All images copyright © Nigel Blake

 

Camalou corner is an extensive area of tidal mud and Mangroves not far from Banjul, it is bordered by rice paddies and farmland. There are good numbers of Herons, Egrets and Waders here, also Kingfishers and Osprey. The paddy fields hold many species of smaller birds.
             
Black-Headed Lapwing                                    Spur-winged Plover

Vanellus tectus                                               Vanellus spinosus

 

               

Pied Crow                                                          NorthernRed Bishop

Corvus albus                                                      Euplectes franciscanus

 

         

 Senegal Wattled Plover                                                            Cattle Egret   

Vanellus senegalensis                                                           Bulbulcus ibis 

 
                          
             Pied Kingfisher                                          Western Reef Heron

      Ceryle rudis                                               Egretta gularis

 
Yellow-Throated Longclaw

macronyx croceus

 

 

 

Imm. Black-Crowned Night-Heron

Nicticorax nictycorax

Abuko nature reserve is within easy reach of all the coastal hotels, its well worth spending a whole day there as there is much to see. The reserve has a number of hides, some are for general access and others are pre-book able photo-hides. The hide overlooking the Crocodile pool is Excellent and should give great views of Giant Kingfisher and Palm-nut Vulture, as-well  as Herons, Swifts and Swallows

                   

 Western Red Colobus        

 Colobus badius            

 

                    Nile Monitor

               Varanus niloticus

 

            

African Pygmy Kingfisher     

Ceyx Picta               

 

            Western Red Colobus 

                 Colobus badius

 
Giant Kingfisher

Megaceryle maxima

 
     

Imm. Malachite Kingfisher                

Alcedo cristata                        

                 

                 Squacco Heron

                 Ardeola ralloides

 

Red-Bellied Paradise Flycatcher

Terpsiphone rufiventer

 

 
Black-Winged Stilts  Himantopus himantopus
     

Kotu ponds are actually the local sewage settlement ponds, last time I was there I had to pay a small fee to enter. The place can be pretty smelly when hot but its a small price for close views of many birds.

 

         

 Yellow crowned Gonolek Lanarius barbarus

            Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola
 

       

Giant Kingfisher Megaceryle maxima            White-crowned Robin-chat Cossypha albicapilla
 

 

Lamin Lodge on the Gambia river is a place where you can set off from for trips up-river, At Tendaba camp and Basse it is possible to stay over-night, there are some superb birds to be seen, Egyptian Plover being one of the most sought after, along with Carmine Bee-Eater and a good selection of Raptors.
      

Egyptian Plover  Pluvianus Aegyptius

       Pearl-Spotted Owlet Glaucidium perlatum
 

Black-Headed Lapwing Vanellus tectus

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