THE GAMBIA 2013 - DAY 4 - 18TH NOVEMBER

BRUFUT WOODS – TANJI BEACH

Another great day in the wonderful Gambia! We added many new species to our growing list but most of all we all enjoyed a superb day out and had a wonderful time walking in the open glades of Brufut Woods and the contrasting beach area of Tanji.

A SLEEPING WHITE-FACED SCOPS OWL

We ate breakfast on the terrace, it was warm but overcast, the group was in high spirits with plenty of laughter at the breakfast table. At 8am we boarded our bus and drove some 30 minutes to the area around Brufut. We passed through the expansive suburbs of the village where hundreds of school children were walking to school, all looking resplendent in ‘daz’ white uniforms.

HOODED VULTURE

The wood comprises mainly of secondary growth with open glades and tracks which bisect the whole area. There are many mature Baobab and Mango Trees and also areas of open farmland. 

We set off on foot along one such track and soon we stopped to watch an interesting variety of species, new for us were Levaillant’s Cuckoo (3), African Green Pigeon and Grey-backed Camaoptera but we also had great views of another 20 or more species, in particular: Black-capped Babbler, White-crowned Robin-Chat, Variable Sunbird, Northern Red-Bishop, Violet Turaco, African Grey Hornbill, Lizard Buzzard, Shikra, Northern Red Bishop.

LAUGHING DOVE

Two special species were particularly appreciated by the group and they were Whit-faced Northern (Scops) Owl and Long-tailed Nightjar, both of these species were found in their regular roosts. So after about two hours of walking along track we sat in a make-shift shelter where local guys has made benches and sold cold drinks, they also supplies drinking troughs for birds. We stayed about two hours and enjoyed every minute, many species came down to drink and gave us quite a show. The Pygmy Kingfisher was the star, two them came down and splashed into the water at such speed it was incredible to watch. Lavender Waxbills, Orange Cheeked Waxbills, Northern Red Bishop and Red Cheeked Cordonbleu added colour amongst the many doves, Bubuls and babblers. One beauty showed up in a nearby tree and caused quite a stir and that was Sulphur –breasted Bush Shrike, what a stunner!

LEVAILLANT'S CUCKOO

We drove to the coast for lunch and ate a lovely buffet at the new Bird Reserve restaurant right on the coastline. A few Ospreys drifted over as did Grey Headed Gulls. A short walk along the beach produced our first Kelp Gull and also a single Western Reef Heron, a couple of Whimbrel and a distant Eurasian Curlew. 

THE GROUP ENJOYING THE FOREST BIRD-DRINKING STATION

 

GREATER HONEYGUIDE AT THE WATER TROUGHS

We then moved further into the town near the mouth of a river where a huge roost of Gulls and terns were loafing. Along the shore we saw Bar-tailed Godwit, Sanderling, Ruddy Turnstone and a of Lesser-black Backed Gulls, Grey headed Gulls and a few Royal Terns. At the roost we found 4 Slender-billed Gulls and a single Lesser-crested Tern which was found amongst the hundreds of gulls and Terns. Also on the shore we saw Common Greenshank, Grey Plover, an Osprey, Western Reef Heron, lots of Caspian Terns, Sandwich Terns and two more Kelp Gulls. Out on a distant island we could see the shape of two or three White Pelicans.

ON THE BEACH AT TANJI

THE STAR BIRD ON THE BEACH - KELP GULL

It was approaching 5pm so we called it a day and walked back to the bus for our journey home well satisfied with another superb day out in The Gambia.