Bird watching in Gambia - August 2025

OK, it has come to my knowledge that we have senior citizens visiting my web page. How hard can it be? So it's not very easy for them to see the blue coloured links to the next page.

Jiffy (also jiff)

noun [in SING.] informal a moment: we'll be back in a jiffy.

ORIGIN late 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

So as you understand, in a jiff pretty much depends on your internet.

So I put a “Next” button here and I hope that there isn't any problem to understand how to use that one. So just CLICK the “Next” button on your left hand side and you will be on the next page in a jiff!

Marunong ka mag-tagalog? Walang problema! Magpunta sa kabilang pahina pindutin ang “NEXT” button sa itaas

Faites vous parlez le français? Pas de problème! Pour arriver à la page suivante faites s'il vous plaît un déclic le bouton “Next” ci-dessus!

Haga usted dice el español? No hay problema! Ver la siguiente página sólo hacer clic el botón “Next” encima!

Farla parla l'italiano? Non problemi! Per vedere la prossima pagina lo scatto per favore giusto Il bottone “Next” sopra

Sprechen sie Deutsch! Kein problem! Wenn Sie die folgende Seite sehen wollen gerade klicken der Knopf “Next” oben!

คุณพูดภาษาไทยได้ไหม ไม่มีปัญหา ถ้าคุณต้องการไปหน้าถัดไป ให้กดปุ่ม “Next” ข้างบนนี้

Вы говорите по-русски? Просто нажмите синюю кнопку "Next" с левой стороны и Вы моментально переместитесь на следующую страницу!

E ni Svenskar och inte förstår Engelska så ska ni skämmas. J och Björn, med det menar jag inte att alla mina stavfel ska ältas varje gång vi träffas.

Well, the flag of Skåne, just a BONUS flag.

August 2025

Saturday 2 ^nd of August 2025 and we have our last breakfast at Island Hotel Janjanbureh and we enjoyed the view over Gambia River and I asked the staff if they had ever seen any hippos in the river. That would have been a breakfast sight to write home about.

They had seen Hippos, but this is a very rare sight outside the hotel.

Coming to Janjanbureh Island from North Bank Road and you have to take a ferry. But there is a bridge to South Bank Road on the south part of Janjanbureh Island. We cross the bridge and we turn left as soon as we are across the bridge.

I guess this was mostly because the Guide and Driver was looking at a piece of land someone had bought. They also wanted to buy land, and my Guide was keen for me to make an investment.
- Interesting, I said while thinking something totally different.

We make a stop 15 meters in to the dirt road as we spot one beautiful Pin-tailed Whydah flying around. I got out of the car to try to get a picture.

Pin-tailed Whydah

Pin-tailed Whydah

Pin-tailed Whydah

Pin-tailed Whydah

Pin-tailed Whydah

Pin-tailed Whydah

Click picture for full size

Levaillant's Cuckoo

Levaillant's Cuckoo

Levaillant's Cuckoo

Levaillant's Cuckoo

Levaillant's Cuckoo

I get back to the car and I ask my Driver to go ahead, very slowly. I had seen one bird getting in the the vegetation while I had been busy taking pictures of the Pin-tailed Whydah.

Turns out that it is one Levaillant's Cuckoo, a new “LIFER” for me. There is another new “LIFER” for me, the Black Coucal, but it is next to impossible to get a picture of the bird hiding in the small bush a couple of meters away.

The bird take off and it is landing in the field and we can see a second Black Coucal joining the coucal, is it a pair? Too far away for any good pictures.

One of them comes a little closer and I try to get a picture of the bird, and it is OK.

Black Coucal

Van passing on the paved road

Black Coucal

Black Coucal

Another van passing on the paved road

We leave the rice paddies continuing towards south for a couple of kilometres when we reach South Bank Road. We are just about to turn towards west on the South Bank Road when we spot one African Cuckoo on the other side of the road.

We cross South Bank Road to try to get a picture, but the bird takes off before I can get a picture. We leave the African Cuckoo behind and we continue towards east and new adventures on the South Bank Road.

We stop a couple of minutes later to take pictures of one Grey Kestrel sitting on the wire. A new “LIFER” for me. We are soon stopping again, but the Grey Kestrel is taking off before I get a picture. But I get pictures of two rollers.

Grey Kestrel

Grey Kestrel

Abyssinian Roller

Purple Roller

We pass five African Red-rumped Swallows sitting on the wire. A new “LIFER” for me, and I can get pictures as they are sitting on the wire next to the road.

I try to make a recording of the bird, but now the Driver start to call on his phone. And then suddenly he takes off and I never get any recording. I had already decided not to use this Guide anymore, but now I exploded.

There are quite a few raptors sitting along the South Bank Road. We had seen two Grasshopper Buzzards coming here and now we stop to take pictures of yet another Grasshopper Buzzard. And I also get a picture of one Lizard Buzzard.

The Lizard Buzzard, a new “LIFER” for me, “LIFER” #1677 so I will soon reach 1700 different birds. But still a long way to go, there are around 10500 different bird species in the world.

African Red-rumped Swallow

African Red-rumped Swallow

African Red-rumped Swallow

African Red-rumped Swallow

Lizard Buzzard

Lizard Buzzard

Lizard Buzzard

Grasshopper Buzzard

My Guide knew a place along the road that is good for Spotted Thick-knee. We parked next to the road and we walked across the road to have a look.

We spotted one Spotted Thick-knee and we walked around the scrubs. My Guide told me that he would go have a look and I could wait here. A few minutes later he flushed one Spotted Thick-knee and I got a glimpse.

Bit no pictures of the bird and we continued to look for the thick-knee, but we never saw the bird again. We could hear one when we played the sound.

We had a look for night jars but no luck, the only thing I got was a recording of a Tawny-flanked Prinia. The Tawny-flanked Prinia can be heard all over Gambia.

Listen to the Tawny-flanked Prinia

Sound from www.xeno-canto.org

Remarks from the Recordist

Recorded with my mobile phone using my JBL microphone with the Merlin app. High Pass Filter applied with Audacity.

We can hear the Red-billed Hornbill in the back

Spotted Thick-knee area

We left, I had seen a new “LIFER” but no pictures. We stop again after about 90 minutes to check out an area. We had made a very quick stop at some wetlands to check-out one Black Crowned-Crane and one African Woolly-necked Stork

Both birds were too far away, my Guide suggested to go down to the beach to come closer. But 10 meters makes no difference at this distance.

Anyway, we got out of the car to try to get a picture of the Vieillot's Barbet. Took quite some time before I could get a poor picture.

There was one Scarlet-chested Sunbird, but it was, well, I did not even try to get any pictures. We continued in to the wilderness and I could not believe my luck. The sunbird landed in a tree next to us.

Impossible to get the sunbird, but after a while it was sitting still long enough so I could get pictures. We continue in to the wilderness and I start to chase a group of Northern Yellow White-eye, but I never get any pictures.

I get a picture of the Yellow-fronted Canary, but half the face is covered by a branch.

I had more luck with the White-crested Helmetshrike. I spent a lot of time with the birds, but they just refused to cooperate for any pictures. But finally, I managed to get pictures of the gorgeous White-crested Helmetshrike.

Vieillot's Barbet

Scarlet-chested Sunbird

Scarlet-chested Sunbird

Scarlet-chested Sunbird

Scarlet-chested Sunbird

Scarlet-chested Sunbird

Scarlet-chested Sunbird

Scarlet-chested Sunbird

Yellow-fronted Canary

White-crested Helmetshrike

White-crested Helmetshrike

White-crested Helmetshrike

White-crested Helmetshrike

We walk back to the car and I had a bottle of juice and a pack of crackers before we left. I had not had anything to eat since breakfast early morning.

So, I was very hungry and I really enjoyed my pick-nick lunch. I asked where the hotel was:
- What hotel? My Driver asked
I asked again and now my Guide asked “what is where”
- OUR HOTEL!!!!
There was no answer and I could not help myself: DO I HAVE TO ASK FOUR DUCKING TIMES?
- In Soma, he answered
- How long before we arrive? I asked
- Depends on how many stop we make, he answered.

Stupid answers and no answers have been the deal since the second day birding with Bird Watching Gambia, and I decided not to do any more birding with them already on the second day.

My Guide and Driver, noon stop talking on the phones, or with each others. No answering question and I really regretted that I had paid for the tour.

I will find a new Guide when I am back in Banjul, and I cannot wait to get back.

We arrived to the hotel, Mansa Konko Guesthouse and it looked like a prison. Located in the outskirts of the city with nothing but dust to see for long as you could see. This was for sure not any bird watching paradise.

Welcome to Tendaba Camp

The Heart of Gambia’s Wild Adventure!

Are you a thrill-seeker with a passion forbirdwatching, wildlife, or an unforgettable safari experience?

When I booked the trip they asked if I wanted to extend the trip with an extra night at Tendaba Camp and I checked out the place on the internet and it looked very nice.

So, I added one night at Tendaba Camp going back to Banjul. Surprised, and not pleasantly surprised when we rolled in to Mansa Konko Guesthouse. I asked the Guide and he mentioned something about a University and I got upset.

Then we should have cancelled the extra night, this was a scam. The room was, well, I can live here for one night. The bathroom left a lot to wish for, but one night should be OK.

This is where they decided to spend the night

This is where they decided to spend the night

This is where they decided to spend the night

This is where they decided to spend the night

We take off to have a look for birds, the first stop was to buy water and some juice. Then we got outside the city and we stopped at a place and they had dumped stuff there. We got out of the car and the first bird was an Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird.

There was a lot of weavers and I spotted two Common Bulbuls and one Scarlet-chested Sunbird. I got some pictures of the Northern Crombec that I was happy with.

Walking around and I started to move towards the car. My Guide spot Brown-rumped Bunting and it is too far away for any good pictures. There were two of them and we were lucky, one of them came to land next to us and I could get a picture.

We made one more stop and I did not get any pictures. Three Senegal Parrots and we had a big group of 11 African Woolly-necked Storks flying over us. The sky turned black and it will start to rain any second and this was the last bird watching for today.

Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird

Northern Crombec

Northern Crombec

Brown-rumped Bunting

Brown-rumped Bunting

Today's species count:

44

Today's “LIFER”

12

Total species count

1685

Today's species
Senegal Parrot
Brown-rumped Bunting
Northern Crombec
Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird
Black-billed Wood-Dove
Yellow-fronted Canary
Scarlet-chested Sunbird
Northern Yellow White-eye
Common Bulbul
White-crested Helmetshrike
Vieillot's Barbet
Striped Kingfisher
African Woolly-necked Stork
Black Crowned-Crane
Red-cheeked Cordonbleu
Tawny-flanked Prinia
Spotted Thick-knee
Senegal Coucal
Long-tailed Glossy Starling
African Red-rumped Swallow
Grasshopper Buzzard
Lizard Buzzard
African Harrier-Hawk
Purple Roller
Abyssinian Roller
Western Cattle-Egret
Mourning Collared Dove
Rock Dove
Grey Kestrel
African Cuckoo
Pin-tailed Whydah
Yellow-crowned Bishop
Northern Red Bishop
Red-billed Quelea
Village Weaver
Western Red-billed Hornbill
Black-headed Heron
Great White Egret
African Jacana
Spur-winged Lapwing
Levaillant's Cuckoo
Black Coucal
Western Plantain-eater
White-faced Whistling-Duck

Today's “LIFER”
Brown-rumped Bunting
Northern Crombec
Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird
Black-billed Wood-Dove
Yellow-fronted Canary
Northern Yellow White-eye
White-crested Helmetshrike
African Red-rumped Swallow
Lizard Buzzard
Grey Kestrel
African Cuckoo
Levaillant's Cuckoo
Black Coucal

We stopped to buy some crackers and juice on the way back to Mansa Konko Guesthouse and the sky was open up and it started to pour down. Coming back to Mansa Konko Guesthouse and there was no power, internet or anything.

I gave it some time, but at 7 o'clock I decided to leave Mansa Konko Guesthouse to get back to Ocean Bay Hotel & Resort in Banjul. The driver said it would take 2 hours to get back to Banjul, well, so far, he had not been right with any of his estimated arrival time.

I packed my bags and we were soon in the car on our way towards Ocean Bay Hotel & Resort in Banjul. And I am really looking forward to get back to Ocean Bay Hotel & Resort.

We leave Mansa Konko Guesthouse behind and it is pouring down. But I am happy to be on the way and I look forward to bring a night in a good bed and electricity so I have light and power to charge my camera and vapes.

We moved along the South Bank Road and the traffic was slow in the rain. And on top of that we had all the police check-points. I realised that it would take more than 2 hours, more like 4 hours.

The rain came to an end and we increased the speed and we make good speed when we get up on the highway towards my hotel when we reach the airport in Banjul.

On our way to Banjul

Traffic comes to a full stop in Banjul

We leave the airport behind on the OIC Road, 3 or 4 lanes and the traffic is soon at full stop. Traffic not moving and it take us an hour ++ to reach the roundabout.

We are on the OIC Road and we ask two girls walking in the opposite direction what's going on up front. It is full stop at the roundabout. Talk about stupid, the Sayerrjobe Avenue is crossing the OIC Road. No flyover or traffic light, they have a roundabout.

You understand, two huge roads are crossing with a roundabout, a disaster!

We are at Ocean Bay Hotel & Resort 23 thirty or something like that. I told the Guide that we will leave for the bird hide at 11 o'clock tomorrow morning as it is late.

Will we see any birds in the Pirang Forest NP tomorrow? Click HERE to find out.

You are visitor no.

To www.aladdin.st since December 2005

Visitors from different countries since 26th of September 2011

Mobilize your Site

View Site in Mobile | Classic