All images copyright © Nigel Blake

 

For many birders a trip to the Gambia is a first introduction to Africa's spectacular array of birds, many tour companies offer trips, and most are as cheap as holidays to the Mediterranean areas. Gambia however is very different culturally as it is a poor country by comparison, but the people there are generally very friendly and helpful, in fact some have taken the initiative as a result of the influx of birders and learned about their bird-life and are very good bird-guides.   

             

Typical Gambian home                                  

                           Gambian women in rice fields          

 

Gambia has a small amount of coastline with sandy beaches overlooked by palm trees, the main bulk of the11,000 square kilometers stretches inland either side of the Gambia river for some 400 kilometers and is mainly a habitat of Mangroves, dry scrub, and farmland, much of which is rice fields nearer the river.

Many of the hotels are within 10 kilometers of the capital , Banjul. Much of this area has changed since my first visit in 1981, not all for the best as tourism has meant an increase in hotel building, causing some habitat loss especially around the Kotu area.  This is not all bad news though, as many hotels have regularly watered grounds which attract a huge variety of birds, Senegambia beach Hotel being the best example.  I took all of the following pictures there.

      

 Yellow crowned Gonolek Lanarius barbarus               

                    

       White-crowned Robin-chat Cossypha albicapilla

 

         

Lavender Wax-bill  Estrilda caerulescens 

 

                 Striped Kingfisher Halcyon chelicuti

 
        

Western Grey-Plantain Eater                

 Crinifer piscator                         

 

       Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus

 

 
        

African Thrush Turdus pelios       

 

        Senegal Coucal Centropus senegalensis

 
       

Black-Capped Babbler        

Turdoides reinwardtii          

 

       Lesser Blue-Eared Glossy Starling

           Lamprotornis Chloropterus

 

     

Long-Tailed Glossy Starling             

 Lamprotornis caudatus                 

 

                Beautiful Sunbird  

              Nectarina pulchella

 

 

The golf course at Fajara is also a good site, as it is well watered. It is sensible to go with a guide or a group to places away from the hotels.  I have been to Gambia several times now  though, and other than a little pestering from local children, I have felt quite safe, but its wise to keep valuables out of sight. You will notice lots of bottles in the tops of the palm trees, these are for collecting Palm-sap, this is left to ferment in the sun, and makes a drink that can only be described as liquid brain dammage.

  

Black-Headed Lapwing Vanellus tectus          

 

                                          Lizard Buzzard

Kaupifalco monogrammicus
          

Collecting Palm-sap           

 

   Grey Woodpecker Dendropicos goertae

 

            

Little Bee-Eater  Merops pusillus            

 

  Harrier-hawk (immature) Polyboroides typus

 
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