4th Febuary 2020
i’ve seen a lot of Black-shouldered Kite while on the West coast and by far this individual has been the show off I’ve observed so far
At 08.30 this morning I was back at Tanji Reserve with the Chris and Denise Lamsdale and their handful of Gambian trainees. I just arrived in time to see them take a Western Subalpine Warbler out of the bag but it was not a male. Later on we trapped another possible female Moltoni’s Subalpine Warbler. A fallen out feather was taken for DNA. Also ringed out of interest in the next three hours that we had the nets up were, single Melodious Warbler, Zitting Citorcola, 3 Nightingale, African Grey-headed Woodpecker, Senegal Golgol, 2 Western Olivaceous Warbler and new for me, 2 female Northern Puffbacks. Another good sessions and I’ve been invited to join them all tomorrow on the south side of Tanji. I’ll see if I can get up in time.
Female Northern Puffback
Male Grey-headed Woodpecker
Senegal Cougal
Melodious Warbler
Western Subalpine Warbler
Nightingale
This Black-shouldered Kite gave me crippling views while it was busy preening before flying directly over me
There were up to 30 Blue-cheeked Bee-eater hawking above us while we were ringing
Returning home, like yesterday, I had a Palm-nut Vulture ten minutes from the digs. In the evening, I was returning from Banjanjelly after watching Shrewsbury lose 1-0 to the youngest Liverpool team in history. The moon was so bright that it was more like daytime. Bats were easy to see and I could even make out a very pale nightjar as it came in and landed to my right on the deck. A few seconds of searching for it with the head touch and I pinned down a female Standed-winged Nightjar and got cracking views only to see it take flight as I was trying to get my mobile out to take a photo.
The kids in my village, Mumuda, playing football
The Gambians, who I was watching the Liverpool-Shrewsbury game with, couldn’t work out why I jumped up and shouted when Shrewsbury scored until I told them that I was born in that town.
SCILLYSPIDER 2 