Trip Report for February 2008
Day 2
This was a special day, not only was it Valentine’s Day, but a ‘Big Birthday’ for Pam.
An early start meant that we were among the first to arrive at the Abuko Nature reserve. We headed straight for the pools and were rewarded with excellent views of Palm-nut Vultures, Violet Turacos and a pair of Giant Kingfishers, not to mention a large crocodile. We then headed into the welcome shade of the remnants of a tropical rainforest and had equally good sightings of both Diederik and Klaas’ Cuckoo, an African Golden Oriole, Snowy crowned Robin-chat, Paradise Flycatchers and even a fleeting glimpse of a Western Blue-bill.
In the afternoon we went our separate ways. Ally, Phillip and Mustapha spent their time bird watching on the Bund Road and Camaloo Corner. The rest of us, having been re-assured that they were unlikely to see anything that we wouldn’t find next day, took the opportunity of going with Clare to see some local colour at the bustling Serrekunda market and batik factory. We were expertly guided by Omar and were all glad that he was driving and not us! We finished another excellent day with ‘fizz’ and cake from Tesco to celebrate Pam’s birthday.
Species seen...
Pink-backed Pelican
Hamerkop
African Darter
Black-crowned Night Heron Cattle Egret.
Squacco Heron
Black Egret
Intermediate Egret
Western Reef Heron
Little Egret
Great White Egret
Black-headed Heron
Grey Heron
Purple Heron
Sacred Ibis
Osprey
Palm-nut Vulture
Pied Crow
Hooded Vulture
Black Kite
Eurasian Marsh Harrier
Lanner Falcon
African Jacana
Spur-winged Plover |
Spur-winged Plover
Wattled Plover
Black-tailed Godwit
Bar-tailed Godwit
Green Sandpiper
Ruddy Turnstone
Sanderling
Black-headed.Gull
Grey-headed Gull
Slender-billed Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Kelp Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull Caspian Tern
Lesser Crested Tern
Sandwich Tern
White-winged Black Tern Laughing Dove
Blue-spotted Wood Dove
Black-billed Wood Dove Speckled Pigeon
African Mourning Dove Vinaceous Dove
Klaas’s Cuckoo |
Diederik’s Cuckoo
Giant Kingfisher
Pied Kingfisher
Malachite Kingfisher
Rufous-crowned Roller Abyssinian Roller
Little Bee-Eater
Senegal Parrot
Violet Turaco
Western Grey Plantain-Eater
Green Turaco
African pied Hornbill
Red-billed Hornbill
Barn Swallow
African Golden Oriole
Fork-tailed Drongo
Common Bulbul
Little Greenbul
Grey-headed Bristlebill Blackcap Babbler
Snowy-crowned Robin-chat African Thrush
Zitting Cisticola
Melodious Warbler |
Grey-backed Camaroptera
Yellow-breasted Apalis
Green Hylia
Yellow Penduline Tit
Northern Black Flycatcher
African Paradise Flycatcher Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher
Hybrid Flycatcher
Variable Sunbird
Scarlet-chested Sunbird
Splendid Sunbird.
Beautiful Sunbird
Copper Sunbird
Woodchat Shrike
Long-tailed Glossy Starling Grey-headed Sparrow
Yellow-crowned Bishop
Village Weaver
Black-necked Weaver
Red-billed Firefinch
Bronze Mannikin
Pin-tailed Whyda
Western Bluebill
Red-billed Quelea |
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