The Gambia in Style Naturetrek Tour Report 13 - 20 April 2018
Yellow-crowned Gonolek by Simon Knight
Greater Blue-eared Starling by Simon Knight
Goliath Heron by Cliff Waller Village Weaver by Nicholas Petrie
Report compiled by Cliff Waller Images courtesy of Simon Knight, Nicholas Petrie & Cliff Waller
Naturetrek Mingledown Barn Wolf's Lane Chawton Alton Hampshire GU34 3HJ UK T: +44 (0)1962 733051 E: [email protected] W: www.naturetrek.co.uk
Tour Report The Gambia in Style
Tour participants: Cliff Waller (Leader), Alajie Bojang & Lamin Jarju (local guides) With nine Naturetrek clients
Day 1 Friday 13th April
Gatwick to Gambia Everyone arrived in good time for our early-morning flight to Banjul, although we were more than half an hour late taking off. The legroom on the flight was exceptionally roomy and we were well fed and regularly provided with drinks.
We eventually arrived in Banjul ahead of schedule and proceeded fairly quickly through customs. Once outside we met up with our local driver and a guide who provided everyone with drinks and fans for the ladies. Arrangements had also been made for us to change our money with a local dealer at a preferential rate.
A few common birds were seen as we travelled, with particularly good numbers of Hooded Vulture and Red- eyed Dove.
On arrival at Mandina Lodge we were supplied with cold drinks next to the attractive swimming pool which provided us with an opportunity to sit and watch Fanti Saw-wings and White-throated Bee-eaters dipping into the pool to drink.
After finding and settling into rooms a few species of birds were seen around the lodges including Harrier Hawk, Senegal Thick-knee, Yellow-crowned Gonolek and Green-headed Sunbird.
Leaving at around 4 p.m. we went for a short walk into the forest, first stopping at the leaking water supply tanks, where we saw our first Black- necked Weaver, Village Weaver, Little Greenbul and Greater Honeyguide.
Moving on, species found included Ahanta Francolin, Black-billed Wood Dove, Grey Kestrel, Blue-bellied Roller, Grey-headed Sparrow, Brown Babbler, Snowy-crowned Robin Chat, Ring-necked Parakeet, Red-bellied Flycatcher, Grey-headed Bristlebill, Blue-cheeked and Swallow-tailed Bee-eaters and several more sunbird species.
As we returned to the lodge a small flock of Bronze Mannikin were well seen and at dinner a number of Gambian Epauletted Fruit Bats appeared from the thatch of the dining area.
Day 2 Saturday 14th April
Marnda Lodge and Buffuletto After tea and coffee we left by boat at around 7:30 a.m. slowly paddling up river where we found our first Palmnut Vulture, African Darter, Long-tailed Cormorant, Shikra, Blue-bellied and Malachite Kingfishers, Common Sandpiper, Greenshank, Speckled Pigeon, Brown Sunbird as well as several more Senegal Thick-knees. Mammals included Green Vervet Monkeys and Western Baboons.
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After landing near Buffuletto village where they were burning lots of oyster shells (they are an ingredient of a type of cement) we went for a very short walk, soon finding several Spur-winged Lapwing and a large mixed flock of starlings which consisted of Purple Glossy, Long-tailed Glossy and Violet-backed, including several spectacular males. A number of Piapiac and White-billed Buffalo Weaver were also present here.
Walking towards a small Typha area in a damp hollow, we found Senegal Coucal, as well as Cattle Egret, Intermediate Egret, Black-headed Heron, Sacred Ibis and Red-billed Firefinch.
On the way back to the canoes, an African Golden Oriole was found, but little else was added on our journey back. After an excellent breakfast, as we walked back to our rooms Northern Crombec, White-rumped Swift and a Ringed Plover were seen.
The afternoon walk from the lodge produced a surprising number of new species, including Stone Partridge, Red-shouldered Cuckoo Shrike, Yellow-fronted Canary, Spotted Honeyguide, Violet Turaco, Little Swift, African Paradise Flycatcher, Chiffchaff and Tawny-flanked Prinia, while other species included Ahanta Francolin which was new for a number of the group. Further sightings included African Thrush, four species of Sunbird, Greater Honeyguide, Green Turaco, and Brown Wattle-eye.
Those who went on the sunset boat trip also saw lots of interest including several species of egret, two Giant Kingfishers, Gull-billed Tern, Pink-backed Pelican and Sandwich Tern.
Day 3 Sunday 15th April
Kartong Ringing Station, Sayang and Tanji Fish Market Area Little in was seen before our 7.30 am departure by bus to the reserve at Kartong Ringing Station. A few birds were seen along the way including Pied Hornbill, Wire-tailed Swallow and two Violet Turacos.
On entering the reserve area we stop for first Abyssinian Roller, while a little further along on getting out of the bus we saw our first Swamphen, Black Crake, Squacco Heron, Winding Cisticola and Pink-backed Pelican.
Walking along the side of the marshes produced further new birds including African Spoonbill, White Pelican, Red-necked Falcon, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Bearded Barbet and Black Heron, several of which performed their umbrella act. Zebra White and Common Dotted-border butterflies were also seen Other birds included Beautiful Sunbird and Yellow-crowned Gonolek.
After returning to the bus we drove the short distance to the beach, seeing Little Bee-eater and several more Yellow-crowned Gonolek. A walk along the beach produced several species of Tern including, Caspian, Royal, Little, Sandwich and Black, while other species here included Grey Heron, Reef Heron, Osprey and Eurasian Oystercatcher.
We then headed off to our lunch spot at Sayang about 45 minutes drive away, seeing African Harrier Hawk and several other species along the way.
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After lunch we headed to Tanji to visit the beach close to the fish market, where on our arrival we found it teemed with birds, with particularly large numbers of Grey-headed and Slender-billed Gulls, along with a few Kelp Gulls, while Terns included Caspian, Royal and Black again, as well as our first Lesser Crested.
Waders here included Turnstone, Sanderling, Bar-tailed Godwit and Ringed Plover, while more African Firefinch were also seen.
After returning to the lodge several nice species were found including our first Grey Woodpecker and Black Scimitarbill.
Day 4 Monday 16th April
Kembujeh and Mandina Lodge Forest Area After the now usual tea, coffee and biscuits we set off on a canoe journey downstream to visit Kembujeh, an area of former rice fields, which are now in general cultivation. We saw a few birds as we travelled including several Blue-breasted and Pied Kingfisher and a single Malachite Kingfisher, while Darter, Long-tailed Cormorant and several other species were seen.
On arrival we soon found several new birds including Namaqua Dove, Orange-cheeked Waxbill, Northern Red Bishop, Yellow-throated Leaflove, Fine Spotted Woodpecker, while later Lizard Buzzard and Pin-tailed Whydah were seen. Other species in this area included Grey Woodpecker, Little Swift, Senegal Parrot, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu, Tawny-flanked Prinia and Brown Babbler, several of which were new to some of the group. We also eventually found Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, after hearing it regularly over the last few days.
It was quiet on the journey back and hard work for the paddlers against a strong tidal flow, but we did get good views of some displaying African Harrier Hawk and some hawking Blue-cheeked Bee-eater.
After a leisurely breakfast a few birds were seen around the grounds including a very nice Shikra, Grey Woodpecker, Green Woodhoopoe and three species of Honeyguide.
Later a few of us went off on the sunset cruise out to the main Gambia River, and birds seen included our first Marsh Harrier and Black-crowned Night Heron. Other species included Goliath Heron, Gull-billed Tern, Grey Plover and Blue-breasted Kingfisher, but the highlight was very good views of a Marsh Mongoose, while sunset at the heron roost, watching the birds fly in at very close quarters was also excellent. Although Cattle Egrets were the predominant species, there were also Western Reef Heron, Great Egret and Long-tailed Cormorant, as well as a single Little Egret, while further entertainment was provided by the Mud Skippers.
The walking group walked quite a long way and added several new birds, which included Greater Painted-snipe, Beaudouin’s Snake Eagle and Pearl-spotted Owlet. Amongst other species were Ahanta Francolin and including Western Grey Plantain-eater three species of Turaco were seen.
Late in the evening a Western Barn Owl was seen close to the lodge.
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Day 5 Tuesday 17th April
Makasutu Forest Area and the Local Market Area Our morning walk was a slightly longer one out to a more open area of forest. It was quiet at first but eventually we found several new birds, including Double Spurred Francolin, Sulphur-breasted Bush Shrike, Eurasian Hoopoe and Fork-tailed Drongo, while other species included several Pink-backed Pelican, Snowy-crowned Robin Chat, Bearded Barbet, Yellow-fronted Canary, African Wattled Lapwing, Little and Swallow-tailed Bee- eater, Violet Turaco and both Black-billed and Blue Spotted Wood Dove.
After a late breakfast there was time for us to rest and relax, some of us deciding to have a swim in the excellent pool, sunbathe and watch the White-throated bee-eater and Fanti Saw-wings dipping into the pool to drink.
The afternoon walk was a quiet one with very little seen at first, but we were taken to see two roosting Northern White-faced Scops Owls, while other new species included a very nice Wahlberg’s Eagle and Green Wood- hoopoe, Pied Hornbill and Blackcap Babbler were new for many of the group. Amongst other species seen were Fine Spotted Woodpecker, Brown Babbler and African Thrush.
The boat party also had an excellent time particularly at the heronry and they also saw both Marsh and White- tailed Mongoose, while Goliath Heron was amongst a number of other interesting birds seen.
Day 6 Wednesday 18th April
Lamin Fields, Abuko Reserve and Kota Stream Leaving at about 7-30 am for a full day out, we stopped before we reached the main road, adding two new species to lists - Black-headed Lapwing and Yellow-billed Shrike - while Brown Babbler and several other species were also seen..
On reaching Lamin and paying our entrance fees we went for a very short walk around the irrigated fields, where we found our first Hamerkop, Wood Sandpiper and Northern Black Flycatcher, while lots of African Jacana and Senegal Thick-knee were also present. Other species included African Spoonbill, Black Crake and Common Sandpiper.
After crossing the road we drove a short distance to the entrance of Abuko Reserve, where at the first bridge we saw Senegal Coucal and Black Crake. Moving on to the hide we found it full with a school group, but we managed to obtain some chairs to sit and overlook the pool and although it was very quiet we eventually saw West African Crocodile and Nile Monitor Lizard. Other birds included Wattled Lapwing, Pied Hornbill and a few other species.
As we proceeded through the forest it was well past the best time of day for birding, but we saw Little Greenbul and various doves, Red-billed Firefinch, Green Vervet Monkey and our first Oriole Warbler, which can be elusive and one of the more difficult species to find. We also located our first Western Red Colobus Monkeys.
Leaving the park we then drove to the Calypso restaurant for lunch, which is set in pleasant grounds and on leaving the bus we soon saw a Shikra and a Broad-billed Roller. We lunched near the pond which has been
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created near the beach and here we were able to watch Caspian and Royal Terns dipping into the water. Several more crocs were also present here as well as Black Crake and Grey Heron.
Our final stop of the day was at Kotu Bridge, which provided us with our first and only Little Grebe of the trip, as well as Black-winged Stilt, while a walk along the edge of the tidal marsh produced Viteline Masked Weaver. Other species seen included Greenshank, Wire-tailed Swallow and very good views of three Fine Spotted Woodpecker.
Day 7 Thursday 19th April
Kebenem and Salt Lagoon Area Our final canoe trip was a leisurely paddle down to Kebenem, seeing little either way apart from a few Malachite and Pied Kingfishers, Great Cormorant, Great Egret, Intermediate Egret and Brown Sunbird.
On arrival a short walk still produced a few new birds, such as Klaas’s Cuckoo, Black-winged Bishop (unfortunately not in breeding plumage), while Northern Black Flycatcher, Grey-backed Camaroptera, Fork- tailed Drongo, Long-tailed Glossy Starling, Lavender Waxbill and Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu were also seen. Double-spurred Francolin and Senegal Eremomela seemed fairly common here and we also managed to photograph some Harrier Hawks.
Several birds were seen around the lodge complex in the afternoon including Grey Woodpecker, Brown Sunbird and Bronze Mannikin, while a White Helmetshrike was also seen.
The afternoon walk to the salt lagoons was quiet at first but a highlight soon emerged as we found a lovely Puff Adder on the path, which one of the local guides almost stood on!
At the lagoons we found two fine Painted Snipe, while another highlight was a lovely Pygmy Kingfisher. Other species located included Black-headed Lapwing, Violet Turaco, Spotted Honeyguide, Yellow-throated Leaflove, Beautiful Sunbird and White-throated Bee-eaters - our first away from the lodge swimming pool. A search was also made for the Pearl Spotted Owlet, we even visited the hole it had been using, but unfortunately we were unable to find it.
Day 8 Friday 20th April
The Local Market – The Gambia to Gatwick Today’s early morning walk to the local market was a very successful one, both in terms of purchases made and birds seen. The Northern White-faced Owls were seen again while new birds included Cardinal Woodpecker and Lesser Blue-eared Starling. Other species included Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike, while both Green and Violet Turacos were seen well.
Species recorded around the lodge area included both Black-billed and Blue-spotted Wood Doves, Senegal Thick-knee, Blue-breasted Kingfisher and Brown Sunbird.
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The drive to the airport and the check-in operations went fairly smoothly and we had time for drinks and lunch before our eventual departure.
At Gatwick after our final, somewhat hurried, farewells around the luggage carousel everyone set-off for their various destinations after a memorable holiday in this wildlife rich and friendly country.
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Tour Report The Gambia in Style
Species Lists
Birds (c = about; + = more than; h = heard only) April
Common name Scientific name 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
1 Stone Partridge Ptilopachus petrosus 2 3 2
2 Double-spurred Francolin Pternistis bicalcaratus 5 7 2
3 Ahante Francolin Francolinus ahantensis 2 4 1 2 2 2
4 White-faced Whistling Duck Dendrocygna viduata 1 8
5 Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis 1
6 Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis 2
7 African Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus 9 1 20+ 3 30c 1
8 Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax 1 1
9 Striated Heron Butorides striata 2 2 2 1 2
10 Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides 3 1 3 1
11 Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 200c 5 80+ 70+ 130+ 10
12 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 1 2 1 3 3 4 2
13 Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala 2 1 1 1 1
14 Goliath Heron Ardea goliath 6 2 6
15 Great Egret Ardea alba 1 100+ 1 20+ 2 1
16 Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia 1 1 1
17 Black Heron Egretta ardesiaca 2 30c
18 Little Egret Egretta garzetta 1 1 3 1 1 1
19 Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis 1 10 6 40+ 15 50+ 7
20 African Spoonbill Platalea alba 1 10 1
21 Hamerkop Scopus umbretta 6 1
22 Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus 3
23 Pink-backed Pelican Pelecanus rufescens 5 20c 10 9 15 1
24 Reed Cormorant Microcarbo africanus 4 3 60+ 60+ 9 60+ 2
25 White-breasted Cormorant Phalacrocorax lucidus 3
26 African Darter Anhinga rufa 60c 18 15 2 1
27 Western Osprey Pandion haliaetus 4 3 1 2 1
28 Yellow-billed Kite Milvus aegyptius 6 3 2 3 10 6 2 2 29 African Fish Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer 6 6 2
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April
Common name Scientific name 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
30 Palm-nut Vulture Gypohierax angolensis 3 1 1 1 2
31 Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus 30+ 15 100c 20+ 30c 150+ 20+ 12 32 Beaudouin's Snake Eagle Circaetus beaudouini 1
33 Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus 1
34 African Harrier-Hawk Polyboroides typus 1 2 4 7 5 2
35 Dark Chanting Goshawk Melierax metabates 1
36 Shikra Accipiter badius 1 2 1 3 1
37 Lizard Buzzard Kaupifalco monogrammicus 1 1 1
38 Wahlberg's Eagle Hieraaetus walberggi 1
39 Grey Kestrel Falco ardosiaceus 1 1 1 1 1
40 Red-necked Falcon Falco chicquera 2 2
41 Black Crake Amaurornis flavirostra 3 6
42 Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio 4 2
43 Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus 1
44 Senegal Thick-Knee Burhinus senegalensis 4 9 2 2 3 12 4
45 Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus 1
46 Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus 1
47 Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus 3 20c 4 2 8
48 Black-headed Lapwing Vanellus tectus 7 1
49 African Wattled Lapwing Vanellus senegallus 1 1 6 4
50 Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola 1 1 1 2
51 Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula 6 25 2 2 4
52 Greater Painted Snipe Rostratula benghalensis 1 2
53 African Jacana Actophilornis africanus 5 2 20c 1
54 Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica 8
55 Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus 1 20c 6 7 5 8 1
56 Common Redshank Tringa totanus 1 1 1 1 3
57 Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia 1 1 1 2
58 Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus 2 1 1 1
59 Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola 1
60 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos 15 5 3 4
61 Sanderling Calidris alba 50+
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April
Common name Scientific name 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
62 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres 30c
63 Slender-billed Gull Chroicocephalus genei 50+
64 Grey-headed Gull Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus 400+ 1 11 1
65 Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus 5
66 Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica 1 1 1
67 Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia 10 1 2 5
68 Royal Tern Thalasseus maximus 20c 5
69 Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bengalensis 6
70 Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis 1 2
71 Little Tern Sternula albifrons 20c 1 5
72 Common Tern Sterna hirundo 2
73 Black Tern Chlidonias niger 20c
74 Four-banded Sandgrouse Pterocles quadricinctus 4
75 Feral Pigeon Columba livia domestica 30c 15 20c
76 Speckled Pigeon Columba guinea 1 2 12 2 2 20c 2 2 77 Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis 1 1 20+ 2 2
78 Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata 50+ 40+ 30+ 30c 20c 50+ 20c 30c 79 Vinaceous Dove Streptopelia vinacea 8 3 10 16 2 3
80 Black-billed Wood Dove Turtur abyssinicus 1 1 1 3 2 1
81 Blue-spotted Wood Dove Turtur afer 1 3 2 1 3 3 2 2 82 Namaqua Dove Oena capensis 2 5 3 1
83 African Green Pigeon Treron calvus 2 1 1 1
84 Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri 2 10 1 2 3 2 2
85 Senegal Parrot Poicephalus senegalus 2 1 4 2 1
86 Guinea (Green) Turaco Tauraco persa 5 2 2 1 2
87 Violet Turaco Musophaga violacea h 2 2 3 2 1 3 2 88 Western Plantain-Eater Crinifer piscator 10 12 30+ 20c 8 20c 12 10 89 Senegal Coucal Centropus senegalensis h 3 2 3 2 3 1
90 Klaas's Cuckoo Chrysococcyx klass 1
91 Western Barn Owl Tyto alba 1
92 African Scops Owl Otus senegalensis h
93 Northern White-faced Owl Ptilopsis leucotis 2 2
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April
Common name Scientific name 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
94 Pearl-spotted Owlet Glaucidium perlatum 1
95 African Palm Swift Cypsiurus parvus 2 10 40+ 12 8 10 20c 4 96 Little Swift Apus affinis 1 1 6 1 1
97 Purple (Rufous-crowned) Roller Coracias naevius 1
98 Abyssinian Roller Coracias abyssinicus 6 2 3
99 Blue-bellied Roller Coracias cyanogaster 1 2 4 1 2 2 1
100 Broad-billed Roller Eurystomus glaucurus 2 1
101 Grey-headed Kingfisher Halcyon leucocephala 1 1
102 Striped Kingfisher Halcyon chelicuti 1
103 Blue-breasted Kingfisher Halcyon malimbica 3 15 8 2 3 1
104 African Pygmy Kingfisher Ispidina picta 1 1
105 Malachite Kingfisher Corythornis cristatus 1 1 1 2 1 1
106 Giant Kingfisher Megaceryle maxima 1 2 1
107 Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis 4 10 10 15 12 6 8 2 108 Swallow-tailed Bee-Eater Merops hirundineus 3 3 6 1 2
109 Little Bee-Eater Merops pusillus 2 1 2 2 10 4 2
110 White-throated Bee-Eater Merops albicollis 8 20c 20c 30+ 30+ 12 1
111 Blue-cheeked Bee-Eater Merops persicus 1 12 1 14 6 20+ 5 2 112 Black Scimitarbill Rhinopomastus aterrimus 3 3
113 Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops 1
114 Green Wood Hoopoe Phoeniculus purpureus 2 3 6 8
115 African Pied Hornbill Tockus fasciatus 2 1 2 2
116 African Grey Hornbill Tockus nasutus 3 8 2 5 3 2 1
117 Western Red-billed Hornbill Tockus kempi 5 12 7 12 10 6
118 Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus chrysoconus h h h 2 1 6
119 Vieillot's Barbet Lybius vieilloti 2
120 Bearded Barbet Lybius dubius 2 4 2 1 1
121 Greater Honeyguide Indicator indicator 1 1 1 1
122 Lesser Honeyguide Indicator minor 1
123 Spotted Honeyguide Indicator maculatus 1 4 1
124 Fine-spotted Woodpecker Campethera punctuligera 1 1 3 1
125 Cardinal Woodpecker Dendropicos fuscescens 1
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April
Common name Scientific name 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
126 African Grey Woodpecker Dendropicos goertae 3 2 1
127 Brown-throated Wattle-Eye Platysteira cyanea 2 1 1 1 2 1
128 White-crested Helmetshrike Prionops plumatus 1
129 Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus 2
130 Yellow-crowned Gonolek Laniarius barbarus 1 2 3 2 3 3 4 2 131 Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike Campephaga phoenicea 2 1
132 Yellow-billed Shrike Corvinella corvina 5 2 1
133 African Golden Oriole Oriolus auratus 1 h h 1
134 Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis 2 2
135 Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone rufiventer 1 1 1
136 African Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis 3 2 1 2 1
137 Piapiac Ptilostomus afer 12 10 5 10 8 6
138 Pied Crow Corvus albus 6 10 24 10 5 20+ 6 5 139 Common Bulbul Pycnonotus barbatus 20c 20c 15 20c 20c 12 2 1 140 Little Greenbul Eurillas virens 3 2
141 Fanti Saw-Wing Psalidoprocne obscura 6 3 4 6 12 20c 12 2 142 Grey-headed Bristlebill Bleda canicapillus 1 1 2
143 Yellow-throated Leaflove Atimastillas flavicollis 1
144 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 50c 20 30+ 2 12 5 6
145 Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii 4 3
146 Pied-winged Swallow Hirundo leucosoma 2 4 6 2 2 2
147 Common House Martin Delichon urbicum 2 1
148 Northern Crombec Sylvietta brachyura 2 1
149 Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita 1
150 Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus 1
151 Winding Cisticola Cisticola marginatus 2
152 Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis h h
153 Tawny-flanked Prinia Heliolais erythropterus 3 1 3
154 Yellow-breasted Apalis Sylvia atricapilla 3 1 2
155 Oriole Warbler Hypergerus atriceps 1
156 Grey-backed Camaroptera Camaroptera brevicaudata 1
157 Senegal Eremomela Eremomela pusilla 2
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April
Common name Scientific name 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
158 Blackcap Babbler Turdoides reinwardtii 2
159 Brown Babbler Turdoides plebejus 3 5 3
160 African Yellow White-Eye Zosterops senegalensis 1 3 6 4 3
161 Greater Blue-eared Starling Lamprotornis chalybaeus 30c 6 6 10 12 8 6
162 Lesser Blue-eared Starling Lamprotornis chalcurus 1
163 Purple (Pale Glossy) Starling Lamprotornis purpureus 3
164 Long-tailed Glossy Starling Lamprotornis caudatus 5 10 3 4
165 Violet-backed Starling Cinnyricinclus leucogaster 3 3 2
166 Yellow-billed Oxpecker Buphagus africanus 1 1
167 African Thrush Turdus pelios 1 3 2 3 2 1
168 Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat Phoenicurus phoenicurus 1 1 1 3 1 2 1
169 Northern Black Flycatcher Melaenornis edolioides 1 2
170 Mangrove (Brown) Sunbird Anthreptes gabonicus 2 1 4 1
171 Western Violet-backed Sunbird Anthreptes longuemarei 3
172 Pygmy Sunbird Hedydipna platurus 2
173 Green-headed Sunbird Cyanomitra verticalis 6 3 2 2
174 Scarlet-chested Sunbird Chalcomitra senegalensis 2 2 5 3 1
175 Beautiful Sunbird Cinnyris pulchellus 2 2 3 3 4 4 1
176 Splendid Sunbird Cinnyris coccinigastrus 1 3 5 2 1 1
177 Variable Sunbird Cinnyris venustus 2 2
178 Copper Sunbird Cinnyris cupreus 1
179 House Sparrow Passer domesticus 1 2
180 Northern Grey-headed Sparrow Gymnoris dentata 2 6 2 3 2
181 White-billed Buffalo Weaver Ploceus luteolus 5 6
182 Black-necked Weaver Ploceus nigricollis 3 2 2
183 Vitelline Masked Weaver Ploceus vitellinus 2
184 Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus 2 12 50+ 30c 30c 20c 20c 8 185 Black-headed Weaver Euplectes afer 2
186 Black-winged Red Bishop Euplectes hordeaceus 3
187 Northern Red Bishop Ortygospiza africollis 2 10
188 Red-billed Firefinch Lagonosticta senegala 15 20c 20c 12 15 10 3
189 Red-cheeked Cordon-Bleu Uraeginthus bengalus 2 3 2 2 10
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April
Common name Scientific name 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
190 Lavender Waxbill Estrilda caerulescens 3 5 2
191 Orange-cheeked Waxbill Spermophaga haematina 1 3
192 Bronze Mannikin Lonchura cucullata 8 6 6 8 8 20c 8 4 193 Village Indigobird Vidua chalybeata
194 Pin-tailed Whydah Vidua macroura 10
195 Yellow-fronted Canary Anthus leucophrys 6 10 2
Mammals 1 Gambian Epauletted Bat Epomophorus gambianus 12 8 6 6 11 9 6
2 Straw-coloured Fruit Bat Eidolon helvum 2 2
3 Peter's Dwarf Epauletted Bat Micropterus pusillus 2 2
4 Western Red Colobus Colobus bandius 4
5 Green Vervet Monkey Chlorocebus sabaeus 8 8 8 12 5 4
6 Guinea Baboon Papio papio 8 20c 15 100+ 100c 20+ 40c
7 Gambian Sun Squirrel Heliosciurus gambianus 1 1 2 1 1
8 Striped Ground Squirrel Xerus erythropus 2
9 Marsh Mongoose Atilax paludinosus 1 1
10 White-tailed Mongoose Ichneumia albicauda 1
Herpotiles 1 West African Nile Crocodile Crocodylus suchus 1 6
2 Brown-flanked Skink Mabaya affinis 1 2 3
3 Nile Monitor Lizard Varanus niloticus 1 2
4 Agama Lizard Agama agama 1 1 1 2 5 1
5 Chameleon Chamaeleo senegalensis 1
6 Diurnal Dawf Gecko Lygodactylus gutturalus 1 1
7 Puff Adder Britis arietans arietans 1
Butterflies And Moths 1 Citrus Swallowtail Papilio demodocus !
2 Small Grass Yellow Eurema brigatta 1 1 2
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April
Common name Scientific name 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
3 Common Grass Yellow Eurema hecabe 2
4 Grass Jewel Chilades trochyylus 1
5 Creamy Small White Dixeia orbona 1
6 Common Dotted Border Mylothris chloris 6
7 African Tiger Danaus chrysippus 1 8 2 6
8 Zebra White Pinacopteryx eriphia 3 1
9 Tiny Orange Tip Colotis evagore antigone 1
10 African Grass Blue Zizeeria knysna 1
11 Scarlet Tip Colotis danae eurompe 1
12 Crimson-speckled Footman Utethesia latrix 1
Dragonflies 1 Widow Dragonfly Palpopleura portia 1
2 Black Percher Diplacodes lefebvrei 4 2
3 Scarlet Darter Crocothemis erythraea 1
4 Strong Skimmer Orthetrum brachiale 1 2
Other Interest (=recorded but not counted) 1 Brown Paper Wasp Achatina sp. 3
2 Antlion Polistes sp. 3 Giant Milliepede Myrmeleon sp. 4 2
4 Driver Ants Diplopoda: family Odontopygidae
5 Common Green Mantis Dorylus sp.
6 West African Fiddler Crab Sphodromantis sp. 6
7 Stick Grasshopper Uca tangeri 1
8 Mangrove Oysters Grassostrea tulipa 9 Atlantic Mudskipper Periophthalmus papillo 2 8 6 6 7 2 1
8 © Naturetrek February 19
The Gambia in Style Tour Report
Plants of interest Water Lily, Nymphaea micrantha Moonflower, Brugmansia suaveolens Baobab, Adansonia digitata Rhun Palms, Borassus aethiopum African Oil Palm, Elaaeis guineensis Red Mangrove, Rhizophora mangle Black Mangrove, Avicennia germinans Sodom Apple, Calotropis procera African Locust Bean, Parkia biglobosa Flamboyant, Delonix regia Butterfly Bush, Lantana camara Horsetail Tree, Casuarina equisetifolia Castor Oil Plant, Ricinus communis Kapok, Celba pentandra Button Grass, Mitracarpus hirtus Cashew, Anacardiaceae occtidentale Saba senegalensis Scaevola plumieri
© Naturetrek February 19 9