29th January 2020
Mosque Swallow were widespread at the pools.
At 08.30 I was jumping on board a crowded bus taxi from Banjanjelly to Brikarmma (15 Dalasi) change over to another bus to Prirang (13 Dalasi) At the latter site, the bus turned off left from the highway onto a dirt track towards the Gambian River. Over a mile down road and it stopped off at the end, dropped folk off and drove back up again. I felt that the shrimp pools I was trying to get to were pretty close to where we were and shouted that I wanted to get off. Twenty minutes after walking north from the village, I was paying 25 dalasi to enter the Prihang shrimp pools. The basins reached as far as the eye could see and immediately I picked out a single kittlitz’s Plover with 100s upon 100s of Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper. The next basin produced more of the latter species with lesser numbers of Marsh Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Black-winged Stilt, Grey Plover. Black-tailed Godwit and over 40 Avocet. Mixed in with them were also 5 Ruff and a single Kentish Plover. Although I’m sure there were more but it proved hard work with the sun almost in your eyes and also I have not brought a scope with e to Gambia due to weight. 16 Gull-billed and 5 Caspian Tern were hanging out with the 200 Slender=billed Gull.
The basins where the waders were hanging out
Heavily cropped kittlitz’s Plover that I picked up on my first scan and after that I never saw another one. So pleased to get this plover after not seeing it in so many other countries before that I visited.
Curlew Sandpiper
Little Stint
Wood Sandpiper
Mosque Swallow were abundant and Palm Nut Vulture were all over the shop including three together in a single tree. Also had a few Red-rumped Swallow. In the distance, now and then, Both Great and Pink-backed Pelican circled around with some 50 African Spoonbill and 4 Yellow-billed Stork. On the river itself there were African Darter and a single Black and Straited Heron. It was now 14,00 and it felt as though the temperature was in it’s 40’s. As I reached the western end of the pools where it meets the river, I came across some 20 Blue-cheeked and 2 Little Bee-eater and hawking with then were 9 White-throated Bee-eater. An unexpected bonus as I had no idea that they were here. At 15.30 I was back at the entrance of the pools sitting in the shade having a chat with a policeman. On the return home, I was picked up at the end of the track and changed again at Brikamma to Banjanjelly and found myself sitting in the front with another policeman by my side!
Mosque Swallow
Great-white Pelican
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
Western Subalpine Warbler
Hard work when you ain’t got a scope scanning through the waders
Maybe the policeman were told to keep a watch on my activities as I’m a member of the extreme terrorists ‘Greenpeace and The Palestinian Solidarity Campaign’ and support ‘Stop the Badger Cull, Cycling advocacy group and Vegan activists’
I thought it had been a pretty good day but when I returned to me digs, Graham had a cracking morning. He stuck around in the Ma Muda area where we are living and was rewarded with 3 Four-banded Sandgrouse and bloody 6 Temmink’s Courser on the track between the crossroads and Sanyang. Another early start it is then.
SCILLYSPIDER 2 