Ghana – Picathartes

Naturetrek Tour Report 23 November - 1 December 2014

Black Bee-eater White-necked Rockfowl (Picathartes)

Kakum NP Western Black-headed Oriole

Report kindly compiled by tour participant Graham Dennis Images courtesy of Mike Watson

Naturetrek Mingledown Barn Wolf's Lane Chawton Alton Hampshire GU34 3HJ England T: +44 (0)1962 733051 F: +44 (0)1962 736426 E: [email protected] W: www.naturetrek.co.uk

Tour Report Ghana – Picathartes

Tour Leaders: Emmanuel Budu Mensah Philip

Participants: Graham Dennis Richard Palmer Jane Palmer Steve Berry Alain Rouge Keon Job Andy Botterill Mike Watson

Day 1 Saturday 23rd November

We arrived on schedule at Accra about 8.30pm, and after negotiating the rather long queue for immigration we met up with our leaders and other participants, and boarded the bus for the Alexis Hotel. This trip took nearly an hour and by the time we had booked in, most of us simply went to bed to prepare for an early start.

Day 2 Sunday 24th November

Shai Hills, Sakumona Lagoon and Winneba Plains After an early breakfast we were all looking forward to our first birding in Ghana. We had a relatively short drive to the Shai Hills Resource Reserve and were soon acquainting ourselves with some of the common residents. Not far into a walk and we started to see some of the more notable species; Levaillant’s Cuckoo was seen well by everyone, followed by Violet Turaco, Croaking Cisticola, lots of Violet-backed Starlings, Northern Black, Pale and Spotted Flycatchers, White-shouldered Black Tit, African Grey Woodpecker, Veillot’s and Bearded Barbets, White-throated Bee-eater, Green Wood Hoopoe, a group of Senegal Parrots, and our only Quailfiches of the trip. A little further on, we were close to an impressive rock outcrop where two Lanner Falcons were roosting and many Stone Partridges were calling. We tried calling them out at several points and eventually some of us caught a glimpse of them running through a slightly less dense area of scrub. There was also Cliff Chat on the rocks. Back on the bus, on our return drive we had wonderful views of a Red-necked Buzzard.

We went back to the hotel for lunch and a rest, then about 3pm we set off for Sakumona Lagoon. We stopped alongside the busy road and crossed a railway line to a good viewpoint where we were able to see an array of wetland birds. These included White-faced Whistling Duck, three species of egret, Squacco Heron, African Jacana, around 40 Collared Pratincoles, Marsh Sandpiper, Pied Kingfisher, Marsh Harrier and Black-winged Kite. On the other side of the road was the Gulf of Guinea where several Sandwich Terns were feeding.

Next we drove on to Winneba Plains, an area of savannah, where we walked along the road. The sky was getting very black with an approaching thunder storm but we were able to see Yellow-crowned Gonolek, two Vinaceous Doves - our only ones of the trip, heard Guinea Turaco, and saw Brown Babbler and Double-spurred Francolin before we had to retreat to the bus as it started to rain heavily. We made our way back to the Rainforest Lodge Hotel on the doorstep of Kakum National Park.

Ghana – Picathartes Tour Report

Day 3 Monday 25th November

Kakum National Park We had an early start and following a short drive to the National Park Visitor Centre we walked a short trail to the canopy walkway. This is an amazing facility, popular with both tourists and birders alike. We had the run of it for about 3 ½ hours as tourists have to wait till 10am. There are six platforms with excellent views over the forest, ideal for spotting birds of the canopy. The platforms were a little cramped for a group of our size but most of us were able to get views of all the birds seen. Highlights here were Black Cuckoo, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Fire-bellied and Little Green Woodpeckers, Sabine’s Puffback, Grey Parrot, Yellow-billed Turaco, Forest Wood Hoopoe, White-crested Hornbill, Violet-backed Hyliota and Little Green, Blue-throated Brown, Buff- throated and Copper Sunbirds. Time passed far too quickly before we headed back to the hotel for lunch and a welcome rest. In the hotel grounds were Bronze Mannikin, African Pied Wagtail, Bar-breasted Firefinch and Pin- tailed Whydah.

It rained heavily during the early afternoon but miraculously stopped by 3pm when we set off for the forest again, this time walking a short way from the road where we quickly located a Rufous-sided Broadbill that put on a splendid display and was certainly my bird of the day. We spent some time trying to coax out a White-spotted Flufftail from some very dense vegetation and eventually some of the group had very brief glimpses. Forest Robin was also heard but could not be persuaded to show itself. Back at the road we saw several Ussher’s Flycatchers on some dead treetops, and a fly-by Red-fronted Parrot before it was too dark to continue birding. On the way back we stopped at the National Park Visitor Centre for owls and eventually we saw a large owl on top of some bamboo, identified by Emmanuel as Fraser’s Eagle Owl.

Back at the hotel we met for pre-dinner drinks and discussed the owl, remarking on the large yellow eyes, a feature of Akun Eagle Owl, not Fraser’s. Emmanuel admitted that he hadn’t used his binoculars to look at the owl as he was using his flashlight to show it to us, and he agreed that it was Akun Eagle Owl, a species much harder to see. We were all very happy at dinner.

Day 4 Tuesday 26th November

Kakum National Park, Twifo Praso After another early start we stopped at a site for Flufftail for those that hadn’t seen it yesterday. A couple were heard calling but not seen, however a bonus was a Blue-billed Malimbe. We then walked through some farm bush seeing Palm-nut Vulture, African Cuckoo Hawk, Tambourine Dove, Red-fronted Parrot, some splendid Black Bee-eaters, Speckled Tinkerbird, Naked-faced Barbet, Swamp Palm Bulbul, and Little, Little Grey, Plain and Slender-billed Greenbuls. We heard Kemp’s Longbill and saw Grey Longbill and Yellow-browed Camaropteras in the same tree. Also here were Black and White Flycatcher, Dusky-blue Flycatcher, Tit Hylia, Copper-tailed Glossy Starling and Veillot’s Black Weaver. Walking back the way we had come it was much warmer with lots of colourful butterflies including Blue Pansy and Citrus Swallowtail, some dragonflies and a praying mantis.

We then made our way to Twifo Praso stopping en route at another Flufftail site without success. At Twifo there is a large river with emergent rocks and some new birds were three Rock Pratincole sitting on the rocks, several

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Ghana – Picathartes Tour Report

White-bibbed Swallows seen flying and perched, two Senegal Thick-knees, and Malachite and Pigmy Kingfishers. We had lunch back at the hotel where were joined by some Bronze Mannikins in the restaurant.

In the afternoon we visited forest and farm bush near the National Park. The forest was very quiet but the farm bush was better with Yellow-billed Turaco, Grey-headed Nigrita and Ussher’s Flycatcher. The track to the forest provided good views of hirundines perched on wires with some lovely Lesser Striped Swallows and a single House Martin.

Driving back along the track after dark we saw a Long-tailed Nightjar on the track, but as luck would have it another vehicle appeared and the nightjar flew off. A little further along we heard Black-shouldered Nightjar.

Day 5 Wednesday 27th November

Bekawomga Forest, Bakanu Lagoon and Brenu Beach Road Bekawomga Forest was the area we had visited the previous afternoon, and we got there early in the hope of better luck. This time we walked the farm bush track and saw Black-and white Mannikin, Black-winged Red Bishop, Whistling Cisticola, Red-tailed Greenbul and Red-rumped Tinkerbird. We then entered some dense bushes to look for some ‘skulkers’. We heard a Blue-shouldered Robin-chat but, frustratingly, it only revealed itself very briefly and only Peter saw it. Chestnut Wattle-eyes and Red-cheeked Wattle-eyes were also seen here. A single Piping Hornbill and an African Cuckoo Hawk flew over the track before we reached the forest. At first this was again very quiet and we feared the worst but suddenly a mixed flock appeared and we were rewarded with some very tricky birding as we tried to see the numerous species present, craning our necks to see into the canopy. Species here included Yellow-bearded, Icterine, Golden and Red-tailed Greenbul, Buff-spotted Woodpecker, Black-winged Oriole and Bristle-nosed Barbet. We heard some wood-hoopoes and later saw a White-tailed Alethe. Eventually we got to a large clearing and stayed there for some time. We were rewarded with Fire-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-throated Tinkerbird, Forest Penduline Tit, Spotted Greenbul, Simple Leaflove, Cassin’s Hawk Eagle, Fraser’s Forest Flycatcher, and Fanti and Square-tailed Saw-wings. Making our way back to the bus we marvelled at the colourful butterflies and dragonflies and an impressive raft spider.

We lunched back at the hotel accompanied by torrential rain and thunder, and some agama lizards that had come into the restaurant to avoid the rain. In the afternoon the visit to Bakanu Lagoon was not very rewarding with only Moorhen, Little Grebe and Striated Heron added to our species list so we pressed on to Brenu Beach Road. Walking the road we soon located Brown-crowned Tchagra, followed by Marsh Tchagra in the savannah-like habitat. Double-spurred Francolin, Red-winged Warbler, Piping Hornbill and Singing Cisticola were also added to our list together with Mosque Swallow and Grey Kestrel, before the dwindling light signalled time to return to the hotel.

Day 6 Thursday 28th November

Kakum National Park and Bonkro By popular demand we returned first thing to the aerial walkway for another attempt for the larger hornbills. Congo Serpent Eagles were calling but stayed rather distant, and we were kept happy with Blue Cuckoo-shrike, Lemon-bellied Crombec and Maxwell’s Black Weaver. At this point Philip, our other guide, announced a Congo

Ghana – Picathartes Tour Report

Serpent Eagle in the telescope and we all had good views before it took off and flew past giving even better views. This was shortly followed by another flying in the same direction. At 9am it was time to go so we climbed down and walked back along the trail, stopping for a flock of Grey-headed Bristlebills and soon after some Red- tailed Bristlebills. A Forest Robin was seen well by everyone, and to top off our Kakum experience an African Goshawk flew over as we were leaving.

We then had a long drive to our next site, stopping at a restaurant for lunch before continuing in the bus until we came to a river blocking our way. This had flooded due to the heavy rain so we had to board a small dugout canoe and then squeeze into a Land Rover to complete the journey to Bonkro, a tiny village at the end of the track. Here we met a local guide and walked the twenty minutes up a trail to the Picathartes site. We arrived at the nest site around 3.30pm and settled ourselves down to wait. Luckily these birds roost at the nest site all year round. The surrounding forest was very quiet and then quite suddenly, at 4.05pm, a Picathartes hopped onto a log only 20 feet away and looked at us, quite unconcerned. It then hopped away in great leaps and bounds reappearing behind us. This was quickly followed by another, then a third and fourth and perhaps a fifth (we couldn’t be sure if there were 4 or 5). A noisy party of Red-billed Helmet-shrike overhead distracted us momentarily before we left them in peace well before dark so we could retrace the trail in the light, hearing a Narina Trogon and seeing another White-crested Hornbill: an awe inspiring afternoon.

After dinner in the hotel in Kumasi we did our bird lists and it was very satisfying when White-necked Picathartes (Rockfowl) was called.

Day 7 Friday 29th November

Ofinso Forest and Bobiri Forest We left our hotel in Kumasi at 5.30am but with the amount of traffic, and the distance, we didn’t arrive at Ofinso till 7.30am. The track to the forest was bad so we had to walk mostly through the farm bush but we did see Lizard Buzzard for the first time. At the forest we saw a Western Nicator and also came across Grey Longbill, Red-fronted Parrot, Tiny Sunbird, Sharpe’s Apalis and White-throated Greenbul. After the forest visit we made the 2 hour drive back to Kumasi for lunch.

The itinerary was changed so that instead of another long journey back to Ofinso we opted for a shorter drive to Bobiri Butterfly Sanctuary, arriving about 3.35pm. Soon we were watching birds such as Johanna’s Sunbird, African Goshawk, Red-billed Helmet-shrike and a lovely view of a perched Blue-throated Roller showing off its blue throat splendidly. We heard a Long-tailed Hawk and a Olive-green Camaroptera before being drawn away by a Dwarf Black Hornbill. A pair were perched together and somehow we never quite got round to seeing the Camaroptera. At the visitor centre we waited as darkness fell to listen for owls. We heard a Wood Owl and then saw an owl in the spotlight perched on the other side of the clearing. This was noted at the time as a Wood Owl but over discussions at dinner (bit of dé jà vu here) we decided it was actually a Fraser’s Eagle Owl.

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Ghana – Picathartes Tour Report

Day 8 Saturday 30th November

Bobiri Forest A change of itinerary was decided as Ofinso Forest had been disappointing so we returned to Bobiri which turned out to be a good decision. Very soon we were walking the track and located a Narina Trogon. To get everyone a view proved quite tricky, but eventually we were all happy, peering through various windows in the understorey to get a good view. Some familiar species were then located; Western Nicator, Red-billed Helmet- shrike, Blue-throated Roller, Johanna’s Sunbird, and right at the end of the track beyond the visitor centre, a party of three Magpie Mannikin on some bamboo.

Reluctantly we left the forest and headed back to Kumasi for lunch. There was a shower before we headed back to Accra, and home. We said our goodbyes to Steve and Keon and the Ghanaian team and got on the plane back to Heathrow.

Day 9 Sunday 1st December

We arrived back at Heathrow about 5.30am, said our farewells and went our separate ways.

Ghana was a lovely country with really friendly people and without any hassle. Our guides, Emmanuel and Philip were excellent and really hard working. The group really got on well, contributing to a very rewarding and enjoyable trip.

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Tour Report Ghana – Picathartes

Species List

Birds ( = recorded but not counted; h = heard only) November Common name Scientific name 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 1 Stone Partridge Ptilopachus petrosus 10 2 Double-spurred Francolin Pternistes bicalcaratis 10 3 White-faced Whistling Duck Dendrocygna viduata 40 4 Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis 20 5 Green-backed Heron Butorides striata 1 6 Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides 2 6 7 Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis        8 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 1 1 9 Great Egret Ardea alba 1 1 10 Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia 5 11 Little Egret Egretta garzetta  1  12 Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis 1 13 Reed Cormorant Microcarbo africanus   14 African Cuckoo-hawk Aviceda cuculoides 2 1 1 15 Yellow-billed Kite Milvus migrans        16 Palm-nut Vulture Gypohierax angolensis 2 1 4 17 Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus  5  18 Congo Serpent Eagle Dryotriorchis spectabilis 2 19 Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus 3 20 African Harrier-hawk Polyboroides typus 2 2 5 1 2 21 Red-chested Goshawk Accipiter toussenelii 1 1 22 Shikra Accipiter badius 4 1 1 23 Long-tailed Hawk Urotriochis macrourus h 24 Lizard Buzzard Kaupifalco monogrammicus 2 25 Red-necked buzzard Buteo auguralis 1 26 Ayres Hawk-eagle Heiraaetus ayresii 1 27 Cassin's Hawk-eagle Aquila africana 2 28 Wahlberg's Eagle Aquila wahlbergi 2 29 Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus 1 30 Grey Kestrel Falco ardosiaticus 2 1 1 2 31 African Hobby Falco cuvierii 2 32 Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus 2 1 2 33 White-spotted Flufftail Sarothrura pulchra 2 h h 34 Common Moorhen Galinula chloropus 1 35 Senegal Thick-knee Burhinus senegalensis 2 36 Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus  4 37 African Wattled Lapwing Vanellus senegallus 4 38 Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus  39 Grey Plover Pluvialis squatoria 10 40 Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula 20 41 African Jacana Actophilornis africanus 1 1 42 Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus 1 43 Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis 10 44 Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia 40 45 Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola 10 3 46 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos 10 3 3 47 Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea 1

Ghana – Picathartes Tour Report

November Common name Scientific name 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 48 Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola 40 49 Rock Pratincole Glareola nuchalis 3 50 Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis 4 1 51 Afep Pigeon Columba unicincta h 52 Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata       53 Vinaceous Dove Streptopelia vinacea 2 54 Laughing Dove Spilopelia senegalensis        55 Black-billed Wood Dove Turtur abyssinicus 1 56 Blue-spotted Wood Dove Turtur afer    h 57 Tamborine Dove Turtur typanistria 1 1 2 1 58 Blue-headed Wood Dove Turtur brehmeri 1 1 1 h 59 African Green Pigeon Treron calvus        60 Grey Parrot Psittacus erithacus 2 61 Brown-necked Parrot Poicephalus fuscollis h 62 Red-fronted Parrot Poicephalus guliemi 1 3 1 h 63 Senegal Parrot Poicephalus senegalus 10 64 Guinea Turaco Tauraco persa h h 65 Yellow-billed Turaco Tauraco macrorhynchus 2 2 h 66 Violet Turaco Musophaga violacea 1 67 Western Plantain-eater Crinifer piscator   20 2 68 Black-throated Coucal Centropus leucogaster h h 69 Senegal Coucal Centropus senegalensis 2 1 1 70 Blue-headed Coucal Centropus monachus 1 71 Blue Malkoha Ceuthmochares aereus 4 2 2 2 1 72 Levaillant's Cuckoo Clamator levaillantii 2 1 73 Dideric Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius 1 74 Klaas's Cuckoo Chrysococcyx klaas 1 75 African Emerald Cuckoo Chrysococcyx cupreus 1 76 Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo Cercococcyx olivinus h h 77 Black Cuckoo Cuculus clamosus 1 78 Fraser's Eagle Owl Bubo poensis 1 79 Akun Eagle Owl Bubo leucostictus 1 80 African Wood Owl Strix woofordii h 81 Black-shouldered Nightjar Caprimulgus nigriscapularis h 82 Long-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus climacurus 1 83 Cassin's Spinetail Neafrapus cassini 4 84 African Palm Swift Cypsiurus parvus 3     85 Common Swift Apus apus      86 Little Swift Apus affinis 2 2     87 Narina Trogon Apaloderma narina h 1 88 Blue-bellied Roller Coracius cyanogaster 2 2 89 Blue-throated Roller Eurostomus gularis 1 1 1 90 Blue-breasted Kingfisher Halcyon malimbica 1 91 Woodland Kingfisher Halcyon senagalensis 1 10 10 1 20 15 5 92 African Pygmy Kingfisher Ispidina picta 1 1 93 Malachite Kingfisher Corythornis cristatus 1 94 Pied kingfisher Ceryl rudis 4 1 95 Black Bee-eater Merops gularis h 2 3 96 Little Bee-eater Merops pusilis 1 97 White-throated Bee-eater Merops albicolis 3 6 20 40 80 1 1 98 European Bee-eater Merops apiaster 2  5

Ghana – Picathartes Tour Report

November Common name Scientific name 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 99 Forest Wood-hoopoe Phoeniculus castaneiceps 2 1 100 African Pied Hornbill Tockus fasciatus       101 African Grey Hornbill Tockus nasutus 5 102 Black Dwarf Hornbill Tockus hartlaubi 2 103 White-crested Hornbill Tropicranus albocristatus 1 2 104 Piping Hornbill Bycanistes fistulator 4 2 105 Bistle-nosed Barbet Gymnobucco peli 6 106 Naked-faced Barbet Gymnobucco calvus 20 107 Speckled Tinkerbird Pogoniulus scolopaceus 4 1 108 Red-rumped Tinkerbird Pogoniulus atroflavus h 2 h 109 Speckled Tinkerbird Pogoniulus scolopaceus 4 1 110 Red-rumped Tinkerbird Pogoniulus atroflavus h 2 h 111 Yellow-throated Tinkerbird Pogoniulus subsulphureus 2 112 Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus chrysoconus 1 113 Yellow-spotted Tinkerbird Buccanodon duchaillui h h 1 114 Hairy-breasted Tinkerbird Tricholaema hirsuta 1 1 1 115 Vieillot's Barbet Lybius vieilloti 4 116 Bearded Barbet Lybius dubius 1 117 Yellow-billed Barbet Trachyphonus purpuratus 2 118 Willcock's Honeyguide Indicator willcocksi 1 119 African Piculet Sasia africana 1 120 Little Green Woodpecker Campethera maculosa 2 121 Buff-spotted Woodpecker Campethera nivosa 2 122 Fire-bellied Woodpecker Dendropicos pyrrhogaster 1 2 1 2 h 123 African Grey Woodpecker Dendropicos goertae 1 124 Rufous-sided Broadbill Smithornis rufolateralis 1 125 Black-and-white Flycatcher Bias musicus 2 126 Senegal Batis Batis senegalensis 1 127 Common Wattle-eye Platysteira cyanea 1 h 1 128 Chestnut Wattle-eye Dyaphorophyia castanea 2 1 5 1 129 Red-cheeked Wattle-eye Dyaphorophyia blissetti 1 130 Red-billed Helmetshrike Prionops caniceps h 6 4 1 131 Many-coloured Bushshrike Chlorophoneus multicolor h 132 Marsh Tchagra Bocagia minuta 2 133 Black-crowned Tchagra Tchagra senegalus 1 134 Brown-crowned Tchagra Tchagra australis 2 135 Sabine's Puffback Dryoscopus sabini 2 1 1 136 Northern Puffback Dryoscopus gambensis 2 137 Yellow-crowned Gonolek Laniarius barbarous 2 2 138 Blue Cuckooshrike Coracina azurea 1 h 139 Yellow-billed Shrike Corvinella corvine 5 140 Common Fiscal Lanius collaris 2 2 1 5 141 Western Black-headed Oriole Oriolus brachyrhynchus 2 1 142 Black-winged oriole Oriolus nigripennis 4 4 2 1 143 Shining Drongo Dicrurus atripennis 3 144 Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis 3 145 Velvet-mantled Drongo Dicrurus modestus 6   4   146 Blue-headed Crested Flycatcher Trochocerus nigromitrata 1 147 Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone rufiventer 1 1 1 148 Piapiac Ptilostomus afer 1 149 Pied Crow Corvus albus       

Ghana – Picathartes Tour Report

November Common name Scientific name 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 150 White-necked Rockfowl (Picathartes) Picathartes gynocephalus 5 151 White-shouldered Black Tit Parus guineensis 1 152 Forest Penduline Tit Anthscopus flavifrons 4 153 Yellow White-eye Zosterops senegalensis 2 154 Western Nicator Nicator chloris 2 1 155 Common Bulbul Pycnonotus barbatus        156 Slender-billed Greenbul Andropadus gracilirostris 6 1 1 1 157 Little Greenbul Andropadus virens 1 2  h 158 Little Grey Greenbul Andropadus gracilis 2 1 2 159 Ansorge's Greenbul Andropadus ansorgei h 160 Cameroon Sombre Greenbul Andropadus curvirostris 1 161 Yellow-whiskered Greenbul Andropadus latirostris 1 162 Golden Greenbul Calyptocichla serina 2 1 163 Honeyguide Greenbul Baeopogon indicator 1 1 1 h 164 Spotted Greenbul Ixonotus guttatus 6 3 165 Simple Leaflove Chlorocichla simplex 4 166 Yellow-throated Leaflove Chlorocichla flavicollis 1 167 Swamp Palm Bulbul Thescelocichla leucopleura h 2 h 168 Icterine Greenbul Phyllastrephus icterinus 1 169 White-throated Greenbul Phyllastrephus albigularis 1 170 Red-tailed Bristlebill Bleda syndactylus 4 4 171 Grey-headed Bristlebill Bleda canicapillus 1 h 172 Western Bearded Greenbul Criniger barbatus 4 173 Red-tailed Greenbul Criniger calurus 2 3 h 174 Square-tailed Saw-wing Psalidoprocne nitens 1 175 Fanti Saw-wing Psalidoprocne obscura 1 4 176 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica       177 Ethiopian Swallow Hirundo aethiopica 6 178 White-bibbed swallow Hirundo nigrita 3 179 Common House Martin Delichon urbicum 1 180 Lesser Striped Swallow Cecropis abyssinica 15 10 181 Mosque Swallow Cecropis senegalensis 2 182 Preuss's Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon preussi 4 183 Kemp's Longbill Macrosphenus kempi h 184 Grey Longbill Macrosphenus concolor 1 1 2 185 Northern Crombec Sylvietta brachyura 1 186 Lemon-bellied Crombec Sylvietta denti h 1 1 1 187 Chestnut-capped Flycatcher Erythrocercus mccallii 2 188 Green Hylia Hylia prasina 1 1 1 189 Tit Hylia Pholidornis rushiae 1 2 4 3 190 Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibiatrix 2 1 1 5 191 Red-faced Cisticola Cisticola erythrops 1 192 Singing Cisticola Cisticola cantans 1 193 Whistling Cisticola Cisticola lateralis 1 194 Croaking Cisticola Cisticola natalensis  195 Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis 1 196 Tawny-flanked Prinia Prinia subflava 2   1 197 Red-winged Warbler Heliolais erythropterus 2 198 Black-capped Apalis Apalis nigriceps 2 2 199 Sharpe's Apalis Apalis sharpii h 1 200 Oriole Warbler Hypergerus atriceps h

Ghana – Picathartes Tour Report

November Common name Scientific name 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 201 Yellow-browed Camaroptera Cameroptera superciliaris 1 202 Grey-backed Camaroptera Cameroptera brivicaudata  1 1 h 203 Olive-green Camaroptera Cameroptera chloronata h 204 Senegal Eromomela Eremomela pusilla 2 6 205 Rufous-crowned Eromomela Eremomela badiceps 6 1 2 3 206 Blackcap Babbler Turdoides reinwardtii 4 207 Brown Babbler Turdoides plebejus 4 208 Violet-backed Hyliota Hyliota violacea 4 209 Copper-tailed Starling Lamprotornis cupreocauda 1 2 210 Splendid Starling Lamprotornis splendidus 2 2 2  2 211 Purple Starling Lamprotornis purpureus   10 212 Violet-backed Starling Cinnyricinclus leucogaster    20 213 Forest Chestnut-winged Starling Onychognathus fulgidfus 15 214 Finsch's Flycatcher Thrush Stizorhina finshi 2 215 African Thrush Turdus pelios 4 216 White-tailed Alethe Alethe diademata 1 217 Forest Robin Stiphrornis erythrothorax h 1 h 218 Cliff Chat Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris 1 219 Fraser's Forest Flycatcher Fraseria ocreata 2 1 h h 220 Northern Black Flycatcher Melaenornis edolioides  221 Pale flycatcher Melaenornis pallidus 5 222 Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata 5 1 223 Dusky Blue Flycatcher Muscicapa comitata 1 224 Ussher's Flycatcher Muscicapa ussheri 2 4 225 Fraser's Sunbird Deleornis fraseri 1 226 Little green Sunbird Anthreptes seimundi 6 1 227 Green sunbird Anthreptes rectirostris h 228 Collared Sunbird Hedydipna collaris    2  229 Green-headed Sunbird Cyanomitra verticalis 1 230 Blue-throated brown Sunbird Cyanomitra cyanolaema 4  231 Olive Sunbird Cyanomitra olivacea 1  2 4 232 Buff-throated Sunbird Chalcomitra adelberti 2 2 1 2 4 233 Olive-bellied Sunbird Cinnyris chloropygius 1  1 234 Tiny Sunbird Cinnyris minullus 2 235 Splendid Sunbird Cinnyris coccinigastrus  4 2 2 236 Johanna's Sunbird Cinnyris johannae 1 1 1 237 Superb Sunbird Cinnyris superbus   238 Copper Sunbird Cinnyris cupreus 4 8 239 Northern Grey-headed Sparrow Passer griseus        240 Black-necked Weaver Ploceus nigricollis 1 2 2 2  241 Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus 1       242 Vieillot's Weaver Ploceus nigerrimus 1       243 Yellow-mantled weaver Ploceus tricolor 2 2 1 4 244 Maxwell's Black Weaver Ploceus albinucha 1 10 1 245 Blue-billed Malimbe Malimbus nitens 1 1 246 Red-headed Malimbe Malimbus rubricollis 4  5 1 247 Crested Malimbe Malimbus malimbicus 1 1 2 248 Black-winged Red Bishop Euplectes hordeaceus 15 6 249 Yellow-mantled Widowbird Euplectes macroura 20 20 250 White-breasted Nigrita Nigrita fusconotus 3 251 Grey-headed Nigrita Nigrita canicapillus 10 4 1

Ghana – Picathartes Tour Report

November Common name Scientific name 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 252 Western Bluebill Spermaphaga haematina 1 253 Bar-breasted Firefinch Lagonosticta rufopicta 4 1    254 Orange-cheeked Waxbill Estrilda melpoda 2 10 255 Black-faced Quailfinch Ortygospiza atricollis 2 256 Bronze Mannikin Spermestes cucullatus 10     257 Black-and-white Mannikin Spermestes bicolour 20 4 258 Magpie Mannikin Spermestes fringilloides 3 259 Pin-tailed Whydah Vidua macroura 4    1 260 Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava 1 1 261 African Pied Wagtail Motacilla aguimp 1 3 1 10 2 262 Plain-backed Pipit Anthus leucophrys 2 2

Lesser Striped Swallow White-throated Bee-eater

White-crested Hornbill