Pre 2002 reports from the Gambia
For reports 2003 onwards
click here
Gambia, an independent birding trip 15-22 November 2002
- The Egyptian Plovers were easy to see at the River at Basse - we found them within a minute of arriving at the riverbank. We saw seven birds in total - several on the mud on the opposite (north) bank, and several more on the mud bank near the jetty on the Basse side...David Steele reports.
The Gambia 4th to 15th Oct 2002
- This was my wife Diana's and my second visit to The Gambia, 0ur previous visit being in November 2001. This year we chose to go in the first half of October to catch the end of the rainy season, which ends at the end of the month. It is surprising the difference that six weeks makes at that time of the year....Neil Money reports
The Gambia 18th 25th Jan 2002
- The Gambia is a popular birding destination for many Europeans, with a wide range of exotic and colourful species. A novice to Africa can hope to see about 150 new species in a week, without venturing too far from the coast. I travelled independently, being unable to persuade any of my friends to sample the delights of Africa. It was with some trepidation that I set off, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself when I was there....George Watola reports
New Year in The Gambia 2001/2002
- Leaving Britain in darkest December on a flight to The Gambia, we arrived less than six hours later and almost 30 degrees warmer, under a clear blue sky. En route we crossed an inhospitable sea of dry Sahara sand, just as our summer visitors as small as Willow Warblers must do twice a year. In the nicely laid out gardens of our Bakotu Hotel, the trees rang to the tropical calls of Common Bulbul and a huge twittering roost of Village Weavers as dusk approached...Alison & Christopher Hall report
The Gambia November
30th to December 14th 2001
- Around the hotel the birding was easy and
we spent the first full day learning the calls of common birds
such as doves, gonoleks, sunbirds etc. Wetland birding is easiest
of all and Kotu Creek, Pirang and other wetland sites were very
enjoyable. Woodland birding is harder. We visited Abuko.... The
Abuko trip also took in a set of rice fields and we saw some species
on this trip that we did not find anywhere else.... Mark and
Sandra Dennis report
The Gambia 16th
to 23rd November 2001
- We chose to stay at the Senegambia Hotel
because of the extensive mature gardens. This proved a good choice
as we recorded over 40 species and missed a number of others known
to be present. Many of the birds were confiding and provided good
photo opportunities...Neil Money reports
Trip report the Gambia 5-19
July 2001
- In the Kotu scrub, we saw 2 Snowy-crowned
Robin Chats, lots of African Jacanas, a few Bearded Barbets, 2
Vieillot's Barbets, 2 Yellow-fronted Thinkerbirds, a Grey Kestrel,
a Great White Egret, 2 Red-necked Falcons, 2 Slender-billed Gulls,
2 Diederik Cuckoos, some Brown Babblers and in the twilight a
White-faced Scops Owl, some Standaard-winged Nightjars and at
least 1 Long-tailed Nightjar calling....Tiemen De Smedt
reports
Gambia 16
24 February 2001
- We observed all the species (except african
scops owl which we only heard and african hobby distance)
in excellent conditions. Keep your eyes open because a lot of
species you will find just once during your trip...Tom Embo
reports
The Gambia 2nd
9th March 2001
- We visited the Senegambia Hotel late
one morning. The gardens are extensive and the birds confiding,
providing good photographic opportunities. (Gonolek, Coucal, Long
tailed Glossy Starling, African Thrush and Snowy crowned Robin
Chat.) The hotel has a resident birdman and they feed the vultures
at 11.30 am each day...John Kirby reports
New Year in The Gambia 2000/2001
- Next day we meet up with Solomon Jallow,
one of The Gambia's top bird guides, ours for the next five days.
We elect first to take the ferry across the River Gambia to the
north side in search of Northern Anteater Chat. We walk on board
with Solomon, watching Little Swifts above and Grey-headed Gulls
on the jetties...Alison and Chris Hall report
Oscar tours the Gambia 1-15th
December 2000
- I woke very early (5:45) and got ready
for the 7:00 start that we had arrange with Gib. Some of the birds
we saw on the short walk to Kotu Creek were Red-eyed Dove, Yellow-crowned
Gonolek, Red-billed Firefinch, Grey Kestrel and Lizard Buzzard.
The Creek was absolutely full of birds, some wading, some flying
over, others drinking and bathing and a few feeding on insects
on the mangroves...Howard (Oscar) Orridge reports
The Gambia
April 2000
- This was a repeat visit having had a successful
week last Easter. Well, what a difference a year and three weeks
makes! We arrived in high humidity and 110 F heat having travelled
by Monarch from Gatwick. The usual transfer to the Senegambia
ensued and I couldn't help but notice that everyone else looked
like a "normal" tourist - no woolly hats or eagerly
clutched bird-guides to be seen...Alf King reports
The Gambia 1999
- "I have just come back from one of those
short, sharp trips to my favourite haunt, the Gambia. Four of
us made a quick one week visit where we disappeared up country
to a new camp near Georgetown for two nights, and to Tendaba for
two nights. With two of the group collecting bird sounds and two
of us concentrating on video, we didn't expect to accumulate a
large species list in that week, but it was, never-the-less, over
220 species....." This report contains some superb Photographs
by the author... Nigel Eaton-Gray reports
Birding in the Gambia November
17th - 24th 1998
- Most mornings, we encountered many "bird
guides" around the bridge over the Kotu stream. They all have
binoculars and a copy of the field guide but their competence
may be questionable. Even if you state that you do not need a
guide, they will often follow you and become something of a nuisance...Stephen
Mawby reports
The Gambia Nov 1st
- 8th '98
- The trip was planned as a short winter break
and an introduction to tropical African birds. I am hoping to
make more African trips in the future, and saw The Gambia as a
perfect introduction, not only to the birds but also to the complications
and difficulties of African birding, in a relatively easy environment.
In this respect, the trip worked out perfectly...Gruff Dodd
Reports.
The Gambia 20th
- 27th January 1997
- This is a popular destination for european
birders, probably because of its accessibility and the friendliness
of its people. The Gambia is a good choice to encounter and learn
to identify many Afrotropical species, so for those interested
in exploring sub-Saharan Africa this is the perfect introduction....Jan
Vermeulen reports
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