BIRDING THE AFRICA SPECIALISTS

Senegal and Gambia

2019 Tour Report

Vinaceous Black-faced Firefi nch

Text by tour leader Michael Mills Photos by Gus Mills SUMMARY ESSENTIAL DETAILS Our first trip to and Gambia was highly successful and netted a Dates 16 Jan: Full day in the Kedougou area seeing good selection of localised and rarely-seen specials. For this private trip we Firefinch.. ran a flexible itinerary to target a small selection of tricky species. In Senegal 11-23 January 2019 17 Jan: Early departure from Kedougou. Lunch Savile's Bustard was the last African bustard for the entire party, and was at Wassadou Camp. Evening boat trip on Gambia Birding Africa Tour Report Tour Africa Birding seen well both at the Marigots and in the Kaolack area. Other Senegalese Leaders River with Adamawa Turtle Dove and Egyptian Report Tour Africa Birding Plover.. highlights included Western Red-billed Hornbill, Paradise Whydah Michael Mills assisted by Solomon Jallow in full breeding plumage, Little Grey , Mali Firefinch, Egyptian 18 Jan: Morning at Wassadou Camp, before driving to Gambia. Afternoon around Bansang with Plover and African Finfoot. Large numbers of waterbirds at Djoudj and the Participants Exclamatory Paradise Whydah in full plumage. Marigots were memorable too. Julian Francis and Gus Mills 19 Jan: Early departure from Bansang, driving to Tendaba for lunch via north bank. Afternoon at Tendaba seeing Bronze-winged Courser. Itinerary 20 Jan: Early morning on the Bateling Track seeing 11 Jan: Dakar to St Louis. Afternoon at the Marigots, Yellow , White-fronted Black Chat, hearing Savile's Bustard. Brown-rumped Bunting and Bronze-tailed Starling. 12 Jan: Morning at the Marigots seeing Savile's Then drive to Sita Joyeh/Baobab Island, stopping en Bustard. Afternoon in the N'diael, looking for route for Brown-necked Parrot. Afternoon around Kordofan . Farasuto with Spotted and White-backed Night Heron. 13 Jan: Morning in the Richard Toll area, seeing Little Grey Woodpecker and Cricket Warbler, and 21 Jan: Full day in the Sita Joyeh area, including at looking for Kordofan Lark. Afternoon in Djoudj. Pirang Forest, seeing Ahanta Francolin and Grey- headed Bristlebill.. 14 Jan: Early departure from Djoudj. Quick visit to Langue du Barberie before long drive to Kaolack, 22 Jan: Morning in the Faraba area, with superb with Savile's Bustard en route. views of Vinaceous Black-faced Firefinch. Afternoon drive to coastal Gambia, birding at Tanji. 15 Jan: Early morning at Swallow-tailed Kite roost near Kaolack. Then drive to Wassadou Camp 23 Jan: Morning at Abuko seeing Fanti Saw-wing for lunch, with en route. and Pied-winged Swallow. Afternoon drive to Kedougou. Yellow Penduline Tit

In Gambia we started off in the Bansang area with full-plumage Exclamatory Paradise Whydah, before the Tendaba area rewarded us with Bronze-winged Courser, Yellow Penduline Tit, White-fronted Black Chat and Bronze-tailed Starling. Towards the coast we tracked down Spotted Honeyguide, Vinaceous Black-faced Firefinch, Ahanta Francolin, Brown- necked Parrot, White-backed Night Heron and Grey-headed Bristlebill in Pirang area, before finishing at the coast itself with Fanti Saw-wing and Pied-winged Swallow. Mali Firefinch

2 | Senegal and Gambia 2019 Senegal and Gambia 2019 | 3 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea - Common in north- Scissor-tailed Kite Chelictinia riocourii - Distant ANNOTATED SPECIES LIST west Senegal; a few in Gambia (cinerea) views of more than 1000 near Kaolack Anatidae Phoenicopteridae Purple Heron Ardea purpurea - Several at African Harrier-Hawk Polyboroides typus - Quite Marigots and Djoudj (purpurea) a few in south-east Senegal and Gambia (pectoralis) White-faced Whistling Duck Dendrocygna Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus - Good viduata - Abundant at Djoudj; also one large flock numbers at Djoudj Great Egret Ardea alba - Several at Marigots and Palm-nut Vulture Gypohierax angolensis - Seen at in Gambia, on the north bank Djoudj, and along River in Senegal and Wassadou Camp and in Gambia Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor - Several Gambia (melanorhynchos)

Birding Africa Tour Report Tour Africa Birding Fulvous Whistling Duck Dendrocygna bicolor - hundred at Djoudj Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus - Good Report Tour Africa Birding Two seen well at Marigots Intermediate Egret Ardea intermedia - Two in numbers between Dakar and St Louis; abundant in Ciconiidae Gambia (brachyrhyncha) Gambia Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca - At least Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis - Several at 20 at Djoudj Black Heron Egretta ardesiaca - Seen at Marigots White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus - Quite a Djoudj (not seen by Julian) and a few in Gambia and Djoudj and one on the north bank in Gambia few widespread sightings in Senegal and Gambia African Pygmy Goose Nettapus auritus - At least Black Stork Ciconia nigra - At least 50 at Djoudj 10 at Marigots Little Egret Egretta garzetta - Widespread Rüppell's Vulture Gyps rueppelli - Several seen Threskiornithidae sightings (garzetta) between Dakar and St Louis (rueppelli) Garganey Spatula querquedula - Abundant at Djoudj African Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus - Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis - Common Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus - One in flight in Seen a few times at Marigots and Djoudj around St Louis and in Gambia (gularis) Gambia (fulvus) Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata - Many at Djoudj Hadada Ibis Bostrychia hagedash - A few a Scopidae Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotos - Seen in Wassadou Camp (brevirostris) flight between St Louis and Kaolack (tracheliotos) Northern Pintail Anas acuta - Numerous at Hamerkop Scopus umbretta - Seen along the Djoudj Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus - Quite a few at Gambia River in Senegal and Gambia (umbretta) Short-toed Snake Eagle Circaetus gallicus - Three Djoudj and Marigots, and also along the north seen well in the Richard-Toll area (gallicus) Numididae Pelecanidae bank in Senegal Beaudouin's Snake Eagle Circaetus beaudouini Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris - One Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus - Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia - At least - One seen by Michael and Gus on return to Dakar big flock seen at Wassadou Camp (galeatus) Good numbers in north-western Senegal 20 at Djoudj (subspecies uncertain) Brown Snake Eagle Circaetus cinereus - Quite Odontophoridae Pink-backed Pelican Pelecanus rufescens - Good African Spoonbill Platalea alba - Seen at common in Gambia and also seen in south-east numbers in north-western Senegal; also two at Stone Partridge Ptilopachus petrosus - Michael Marigots Senegal Tendaba and one at Tanji beach and Julian saw a pair superbly between Kedougou Ardeidae Western Banded Snake Eagle Circaetus and Wassadou Camp (petrosus); heard in Gambia Phalacrocoracidae cinerascens - One en route to Kedougou seen by Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus - One seen in Phasianidae Reed Cormorant Microcarbo africanus - Michael flight in the Marigots (not by Julian; subspecies Numerous in north-western Senegal and in Ahanta Francolin Pternistis ahantensis - Heard uncertain) Bateleur Terathopius ecaudatus - Seen in Gambia Gambia (africanus) and seen briefly at Farasuto Forest, then seen well and Senegal, with normal and white-backed White-backed Night Heron Gorsachius leuconotus at Pirang Forest (but not by Gus) White-breasted Cormorant Phalacrocorax lucidus seen sitting on the road in Senegal - One seen well at Farasuto Forest in Gambia - Good numbers at Djoudj; two off Tanji beach Double-spurred Francolin Pternistis bicalcaratus Long-crested Eagle Lophaetus occipitalis - One in Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax - Seen widely in Senegal and Gambia, in small Anhingidae Gambia seen briefly - Heard in the Marigots, seen at Wassadou Camp numbers (bicalcaratus) and Sita Joyeh/Baobab Island (nycticorax) African Darter Anhinga rufa - Seen by Julian at Wahlberg's Eagle Hieraaetus wahlbergi - Seen in Common Quail Coturnix coturnix - One at Djoudj; also one in Gambia (rufa) south-east Senegal and Gambia Striated Heron Butorides striata - Seen along the Djoudj and another at Kaolack (subspecies Gambia River in Senegal and Gambia (atricapilla) Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus - One pale uncertain) Pandionidae phase between St Louis and Kaolack, and one Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides - Seen in good Podicipedidae Western Osprey Pandion haliaetus - Several seen in Gambia numbers at Marigots and Djoudj, and also in in coastal areas of Senegal and Gambia (haliaetus) Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis - About 10 at Gambia Lizard Buzzard Kaupifalco monogrammicus Djoudj (capensis) Accipitridae - Seen in south-east Senegal and Gambia Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis - Widespread (monogrammicus) in Senegal and Gambia Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus - Seen a few times, both in Senegal and Gambia (caeruleus)

4 | Senegal and Gambia 2019 Senegal and Gambia 2019 | 5 Gabar Goshawk Micronisus gabar - One seen Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Jacanidae Bronze-winged Courser Rhinoptilus chalcopterus briefly near Djoudj by Michael () - Common in the Marigots; one in Gambia - Cracking views during the day at Tendaba African Jacana Actophilornis africanus - Scattered (meridionalis) Dark Chanting Goshawk Melierax metabates - A sightings in Senegal and Gambia Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola - A few couple in south-east Senegal, and rather common Gruidae near Richard-Toll (fuelleborni) Scolopacidae in Gambia (metabates) Black Crowned Crane Balearica pavonina - Laridae Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus - A few in coastal Red-chested Goshawk Accipiter toussenelii - One About 15 at Djoudj areas of Senegal and Gambia perched at Pirang Forest (macroscelides) Slender-billed Gull Chroicocephalus genei - Good

Birding Africa Tour Report Tour Africa Birding Burhinidae views at Djoudj Report Tour Africa Birding Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata - One at Shikra Accipiter badius - Several sightings in Senegal Thick-knee Burhinus senegalensis - One Langue du Barberie Gambia (sphenurus) Grey-headed Gull Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus at Djoudj and common along the Gambia River in - Common around St Louis and Tanji beach Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica - A few at Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus - Very Senegal and Gambia (poiocephalus) Langue du Barberie and one at Tanji beach common in the north-west of Senegal, less so Spotted Thick-knee Burhinus capensis - Seen at Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus - A couple of Tanji elsewhere (aeruginosus) Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa - Several at Marigots (heard only by Michael) (maculosus) beach and several at Banjul ferry (vetula) Djoudj Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus - One male Recurvirostridae Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis - One at near Richard-Toll and one between Kaolack and Ruff Calidris pugnax - Common at Djoudj Langue du Barbarie (atlantis) Wassadougou, and a female in Gambia Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea - A few a - Numerous in the north-western wetlands; also Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus - Seen Black Kite Milvus migrans - One seen on the Djoudj seen in Gambia mudflats at St Louis among the many kites which at Langue du Barberie and near Kaolack; many at Little Stint Calidris minuta - A few at Djoudj Banjul ferry may all have been this species (migrans) Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta - Quite a few at Djoudj Yellow-billed Kite Milvus aegyptius - Regular in Sanderling Calidris alba - One at Langue du Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica - Seen Barberie (alba) regularly around wetlands (nilotica) towns and villages throughout Senegal and Gambia Charadriidae (parasitus) Dunlin Calidris alpina - Quite a few at Djoudj Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia - Seen at Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus - Seen Djoudj and Tanji beach African Fish Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer - A small throughout Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago - One at number seen in Senegal and Gambia Djoudj Royal Tern Thalasseus maximus - Seen at Tanji Black-headed Lapwing Vanellus tectus - Seen beach (albididorsalis) Grasshopper Buzzard Butastur rufipennis - One at Richard-Toll and Kaolack; also near Banjul in Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos - A few en route to Kedougou Gambia (tectus) scattered sightings Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bengalensis - One at Tanji beach (emigratus) Otididae African Wattled Lapwing Vanellus senegallus - Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus - A few Seen near Kedougou and in Gambia (senegallus) Savile's Bustard Lophotis savilei - One seen well scattered sightings Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis - Seen in north-west Senegal and at Banjul ferry at Marigots and one seen very well near Kaolack Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola - One at Langue Common Redshank Tringa totanus - A few at du Barberie (squatarola) Heliornithidae Djoudj and one at Sita Joyeh Common Tern Sterna hirundo - A couple at Banjul ferry (hirundo) Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula - African Finfoot Podica senegalensis - Incredible Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis - Several at Seen along the coast in Senegal and Gambia views of a female eating on the bank at Wassadou Djoudj Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida - A few at Djoudj (hybrida) Camp (senegalensis) Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius - Gus Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola - A few photographed one at Djoudj Rallidae scattered sightings Stercorariidae Kittlitz's Plover Charadrius pecuarius - Quite a Black Crake Amaurornis flavirostra - Common in Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus - One at Pomarine Jaeger Stercorarius pomarinus - One at few at Djoudj the Marigots and Djoudj; also seen in Gambia Djoudj Banjul ferry Pluvianidae African Swamphen Porphyrio madagascariensis Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia - A few Parasitic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus - Several scattered sightings at Banjul ferry - Common in the Marigots Egyptian Plover Pluvianus aegyptius - Two seen very well at Wassadou Camp Allen's Gallinule Porphyrio alleni - Good views Glareolidae Pteroclidae of one at the Marigots Temminck's Courser Cursorius temminckii - One Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles exustus - near Djoudj (temminckii) Quite a few in the Richard-Toll area and one flock in Gambia (exustus)

6 | Senegal and Gambia 2019 Senegal and Gambia 2019 | 7 Four-banded Sandgrouse Pterocles quadricinctus Violet Turaco Musophaga violacea - Seen at African Palm Swift Cypsiurus parvus - Common Red-throated Bee-eater Merops bulocki - Seen at - A few seen at night, briefly, at Wassadou Camp, Wassadou, Pirang Forest, Tanji and Abuko and widespread (parvus) Wassadougou and Bansang (bulocki) and two flushed in the day at Bateling near Western Plantain-eater Crinifer piscator - Little Swift Apus affinis - Seen a few times in Tendaba Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis - Seen near Widespread sightings Senegal and at Banjul in Gambia (aerobates) Richard-Toll and near Mbacke (viridissimus) Cuculidae Coliidae Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops persicus - A few Feral Pigeon Columba livia - Seen around towns at the Marigots and Tanji (chrysocercus) Senegal Coucal Centropus senegalensis - Seen Blue-naped Mousebird Urocolius macrourus - and villages

Birding Africa Tour Report Tour Africa Birding a few times in Senegal; common in in Gambia Several widespread sightings (macrourus) European Bee-eater Merops apiaster - Seen at Report Tour Africa Birding Speckled Pigeon Columba - Common and (senegalensis) Tendaba Coraciidae widespread (guinea) Klaas's Cuckoo Chrysococcyx klaas - Two males Northern Carmine Bee-eater Merops nubicus - Purple Roller Coracias naevius - Several turtur - One at Wassadou Camp Seen at Wassadou Camp widespread sightings in Senegal and Gambia near Mbacke Tytonidae (naevius) Upupidae Adamawa Turtle Dove Streptopelia hypopyrrha - Western Barn Owl Tyto alba - Grown chicks seen Abyssinian Roller Coracias abyssinicus - Heard near Kedougou and good views at Wassadou Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops - Fairly common at the nest at Djoudj (affinis) Common and widespread Camp and widespread; epops at Richard Toll, senegalensis in Gambia Strigidae Blue-bellied Roller Coracias cyanogaster - Seen at African Collared Dove Streptopelia roseogrisea Wassadou Camp and in Gambia Phoeniculidae - Seen once near Richard-Toll and once at Mbacke African Scops Owl Otus senegalensis - Brilliant (roseogrisea) views for Michael and Julian at Sita Joyeh Broad-billed Roller Eurystomus glaucurus - Seen Green Wood Hoopoe Phoeniculus purpureus - (senegalensis) at Wassadou Camp and Tanji (afer) Mourning Collared Dove Streptopelia decipiens Widespread sightings (senegalensis) - Seen near Richard-Toll and common along the Northern White-faced Owl Ptilopsis leucotis - Alcedinidae Bucerotidae Gambia River (shelleyi) One on a day roost near Farasuto Forest Striped Kingfisher Halcyon chelicuti - Seen near Western Red-billed Hornbill Tockus kempi - Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata - Seen Greyish Eagle-Owl Bubo cinerascens - One on a Richard-Toll by Michael and at Tendaba by all Several very good sightings; widespread in south-east Senegal and in Gambia day roost near Farasuto Forest (chelicuti) African Pied Hornbill Lophoceros fasciatus - Vinaceous Dove Streptopelia vinacea - Numerous Verreaux's Eagle-Owl Bubo lacteus - Good views Blue-breasted Kingfisher Halcyon malimbica Four at Sita Joyeh (semifasciatus) throughout of one near Kaolack - Seen at Kedougou, Wassadou Camp and in African Grey Hornbill Lophoceros nasutus - Seen Gambia (torquata) Laughing Dove senegalensis - Common African Wood Owl Strix woodfordii - One on a widely in southern Senegal and Gambia (nasutus) throughout (senegalensis) day roost in Farasuto Forest (nuchalis) Woodland Kingfisher Halcyon senegalensis - One Lybiidae at Wassadou Camp (senegalensis) Black-billed Wood Dove Turtur abyssinicus - A Pearl-spotted Owlet Glaucidium perlatum - Seen Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus chrysoconus few scattered sightings in Senegal; many drinking at Kedougou and in Gambia (perlatum) Malachite Kingfisher Corythornis cristatus - Seen - Heard a couple of times in Senegal and seen well at hides in Gambia at Djoudj, heard in Gambia (galeritus) Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus - One flushed in Gambia (chrysoconus) Blue-spotted Wood Dove Turtur afer - Seen several times at Marigots (flammeus) Shining-blue Kingfisher Alcedo quadribrachys Vieillot's Barbet Lybius vieilloti - Several good in coastal Gambia, including drinking alongside - Very brief views at Wassadou Camp Caprimulgidae sightings (rubescens) Black-billed Wood Dove (quadribrachys) Long-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus climacurus - Bearded Barbet Lybius dubius - First seen Namaqua Dove Oena capensis - Common and Giant Kingfisher Megaceryle maxima - Seen at Seen at Marigots and Kaolack (climacurus) between Kaolack and Wassadougou, and again in widespread (capensis) Wassadou Camp, heard in Gambia (maxima) southern Senegal and Gambia Standard-winged Nightjar Caprimulgus Bruce's Green Pigeon Treron waalia - Seen in Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis - Seen regularly longipennis - Male and female roosting near Indicatoridae flight near Kaolack and a few times in Gambia around wetlands (rudis) Farasuto Forest Lesser Honeyguide minor - One in African Green Pigeon Treron calvus - Julian saw Meropidae then once in Gambia (nudirostris) Apodidae Gambia and one at Wassadou Camp in Senegal Swallow-tailed Bee-eater Merops hirundineus - (senegalensis) Mottled Spinetail Telacanthura ussheri - Seen Musophagidae Seen at Tanji and Abuko (chrysolaimus) distantly near Mbacke (ussheri) Spotted Honeyguide Indicator maculatus - Guinea Turaco Tauraco persa - Superb views at Little Bee-eater Merops pusillus - Common in the Incredible views of one drinking near Farasuto Pirang Forest; heard at Abuko (buffoni) Marigots; also in Gambia (pusillus) Forest, on two days (maculatus)

8 | Senegal and Gambia 2019 Senegal and Gambia 2019 | 9 Greater Honeyguide Indicator indicator - Quite Platysteiridae African Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis - Red-tailed Leaflove Phyllastrephus scandens - a few drinking near Farasuto Forest and also at Seen in southern Senegal and Gambia (viridis) Heard in Senegal and Gambia (scandens) Senegal Batis Batis senegalensis - Seen a few times Wassadou Camp Corvidae Grey-headed Bristlebill Bleda canicapillus - Brown-throated Wattle-eye Platysteira cyanea - Picidae Incredible views at Pirang Forest (morelorum) Seen a few times (cyanea) Piapiac Ptilostomus afer - Seen at Wassadou Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla - One seen at Camp and in Gambia Hirundinidae Malaconotidae Marigots and one briefly in Gambia Pied Crow Corvus albus - Widespread Fanti Saw-wing Psalidoprocne obscura - One at Grey-headed Bushshrike Malaconotus blanchoti Birding Africa Tour Report Tour Africa Birding Fine-spotted Woodpecker Campethera Tanji, quite a few at Abuko Report Tour Africa Birding - Seen at Wassadou Camp, heard in Gambia punctuligera - Seen in southern Senegal and (blanchoti) Sand Martin Riparia riparia - Very common at St Gambia (punctuligera) African Blue Flycatcher longicauda - Louis and Djoudj (riparia) Orange-breasted Bushshrike Chlorophoneus Seen at Kedougou (longicauda) Golden-tailed Woodpecker Campethera abingoni sulfureopectus - Seen near Kedougou Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica - Richard Toll - Brief views at Sita Joyeh (chrysura) Paridae (sulfureopectus) Red-chested Swallow Hirundo lucida - Regular in Little Grey Woodpecker elachus - White-shouldered Black Tit Melaniparus Black-crowned Tchagra Tchagra senegalus - A the north-west and Gambia (lucida) Fantastic views of a pair at Richard-Toll guineensis - Seen at Bateling/Tendaba few sightings in Senegal and Gambia (senegalus) Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii - Seen in Cardinal Woodpecker Dendropicos fuscescens - Remizidae Northern Puffback Dryoscopus gambensis - Seen Seen at Kedougou and in Gambia (lafresnayi) both Senegal and Gambia (smithii) in southern Senegal and Gambia (gambensis) Yellow Penduline Tit parvulus - Pied-winged Swallow Hirundo leucosoma - Good African Grey Woodpecker Dendropicos goertae Seen well at Bateling near Tendaba Yellow-crowned Gonolek Laniarius barbarus - - A few good sightings in Senegal and Gambia flight views of one at Abuko Seen in southern Senegal and Gambia (barbarus) Alaudidae (goertae) West African Swallow Cecropis domicella - Seen Brubru Nilaus afer - A pair seen at Richard Toll Falconidae Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark Eremopterix well (perched) at Kaur in Gambia (afer) and heard in Gambia nigriceps - Quite common in northern Senegal Macrosphenidae Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni - Good numbers (albifrons) Vangidae near Richard-Toll Moustached Grass Warbler Melocichla mentalis Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark Eremopterix White-crested Helmetshrike Prionops plumatus - - Heard near Kedougou Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus - Seen a few leucotis - Seen in Gambia and Senegal Seen in southern Senegal and Gambia (plumatus) times in the north-west of Senegal; one in Gambia (melanocephalus) Northern Crombec Sylvietta brachyura - Laniidae Several seen in Senegal and a couple in Gambia Grey Kestrel Falco ardosiaceus - Seen in Senegal Singing Bush Lark cantillans - Seen near (brachyura) and Gambia Yellow-billed Shrike Corvinella corvina - Several Richard Toll and Kaolack (chadensis) widespread sightings (corvina) Incertae Sedis Red-necked Falcon Falco chicquera - Seen in Sun Lark Galerida modesta - Brief views east of Senegal and Gambia (ruficollis) Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor - Quite a few Kedougou (nigrita) Green Hylia Hylia prasina - Seen at Pirang Forest in northern Senegal (leucopygos) (prasina) Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus - Seen in Senegal Galerida cristata - Many in and Gambia (abyssinicus) Oriolidae northern Senegal, one at Tanji (senegallensis) Phylloscopidae Psittacidae African Golden Oriole Oriolus auratus - Seen at Greater Short-toed Lark Calandrella Western Bonelli's Warbler Phylloscopus bonelli Tendaba/Bateling (auratus) brachydactyla - Seen in the Kaolack area Brown-necked Parrot Poicephalus fuscicollis - - Several in the Richard Toll area and a few in Gambia About 12 near Pirang; very good views (fuscicollis) Dicruridae Pycnonotidae Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus - One at Senegal Parrot Poicephalus senegalus - Seen many Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis - Common Bulbul Pycnonotus barbatus - Wassadou Camp times (senegalus) Widespread sightings (divaricatus) Widespread (inornatus) Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita - Psittaculidae Monarchidae Little Greenbul Eurillas virens - Seen at Farasuto Several in Djoudj, although we could not rule out Forest (erythroptera) Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri - Seen Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone Iberian Chiffchaff and none were heard a few times in Senegal and many times in Gambia rufiventer - Seen at Farasuto and Pirang Forest Yellow-throated Leaflove Atimastillas flavicollis (krameri) (rufiventer) - Seen at Bansang (flavicollis)

10 | Senegal and Gambia 2019 Senegal and Gambia 2019 | 11 Acrocephalidae Yellow-bellied Eremomela Turdidae Nectariniidae icteropygialis - Several in northern Senegal Greater Swamp Warbler Acrocephalus rufescens African Thrush Turdus pelios - Seen a few times Western Violet-backed Sunbird Anthreptes (alexanderi) - Heard at Marigots in coastal Gambia (chiguancoides) longuemarei - A pair seen at Wassadou Camp Senegal Eremomela Eremomela pusilla - (longuemarei) Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus - Muscicapidae Widespread Several in the Marigots and a couple near Abuko Collared Sunbird Hedydipna collaris - Heard at Black Cercotrichas podobe - Some Leiothrichidae Wassadou Camp Eurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus - good views in the north-west of Senegal

Birding Africa Tour Report Tour Africa Birding Several at Djoudj sounded like this and not African Fulvous Babbler fulva - One seen near Pygmy Sunbird Hedydipna platura - Seen in Report Tour Africa Birding Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin Cercotrichas galactotes Reed (based on contact calls) Richard Toll (buchanani) Senegal and Gambia - Seen at Djoudj (minor) Western Olivaceous Warbler Iduna opaca Blackcap Babbler Turdoides reinwardtii - Seen in Green-headed Sunbird Cyanomitra verticalis - Grey Tit-Flycatcher Myioparus plumbeus - Heard - Several widespread sightings in Senegal and southern Senegal and Gambia (reinwardtii) One juvenile seen drinking near Farasuto Forest in southern Senegal Gambia (verticalis) Brown Babbler Turdoides plebejus - Seen in Northern Black Flycatcher Melaenornis Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta - One southern Senegal and Gambia (platycirca) Scarlet-chested Sunbird Chalcomitra senegalensis edolioides - Seen in southern Senegal and Gambia near Farasuto Forest, one at Tanji - Seen in Senegal and Gambia (senegalensis) Sylviidae (edolioides) Beautiful Sunbird Cinnyris pulchellus - Seen in Western Orphean Warbler Sylvia hortensis - Swamp Flycatcher aquatica - Seen Senegal and Gambia (pulchellus) Singing Cisticola Cisticola cantans - Seen near Richard Toll area (horternsis) along the Gambia River in Senegal and Gambia Kedougou; heard in Gambia (swanzii) (aquatica) Splendid Sunbird Cinnyris coccinigastrus - Good Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis - One in views in coastal Gambia Winding Cisticola Cisticola marginatus - Seen in the Kaolack area Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat Cossypha niveicapilla the Marigots (amphilectus) - Seen well at Abuko Variable Sunbird Cinnyris venustus - Good views Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans - Several in in coastal Gambia (venustus) Short-winged Cisticola Cisticola brachypterus - the Richard Toll area (inornata or iberiae) White-crowned Robin-Chat Cossypha albicapillus Seen near Kedougou and Tendaba (brachypterus) - Excellent views in Gambia, and also in Senegal Passeridae Zosteropidae (albicapillus) Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis - Seen at House Sparrow Passer domesticus - Seen in African Yellow White-eye Zosterops senegalensis Djoudj (uropygialis) Common Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos - coastal Senegal and in Gambia - Seen in southern Senegal (senegalensis) Heard at Tanji Desert Cisticola Cisticola aridulus - Seen near Northern Grey-headed Sparrow Passer griseus - Sturnidae Richard Toll (aridulus) European Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca - Widespread and common (griseus) Greater Blue-eared Starling Lamprotornis Seen at Kedougou and Wassadou Camp Tawny-flanked Prinia subflava - Seen in Golden Sparrow Passer luteus - Great chalybaeus - Seen in Senegal (chalybaeus) Senegal and Gambia (subflava) Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus - views in northern Senegal Lesser Blue-eared Starling Lamprotornis Seen in Gambia (phoenicurus) River Prinia Prinia fluviatilis - Seen well at Bush Petronia Gymnoris dentata - Common in chloropterus - Seen at Tendaba Marigots and Djoudj Common Rock Thrush Monticola saxatilis - One southern Senegal and Gambia Bronze-tailed Starling Lamprotornis chalcurus - female seen at Richard Toll Red-winged Warbler Heliolais erythropterus - Ploceidae One seen very well at Tendaba/Bateling (chalcurus) Nice views at Tendaba/Bateling (erythropterus) White-crowned Cliff Chat Thamnolaea coronata White-billed Buffalo Weaver Bubalornis albirostris Purple Starling Lamprotornis purpureus - - Michael saw one briefly near Kedougou Cricket Warbler Spiloptila clamans - Great views - Widespread and common Common in southern Senegal and Gambia (bambarae) at Richard Toll Speckle-fronted Weaver Sporopipes frontalis - Long-tailed Glossy Starling Lamprotornis Anteater Chat Myrmecocichla aethiops - Seen in Yellow-breasted Apalis Apalis flavida - Seen at Seen at Richard Toll (frontalis) caudatus - Common and widespread Senegal and Gambia Pirang Forest (caniceps) Little Weaver Ploceus luteolus - Seen a few times Neumann's Starling Onychognathus neumanni Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe - Several Oriole Warbler Hypergerus atriceps - Seen at in Senegal and Gambia (luteolus) - Brief views in the Kedougou area for Michael in northern Senegal, including a full plumage male Abuko, heard elsewhere (modicus) Black-necked Weaver Ploceus nigricollis - Seen in White-fronted Black Chat Oenanthe albifrons - Grey-backed Camaroptera Camaroptera coastal Gambia (brachypterus) Buphagidae One at Tendaba/Bateling (frontalis) brevicaudata - Seen in Senegal and Gambia Heuglin's Masked Weaver Ploceus heuglini - A (brevicaudata) Yellow-billed Oxpecker Buphagus africanus - Familiar Chat Oenanthe familiaris - Michael saw few seen at Tanji Seen in Gambia (africanus) some at Kedougou (falkensteini)

12 | Senegal and Gambia 2019 Senegal and Gambia 2019 | 13 Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus - Seen in African Silverbill Euodice cantans - Seen in Senegal and Gambia (cucullatus) northern Senegal and one in Gambia (cantans) Black-headed Weaver Ploceus melanocephalus - Bronze Mannikin Lonchura cucullata - Seen in Senegal and Gambia (melanocephalus) Widespread sightings (cucullata) Red-headed Weaver Anaplectes rubriceps - One female seen near Kedougou (leuconotos) chalybeata -

Birding Africa Tour Report Tour Africa Birding Red-billed Quelea Quelea quelea - Seen in Widespread sightings (chalybeata) Report Tour Africa Birding Senegal and Gambia (quelea) Sahel Paradise Whydah Vidua orientalis - Two Black-winged Red Bishop Euplectes hordeaceus - cracking males seen between Kaolack and A couple seen drinking in Gambia (hordeaceus) Wassadou Camp (aucupum) Northern Red Bishop Euplectes franciscanus Exclamatory Paradise Whydah Vidua interjecta - - Common in north-west Senegal and Gambia Excellent views at Bansang, one male with a full tail (franciscanus) Motacillidae Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava - Seen in Cut-throat Finch Amadina fasciata - Seen in coastal Senegal and Gambia Senegal and Gambia (fasciata) White Wagtail Motacilla alba - Seen in coastal Western Spermophaga haematina - Senegal and Gambia (alba) Glimpses at Abuko (haematina) African Pied Wagtail Motacilla aguimp - Seen at Red-billed Firefinch Lagonosticta senegala - Wassadou Camp (vidua) Common and widespread (senegala) Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris - Seen in the Mali Firefinch Lagonosticta virata - Four seen Richard Toll area well near Kedougou Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis - One seen near Pirang Black-faced Firefinch Lagonosticta larvata - (trivialis) Cracking views at the drinking hide on the Faraba- Fringillidae Banta track; both female and male seen (vinacea) White-rumped Seedeater Crithagra leucopygia - Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu Uraeginthus bengalus Seen in northern Senegal (riggenbachi) - Common and widespread (bengalus) Yellow-fronted Canary Crithagra mozambica - Lavender Waxbill Estrilda caerulescens - Seen Seen in southern Senegal and Gambia (caniceps) well in southern Senegal and Gambia Emberizidae Orange-cheeked Waxbill Estrilda melpoda - Seen well in southern Senegal and Gambia (melpoda) Gosling's Bunting Emberiza goslingi - Good views at Bansang Black-rumped Waxbill Estrilda troglodytes - Seen well in southern Senegal and Gambia Brown-rumped Bunting Emberiza affinis - Good views at Tendaba/Bateling (nigeriae) Quailfinch Ortygospiza atricollis - Several flew over at Bansang but were no more than specks (ansorgei)

Bronze-winged Courser, finally!

14 | Senegal and Gambia 2019 Senegal and Gambia 2019 | 15 Ducks at Djoudj Birding Africa Tour Report Tour Africa Birding Report Tour Africa Birding

Spotted Honeyguide Brown-necked Parrot

Western Red-billed Hornbill

Egyptian Plover

16 | Senegal and Gambia 2019 Senegal and Gambia 2019 | 17 Rose-ringed Parakeet Birding Africa Tour Report Tour Africa Birding Report Tour Africa Birding

Little Grey Woodpecker Greyish Eagle-Owl Green Turaco

Black-necked Weaver

Western Red Colobus Orange-cheeked Waxbill

18 | Senegal and Gambia 2019 Senegal and Gambia 2019 | 19 Birding Africa Tour Report Tour Africa Birding Report Tour Africa Birding

Sahel Paradise Whydah Swamp Flycatcher Black-billed Wood Dove

Violet Turaco

Grey-headed Bristlebill White-crowned Robin-Chat

20 | Senegal and Gambia 2019 Senegal and Gambia 2019 | 21