Trip Report for February 2006
Day 2
Another 7.30 am departure meant we arrived at Brufut Woods while the air was still comfortable. We parked on the track and almost the first bird we saw was another White-faced Scops Owl, roosting by the track. We walked a little way, getting a good sighting of a Klaas's Cuckoo, African Green Pigeon and a Paradise Flycatcher which proved elusive for a while in deep shade and in the end was not showing well enough to determine which kind. A Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird landed in a nearby small tree and suddenly the rare Yellowbill was seen by three members of the group as it headed for cover in the bush.
Leaving the vehicle we walked into the woods and found our way to the hide with the pool full of water and many birds bathing and drinking. An early sighting of an Orange-cheeked Waxbill caused excitement, along with a male Northern Red Bishop and Black-billed Wood Dove . Grey-headed Sparrows were busy drinking and bathing alongside the splashing Village Weavers. A Green Turaco gave us good views as we headed back to the vehicle.
Back on the track we parked again a little further on and walked a little way. We spotted three Yellow-billed Oxpeckers on a donkey and Yellow-fronted Canaries in a nearby tree. Good close views of a Black-crowned Tchagra and a Northern Crombec completed a pleasant visit. We had a quick bite of our packed lunch, complete with a good sighting of a Stone Partridge, then headed off to the coast.
We made our way to Tanji and the fish market, which we walked through to get to the beach. It was busy there, with fishermen and gulls as far as the eye could see. The Kelp Gulls were enormous, and we saw Grey-headed, Yellow-legged and Slender-billed Gulls as well. There were Caspian Terns patrolling the beach, Little Terns just off-shore, Ruddy Turnstones and Sanderlings running over the rocks, as well as a Ringed Plover on the sand. A Western Reef Heron was standing like a statue and we had the thrill of an Osprey over, complete with very large fish. A White Wagtail and Yellow Wagtail fluttered on the beach, and Hooded Vultures and Pied Crows searched alongside the gulls for fish discarded by the fishermen.
As we walked back there were Red-chested Swallows on the wires by the road.
From Tanji we drove south to Tujering , parked, then walked along a track, spotting a Black-shouldered Kite over and another Lizard Buzzard perched. Mustapha showed us a roosting adult Verraux's Eagle Owl – a magnificent bird and the largest owl found in The Gambia. Just a few yards away in a Palm tree, we could see the youngster in a nest. On our return walk a Pearl-spotted Owlet was heard calling but despite a search we couldn't find it.
The day was proving far hotter than the previous day as there was blue sky, strong sun and no breeze. By then we needed a break and a rest, so headed for the Paradise Inn Lodge at Tanji for a nice cold drink before heading off to Tanji Bird Reserve , where we had super views of a Woodchat Shrike and three Four-banded Sandgrouse heading into the scrub. At the beach there was a nice view over of an African Darter and perched was a Long-tailed Cormorant .
We returned to the vehicle getting good views of a male Variable Sunbird and headed back to our accommodation for showers and dinner – very satisfied after another good day.
