7th January 2020
The fields held large numbers of plovers including this good looking Black-headed Plover
I didn’t want to venture so far today as I wanted to bird a different kind of habitat just across the road from the digs where I’m staying. I cycled the ten minutes to the entrance gate and here I found myself at the main office to get permission to walk a large area of crop fields. It wasn’t long and I was out scanning and the first species I picked up were 6 Iberian Wagtail near to the building. I continued through the main track that cuts through the center of the project fields. Black and Yellow-billed Kite and Hooded Vulture were all over shop and in all the fields, that were covered with a crop just coming through, were 150+Spur-winged and 70+Wattled Plover. In smaller numbers and favouring only the one soiled field were 13 Black-headed Plover.
Iberian Wagtail
Over 70 Wattled Plover were feeding in the fields with over 150 Spur-winged Plover.
With only 13 Black-headed Plover also present. Here being harassed by the many Pied Crows.
Walking the west primeter fence, I flushed out three Double-spurred Franklin and hiding in the shade were an equal number of Senegal Thick-knee. All along the fence were variety species of trees and here there were small groups of Western Grey Plantain-eater, four Subalpine and single African Thrush and Western Olivaceous Warbler. On the ground were flocks of finches and new ones among them were Lavender Waxbill, Village Weaver, African Manikin and Grey-headed Sparrow. On the posts were also single Abyssinian Roller with many species of dove and pigeon observed including Speckled Dove. I’ve seen Green Woodhoopoe already and 6 moved through pretty quick. It was now 14.00 and I decided to cycle further up road to the next town for a bite to eat. I returned to my digs and later in the evening I was invited to watch the United City game at Mosa’s mates house. Here I ate so much and didn’t drink as Muslims and I don’t touch the stuff. In the few days that I’ve been in Gambia, everyone is so polite and friendly and always want to help and this includes strangers I meet out in the field or on the street. On the roads, it’sorganised chaos and like Morcco, it seems to work as drivers let you in as you ease your way out on to the on coming traffic to be let in with in seconds.
This Western Olivaceous Warbler was feeding in the sun
While just below this male Western Subalpine Warbler was feeding in the shade
Western Grey Plantain-eater
Up to 3 Senegal Thick-Knee I spooked out from the shade.
Grey-headed Sparrow
Female Red-cheeked Gordon-blew
Male and female African Manikin
Village Weaver
6 Green Woodhoopoe moved through at close range
Feeding on the tracks were small numbers of Speckled Dove
SCILLYSPIDER 2 