Gambia Kotu Bridge Day 6

9th January 2020

2 stonking Yellow White-eye showed well as they came for a drink at Fajara Golf Club

Up early to join other birders at ‘Birders Breakfast’ Remember that at Porthcressa on Scilly ‘Birders Breakfast’ many moons ago? Everythin was thrown in on top of the already full English including soggy chips from the backed beans, Cornish pasty and nearby you could hear the crackle of the radio if that mega turned up. Great start to the day but I reckon more birds would of been found if it wasn’t for Barry’s cooking. Graham and I walked over the golf course and split up. I ended up at the sewage lagoons where 2 Grey’s Kestrel flew past together. On the lagoons itself there were the White-headed Whistle Ducks and a good selection of waders. The only new species was a Intermediate Egret hanging out with the Cattle Egrets and a fly over Pink-backed Pelican.

Some 70 White-faced Whistling Duck were on the lagoons

This Hooded Crow was hanging out with the ducks

At least 20-30 Black-winged Stilt were also present

This Immediate Egret was among the Cattle Egret

Also good numbers of Wood Sandpiper

African Sacred Ibis

Squacco Heron with birders

Early evening was spent back on the golf course and Graham and I split up again and it proved productive for both of us. Before we parted we got good views of a Northern Crombec. I hadn’t gone far and 2 Yellow White-eye almost blinded me with how bright they were bathing in a small pond. Out of the blue, a Blue-breasted Kingfisher almost took the head off a Hammerkop that was just minding it’s own business hanging out on the edge of the pond. There were both Fine-breasted and Grey-headed Woodpecker in the trees nearby. The latter species was feeding on the necture of the tree with three species of sunbird. Beautiful, Varable and Purple Sunbird. The sun was almost down and Little, Blue-cheeked and Swallow-tailed Bee-eater were enjoying the last rays of light before we both returned our room that’s only five minutes away from everything we observed today.

Northern Crombec

Grey Woodpecker

Fine-spotted Woodpecker

This Blue-breasted Kingfisher looks mean and showed it’s aggression on a Hammerkop at the side of the pool

Good numbers of Blue-cheeked Bee-eater hawking in the evening light with both Little and Swallow-tailed Bee-eater.

Kotu Bridge looking from where we were staying at the back of the hotel