird (singles Abrafo, Bobiri, Bonkro),
Yellow-footed Honeyguide (1 Abrafo),
Willcocks’s Honeyguide (1 Kakum canopy),
Thick-billed Honeyguide (1 Ankasa), Lesser Honeyguide (1 Ankasa),
Spotted Honeyguide [H}(1 Abrafo), Greater Honeyguide (2 Mole),
African Piculet (singles Abrafo, Kwebene Sam, Bobiri),
Fine-spotted Woodpecker (2 Mole),
Little Green Woodpecker (1 Atewa, heard Ankasa),
Buff-spotted Woodpecker (a few Kakum area, 1 Bonkro),
Brown-eared Woodpecker (singles Ankasa, Bonkro, Atewa),
Cardinal Woodpecker (1 Legono, a few Mole),
Melancholy (Gabon) Woodpecker (a few Abrafo, Kakum canopy, Bobiri, Atewa),
Fire-bellied Woodpecker (several Kakum area, heard Bonkro),
African Grey Woodpecker (a few Mole), Brown-backed Woodpecker (2 Mole),
Common Kestrel, Grey Kestrel (widespread but sparse), African Hobby (singles Brenu, Atewa),
Rose-ringed Parakeet (a few Mole), Red-headed Lovebird (1 Mole),
Grey Parrot (1 or 2 Kwebene Sam, 1 near Kumasi),
Brown-necked Parrot (a few Abrafo), Senegal Parrot (widespread but uncommon),
Red-fronted Parrot (fairly common southern rainforests),
Rufous-sided Broadbill (singles Kakum canopy, Bonkro; heard Ankasa),
Brown-throated (Common) Wattle-eye (a few Mole),
West African (Chestnut) Wattle-eye (fairly common southern rainforests/farmbush),
Red-cheeked Wattle-eye (a few farmbush Antikwaa, Opra, Atewa),
Senegal Batis (2 Mole), West African (Bioko) Batis (sparse southern rainforests),
Red-billed (Chestnut-bellied) Helmetshrike (small numbers Abrafo, Bobiri),
African Shrike Flycatcher (2 Bonkro),
Black-and-white (Shrike, or Vanga) Flycatcher (1 Antwikwaa, 1 Atewa),
Brubru (a few Mole), Northern Puffback (a few Mole), Tropical Boubou (2 Mole),
Sabine’s (Large-billed) Puffback (widespread but sparse southern rainforests),
Marsh Tchagra (1 Brenu), Black-crowned Tchagra, Brown-crowned Tchagra,
Yellow-crowned Gonolek (widespread dry country),
Lowland Sooty Bulbul (1 Antwikwaa), Sulphur-breasted Bush-shrike (a few Mole),
Fiery-breasted Bush-shrike (2 Opra),
Grey-headed Bush-shrike (1 Legono),
Red-shouldered Cuckoo-shrike (a few Opra, Mole),
Purple-throated Cuckoo-shrike (singles Abrafo, Bonkro, Bobiri),
Blue Cuckoo-shrike (small numbers Kakum area, Atewa),
Northern Fiscal, Woodchat Shrike (1 Mole), Yellow-billed Shrike (common dry country),
African Golden Oriole (a few Mole), Western Black-headed Oriole (sparse southern rainforests),
Black-winged Oriole (common southern rainforests),
Western Square-tailed (occidentalis, split from Square-tailed) Drongo (2 Mole),
Shining Drongo (a few Ankasa, Atewa),
Glossy-backed (Fork-tailed) Drongo (uncommon Mole, Shai Hills),
Fanti (Velvet-mantled) Drongo (common southern rainforests),
Blue-headed Crested-Flycatcher (sparse southern rainforests),
Red-bellied Paradise-Flycatcher (fairly common southern rainforests),
African Paradise-Flycatcher (a few Mole),
Piapiac (widespread but sparse dry country), Pied Crow,
White-necked Rockfowl (4 or 5 birds at their Bonkro cave roost was a trip highlight),
Western (Yellow-spotted) Nicator (sparse southern rainforests, more often heard),
Flappet Lark (2 Mole, 2 Shai Hills), Sun Lark (a few Mole),
Rufous-rumped Lark (1 of this difficult species Mole),
Barn Swallow, Red-chested Swallow (a few en route to Mole and Daboya),
Ethiopian Swallow, White-throated Blue Swallow (a few Pra River),
Wire-tailed Swallow (fairly common in the north),
Pied-winged Swallow (pairs Mole, Daboya),
Lesser Striped Swallow (widespread but sparse), Rufous-chested Swallow (widespread but sparse),
Mosque Swallow (a few Winneba, Brenu, Shai Hills),
Preuss’s Cliff Swallow (fairly common southern rainforests/farmbush),
House Martin (a few Mole), Square-tailed Saw-wing (a few Ankasa, Abrafo, Atewa),
Fanti Saw-wing (widespread over different habitats but sparse),
Dusky Crested-Flycatcher (a few Mole),
White-shouldered Black Tit (1 Mole),
Slender-billed Greenbul (common southern rainforests),
Golden Greenbul (a few Kakum area, Atewa),
Red-tailed Bristlebird (a few Ankasa others heard there, Abrafo, Atewa),
Green-tailed Bristlebird (1 Ankasa, others heard),
Grey-headed Bristlebird (singles Ankasa, Antikwaa but heard often southern rainforests/farmbush),
Simple Leaflove (Greenbul) (a few Brenu, Opra, Atewa),
Honeyguide Greenbul (a few Bonkro, Atewa), Yellow-throated Greenbul (1 Mole),
Spotted Greenbul (small numbers Kakum area, Ankasa),
Swamp Palm Bulbul (widespread but sparse dry country),
Red-tailed Greenbul (uncommon but widespread southern rainforests),
Western Bearded Greenbul (fairly common in southern rainforest flocks),
Yellow-bearded Greenbul (uncommon in southern rainforest flocks),
Grey Greenbul (2 Abrafo), Ansorge’s Greenbul (a few Abrafo, Ankasa),
Plain Greenbul (1 Abrafo), Yellow-whiskered Greenbul (2 Atewa),
Little Greenbul (common southern rainforests),
Icterine Greenbul (uncommon in southern rainforest flocks),
White-throated Greenbul [H] 1 Atewa, Common Bulbul,
Green Crombec (common southern rainforests),
Lemon-bellied Crombec (fairly common southern rainforests), Northern Crombec (2 Mole), Moustached Grass Warbler (a few Mole),
Kemp’s Longbill (2 Antikwaaa; heard Bonkro, Atewa),
Grey Longbill (uncommon southern rainforests/farmbush),
Chestnut-capped Flycatcher (scarce southern rainforests),
Willow Warbler, Wood Warbler, Greater Swamp Warbledr (1 Sakamona),
Little Rush Warbler (1 Sakamona),
Black-capped Apalis (2 Atewa), Yellow-breasted Apalis (a few Mole),
Sharpe’s Apalis (widespread but scarce southern rainforests),
Grey-backed Cameroptera, Yellow-browed Cameroptera (uncommon southern rainforests),
Olive-green Cameroptera (scarce southern rainforests),
Red-faced Cisticola (widespread dry country/farmbush),
Singing Cisticola (widespread but uncommon), Whistling Cisticola (2 Atewa farmbush),
Rock-loving Cisticola (2 Mole), Dorst’s Cisticola (2 Mole),
Croaking Cisticola (2 Shai Hills, 1 Sakamona), Rufous Cisticola (4 Mole),
Zitting Cisticola (a few Winneba, Sakamona),
Black-backed Cisticola (several Daboya),
Oriole Warbler (uncommon at several sites dry country/farmbush),
Tawny-flanked Prinia, Red-winged Prinia (2 Brenu),
Senegal Eremomela (uncommon Mole, Shai Hills),
Rufous-crowned Eremomela (2 Kakum canopy),
Green Hylia (common southern rainforests), Tit-Hylia (uncommon southern rainforests),
(Northern) Yellow White-eye (widespread but sparse),
Blackcap Illadopsis (1 Abrafo, heard Ankasa, Atewa),
Rufous-winged Illadopsis (1 Ankasa, others heard),
Puvel’s Illadopsis (fairly common southern farmbush though hard to see),
Pale-breasted Illadopsis (1 Ankasa, 1 Bonkro; others heard),
Brown Illadopsis (gularis subsp 1 Ankasa, 1 Atewa; others heard),
Blackcap Babbler (common Mole, Shai Hills), Brown Babbler (common Legano, Winneba),
Violet-backed Hyliota (1 Bobiri, 1 Atewa),
Northern Black Flycatcher (common Mole), Spotted Flycatcher,
African (Fraser’s) Forest Flycatcher (a few Ankasa, Bobiri, Atewa),
White-browed Forest Flycatcher (1 en route to Ankasa),
Gambaga Flycatcher (2 Mole), Ussher’s Flycatchert (common southern rainforests),
Swamp Flycatcher (1 Mole), Olivaceous Flycatcher (1 Bobiri),
Little (Grey) Flycatcher (1 Opra, 2 Atewa), Dusky-blue Flycatcher (a few Kakum area, Atewa),
Tessmann’s Flycatcher (1 Bolbiri, 1 Bonkro),
Cassin’s Flycatcher (common Ankasa), Ashy Flycatcher (2 Bolbiri),
Grey-throated Tit-Flycatcher (1 Ankasa, 1 Abrafo),
Grey Tit-Flycatcher (Lead-coloured Flycatcher) (1 Opra),
White-tailed Alethe (common southern rainforests but hard to see),
Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat (widespread but sparse dry country),
White-crowned Robin-Chat (2 Mole),
Forest Robin (erythrothorax: 1 Ankasa, others heard; inexpectatus: 1 below Kakum canoy, others heard Kakum area, Atewa),
European Pied Flycatcher, Whinchat (2 Mole), Familiar Chat (1 Mole),
White-fronted Black Chat (3 Mole),
White-crowned (Mocking) Cliff-Chat (1 Shai Hills),
Finsch’s Flycatcher Thrush (Finsch’s Rufous Thrush) (sparse southern rainforests, hard to see),
White-tailed Ant-thrush (1 Abrapo, heard Ankasa), African Thrush,
Lesser Blue-eared Glossy Starling (sparse in dry north),
Splendid Glossy Starling (widespread), Purple Glossy Startling (widespread dry country),
Long-tailed Glossy Starling (a few Mole),
Copper-tailed Starling (a few Ankasa, Bobiri, Atewa),
Violet-backed Starling (a few Mole), Chestnut-winged Starling (uncommon southern rainforests),
Yellow-billed Oxpecker (2 en route to Daboya),
Fraser’s Sunbird (uncommon southern rainforests), Brown (Mangrove) Sunbird (1 Winneba),
Western Violet-backed Sunbird (a few Mole), Collared Sunbired (widespread),
Little Green Sunbird (fairly common southern rainforests),
Yellow-chinned (split from Green) Sunbird (1 Kakum canopy, 1 Bonkro, 1 Atewa),
Pygmy Sunbird (a few Mole), Reichenbach’s Sunbird (1 en route to Ankasa),
Green-headed Sunbird (widespread but sparse),
Blue-throated Brown Sunbird (uncommon southern rainforests),
Olive (Eastern Olive) Sunbird (common southern rainforests),
Buff-throated Sunbird (a few Kakum area, Bonkro),
Scarlet-chested Sunbird (common Mole), Olive-bellied Sunbird (widespread, common),
Tiny Sunbird (1 Bonkro, 1 Bobiri),
Beautiful Sunbird (common Mole), Splendid Sunbird (widespread),
Johanna’s Sunbird (fairly common southern rainforests), Superb Sunbird (widespread but sparse),
Copper Sunbird (widespread but sparse),
Western Yellow Wagtail, African Pied Wagtail, Plain-backed Pipit (2 Sakamona),
Yellow-throated Longclaw (a few Shai Hills),
Gosling’s Bunting (1 Mole),
Brown-rumped Bunting (2 Mole),
Yellow-fronted Canary (a few Mole), Northern Grey-headed Sparrow,
House Sparrow, Sahel Bush Sparrow (Bush Petronia) (common in north),
Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-Weaver (a few Mole),
Red-vented Malimbe (uncommon southern rainforests), Crested Malimbe (scarce southern rainforests), Red-headed Malimbe (common southern rainforests),
Blue-billed Malimbe (sparse southern rainforests),
Little Weaver (common Mole), Village Weaver,
Olive-naped (split from Black-necked) Weaver (fairly common dry country/farmbush),
Orange Weaver (2 en route to Ankasa), Black-headed Weaver (a few Mole),
Chestnut-and-Black (split from Vieillot’s Black) Weaver (common dry country/farmbush),
Yellow-mantled Weaver (fairly common southern rainforests),
Maxwell’s Black Weaver (a few Bonkro, Bolbiri, Atewa),
Preuss’s (Golden-backed) Weaver (a few Atewa), Compact Weaver (2 Atewa farmbush),
Red-headed Quelea (small flocks in the north), Northern Red Bishop (a few Mole),
Black-winged Bishop (widespread), Yellow-crowned Bishop (a few Mole),
Grosbeak Weaver (a few Kakum area, Atewa),
Grey-headed Nigrita (uncommon southern rainforests), Chestnut-breasted Nigrita (common southern rainforests), White-breasted Nigrita (fairy common southern rainforests),
Red-fronted Antpecker (pair on nest Ankasa, calling Atewa),
Lavender Waxbill (a few Mole), Orange-cheeked Waxbill (widespread),
Black-rumped Waxbill (a few Fufulso-Damonga; heard Mole),
Western Bluebill (2 Ankasa, 2 Atewa farmbush),
Black-bellied Seedcracker (1 Brenu, 1 Atewa farmbush),
Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu (common Mole), Red-billed Firefinch (common Mole),
Bar-breasted Firefinch (widespread), Black-faced Firefinch (2 Mole),
Black-bellied Firefinch (2 Mole), Black-faced (African) Quailfinch (a few Daboya),
Bronze Mannikin, Black-and-white Mannikin,
Magpie Mannikin (a few Antwikwaa, Atewa farmbush),
Pin-tailed Wydah (widespread but sparse),
[Explanatory Paradise-Wydah, 1 bird in eclipse plumage at Mole was likely this species but cannot be distinguished from Togo Paradise-Wydah],
Wilson’s (Pale-winged) Indigobird (1 Brenu).
MAMMALS
Olive Baboon (common in the north and Shai Hills),
Patas Monkey (1 group Mole), Lowe's (Mona) Monkey (groups Ankasa, Abrafo),
Tantalus Monkey Chlorocebus tantalus (small parties Mole),
Lesser Spot-nosed Monkey (a few Legano, Abrafo, Antewa),
West African Potoo (1 Ankasa),
Thomas’s Galago (1 Abrafo, 1 Bonkro), Demidoff’s Dwarf Galago (2 Kakum area),
Straw-coloured Fruit-Bat (widespread),
Hammer-headed Fruit-Bat (Hammer Bat) (1 Abrafo, several Ankasa),
Yellow-winged Bat (Yellow-winged False-Vampire) (a few Mole),
Gambian Slit-faced Bat Nycteris gambiensis (a few Mole),
[Old World roundleaf bat Hipposideros spp (common in road culvert Ankasa, unable to identify to species level}],
African Savanna Hare (2 Mole),
Striped Ground-Squirrel (a few Mole, Brenu), Kintampo Rope Squirrel (a few Mole),
Fire-footed Rope Squirrel (sparse southern rainforests/farmbush),
African Giant Squirrel (singles Abrafo, Bobiri), Green Bush Squirrel (a few Legano, Kakum area),
Slender-tailed Squirrel (2 Atewa), Red-tailed Sun-Squirrel (2 Atewa),
Small Sun-Squirrel Heliosciurus punctatus (a few Kakum canopy),
Pel’s Anomalure (1 Kakum canopy),
Beecroft’s Anomalure (1 Bonkro),
Forest Giant Pouched (Emin’s Pouched) Rat (1 Ankasa, 1 Bonkro),
Marsh Mongoose (2 Mole), Spotted Hyaena (singles seen 3 times Mole),
Common Genet (a few Mole),
White-bellied Pangolin (an individual tracked down at Bonkro was a trip highlight),
Western Tree-Hyrax (1 Ankasa, often heard southern rainforests),
African Bush Elephant (family group frequented pool below lodge; 1 other single bull),
Common Warthog, Central Bushbuck (phaleratus, a few Mole), Maxwell’s Duiker (1 Ankasa),
Western Oribi (quadriscopa, 1 Mole), Western Kob (kob, common Mole, Shai Hills),
Western Hartebeest (major, 1 group visited lodge waterhole), Defassa Waterbuck (1 Mole).