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A Report from birdtours.co.uk

Ghana, November 7-19th 2011 ,

Jan Vermeulen

Forbes’s Plover photographed by Tom Snoeckx

CONTENTS

General Information

References

Itinerary

The Sites:

Shai Hills Resource Reserve
Kakum National Park
Ankasa Forest
Mole National Park
Bunso Arboretum
Bobiri Butterfly Reserve
Atewa Range
Sakumono Lagoon

Daily Log

Systematic List of Birds

Systematic List of Mammals

INFORMATION

In November 2011 I spent two weeks in Ghana with Vital van Gorp, Luc van Gompel, Marc van Herck & Tom Snoeckx. With more than 750 species of birds, Ghana is the ‘rising star’ among West African wildlife destinations. Firmly embedded along the Gulf of Guinea on Africa's beautiful Gold Coast, Ghana is rich in both ancient tradition and the history of European colonialism. Today it is one of the safest and friendliest countries in the entire West African Region.

West Africa has a long-held reputation for being a 'tricky' birding destination, due to a perception that it has a poorly developed infrastructure and that some of the places that need to be birded are physically tough. However Ghana offers core West African rainforest and savannah birding, while the recent discovery in 2003 of easily accessible White-necked Rockfowl (Yellow-headed Picathartes) colonies has firmly established this as a ‘must-visit’ destination. Ghana is the best place to see this species, and sightings here are virtually guaranteed.

Having visited Cameroon and Gambia more then a decade ago I did not expect to find many new species in Ghana, but it turned out I did see nearly 40 lifers.

Ghana has some truly exciting birding, has a well-developed tourist infrastructure, and is an easy going trip that is suitable for birders of all types. It is therefore no surprise that Ghana is a fast-growing birding destination. On top of that it is a well-used phrase that Ghanaians are some of the friendliest peoples in Africa, and this was there for all to see. The Ghanaians we ran into were easy with a smile, and genuinely some of the most openly welcoming and friendly people that many of us had experienced previously on our travels

Its infrastructure is also exceptional, with good hotels, restaurants and roads through most of the country. In terms of birding, Ghana has a huge amount to offer. The southern rainforests are a great place to find Upper Guinea endemics as well as a full range of West African forest species. Meanwhile, the northern portion of Ghana lies in the Guinea savannah belt, with a completely different set of birds.

FLIGHT AND VISA

We travelled to Ghana via Amsterdam. Our return-ticket (KLM) for the air journey cost us about € 740. You do need a visa for Ghana. I applied for one at the embassy in the Hague and the visa cost me € 50. You have to fill in 4 separate pages with 4 photographs!! You also have to mention at least 3 contact addresses in Ghana!

MONEY

The local currency is the Cedi, often shown as $G. We had exchanged some money in the airport (€1 = $G2.15) as it had been advised that exchange facilities were limited. As it happened money could have been changed in hotels or credit cards used in a couple of them, but the cash did actually prove to be handy. No-one in Ghana ever seems to have any change so small denomination notes are especially useful.

ACCOMMODATION

There is a very wide variety of accommodation available, from basic to expensive first-class hotels in the main towns.

FOOD AND DRINK

Generally quite good. Stay away from uncooked fruits and vegetables that you haven't peeled yourself, and don't use ice. It is best to avoid drinking the water unless you know it is boiled. Most of the towns have small supermarkets where you can buy most of your supplies. We also bought a sufficient stock of mineral water at all times available in the car. Fresh fruit can easily be purchased at local markets.

ENTRANCE FEES NATIONAL PARKS

Entrance fees:

Kakum National Park: 430 $G for two days for the five of us.
Ankasa Forest: 134 $G for one day for the five of us.
Atewa Range: 60 $G for one day for the five of us.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

The people are among the friendliest on the continent. Theft is really not a problem in Ghana unless you are careless. We found Ghana to be a friendly and safe country and the worst that the traveller is likely to encounter, is a pickpocket in Accra. For vaccinations consult your own doctor for up to date advice. Malaria is a major risk so all precautions against malaria are a must. We spoke a few Dutch nurses at Mole NP, working in a nearby hospital for more than 6 months. They had all suffered from malaria!

A Yellow Fever Inoculation Certificate is required to enter and leave the country. Do take this with you or otherwise you will have big problems at the airport! Finally, beware of the sun. Hats and long-sleeved shirts are essential kit.

CUSTOMS

Customs at the airport are very corrupt. A customs officer asked us for receipts of bills (hotels etc.) and when we did not have the bills he refused to return the passport of Luc van Gompel. He also asked for the yellow fever inoculation certificate and how much money we had. Finally we had to bribe the officer at the airport

($10) to get permission to leave the country!

LANGUAGE

English is widely spoken here and even in remote villages you will meet people who speak English.

WEATHER

In Ghana the dry season window of access lasts from November through to May, with most birders visiting between December and March. The weather in November was warm and sometimes very hot throughout the trip, although we had a few showers in the late afternoon and during the night.

EQUIPMENT

Kalu Afasi had an I-pod. This was useful for drawing in some skulkers, although a lot of birds did not react (wrong season according to Kalu). A good torch is a must. A telescope is useful at lakes and very useful for viewing canopy species especially from roadsides. Photography is NOT difficult, as birds are easy to approach and light conditions are good. Clothing can be T-shirt and short anywhere (during the daytime).

TRANSPORT AND ROADS

Road conditions in Ghana vary, but are generally good by African standards, make getting around easy. The main roads are sealed, but elsewhere are poor-quality dirt, where a 4-wheel drive would be a distinct advantage (Ankasa Forest). In Ghana, it's best to hire a car if you can afford it. For car rental you will need a major credit card.

NOMENCLATURE & TAXONOMY

In Africa there is much confusion regarding the English names for birds, and often each author, having their own preferences which results in the same species having up to 3 or 4 different names.

I have decided to follow the English names of James F. Clements (Birds of the World, A Check List, Sixth Edition, 2007).

COMMON BIRDSPECIES

The following list of birds we saw frequently and if you spend any sort of time in the right habitats you will too:

Cattle Egret, Black Kite, Hooded Vulture, Vinaceous Dove, Laughing Dove, Little Swift, White-throated Bee-eater, African Grey Hornbill, Common Bulbul, Pied Crow.

BIRDING

Birding was most of the time difficult. We hardly encountered any flocks and after 10.30 a.m. activity ceased dramatically. Some species were responsive to playback and other were not responsive at all.
All in all it was a rather successful trip. Rare species such as White-crested Bittern, Forbes’s Plover and Red-faced (Yellow-winged) Pytilia were seen. However species hoped for, but not seen were Hartlaub’s Duck (really unexpected), Long-tailed Hawk, Yellow-throated Cuckoo, Yellow-footed Honeyguide, Kemp’s Longbill and Ussher’s Flycatcher.

REFERENCES

BOOKS

       Nik Borrow & Ron Demey. Birds of Ghana.

       James F. Clements. Birds of the World. A Check List.

       Jonathan Kingdon. The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals.

       E.K. Urban, C.H. Fry, S. Keith. The Birds of Africa, volumes I – VI excellent reference when at home.

       Michael Walters. Complete Checklist. Vogels van de Wereld.

REPORTS AND ARTICLES

       Henk Hendriks. Ghana March 4th-15th 2011.

       David van de Schoor. Rainforest of Ghana 6 – 14 March 2009.

       Pierre van der Wielen. Birding Ghana 14 November – 4 December 2009.

USEFUL ADRESSES

We were fortunate enough to secure the help of Kalu Afasi to arrange the logistics of our trip and to act as a local guide. Kalu’s local knowledge of the birds and particularly their calls is second to none, and we would not have done nearly so well without his help.

Kalu Afasi – Malimbe Tours. PO Box NT108 New Town, Accra, Ghana
+233 208416873 kamalu2000gh@yahoo.com

SOFTWARE

BIRDBASE & BIRDAREA

I use this software to keep track of the birds I have seen and to make lists of any country, labelling endemics and birds previously seen in that country, outside it, or both. BirdArea can produce checklists of the birds of any country of Clements’ world birds.

ITINERARY

November 7         Chaam * Antwerp * Amsterdam * Accra
November 8         Accra * Shai Hills * Winneba Plains * Cape Coast (Hans Cottage Botel)
November 9         Kakum National Park * Twifo Praso (Pra River) * Hans Cottage Botel
November 10       Kakum National Park * Hans Cottage Botel * Axim
November 11       Axim * Ankasa Forest * Axim
November 12       Axim – Bonkra (Picathartes Site) * Kumasi
November 13       Kumasi * Mole National Park
November 14       Mole National Park
November 15       Mole National Park
November 16       Mole National Park * Boabeng Fiema Monkey Sanctuary * Kumasi
November 17       Kumasi * Bobiri Butterfly Sanctuary * Bunso Arboretum * Akim Tafo
November 18       Akim Tafo * Atewa Range * Accra
November 19       Accra * Sakumono Lagoon * Accra * Amsterdam * Chaam

THE SITES

SHAI HILLS RESOURCE RESERVE

Accommodation: a hotel in Accra.

Shai Hills reserve is the closest wildlife protected area to Accra with a savannah grassland habitat, large rock formations and caves. This slice of savannah set off by a towering cluster of inselbergs is just outside the rainforest zone and holds a totally different set of birds than those found a little farther south and west.

Birds seen:

Striated Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Black-shouldered Kite, Yellow-billed Kite, Hooded Vulture, African Harrier-Hawk, Shikra, Booted Eagle, Grey Kestrel, Double-spurred Francolin, Stone Partridge, Helmeted Guineafowl, Red-eyed Dove, Vinaceous Dove, Black-billed Wood-Dove, Senegal Parrot, Green Turaco, Western Plantain-eater, Red-chested Cuckoo, Senegal Coucal, African Palm-Swift, European Bee-eater, African Grey Hornbill, Blue-bellied Roller, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Vieillot’s Barbet, Double-toothed Barbet, Flappet Lark, Red-shouldered Cuckoo-shrike, Common Bulbul, Croaking Cisticola, Short-winged Cisticola, Green-backed Camaroptera, Northern Crombec, Spotted Flycatcher, Mocking Cliffchat, Senegal Batis, Brown-capped Babbler, Copper Sunbird, White Helmetshrike, Fork-tailed Drongo, Piapiac, Violet-backed Starling, Village Weaver, Red-faced (Yellow-winged) Pytilia.

KAKUM NATIONAL PARK

Accommodation: Hans Cottage Botel

Although Kakum is far from pristine rainforest, it offers some of the best forest birding in Ghana. Located 30km north of the seaside town of Cape Coast in Ghana's Central Region, Kakum National Park and the adjacent Assin Attandaso Resource Reserve cover approximately 365 square kilometres of semi deciduous secondary Upper Guinea Rainforest with its main attraction being the world famous Canopy Walkway. Kakum National Park protects critically endangered primary guinea tropical rainforest and is home to a variety of exciting forest birds. Kakum National Park is an island of tropical rainforest in a sea of agricultural lands—an isolated fragment of what was once a continuous belt of rainforest extending from Guinea through Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Cote d'Ivoire to Ghana. Easily accessible from the park headquarters at Abrafo is the world famous Kakum canopy walkway, the only such structure of this size on the African continent. It is 350 m long, between 40 and 60 m high and is suspended between 7 emergent forest trees, which support platforms stable enough to allow telescope use.

It provides a unique opportunity to see the birds actually in the forest canopy and the platforms around each tree are very sturdy, offering good support for a telescope.

Birds seen:

Palm-nut Vulture, African Harrier-Hawk, White-spotted Flufftail, Tambourine Dove, African Green-Pigeon, Black-collared Lovebird, Grey Parrot, Yellow-billed Turaco, African Emerald Cuckoo, Dideric Cuckoo, Yellowbill, Cassin’s Spinetail, Common Swift, Little Swift, Bates’s Swift, Shining-blue Kingfisher, Malachite Kingfisher, White-bellied Kingfisher, Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, Woodland Kingfisher, White-throated Bee-eater, Rosy Bee-eater, Blue-throated Roller, Forest Wood-Hoopoe, White-crested Hornbill, African Pied Hornbill, Naked-faced Barbet, Speckled Tinkerbird, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Least Honeyguide, Little Green Woodpecker, Fire-bellied Woodpecker, Barn Swallow, Lesser Striped-Swallow, Fanti Sawwing, African Pied Wagtail, Blue Cuckoo-Shrike, Red-shouldered Cuckoo-Shrike, Common Bulbul, Little Greenbul, Little Grey Greenbul, Slender-billed Greenbul, Honeyguide Greenbul, Spotted Greenbul, Icterine Greenbul, Red-tailed Greenbul, Sharpe’s Apalis, Green-backed Camaroptera, Yellow-browed Camaroptera, Rufous-crowned Eremomela, Green Crombec, Lemon-bellied Crombec, Grey Longbill, Green Hylia, Violet-backed Hyliota, Dusky-blue Flycatcher, West African Batis, Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, Brown Illadopsis, Little Green Sunbird, Green Sunbird, Collared Sunbird, Blue-throated Brown Sunbird, Buff-throated Sunbird, Olive-bellied Sunbird, Superb Sunbird, Western Black-headed Oriole, Black-winged Oriole, Large-billed Puffback, Velvet-mantled Drongo, Copper-tailed Glossy-Starling, Chestnut-winged Starling, Black-necked Weaver, Vieillot’s Weaver, Yellow-mantled Weaver, Maxwell’s Black Weaver, Crested Malimbe, Red-headed Malimbe, Chestnut-breasted Negrofinch, Grey-headed Negrofinch, Pin-tailed Whydah.

ANKASA FOREST

Accommodation: Axim Beach Hotel in Axim. A very luxurious on the beach.

One of the Ghana’s most exciting birdwatching destinations, the Ankasa protected area comprises the continuous Nini-sahien National Park and Ankasa Resource Reserve, which together form a highly accessible and well preserved 500 km2 chunk of wet evergreen Upper Guinea Rainforest. Ankasa is one of the most biologically rich habitats in Africa and believed to protect Ghana’s only remaining population of Chimpanzee. Forest Elephant, Bongo and many other mammal species can be found here.

Birds seen:

White-crested Bittern, African Harrier-Hawk, Blue-headed Wood-Dove, African Green-Pigeon, Black Cuckoo, Black-throated Coucal, Sabine’s Spinetail, Common Swift, Little Swift, White-bellied Kingfisher, Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, White-throated Bee-eater, White-crested Hornbill, Black Dwarf Hornbill, Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill, African Pied Hornbill, Piping Hornbill, Brown-cheeked Hornbill, Black-casqued Hornbill, Yellow-casqued Hornbill, Yellow-spotted Barbet, Hairy-breasted Barber, Fire-bellied Woodpecker, Melancholy Woodpecker, Buff-spotted Woodpecker, Square-tailed Sawwing, Little Greenbul, Yellow-whiskered Bulbul, Swamp Greenbul, Icterine Greenbul, Yellow-spotted Nicator, Red-tailed Greenbul, Western Bearded Greenbul, Yellow Bearded Greenbul, Finsch’s Flycatcher-Thrush, Cassin’s Flycatcher, Red-bellied Paradise-Flycatcher, Green Sunbird, Blue-throated Brown Sunbird, Western Black-headed Oriole, Chestnut-bellied Helmetshrike, Shining Drongo, African Finfoot, Splendid Glossy-Starling, Copper-tailed Glossy-Starling, Maxwell’s Black Weaver, Gray’s Malimbe, Red-headed Malimbe..

MOLE NATIONAL PARK

Accommodation: the Mole Motel

Ghana’s north is much more arid, and instead of forest, it holds savannah and an accompanying set of different birds. Mole National Park is one of Ghana’s finest parks, offering great birds, good mammals, and sweeping views from the well-situated lodge. Every morning and evening, we made excursions by mini-bus and foot, while the hot mid-days were spent in the cool of the air-conditioning. On all excursions you have to take a guard with you ($G15 p.p. a day)

Birds seen:

Grey Heron, Black-headed Heron, Purple Heron, Great Egret, Intermediate Egret, Little Egret, Squacco Heron, Cattle Egret, Striated Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Hamerkop, Woolly-necked Stork, Hadada Ibis, White-faced Whistling-Duck, Spur-winged Goose, Black Kite, African Fish-Eagle, Palm-nut Vulture, Hooded Vulture, White-backed Vulture, White-headed Vulture, Brown Snake-Eagle, Bateleur, Eurasian Marsh-Harrier, Lizard Buzzard, Gabar Goshawk, Grasshopper Buzzard, Red-necked Buzzard, Wahlberg’s Eagle, Martial Eagle, Grey Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Double-spurred Francolin, Stone Partridge, Helmeted Guineafowl, Black Crake, Black-bellied Bustard, African Jacana, Water Thick-knee, Senegal Thick-nee, Spur-winged Plover, Black-headed Lapwing, Wattled Lapwing, Forbes’s Plover, Green Sandpiper, Red-eyed Dove, Vinaceous Dove, Blue-spotted Wood-Dove, Bruce’s Green-Pigeon, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Senegal Parrot, Violaceous Turaco, Western Grey Plantain-eater, Levaillant’s Cuckoo, Great Spotted Cuckoo, African Cuckoo, Klaas’s Cuckoo, Dideric Cuckoo, Senegal Coucal, Greyish Eagle-Owl, Pearl-spotted Owlet, Long-tailed Nightjar, Standard-winged Nightjar, African Palm-Swift, Shining-blue Kingfisher, Malachite Kingfisher, African Pygmy-Kingfisher, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Woodland Kingfisher, Giant Kingfisher, Red-throated Bee-eater, Abyssinian Roller, Rufous-crowned Roller, Blue-bellied Roller, Broad-billed Roller, Green Wood-Hoopoe, Black Scimitar-Bill, Northern Red-billed Hornbill, African Grey Hornbill, Abyssinian Ground-Hornbill, Bearded Barbet, Greater Honeyguide, Cardinal Woodpecker, Grey Woodpecker, Sun Lark, Rock Martin, Ethiopian Swallow, Wire-tailed Swallow, Common House-Martin, Western Yellow Wagtail, Tree Pipit, Red-shouldered Cuckoo-Shrike, Common Bulbul, African Thrush, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Oriole Warbler, Moustached Grass-Warbler, Senegal Eremomela, Willow Warbler, Northern Black-Flycatcher, Gambaga Flycatcher, Swamp Flycatcher, European Pied Flycatcher, White-crowned Robin-Chat, Brown-throated Wattle-eye, Senegal Batis, African Blue-Flycatcher, African Paradise-Flycatcher, Blackcap Babbler, White-winged Black-Tit, Pygmy Sunbird, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Beautiful Sunbird, African Yellow White-eye, African Golden Oriole, Yellow-billed Shrike, Brubru, Northern Puffback, Black-crowned Tchagra, Common Gonolek, Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike, Fork-tailed Drongo, Lesser Blue-eared Glossy-Starling, Long-tailed Glossy-Starling, Bush Petronia, Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-Weaver, Little Weaver, Heuglin’s Masked-Weaver, Black-winged Bishop, Bar-breasted Firefinch, Red-billed Firefinch, Black-faced Firefinch, Red-cheeked Cordonblue, Orange-cheeked Waxbill, Pale-winged Indigobird, Pin-tailed Whydah, Togo Paradise-Whydah, Yellow-fronted Canary, Cabanis’s Bunting.

BUNSO ARBORETUM

Accommodation: Royal Bleumich Hotel in Akim Tafo.

Bunso Arboretum, a facility of the Ghana CSIR is located a few km along a turn off adjacent to the Linda Dor complex on the main road. This site probably warranted more time and was full of birds.

Birds seen here:

Vinaceous Dove, African Green-Pigeon, Black-throated Coucal, Little Swift, African Pied Hornbill, Speckled Tinkerbird, African Pied wagtail, Black-and-white Shrike-Flycatcher, Tit-Hylia, Buff-throated Sunbird, Northern Puffback, Fork-tailed Drongo, Chestnut-winged Starling, Preus’s Weaver, Red-headed Malimbe, White-breasted Negrofinch, Black-and-white Mannikin.

BOBIRI BUTTERFLY SANCTUARY

Accommodation: Treasure Land Hotel in Kumasi.

The fascinating Bobiri butterfly sanctuary has some 423 species of butterflies and some great birds in 10 km2 kilometres of forest, which now tragically appears to be being logged as huge logging trucks kept passing us in the sanctuary.

Birds seen here:

African Harrier-Hawk, Afeb Pigeon, African Green-Pigeon, Grey Parrot, Red-fronted Parrot, Woodland Kingfisher, White-crested Hornbill, African Pied Hornbill, Naked-faced Barbet, Bristle-nosed Barbet, African Piculet, Melancholy Woodpecker, Fire-bellied Woodpecker, Blue Cuckoo-Shrike, Ansorge’s Greenbul, Little Grey Greenbul, Yellow-spotted Nicator, Green Crombec, Chestnut Wattle-eye, Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, Collared Sunbird, Blue-throated Brown Sunbird, Buff-throated Sunbird, Tiny Sunbird, Splendid Sunbird, Velvet-mantled Drongo, Chestnut-bellied Helmetshrike, Splendid Glossy-Starling, Narrow-tailed Starling

ATEWA RANGE FOREST RESERVE

Accommodation: Royal Bleumich Hotel in Akim Tafo.

The Atewa Range Forest Reserve is an IBA (Important Bird Area) containing remnant evergreen rainforest, an endangered habitat within Ghana. This hilly area reaches an altitude of 770m and, although the forest has suffered from much logging in the past, it nonetheless remains incredibly ‘birdy’, with the open nature of the forest facilitating viewing of canopy species

Birds seen here:

Yellow-billed Kite, Hooded Vulture, African Harrier-Hawk, African Goshawk, Vinaceous Dove, Blue-spotted Wood-Dove, Tambourine Dove, Blue-headed Wood-Dove, Yellow-billed Turaco, Red-chested Cuckoo, Black Cuckoo, African Emerald Cuckoo, Dideric Cuckoo, Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, Blue-headed Bee-eater, White-throated Bee-eater, White-crested Hornbill, African Pied Hornbill, Speckled Tinkerbird, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Vieillot’s Barbet, Yellow-billed Barbet, Rufous-sided Broadbill, Lesser Striped-Swallow, Common Bulbul, Cameroon Sombre Greenbul, Little Grey Greenbul, Golden Greenbul, Leaflove, Red-tailed Bristlebill, Finsch’s Flycatcher-Thrush, Singing Cisticola, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Rufous-crowned Eremomela, Grey Longbill, Wood Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Dusky-blue Flycatcher, Forest Robin, Forest Scrub-Robin, Red-bellied Paradise-Flycatcher, Chestnut Wattle-eye, Red-cheeked Wattle-eye, Puvel’s Illadopsis, Collared Sunbird, Tiny Sunbird, African Yellow White-eye, Western Black-headed Oriole, Black-crowned Tchagra, Velvet-mantled Drongo, Vieillot’s Weaver, Compact Weaver, Maxwell’s Black Weaver, Red-headed Malimbe, Northern Red Bishop, Grosbeak Weaver, Chestnut-breasted Negrofinch, Grey-headed Negrofinch, Western Bluebill, Black-bellied Firefinch, Orange-cheeked Waxbill, Black-and-white Mannikin, Pale-winged Indigobird.

SAKUMONO LAGOON

Accommodation: a hotel in Accra.

Lagoons near Accra where the highest concentration of water fowl is concentrated in Ghana

Birds seen here:

Little Grebe, Long-tailed Cormorant, Grey Heron, Great Egret, Black Heron, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Glossy Ibis, Osprey, Black-shouldered Kite, Yellow-billed Kite, Eurasian Marsh-Harrier, Shikra, African Hobby, Lanner Falcon, African Jacana, Black-winged Stilt, Wattle Lapwing, Black-bellied Plover, Common Ringed Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Spur-winged Plover, Spotted Redshank, Marsh Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Little Stint, Temminck’s Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Dunlin, Ruff, Gull-billed Tern, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Black Tern, Laughing Dove, Pied Kingfisher, African Grey Hornbill, Western Yellow Wagtail, Zitting Cisticola, Yellow-billed Shrike, Purple Glossy-Starling.

DAILY LOG

Monday 7th November

Our trip started with a trip by train from Turnhout via Antwerp to Amsterdam. At 15.30 o'clock we departed from Schiphol airport with KLM to Accra. 6½ hours later we arrived at Katoka International Airport in Ghana’s bustling capital and having cleared customs we met Kalu Afasi, the organiser of our trip, and drove straight to the Royal Majestic Hotel.

Tuesday 8th November

The following day involved an early start as we headed to the Shai Hills Reserve, which is the only fenced wildlife reserve in Ghana. This reserve is made up of woodland savannah and rocky mountains. We spent all morning here and we easily got to grips with a number of widespread species as well as a few specials that included Booted Eagle, Grey Kestrel, African Hobby, Double-spurred Francolin, Stone Partridge, Green Turaco, the gorgeous Blue-bellied Roller, Croaking Cisticola and Piapiac. A real surprise were the beautiful Red-faced Pytilias, birds we did not expect to see in Ghana, as hardly any birder does see them. They were very cooperative, sitting up for prolonged scope views. Other birds we encountered were Senegal Parrot, Western Plantain-eater, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Vieillot’s Barbet and its larger cousin, Double-toothed Barbet. We then visited the rocky mountains. With a good position at the base of the cliff, we began to scan the bare rocks above for sign of movements, but to no avail. We headed to another place, where we checked a cave and here we were rewarded with the stunning Mocking Cliffchat.

After lunch under a shady mango tree in a nearby restaurant we headed to the palm-fringed Cape Coast. The heavy traffic in and around the capital consumed us. We finally escaped the long queues of traffic stopping at the rather featureless and quiet Winneba plains for some very short late afternoon birding. Amongst the birds seen here were Lanner Falcon, Blue-spotted Wood-Dove, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Splendid Sunbird, Black-crowned Tchagra, Common Gonolek and Yellow-shouldered Widowbird.

We then settled into Hans Cottage Botel, a hotel that is full of character, not least because it has a lake that overlooks an island where a village weaver colony is the centre of activity and where Nile Crocodiles loaf on the waters edge while you sip beer in the bar nearby!

Wednesday 9th November

We left early in order to be at Kakum by first light and arrived at about 6.00 a.m. in order to be able to use the canopy walkway before it is opened to the public at 9.00 a.m. It is open to birders during this time for a special fee. Kakum was our first experience of the charges levied by the Wildlife Department, which are somewhat variable, usually rather high and specifically target birdwatchers and local knowledge is definitely required. Fortunately Kalu is very experienced in dealing with the different levels of officialdom and obtaining the right permits! Having got permission we spent 3½ hours on the canopy walkway. The walkway links a series of platforms built around large forest trees at a height ideal for birding the canopy.

Here a wealth of species were to vie for our attention: White-crested Hornbill, Yellow-billed Turaco, Cassin’s Spinetail, Bates’s Swift, Speckled Tinkerbird, Little Green Woodpecker, Fanti Sawwing, Blue Cuckoo-Shrike, Little Grey Greenbul, Spotted Greenbul, Bioko Batis, Buff-throated Sunbird, Black-winged Oriole, Copper-tailed Starling, Yellow-mantled Weaver, Crested & Red-headed Malimbe and Tiny Sunbird. This was the only place in the forests were we saw any other wildlife. Only Spot-nosed Monkey and a Green Squirrel were seen from the walkway. Not having completely achieved our objectives at Kakum we headed back to our cool hotel for a hearty lunch.

We made a walk around the lake and amongst the birds seen were Western Reef-Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, an African Harrier-Hawk trying to rob the nests of the Village Weavers, Shining-blue Kingfisher, Woodland Kingfisher and Orange Weaver.

Hereafter we headed to Twifo Praso, a small village along the Pra River. The town of Twifo Praso is home to a very large local market where everything seemed to be available to buy. From our vantage point on a rusty old iron bridge we had superb views of White-throated Blue Swallow and White-headed Lapwing and lying on rocks in the middle Rock Pratincoles could be made out.

In the late afternoon we drove to an area along the edge of Kakum, on a road that cut through secondary forest.

It was rather quiet here, but we managed to see amongst others Naked-faced Barbet and White-bellied Kingfisher. We tried to lure out a calling White-spotted Flufftail, that came close, but refused to show itself and eventually flushed in panic.

Thursday 10th November

Tea/coffee, toast and omelette were the regular order of the day throughout. Next morning found us again at the canopy walkway in Kakum. Watching forest life at canopy level brings a whole new dimension to birding, with incredible views being gained of species which would be virtually impossible to see from ground level. Blue-throated Roller, Black-collared Lovebird, Fire-bellied Woodpecker, Sharpe’s Apalis, Lemon-bellied Crombec, Red-headed Malimbe and Chestnut-breasted Negrofinch all performed well in the telescope. Memorable too were a single fly-over Rosy Bee-eater, Grey Longbill, Brown Illadopsis and Maxwell’s Black Weaver and a variety of commoner Greenbuls.

After lunch and a quick nap at Hans Cottage Botel we headed eastwards along the coast to Axim. Near Axim we made a stop and amongst the birds seen were Piping Hornbill, Broad-billed Roller, Splendid Glossy-Starling, Common Fiscal and Green-headed Sunbird.

In Axim we first visited the prominent seaside fort, before we checked into the luxurious Axim Beach Hotel, situated along the coast.

Friday 11th November

A pre-dawn start was required to get to the entrance of Ankasa Forest at 6.45. Ankasa is an area of pristine tropical rainforest situated on the border with Ivory Coast. It was a long drive to Nkwanta Camp on a very bad road. We stopped at a small stream where we had good views of Cassin’s Flycatcher. While driving on the track, when suddenly a White-crested Bittern crossed the track and flew into a tree. Great looks were had by all – this is a rare species which is seldom seen – luck was really with us.

We continued along the road until we reached a spot where our minibus was unable to get through. Fortunately it was only another 2 km through excellent habitat to get to Nkwanta Camp.

One of our top targets for today was Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill, which believe it or not was quite devious for a hornbill, and took quite some time to give in and finally showed to us all in the 'scope. Just minutes after the thrill of the hornbill a rowdy group of Chestnut-bellied Helmetshrikes came by.

While walking along the track we saw a number of birds amongst them Black Cuckoo, Melancholy Woodpecker, Buff-spotted Woodpecker, Western Bearded Greenbul, Yellow-bearded Greenbul, and a very responsive Finsch’s Flycatcher-Thrush. After 2½ kilometres we arrived at the camp and here in the more open area we encountered another noisy group of Chestnut-bellied Helmetshrikes, Black Dwarf Hornbill, Brown-cheeked Hornbill ands both Black-casqued & Yellow-Casqued Hornbill.

At the three ponds we did see African Finfoot, Swamp Greenbul and Gray’s Malimbe. We dipped Hartlaub’s Duck, a bird everybody sees here. Along the second pond we had good looks of 3 Dwarf Crocodiles.

In the afternoon when we searched for Hartlaub’s Duck, it started raining with a vengeance which made birding virtually impossible. The rain drove us back into he cover of the camp, but not before Marc had a close encounter with a small green snake, which squared the hell out of him.

Not completely satisfied we left Ankasa and returned with our minibus to Axim. In the evening we had a great dinner with an ample supply of beer.

Saturday 12th November

The following day was mostly a travel day as we struck out for the north. In the morning we spent some time along the shore for some sea watching. Amongst the birds seen were Brown Booby, dozens of Sandwich Terns and Royal Terns. At 10 a.m. we left the Axim Beach Hotel and headed to Bonkra in order to climb the hill to one of the famed White-necked Rockfowl (Picathartes) sites. White-necked Rockfowl is the flagship species, and there is a terrific site that is being looked after by the local villagers at Bonkro, where your chances of seeing this legendary bird are very good. This site is jealously guarded by the local people following the efforts of the Ghana Wildlife Society campaign to protect the Picathartes nesting sites and to promote their value as a money-earner from visiting birders. After securing a guide at the village we walked for 45 minutes up a hill through dense forest, eventually clambering to the summit below which is a series of caves and an overhang. We reached there about 5.30 p.m. and settled down in semi-concealment to await the arrival of the birds coming in to roost. This trip’s undoubted biggest target was of course the Picathartes, and a nail-biting wait overlooking a cave eventually led to fantastic views of at least 2 of these dream birds.

We could not stay too long as it was necessary to start back by 6.00 p.m. in order to avoid having to climb down the hill through the forest in the dark. In fact it was almost dark when we reached the edge of the forest at the bottom. While driving to Kumasi we saw our only Plain Nightjar of the trip.

After a few hours driving we arrived in Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti region, and checked into the Treasure Land Hotel.

Sunday 13th November

We left Kumasi at 8 o’clock because we had to wait for a bank employee to change some money. We moved north for the long, hot and dusty drive to Mole NP. We turned left off the main north road at Boipu and wended our way on rough tracks through savannah bush. The state of the road and slow driving made birding relatively easy and we picked up Eurasian Marsh-Harrier, Abyssinian Roller, Blue-bellied Roller, Bearded Barbet, a bird that replaces the Double-toothed Barbet of the south in northern Ghana, and Scarlet-chested Sunbird before reaching Mole NP, Ghana’s largest wildlife sanctuary.
On arrival at Mole we admired the wonderful setting of our resort, on the edge of an escarpment overlooking a couple of waterholes on the flat plains below with good views of a variety of water birds as well as a few Kobs, Waterbucks and a Bushbuck.

Monday 14th November

We began this morning much as we did every morning in Mole, by meeting just before sunrise on the resort's terrace, looking out for wildlife activity around the waterholes below in this water-starved park. The pools held Woolly-necked Storks, Hadada Ibis and a large African Elephant was found cooling itself in the centre of the waterhole. There are apparently no predators in the park which makes walking safe. Warthogs and Baboons were relatively tame around the accommodation. Our early morning walk in the wet area not far from the lodge was a birder’s delight. Walking on the road and not exactly working hard, we saw Senegal Parrot, Violet Turaco, Jacobin Cuckoo, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Shining-blue & Giant Kingfisher, Red-throated Bee-eater, Black Scimitarbill, Greater Honeyguide, Oriole Warbler, Senegal Batis, White-winged Black-Tit, Brubru, Common Gonolek and Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike to name but a few. We searched in vain for Pell’s Fishing-Owl.

Hereafter we explored the area around the waterhole and White-faced Whistling-Duck, Spur-winged Plover, Water Thicknee and Senegal Thicknee were added to the list in short order.

After a siesta at the lodge we headed to a drier area. The birding was good and goodies notched up were Grasshopper Buzzard, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Rufous-crowned Roller, Green Wood-Hoopoe, Sun Lark, Gambaga Flycatcher, Swamp Flycatcher, White-crowned Robin-Chat, Pale-winged Indigobird and 2 Togo Paradise-Whydahs flew past in their breeding plumage.

In an open area Kalu successfully called up a Forbes’s Plover and we were surprised how quickly the bird responded to what it obviously thought was an invader calling in its territory. At dusk we headed back to the lodge and had excellent views on the road of Long-tailed & Standard-winged Nightjars and also a Greyish Eagle-Owl. An incredible birding day had come to an end in Mole NP.

Tuesday 15th November
Today we spent all day in Mole NP. Mole is famed in Ghana for its large population of African Elephants, and the large pools at the lodge are a regular hangout for them. However, at this time only three of these African giants were around, although some other notable savannah mammals were in evidence, including Kob and Bushbuck

At the lodge overhead we were repeatedly treated to the spectacle of a low-flying apparently tail-les Bateleur sweeping past. Other birds of prey we saw today were Palm-nut Vulture, Brown Snake-Eagle, Lizard Buzzard, Gabar Goshawk, Wahlberg’s Eagle, Martial Eagle, Red-necked Buzzard and Peregrine Falcon.

Driving through other parts of the park we added several more birds to the trip list including Black-bellied Bustard, African Cuckoo, Northern Red-billed Hornbill, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Moustached Grass-Warbler, African Blue-Flycatcher, Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-Weaver and the elusive Black-faced Firefinch.

Of the larger mammals the day produced Patas Monkey, African Elephant, Common Warthog, Bushbuck, Kob, Waterbuck and Red-flanked Duiker.

In the late afternoon we relaxed at the lodge with a cool drink and watched the birds and wildlife coming into the pools below as the sun set over the park.

Wednesday 16th November

Today was essentially a travel day back towards Kumasi. En route we saw almost the same birds as a few days ago. We also visited the Boabeng Fiema Monkey Sanctuary, the only place where two different species of monkeys, regarded as sacred – Lowe’s Monkey and Geoffroy’s Pied Columbus - live together within the same habitat in peace and in harmony with human beings. We had great views of both monkeys. In this forest we also saw our only Ayres’s Hawk-Eagle of the trip. At 17.30 we again arrived at the Treasure Land Hotel in Kumasi.

Thursday 17th November

With a pre-arranged early breakfast we left next morning for a short drive from Kumasi to the forest sanctuary of Bobiri, famous for its clouds of butterflies, as much as for the many avian delights in the area. Leaving at 5.30, it took us 40 minutes to drive to Bobiri Forest.

During the early morning we watched birds from a forest clearing and only a few species could be seen clearly feeding in and calling from the tops of some large emergent forest trees. Highlight here was a perched Afeb Pigeon. In the forest it was very quiet and we managed to see some birds, but did not even scratch the surface. We tracked down amongst others African Piculet, Melancholy Woodpecker, Ansorge’s Greenbul, Yellow-spotted Nicator, Green Crombec and Tiny Sunbird, plus some fantastic butterflies, an astonishing diversity.

That wrapped it up for our very short time in Bobiri, so we headed further south on our loop back towards Ghana's capital Accra, with one more rainforest stop planned for the journey back, in the Atewa Mountains.

In the late afternoon we made a stop at the Bunso Arboretum, a facility of the Ghana CSIR located a few km along a turn off adjacent to the Linda Dor complex on the main road. This site probably warranted more time and was full of birds. We had good views of a pair of Black-and-white Shrike-Flycatcher, Tit-Hylia, Northern Puffback, Preus’s Weaver and White-breasted Negrofinch, species that had so far eluded us.

At Akim Tafo we checked into the Royal Bleumich Hotel.

Friday 18th November

From the hotel it was just a 20 minutes drive to the start of the trail which leads up to the Atewa Range, Ghana’s only mid-elevation forest site. The initial portion lead through a farm bush area, which meant we had a long walk ahead of us to reach the better forest higher up. The farm bush area was very productive, however, and the avifauna dominated by flocks of colourful seed-eating birds such as Grosbeak Weaver, the massive-billed Western Bluebill, Orange-cheeked Waxbill and Black-bellied Firefinch. The same area held some chattering parties of Black-and-white Manakins feeding on the seeding grasses on the forest edge.

We spent all morning in the forest and in our short time there added some good new birds.

Puvel’s Illadopsis put in a brief appearance in the half-light. Quite a few birds were quite vocal, but Red-tailed Bristlebill, Forest Robin, Red-cheeked Wattle-eye and Yellow-billed Barbet were heard only. However, some fantastic birds were seen over the course of our final morning, including a Chocolate-backed Kingfisher perched in the top of a tall, open tree, the colourful Blue-headed Bee-eater, a local speciality, Forest Scrub-Robin and 2 Rufous-sided Broadbills which whirled and twirled upon its perch which after much persistence everyone eventually saw perched.

Sadly we tore ourselves away from Ghana's abundant birdlife and shortly after lunch we completed the drive back to the hustle and bustle of Accra.

Saturday 19th November

Next morning we headed to the near-bye Sakumono Lagoon, where throngs of water-bird held our attention as long as we were there. Herons were well represented by Grey Heron, Great Egret, Little Egret and Black Heron. Large numbers of Black-tailed Godwits were resting on the mud flats among hundreds of waders that included Wattled Lapwing, Spur-winged Plover, Spotted Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Marsh Sandpiper, Temminck’s Stint and impressive numbers of more common Palaearctic species.

One last addition to our birding tally was seeing a single Osprey flying over the lagoon. Hereafter we said goodbye to Kalu and at 11.10 p.m. we flew back to Amsterdam. At 6.20 a.m. the next morning we arrived at Schiphol airport and two hours later I was back home in Chaam.

Ghana has proven to be a highly enjoyable destination. In all respects the trip was a resounding success. Logistics ran very smoothly, accommodation and transport were comfortable, and the birds played along fairly well. The final total for the 12 days trip was 352 species of birds. In addition to all these birds 17 species of mammal were identified on the trip.

My ten best birds of the trip? White-crested Bittern, Forbes’s Plover, White-bellied Kingfisher, Rosy Bee-eater, Finsch’s Flycatcher-Thrush, Sharpe’s Apalis, White-necked Rockfowl, Tit-Hylia, Buff-throated Sunbird and Red-faced Pytilia, as always lifers all of course.

Chaam, 31 May 2012,                                                                                                                                    

If you need any help or further information, contact me at the following address and I'll try and help if I can!

Jan Vermeulen
Bredaseweg 14
4861 AH Chaam
The Netherlands
telephone 0161 – 491327

SYSTEMATIC LIST OF BIRDS

This list follows the taxonomy, names and sequence of James F. Clements (Birds of the World, A Check List, Sixth Edition 2007, including updates July 2007 – August 2011). This sixth edition is based primarily on the higher taxonomic sequence outlined in the “Handbook of the Birds of the World” series published by Lynx Edicions.

Species in brackets are the English names in the Field Guide to the “Birds of Ghana” by Nik Borrow and Ron Demey, but only mentioned when these differ substantially from the Clements Check List.

The Dutch names follow the translated "Complete Checklist of Birds of the World" (Complete Checklist van Vogels van de Wereld) of Michael Walters.

Numbers quoted are estimates of the minimum numbers seen.

The following abbreviations are used:

NP          = National Park
100+       = a minimum of 100 birds
(H)          = heard

1.              LITTLE GREBE, Tachybaptus ruficollis, Dodaars
A single sighting at the Sakumono Lagoon near Accra.

2.              BROWN BOOBY, Sula leucogaster, Bruine Gent
A single sighting along the coast at Axim.

3.              LONG-TAILED CORMORANT, Phalacrocorax africanus, Afrikaanse Dwergaalscholver
15+ en route Accra – Winneba Plains, 4 at Hans Cottage Botel and 20+ at the Sakumono Lagoon near Accra.

4.              GREY HERON, Ardea cinerea, Blauwe Reiger
4 at Mole NP and 10+ at the Sakumono Lagoon near Accra.

5.              BLACK-HEADED HERON, Ardea melanocephala, Zwartkopreiger
A single one at Mole NP.

6.              PURPLE HERON, Ardea purpurea, Purperreiger
2 at Mole NP.

7.              GREAT EGRET, Ardea alba, Grote Zilverreiger
1 at Mole NP and 4 at the Sakumono Lagoon near Accra.

8.              BLACK HERON, Egretta ardesiaca, Zwarte Reiger
25+ at the Sakumono Lagoon near Accra.

9.              INTERMEDIATE EGRET, Egretta intermedia, Middelste Zilverreiger
Small numbers at Mole NP.

10.           LITTLE EGRET, Egretta garzetta, Kleine Zilverreiger
Small numbers en route Accra – Winneba Plains and 10+ at the Sakumono Lagoon near Accra.

11.           WESTERN REEF-HERON, Garzetta gularis, Westelijke Rifreiger
A single sighting at Hans Cottage Botel.

12.           SQUACCO HERON, Ardeola ralloides, Ralreiger
Small numbers at Hans Cottage Botel and 1 at Mole NP.

13.           CATTLE EGRET, Bubulcus ibis, Koereiger
A common and widespread species.

14.           STRIATED (GREEN-BACKED) HERON, Butorides striatus, Mangrovereiger
1 at the Shai Hills, 2 at Hans Cottage Botel and 1 at Mole NP.

15.           BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, Nycticorax nycticorax, Kwak
1 at the Shai Hills, 2 at Hans Cottage Botel and 1 at Mole NP.

16.           WHITE-CRESTED BITTERN (TIGER HERON), Tigriornis leucolophus, Afrikaanse Tijgerroerdomp
A splendid observation of a single bird at Ankasa Forest.

17.           HAMERKOP, Scopus umbretta, Hamerkop
8 at Mole NP.

18.           ABDIM’S STORK, Ciconia abdimii, Abdims Ooievaar
3 en route Axim – Kumasi.

19.           WOOLLY-NECKED STORK, Ciconia episcopus, Bisschopsooievaar
10+ at Mole NP.

20.           HADADA IBIS, Bostrychia hagedash, Hadada-ibis
Fairly common at Mole NP.

21.           GLOSSY IBIS, Plegadis falcinellus, Zwarte Ibis
20+ at the Sakumono Lagoon near Accra.

22.           WHITE-FACED WHISTLING-DUCK, Dendrocygna viduata, Witwangfluiteend
100+ at Mole NP.

23.           SPUR-WINGED GOOSE, Plectropterus gambensis, Spoorwiekgans
A single sighting at Mole NP.

24.           OSPREY, Pandion haliaetus, Visarend
A single bird at the Sakumono Lagoon near Accra.

25.           BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE, Elanus caeruleus, Grijze Wouw
5 en route Accra – Winneba Plains and 1 near the Sakumono Lagoon near Accra.

26.           BLACK KITE, Milvus migrans, Zwarte Wouw
The subspecies “Yellow-billed Kite” is a very common and widespread species.

27.           AFRICAN FISH-EAGLE, Haliaeetus vocifer, Afrikaanse Zeearend
A single observation at Mole NP.

28.           PALM-NUT VULTURE, Gypohierax angolensis, Palmgier
4 at Mole NP.

29.           HOODED VULTURE, Necrosyrtes monachus, Kapgier
A rather common and widespread species.

30.           WHITE-BACKED VULTURE, Gyps africanus, Witruggier
7 at Mole NP.

31.           WHITE-HEADED VULTURE, Trigonoceps occipitalis, Witkopgier
3 at Mole NP.

32.           BROWN SNAKE-EAGLE, Circaetus cinereus, Bruine Slangenarend
A single bird at Mole NP.

33.           BATELEUR, Terathopius ecaudatus, Bateleur
Up to 4 a day at Mole NP.

34.           EURASIAN (WESTERN) MARSH-HARRIER, Circus aeruginosus, Bruine Kiekendief
1 en route Kumasi - Mole NP, 1 at Mole NP and 6 at the Sakumono Lagoon near Accra.

35.           AFRICAN HARRIER-HAWK, Polyboroides typus, Kaalkopkiekendief
1 at the Shai Hills, 2 at Kakum NP, 1 at Hans Cottage Botel, 1 at Ankasa Forest, 2 at Bobiri and 1 at the Atewa Range.

36.           LIZARD BUZZARD, Kaupifalco monogrammicus, Hagedisbuizerd
1 at Hans Cottage Botel and 4 at Mole NP.

37.           GABAR GOSHAWK, Melierax gabar, Gabarhavik
A single one at Mole NP.

38.           AFRICAN GOSHAWK, Accipiter tachiro, Afrikaanse Havik
A single bird at the Atewa Range.

39.           SHIKRA, Accipiter badius, Shikra
A single one at the Shai Hills and 2 at the Sakumono Lagoon near Accra.

40.           GRASSHOPPER BUZZARD, Butastur rufipennis, Sprinkhaanbuizerd
4 at Mole NP.

41.           RED-NECKED BUZZARD, Buteo auguralis, Afrikaanse Roodstaartbuizerd
A single one at the Shai Hills and 3 at Mole NP.

42.           WAHLBERG'S EAGLE, Aquila wahlbergi, Wahlbergs Arend
2 at Mole NP.

43.           BOOTED EAGLE, Hieraaetus pennatus, Dwergarend
Single ones at the Shai Hills and near Hans Cottage Botel.

44.           AYRES' HAWK-EAGLE, Aquila ayresii, Ayres' Havikarend
A splendid observation at the Boabeng Fiema Monkey Sanctuary.

45.           MARTIAL EAGLE, Polemaetus bellicosus, Vechtarend
A single one at Mole NP.

46.           EURASIAN (COMMON) KESTREL, Falco tinnunculus, Torenvalk
2 near Hans Cottage Botel and 1 at Kumasi.

47.           GREY KESTREL, Falco ardosiaceus, Grijze Torenvalk
2 at the Shai Hills and 1 at Mole NP.

48.           AFRICAN HOBBY, Falco cuvieri, Afrikaanse Boomvalk
A single sighting at the Sakumono Lagoon near Accra.

49.           LANNER FALCON, Falco biarmicus, Lannervalk
2 at the Winneba Plains, 2 near Hans Cottage Botel and 1 at the Sakumono Lagoon near Accra.

50.           PEREGRINE FALCON, Falco peregrinus, Slechtvalk
2 at Mole NP.

51.           DOUBLE-SPURRED FRANCOLIN, Francolinus bicalcaratus, Barbarijse Frankolijn
3 at the Shai Hills, 1 at the Winneba Plains and 5 at Mole NP.

52.           STONE PARTRIDGE, Ptilopachus petrosus, Rotspatrijs
4 at the Shai Hills, 3 en route Kumasi – Mole NP and 3 at Mole NP.

53.           HELMETED GUINEAFOWL, Numida meleagris, Helmparelhoen
1 at the Shai Hills and 4 at Mole NP.

54.           WHITE-SPOTTED FLUFFTAIL, Sarothrura pulchra, Parelvlekral
A single one at Kakum NP (H).

55.           BLACK CRAKE, Amaurornis flavirostra, Zwart Porseleinhoen
Singles at Hans Cottage Botel and at Mole NP.

56.           EURASIAN (COMMON) MOORHEN, Gallinula chloropus, Waterhoen
2 at Hans Cottage Botel.

57.           AFRICAN FINFOOT, Podica senegalensis, Watertrapper
A splendid observation at Ankasa Forest.

58.           BLACK-BELLIED BUSTARD, Lissotis melanogaster, Zwartbuiktrap
A single one at Mole NP.

59.           AFRICAN JACANA, Actophilornis africanus, Lelieloper
1 at Hans Cottage Botel, 3 at Mole NP and 1 at the Sakumono Lagoon near Accra.

60.           BLACK-WINGED STILT, Himantopus himantopus, Steltkluut
Common at the Sakumono Lagoon near Accra.

61.           WATER THICK-KNEE, Burhinus vermiculatus, Watergriel
2 at Mole NP.

62.           SENEGAL THICK-KNEE, Burhinus senegalensis, Senegalese Griel
10+ at Mole NP.

63.           ROCK PRATINCOLE, Glareola nuchalis, Rotsvorkstaartplevier
6 at Twifo Praso on the rocks in the Pra River.

64.           SPUR-WINGED PLOVER, Vanellus spinosus, Sporenkievit
3 at Mole NP and 30+ at the Sakumono Lagoon near Accra.

65.           BLACK-HEADED LAPWING, Vanellus tectus, Zwartkopkievit
2 at Mole NP.

66.           WHITE-HEADED LAPWING, Vanellus albiceps, Witkruinkievit
2 at Twifo Praso on the rocks in the Pra River.

67.           WATTLED LAPWING, Vanellus senegallus, Lelkievit
15+ at Mole NP and 6 at the Sakumono Lagoon near Accra.

68.           BLACK-BELLIED (GREY) PLOVER, Pluvialis squatarola, Zilverplevier
4 at the Sakumono Lagoon near Accra.

69.           COMMON RINGED PLOVER, Charadrius hiaticula, Bontbekplevier
Common at the Sakumono Lagoon near Accra.

70.           FORBES’S PLOVER, Charadrius forbesi, Forbes' Plevier
A splendid observation at Mole NP and also one heard at Mole NP.

71.           BLACK-TAILED GODWIT, Limosa limosa, Grutto
150+ at the Sakumono Lagoon near Accra.

72.           BAR-TAILED GODWIT, Limosa lapponica, Rosse Grutto
A few at the Sakumono Lagoon near Accra.

73.           WHIMBREL, Numenius phaeopus, Regenwulp
2 along the coast at Axim.

74.           SPOTTED REDSHANK, Tringa erythropus, Zwarte Ruiter
30+ at the Sakumono Lagoon near Accra.

75.           MARSH SANDPIPER, Tringa stagnatilis, Poelruiter
50+ at the Sakumono Lagoon near Accra.

76.           COMMON GREENSHANK, Tringa nebularia, Groenpootruiter
25+ at the Sakumono Lagoon near Accra.

77.           GREEN SANDPIPER, Tringa ochropus, Witgat
1 at Hans Cottage Botel and 2 at Mole NP.

78.           WOOD SANDPIPER, Tringa glareola, Bosruiter
1 at Hans Cottage Botel and 25+ at the Sakumono Lagoon near Accra.

79.           COMMON SANDPIPER, Actitis hypoleucos, Oeverloper
2 along the Pra River, singles at Hans Cottage Botel, on the coast near Axim and at the Sakumono Lagoon near Accra.

80.           LITTLE STINT, Calidris minuta, Kleine Strandloper
5 at the Sakumono Lagoon near Accra.

81.           TEMMINCK’S STINT, Calidris temminckii, Temmincks Strandloper
3 at the Sakumono Lagoon near Accra.

82.           CURLEW SANDPIPER, Calidris ferruginea, Krombekstrandloper
Common at the Sakumono Lagoon near Accra.

83.           DUNLIN, Calidris alpina, Bonte Strandloper
A single bird at the Sakumono Lagoon near Accra.

84.           RUFF, Philomachus pugnax, Kemphaan
10+ at the Sakumono Lagoon near Accra.

85.           GULL-BILLED TERN, Sterna nilotica, Lachstern
A single sighting at the Sakumono Lagoon near Accra.

86.           SANDWICH TERN, Sterna sandvicensi , Grote Stern
25+ along the coast near Axim.

87.           ROYAL TERN, Sterna maxima, Koningsstern
15+ along the coast near Axim.

88.           COMMON TERN, Sterna hirundo, Visdief
A single bird at the Sakumono Lagoon near Accra.

89.           BLACK TERN, Chlidonias niger, Zwarte Stern
20+ at the Sakumono Lagoon near Accra.

90.           AFEB PIGEON, Columba unicincta, Afrikaanse Houtduif
2 at Bobiri Butterfly Reserve.

91.           RED-EYED DOVE, Streptopelia semitorquata, Roodoogtortel
2 en route Kumasi – Mole NP.

92.           VINACEOUS DOVE, Streptopelia vinacea, Wijntortel
A fairly common and widespread species.

93.           LAUGHING DOVE, Streptopelia senegalensis, Palmtortel
A rather common and widespread species.

94.           BLACK-BILLED WOOD-DOVE, Turtur abyssinicus, Zwartsnavelduif
2 at the Shai Hills Resource Reserve.

95.           BLUE-SPOTTED WOOD-DOVE, Turtur afer, Staalvlekduif
Singles at the Winneba Plains, Mole NP and Atewa Range.

96.           TAMBOURINE DOVE, Turtur tympanistria, Tamboerijnduif
4 at Kakum NP and 2 at the Atewa Range.

97.           BLUE-HEADED WOOD-DOVE, Turtur brehmeri, Brehmers Duif
Singles at Ankasa Forest and at the Atewa Range.

98.           BRUCE'S GREEN-PIGEON, Treron waalia, Waaliaduif
A single sighting at Mole NP.

99.           AFRICAN GREEN-PIGEON, Treron calva, Afrikaanse Papegaaiduif
Fairly common at Kakum NP and Ankasa Forest, a few at Bobiri and the Bunso Arboretum.

100.       ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET, Psittacula krameri, Halsbandparkiet
15+ at Mole NP.

101.       BLACK-COLLARED LOVEBIRD, Agapornis swinderniana, Zwartkraagagapornis
A single one at Kakum NP.

102.       GREY PARROT, Psittacus erithacus, Grijze Roodstaartpapegaai
4 at Kakum NP and 2 at Bobiri.

103.       BROWN-NECKED PARROT, Poicephalus robustus, Kaapse Papegaai
A few at Ankasa Forest.

104.       RED-FRONTED PARROT, Poicephalus gulielmi, Congopapegaai
4 at Bobiri.

105.       SENEGAL PARROT, Poicephalus senegalus, Bonte Boertje
6 at the Shai Hills and 7 at Mole NP.

106.       GUINEA (GREEN) TURACO, Tauraco persa, GroeneToerako
4 at the Shai Hills.

107.       YELLOW-BILLED TURACO, Tauraco macrorhynchos, Geelsnaveltoerako
3 at Kakum NP, 1 at Ankasa Forest and 1 at the Atewa Range (H).

108.       VIOLET TURACO, Musophaga violacea, Violette Toerako
2 at Mole NP.

109.       WESTERN GREY PLANTAIN-EATER, Crinifer piscator, Grijze Bananeneter
2 at the Shai Hills and 5 at Mole NP.

110.       LEVAILLANT'S CUCKOO, Clamator levaillantii, Levaillants Koekoek
2 at Mole NP.

111.       GREAT SPOTTED CUCKOO, Clamator glandarius, Kuifkoekoek
A single one at Mole NP.

112.       RED-CHESTED CUCKOO, Cuculus solitarius, Heremietkoekoek
Singles heard at the Shai Hills and the Atewa Range.

113.       BLACK CUCKOO, Cuculus clamosus, Zwarte Koekoek
Singles at Ankasa Forest and at the Atewa Range.

114.       AFRICAN CUCKOO, Cuculus gularis, Afrikaanse Koekoek
A single one at Mole NP.

115.       KLAAS'S CUCKOO, Chrysococcyx klaas, Klaas' Koekoek
3 at Mole NP.

116.       AFRICAN EMERALD CUCKOO, Chrysococcyx cupreus, Smaragdkoekoek
Singles at Kakum NP and at the Atewa Range.

117.       DIDERIC CUCKOO, Chrysococcyx caprius, Diederikkoekoek
2 at Kakum NP, 1 at Mole NP and also 1 at the Atewa Range.

118.       YELLOWBILL, Ceuthmochares aereus, Geelsnavelmalkoha
2 at Kakum NP.

119.       BLACK-THROATED COUCAL, Centropus leucogaster, Witbuikspoorkoekoek
Single ones at Ankasa Forest and at the Bunso Arboretum.

120.       SENEGAL COUCAL, Centropus senegalensis, Senegalese Spoorkoekoek
1 at the Shai Hills and up to 5 a day at Mole NP.

121.       GREYISH EAGLE-OWL, Bubo cinerascens, Grijze Oehoe
A single sighting on the road in Mole NP.

122.       AFRICAN WOOD-OWL, Strix woodfordii, Afrikaanse Bosuil
A single one at Hans Cottage Botel (H).

123.       PEARL-SPOTED OWLET, Glaucidium perlatum, Geparelde Dwerguil
A single one at Mole NP.

124.       PLAIN NIGHTJAR, Caprimulgus inornatus, Marmernachtzwaluw
A single bird at the Picathartes site.

125.       LONG-TAILED NIGHTJAR, Caprimulgus climacurus, Mozambikaanse Nachtzwaluw
6 on the roads in Mole NP.

126.       STANDARD-WINGED NIGHTJAR, Macrodipteryx longipennus, Viervleugelnachtzwaluw
6 on the roads in Mole NP.

127.       SABINE’S SPINETAIL, Rhapidura sabini, Moerasgierzwaluw
10+ at Ankasa Forest.

128.       CASSIN'S SPINETAIL, Neafrapus cassini, Cassins Gierzwaluw
A single one at Kakum NP.

129.       AFRICAN PALM-SWIFT, Cypsiurus parvus, Afrikaanse Palmgierzwaluw
Fairly common in suitable habitat.

130.       COMMON SWIFT, Apus apus, Gierzwaluw
A few at Kakum NP and at Ankasa Forest.

131.       LITTLE SWIFT, Apus affinis, Huisgierzwaluw
A rather common and widespread species.

132.       BATES’S SWIFT, Apus batesi, Bates' Gierzwaluw
3 at Kakum NP.

133.       SHINING-BLUE KINGFISHER, Alcedo quadribrachys, Glansijsvogel
Singles at Kakum NP and at Mole NP.

134.       MALACHITE KINGFISHER, Alcedo cristata, Malachietijsvogel
1 at Kakum NP and 4 at Mole NP.

135.       WHITE-BELLIED KINGFISHER, Corythornis leucogaster, Witbuikijsvogel
Singles at Kakum NP and at Ankasa Forest. Now I have seen all African kingfishers.

136.       AFRICAN PYGMY-KINGFISHER, Ispidina picta, Afrikaanse Dwergijsvogel
A single one at Mole NP.

137.       CHOCOLATE-BACKED KINGFISHER, Halcyon badia, Witkeelijsvogel
Heard at Kakum NP and Ankasa Forest and a splendid sighting at the Atewa Range.

138.       GREY-HEADED KINGFISHER, Halcyon leucocephala, Grijskopijsvogel
2 at Mole NP.

139.       WOODLAND KINGFISHER, Halcyon senegalensis, Senegalijsvogel
2 at Kakum NP, 1 at Ankasa Forest, 2 at Mole NP and 2 at Bobiri.

140.       BLUE-BREASTED KINGFISHER, Halcyon malimbica, Teugelijsvogel
A single one at Ankasa Forest.

141.       GIANT KINGFISHER, Megaceryle maximus, Afrikaanse Reuzenijsvogel
2 at Mole NP.

142.       PIED KINGFISHER, Ceryle rudis, Bonte IJsvogel
3 a day at Hans Cottage Botel and 5 at the Sakumono Lagoon near Accra.

143.       BLUE-HEADED BEE-EATER, Merops muelleri, Blauwkopbijeneter
Splendidly seen at the Atewa Range.

144.       RED-THROATED BEE-EATER, Merops bulocki, Roodkeelbijeneter
Very common at Mole NP.

145.       WHITE-THROATED BEE-EATER, Merops albicollis, Witkeelbijeneter
Fairly common in suitable habitat.

146.       EUROPEAN BEE-EATER, Merops apiaster, Bijeneter
Small numbers at the Shai Hills and the Winneba Plains.

147.       ROSY BEE-EATER, Merops malimbicus, Roze Bijeneter
A single bird at Kakum NP.

148.       ABYSSINIAN ROLLER, Coracias abyssinica, Sahelscharrelaar
Small numbers en route Kumasi – Mole NP and in Mole NP.

149.       RUFOUS-CROWNED ROLLER, Coracias naevius, Roodkruinscharrelaar
A single one in Mole NP.

150.       BLUE-BELLIED ROLLER, Coracias cyanogaster, Blauwbuikscharrelaar
1 at the Shai Hills and 2 en route Kumasi – Mole NP.

151.       BROAD-BILLED ROLLER, Eurystomus glaucurus, Breedbekscharrelaar
2 near Axim and 7 at Mole NP.

152.       BLUE-THROATED ROLLER, Eurystomus gularis, Blauwkeelscharrelaar
4 at Kakum NP.

153.       GREEN WOOD-HOOPOE, Phoeniculus purpureus, Groene Kakelaar
3 at Mole NP.

154.       FOREST WOOD-HOOPOE, Phoeniculus castaneiceps, Bruinkopboomhop
2 at Kakum NP.

155.       BLACK SCIMITAR-BILL, Rhinopomastus aterrimus, Zwarte Boomhop
5 at Mole NP.

156.       WHITE-CRESTED HORNBILL, Tockus albocristatus, Witkuiftok
4 at Kakum NP, 1 at Ankasa Forest and singles at Bobiri and at the Atewa Range.

157.       BLACK DWARF HORNBILL, Tockus hartlaubi, Zwarte Tok
A single bird at Ankasa Forest.

158.       RED-BILLED DWARF HORNBILL, Tockus camurus, Dwergtok
4 at Ankasa Forest.

159.       NORTHERN RED-BILLED HORNBILL, Tockus erythrorhynchos, Roodsnaveltok
A single one at Mole NP.

160.       AFRICAN PIED HORNBILL, Tockus fasciatus, Bonte Tok
Rather common at Kakum NP, 2 at Ankasa Forest and rather common at Bobiri and at the Atewa Range.

161.       AFRICAN GREY HORNBILL, Tockus nasutus, Grijze Tok
Fairly common at the Shai Hills and at Mole NP.

162.       PIPING HORNBILL, Ceratogymna fistulator, Fluitneushoornvogel
3 near Axim, 3 at Ankasa Forest and 3 en route Kumasi – Mole NP.

163.       BROWN-CHEEKED HORNBILL, Ceratogymna cylindricus, Bruinoorneushoornvogel
8 at Ankasa Forest.

164.       BLACK-CASQUED HORNBILL, Ceratogymna atrata. Blauwkeelneushoornvogel
A single one at Ankasa Forest.

165.       YELLOW-CASQUED HORNBILL, Ceratogymna elata, Geelhelmneushoornvogel
A single one at Ankasa Forest.

166.       ABYSSSINIAN GROUND-HORNBILL, Bucorvus abyssinicus, Noordelijke Hoornraaf
4 at Mole NP.

167.       NAKED-FACED BARBET, Gymnobucco calvus, Kaalkopbaardvogel
Singles at Kakum NP and Bobiri.

168.       BRISTLE-NOSED BARBET, Gymnobucco peli, Pels Borstelneus
2 at Bobiri.

169.       SPECKLED TINKERBIRD, Pogoniulus scolopaceus, Gespikkelde Ketellapper
2 at Kakum NP, 1 at the Bunso Arboretum and 1 at the Atewa Range.

170.       YELLOW-FRONTED TINKERBIRD, Pogoniulus chrysoconus, Geelvoorhoofdketellapper
2 at the Shai Hills, 2 at the Winneba Plains and 1 at the Atewa Range.

171.       YELLOW-SPOTTED BARBET, Buccanodon duchaillui, Geelvlekbaardvogel
A single sighting at Ankasa Forest.

172.       HAIRY-BREASTED BARBET, Tricholaema hirsuta, Geelparelbaardvogel
1 at Kakum NP and 2 at Ankasa Forest.

173.       VIEILLOT’S BARBET, Lybius vieilloti, Roodgele Baardvogel
Singles at the Shai Hills and at the Atewa Range.

174.       DOUBLE-TOOTHED BARBET, Lybius bidentatus, Dubbeltandbaardvogel
2 at the Shai Hills.

175.       BEARDED BARBET, Lybius dubius, Zwartbandbaardvogel
1 en route Kumasi – Mole NP and 4 at Mole NP.

176.       SPOTTED HONEYGUIDE, Indicator maculatus, Gevlekte Honingspeurder
1 at the Atewa Range (H).

177.       GREATER HONEYGUIDE, Indicator indicator, Grote Honingspeurder
A single sighting in Mole NP.

178.       LEAST HONEYGUIDE, Indicator exilis, Kleinste Honingspeurder
1 at Kakum NP.

179.       AFRICAN PICULET, Sasia africana, Afrikaanse Dwergspecht
A single one at Bobiri (H).

180.       LITTLE GREEN WOODPECKER, Campethera maculosa, Goudrugspecht
2 at Kakum NP.

181.       BUFF-SPOTTED WOODPECKER, Campethera nivosa, Termietenspecht
A single sighting at Ankasa Forest.

182.       CARDINAL WOODPECKER, Dendropicos fuscescens, Kardinaalspecht
A single one at Mole NP.

183.       MELANCHOLY WOODPECKER, Dendropicos lugubris, Melancholische Specht
1 at Ankasa Forest and 2 at Bobiri.

184.       FIRE-BELLIED WOODPECKER, Dendropicos pyrrhogaster, Vuurbuikspecht
4 at Kakum NP and 1 at Ankasa Forest.

185.       GREY WOODPECKER, Dendropicos goertae, Grijsgroene Specht
2 at Mole NP and 1 at Bobiri.

186.       RUFOUS-SIDED BROADBILL, Smithornis rufolateralis, Roodflankbreedbek
A splendid observation of 2 birds displaying at the Atewa Range.

187.       FLAPPET LARK, Mirafra rufocinnamomea, Ratelleeuwerik
3 at the Shai Hills.

188.       SUN LARK, Galerida modesta, Zonneleeuwerik
4 at Mole NP.

189.       ROCK MARTIN, Hirundo fuligula, Kaapse Rotszwaluw
2 en route Kumasi – Mole NP.

190.       BARN SWALLOW, Hirundo rustica, Boerenzwaluw
Fairly common near Kakum NP.

191.       ETHIOPIAN SWALLOW, Hirundo aethiopica, Ethiopische Zwaluw
Small numbers at Mole NP.

192.       WIRE-TAILED SWALLOW, Hirundo smithii, Roodkruinzwaluw
Small numbers at Mole NP.

193.       WHITE-THROATED BLUE SWALLOW, Hirundo nigrita, Zwarte Zwaluw
2 near Twifo Praso along the Pra River.

194.       LESSER STRIPED-SWALLOW, Hirundo abyssinica, Savannezwaluw
Fairly common near Kakum NP.

195.       COMMON HOUSE-MARTIN, Delichon urbica, Huiszwaluw
A few at Mole NP.

196.       SQUARE-TAILED SAWWING, Psalidoprocne nitens, Junglekamzwaluw
3 at Ankasa Forest.

197.       FANTI SAWWING, Psalidoprocne obscura, Fanteekamzwaluw
2 at Kakum NP.

198.       AFRICAN PIED WAGTAIL, Motacilla aguimp, Afrikaanse Bonte Kwikstaart
2 at the Winneba Plains Hills, 2 near Kakum NP and 2 at the Bunso Arboretum.

199.       WESTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL, Motacilla flava, Westelijke Gele Kwikstaart
3 at Mole NP and 1 at the Sakumono Lagoon near Accra.

200.       TREE PIPIT, Anthus trivialis, Boompieper
A single one at Mole NP.

201.       BLUE CUCKOO-SHRIKE, Coracina azurea, Blauwe Rupsvogel
2 at Kakum NP and 1 at Bobiri.

202.       RED-SHOULDERED CUCKOO-SHRIKE, Campephaga phoenicea, Roodschouderrupsvogel
2 at the Shai Hills, 1 at Kakum NP and 2 at Mole NP.

203.       COMMON BULBUL, Pycnonotus barbatus, Grauwe Buulbuul
A very common and widespread species.

204.       LITTLE GREENBUL, Andropadus virens, Groene Buulbuul
2 at Kakum NP and 1 at Ankasa Forest.

205.       GREY (LITTLE GREY)GREENBUL, Andropadus gracilis, Dwergbuulbuul
2 at Kakum NP, 1 at Ankasa Forest, 2 at Bobiri and 1 at the Atewa Range.

206.       ANSORGE’S GREENBUL, Eurillas ansorgei, Ansorges Buulbuul
A single sighting at Bobiri.

207.       PLAIN (CAMEROON SOMBRE) GREENBUL, Andropagus curvirostris, Alexanderbuulbuul
2 at the Atewa Range.

208.       SLENDER-BILLED GREENBUL, Andropadus gracilirostris, Dunsnavelbuulbuul
3 at Kakum NP.

209.       YELLOW-WHISKERED BULBUL, Andropadus latirostris, Geelbaardbuulbuul
A single one at Ankasa Forest.

210.       GOLDEN GREENBUL, Calyptocichla serina, Goudbuulbuul
A single one at the Atewa Range.

211.       HONEYGUIDE GREENBUL, Baeopogon indicator, Witstaartbuulbuul
2 at Kakum NP.

212.       SPOTTED GREENBUL, Ixonotus guttatus, Gevlekte Buulbuul
10+ at Kakum NP.

213.       SWAMP (PALM) GREENBUL, Thescelocichla leucopleura, Moerasbuulbuul
A single sighting at Ankasa Forest.

214.       (SIMPLE) LEAFLOVE, Phyllastrephus scandens, Zingende Gabonloofbuulbuul
A single sighting at the Shai Hills.

215.       ICTERINE GREENBUL, Phyllastrephus icterinus, Kleine Loofbuulbuul
Singles at Kakum NP and at Ankasa Forest.

216.       COMMON BRISTLEBILL, Bleda syndactyla, Roodstaartblada
A single one at the Atewa Range (H).

217.       GREY-HEADED BRISTLEBILL, Bleda canicapilla, Grijskopblada
A single one at the Atewa Range.

218.       YELLOW-SPOTTED(WESTERN) NICATOR, Nicator chloris, Grijskeelnicator
Singles at Ankasa Forest and at Bobiri.

219.       RED-TAILED GREENBUL, Criniger calurus, Roodstaartbaardbuulbuul
2 at Kakum NP and 1 at Ankasa Forest.

220.       WESTERN BEARDEDGREENBUL, Criniger barbatus, Temmincks Baardbuulbuul
A single sighting at Ankasa Forest.

221.       YELLOW-BEARDED GREENBUL, Criniger olivaceus, Groene Baardbuulbuul
A splendid sighting at Ankasa Forest.

222.       FINSCH’S FLYCATCHER-THRUSH, Neocossyphus finschii, Finsch' Kortpootlijster
Singles at Ankasa Forest and at the Atewa Range.

223.       AFRICAN THRUSH, Turdus pelios, Pelioslijster
A single one at Mole NP.

224.       SINGING CISTICOLA, Cisticola cantans, Witbrauwgraszanger
2 at the Atewa Range.

225.       CROAKING CISTICOLA, Cisticola natalensis, Natalgraszanger
6 at the Shai Hills and 2 at the Winneba Plains.

226.       SIFFLING (SHORT-WINGED) CISTICOLA, Cisticola brachypterus, Kortvleugelgraszanger
3 at the Shai Hills.

227.       ZITTING CISTICOLA, Cisticola juncidis, Graszanger
3 at the Sakumono Lagoon near Accra.

228.       TAWNY-FLANKED PRINIA, Prinia subflava, Roestflankprinia
A single one at Axim.

229.       YELLOW-BREASTED APALIS, Apalis flavida, Geelborstapalis
1 at Mole NP.

230.       SHARPE’S APALIS, Apalis sharpei, Kortstaartapalis
A single one at Kakum NP.

231.       ORIOLE WARBLER, Hypergerus atriceps, Wielewaalzanger
2 at Mole NP.

232.       GREEN-BACKED CAMAROPTERA, Camaroptera brachyura, Mekkercamaroptera
2 at the Shai Hills and 1 at Kakum NP.

233.       YELLOW-BROWED CAMAROPTERA, Camaroptera superciliaris, Geelbrauwcamaroptera
A single one at Kakum NP.

234.       MOUSTACHED GRASS-WARBLER, Melocichla mentalis, Baardgrasvogel
A single sighting at Mole NP.

235.       SENEGAL EREMOMELA, Eremomela pusilla, Groenrugeremomela
10+ at Mole NP.

236.       RUFOUS-CROWNED EREMOMELA, Eremomela badiceps, Roodkaperemomela.
6 at Kakum NP and 1 at the Atewa Range.

237.       GREEN CROMBEC, Sylvietta virens, Groene Krombek
3 at Kakum NP and 2 at Bobiri.

238.       LEMON-BELLIED CROMBEC, Sylvietta denti, Geelbuikkrombek
A single one at Kakum NP.

239.       NORTHERN CROMBEC, Sylvietta brachyura, Senegalese Krombek
A single one at the Shai Hills.

240.       GREY LONGBILL, Macosphenus concolour, Grijze Langsnavelzanger
A single sighting at Kakum NP.

241.       GREEN HYLIA, Hylia prasina, Hylia
Single one at Kakum NP and at the Atewa Range.

242.       WILLOW WARBLER, Phylloscopus trochilus, Fitis
4 at Mole NP.

243.       WOOD WARBLER, Phylloscopus sibilatrix, Fluiter
A single one at the Atewa Range.

244.       VIOLET-BACKED HYLIOTA, Hyliota violacea, Violetrughyliota
3 at Kakum NP.

245.       NORTHERN BLACK-FLYCATCHER, Melaenornis edolioides, Senegalese Drongovliegenvanger
4 at Mole NP.

246.       AFRICAN (FRASER’S ) FOREST-FLYCATCHER, Fraseria ocreata, Stricklands Bosvliegenvanger
A single sighting at Ankasa Forest.

247.       SPOTTED FLYCATCHER, Muscicapa striata, Grauwe Vliegenvanger
15+ at the Shai Hills and 1 at the Atewa Range.

248.       GAMBAGA FLYCATCHER, Muscicapa gambagae, Gambagavliegenvanger
A single sighting at Mole NP.

249.       SWAMP FLYCATCHER, Muscicapa aquatica, Moerasvliegenvanger
A single sighting at Mole NP.

250.       DUSKY-BLUE FLYCATCHER, Muscicapa comitata, Dofblauwe Vliegenvanger
Singles at Kakum NP and at the Atewa Range.

251.       CASSIN'S (CASSIN'S GREY) FLYCATCHER, Muscicapa cassini, Cassins Vliegenvanger
A single one at Ankasa Forest.

252.       EUROPEAN PIED FLYCATCHER, Ficedula hypoleuca, Bonte Vliegenvanger
5 at Mole NP.

253.       FOREST ROBIN, Stiphrornis erythrotorax, Bosakalat
A single one at the Atewa Range (H).

254.       WHITE-CROWNED ROBIN-CHAT, Cossypha albicapillai, Schubkaplawaaimaker
2 at Mole NP.

255.       FOREST SCRUB-ROBIN, Cercotrichas leucosticta, Boswaaierstaart
A single sighting at the Atewa Range.

256.       MOCKING CLIFFCHAT, Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris, Roodbuikkliftapuit
2 at the Shai Hills.

257.       BLACK-AND-WHITE SHRIKE-FLYCATCHER, Bias musicus, Zwart-witte Klauwiervliegenvanger
A single one at the Bunso Arboretum.

258.       BROWN-THROATED (COMMON) WATTLE-EYE, Platysteira cyanea, Bruinkeellelvliegenvanger
4 at Mole NP.

259.       CHESTNUT WATTLE-EYE, Platysteira castanea, Witstuitlelvliegenvanger
4 at Bobiri and 1 at the Atewa Range.

260.       RED-CHEEKED WATTLE-EYE, Platysteira blissetti, Roodwanglelvliegenvanger
A single one at the Atewa Range (H).

261.       SENEGAL BATIS, Batis senegalensis, Senegalese Vliegenvanger
2 at the Shai Hills and 1 at Mole NP.

262.       WEST AFRICAN (BIOKO) BATIS, Batis occulta, Nimbavliegenvanger
A single sighting at Kakum NP of the subspecies (Batis occulta poesis).

263.       CHESTNUT-CAPPED FLYCATCHER, Erythrocercus mccallii, Roodkapelfmonarch
Singles at Kakum NP and Bobiri.

264.       AFRICAN BLUE-FLYCATCHER, Elminia longicauda, Turkooismonarch
3 at Mole NP.

265.       BLACK-HEADED (RED-BELLIED) PARADISE-FLYCATCHER, Terpsiphone rufiventer, Roodbuikparadijsmonarch
2 at the Atewa Range.

266.       AFRICAN PARADISE-FLYCATCHER, Terpsiphone viridis, Afrikaanse Paradijsmonarch
2 at Mole NP.

267.       WHITE-NECKED ROCKFOWL (YELLOW-HEADED PICATHARTES), Picathartes gymnocephalus, Witnekkaalkopkraai
Splendid sightings of 2 birds at the cave of the Picathartes site.

268.       PUVEL'S ILLADOPSIS, Illadopsis puveli, Puvels Lijstertimalia
A single one at the Atewa Range.

269.       BROWN ILLADOPSIS, Illadopsis fulvescenss, Bruine Lijstertimalia
A single one at Kakum NP.

270.       BLACKCAP BABBLER, Turdoides reinwardtii, Zwartkapbabbelaar
5 at the Shai Hills and 10+ at Mole NP.

271.       BROWN BABBLER, Turdoides plebejus, Sahelbabbelaar
5 at the Shai Hills.

272.       WHITE-WINGED BLACK-TIT, Melaniparus leucomelas, Rüppells Mees
2 at the Shai Hills and 3 at Mole NP.

273.       TIT HYLIA, Pholidornis rushiae, Dwergmeesastrild
A single sighting at the Bunso Arboretum.

274.       LITTLE GREEN SUNBIRD, Anthreptes seimundi, Kortstaarthoningzuiger
3 at Kakum NP.

275.       GREEN SUNBIRD, Anthreptes rectirostris, Goudbandhoningzuiger
Singles at Kakum NP and at Ankasa Forest.

276.       COLLARED SUNBIRD, Hedydipna collaris, Halsbandhoningzuiger
4 at Kakum NP, 2 at Bobiri and 1 at the Atewa Range.

277.       PYGMY SUNBIRD, Hedydipna platura, Kleine Honingzuiger
4 at Mole NP.

278.       GREEN-HEADED SUNBIRD, Cyanomitra verticalis, Groenkophoningzuiger
A single one near Axim.

279.       BLUE-THROATED BROWN SUNBIRD, Cyanomitra cyanolaema, Bruinrughoningzuiger
2 at Kakum NP, 1 at Ankasa Forest and 2 at Bobiri.

280.       BUFF-THROATED SUNBIRD, Chalcomitra adelberti, Adelberts Honingzuiger
2 at Kakum NP, 1 at Ankasa Forest, 1 at Bobiri and 3 at Bunso Arboretum.

281.       SCARLET-CHESTED SUNBIRD, Chalcomitra senegalensis, Roodborsthoningzuiger
2 en route Kumasi Mole NP and 1 at Mole NP.

282.       OLIVE-BELLIED SUNBIRD, Cinnyris chloropygia, Olijfbuikhoningzuiger
2 at Kakum NP.

283.       TINY SUNBIRD, Cinnyris minullus, Kabouterhoningzuiger
1 at Bobiri and 3 at the Atewa Range.

284.       BEAUTIFUL SUNBIRD, Cinnyris pulchellus, Feeënhoningzuiger
A single one at Mole NP.

285.       SPLENDID SUNBIRD, Cinnirys coccinigaster, Roodbuikhoningzuiger
4 at the Winneba Plains and 1 at Bobiri.

286.       SUPERB SUNBIRD, Cinnirys superbus, Prachthoningzuiger
A single one at Kakum NP.

287.       COPPER SUNBIRD, Cinnyris cupreus, Koperhoningzuiger
Fairly common at the Shai Hills.

288.       AFRICAN YELLOW WHITE-EYE, Zosterops senegalensis, Afrikaanse Brilvogel
2 at the Atewa Range.

289.       AFRICAN GOLDEN ORIOLE, Oriolus auratus, Afrikaanse Wielewaal
A single one at Mole NP.

290.       WESTERN BLACK-HEADED ORIOLE, Oriolus brachyrhynchus, Blauwvleugelwielewaal
1 at Kakum NP, 2 at Ankasa Forest and 1 at the Atewa Range.

291.       BLACK-WINGED ORIOLE, Oriolus nigripennis, Zwartvleugelwielewaal
2 at Kakum NP.

292.       COMMON FISCAL, Lanius collaris, Gekraagde Klauwier
3 near Axim, 1 en route Kumasi – Mole NP, 4 near Kumasi and 1 at the Atewa Range.

293.       YELLOW-BILLED SHRIKE, Corvinella corvine, Geelsnavelklauwier
Singles at Mole NP and near the Sakumono Lagoon near Accra.

294.       BRUBRU, Nilaus afer, Broebroe
2 at Mole NP.

295.       NORTHERN PUFFBACK, Dryoscopus gambensis, Gambiapoederdonsklauwier
3 at Mole NP and 1 at the Bunso Arboretum.

296.       LARGE-BILLED (SABINE’S) PUFFBACK, Dryoscopus sabini, Sabines Poederdonsklauwier
4 at Kakum NP.

297.       BLACK-CROWNED TCHAGRA, Tchagra senegala, Zwartkruintsjagra
2 at the Winneba Plains, 1 at Mole NP and 1 at the Atewa Range.

298.       COMMON (YELLOW-CROWNED) GONOLEK, Laniarius barbarus, Goudkapfiskaal
1 at the Winneba Plains and 3 at Mole NP.

299.       SULPHUR-BREASTED BUSHSHRIKE, Telophorus sulfureopectus, Oranje Bosklauwier
5 at Mole NP.

300.       WHITE (WHITE-CRESTED) HELMETSHRIKE, Prionops plumatus, Helmklauwier
A few at the Shai Hills.

301.       CHESTNUT-BELLIED (RED-BILLED) HELMETSHRIKE, Prionops caniceps, Roodsnavelklauwier
5 at Ankasa Forest and 5 at Bobiri.

302.       SHINING DRONGO, Dicrurus atripennis, Staalglansdrongo
2 at Ankasa Forest.

303.       FORK-TAILED DRONGO, Dicrurus adsimilis, Fluweeldrongo
1 at the Shai Hills, small numbers at Mole NP and Bunso Arboretum.

304.       VELVET-MANTLED DRONGO, Dicrurus modestus, Fluweelmanteldrongo
Small numbers at Kakum NP and Bobiri and 1 at the Atewa Range.

305.       PIAPIAC, Ptilostomus afer, Piapiac
20+ at the Shai Hills.

306.       PIED CROW, Corvus albus, Schildraaf
Abundant in Ghana.

307.       LESSER BLUE-EARED GLOSSY-STARLING, Lamprotornis chloropterus, Blauwoorglansspreeuw
A single one at Mole NP.

308.       SPLENDID GLOSSY-STARLING, Lamprotornis splendidus, Prachtglansspreeuw
1 at the Winneba Plains, 6 near Axim, common at Ankasa Forest and a few at Bobiri.

309.       PURPLE GLOSSY-STARLING, Lamprotornis purpureus, Purperglansspreeuw
A single bird near the Sakumono Lagoon near Accra.

310.       LONG-TAILED GLOSSY-STARLING, Lamprotornis caudatus, Groene Langstaartglansspreeuw
Rather common at Mole NP.

311.       COPPER-TAILED GLOSSY-STARLING, Lamprotornis cupreocauda, Koperstaartglansspreeuw
2 at Kakum NP and 1 at Ankasa Forest.

312.       VIOLET-BACKED STARLING, Cinnyricinclus leucogaster, Amethistspreeuw
Common at the Shai Hills and 5 at Kakum NP.

313.       (FOREST) CHESTNUT-WINGED STARLING, Onychognathus fulgidus, Kastanjevleugelspreeuw
Small numbers at Kakum NP and at the Bunso Arboretum.

314.       NARROW-TAILED STARLING, Poeoptera lugubris, Spitsstaartspreeuw
2 at the Bobiri Butterfly Sanctuary.

315.       NORTHERN GREY-HEADED SPARROW, Passer griseus, Grijskopmus
Small numbers at the Winneba Plains and at Axim.

316.       BUSH PETRONIA, Petronia dentata, Kleine Rotsmus
Small numbers at Mole NP.

317.       CHESTNUT-CROWNED SPARROW-WEAVER, Plocepasser superciliosus, Roestwangwever
4 at Mole NP.

318.       LITTLE WEAVER, Ploceus luteolus, Dwergmaskerwever
2 at Mole NP.

319.       BLACK-NECKED WEAVER, Ploceus nigricollis, Zwartnekwever
2 at Kakum NP and 1 at Kumasi.

320.       ORANGE WEAVER, Ploceus aurantius, Koningswever
A small colony at Hans Cottage Botel.

321.       HEUGLIN’S MASKED-WEAVER, Ploceus heuglini, Heuglins Wever
3 at Mole NP.

322.       VILLAGE (BLACK-HEADED) WEAVER, Ploceus cucullatus, Grote Textorwever
Small numbers at the Shai Hills and the Winneba Plains, common at Hans Cottage Botel.

323.       VIEILLOT'S (VIEILLOT'S BLACK) WEAVER, Ploceus nigerrimus, Fluweelwever
1 at Kakum NP and a few at the Atewa Range.

324.       YELLOW-MANTLED WEAVER, Ploceus tricolor, Driekleurwever
4 at Kakum NP.

325.       MAXWELL’S BLACK WEAVER, Ploceus albinucha, Rouwwever
2 at Kakum NP and singles at Ankasa Forest and the Atewa Range.

326.       PREUSS’S WEAVER, Ploceus preussi, Preuss' Wever
2 at the Bunso Arboretum.

327.       COMPACT WEAVER, Pachyphantes superciliosus, Bruinstuitwever
Small numbers at the Atewa Range.

328.       GRAY’S (BLUE-BILLED) MALIMBE, Malimbus nitens, Roodkeelprachtwever
A single one at Ankasa Forest.

329.       CRESTED MALIMBE, Malimbus malimbicus, Kuifprachtwever
A single one at Kakum NP.

330.       RED-HEADED MALIMBE, Malimbus rubricollis, Roodkopprachtwever
4 at Kakum NP, 1 at Ankasa Forest, 1 at the Bunso Arboretum and 1 at the Atewa Range.

331.       BLACK-WINGED BISHOP, Euplectes hordeaceus, Roodvoorhoofdwever
10+ at Mole NP and 2 at the Atewa Range.

332.       YELLOW-SHOULDERED WIDOWBIRD, Euplectes macrourus, Geelrugwidavink
2 at the Winneba Plains.

333.       GROSBEAK WEAVER, Amblyospiza albifrons, Dikbekwever
A single sighting at the Atewa Range.

334.       WHITE-BREASTED NEGROFINCH, Nigrita fusconota, Witborstnegervink
2 at the Bunso Arboretum.

335.       CHESTNUT-BREASTED NEGROFINCH, Nigrita bicolor, Bruinborstnegervink
Single ones at Kakum NP and at the Atewa Range.

336.       GREY-HEADED NEGROFINCH, Nigrita canicapilla, Grijskopnegervink
2 at Kakum NP and 1 at the Atewa Range.

337.       RED-FACED (YELLOW-WINGED) PYTILIA, Pytilia hypogrammica, Roodmaskerastrild
4 at the Shai Hills.

338.       WESTERN BLUEBILL, Spermophaga haematina, Roodborstblauwsnavel
A single one at the Atewa Range.

339.       BAR-BREASTED FIREFINCH, Lagonosticta rufopicta, Stippelamarant
3 at Mole NP.

340.       RED-BILLED FIREFINCH, Lagonosticta senegala, Vuurvinkje
A few at Mole NP.

341.       BLACK-BELLIED FIREFINCH, Lagonosticta rara, Zwartbuikamarant
3 at the Atewa Range.

342.       BLACK-FACED FIREFINCH, Lagonosticta vinacea, Wijnrode Amarant
1 at Mole NP.

343.       RED-CHEEKED CORDONBLUE, Uraeginthus bengalus, Blauwfazantje
2 at Mole NP.

344.       ORANGE-CHEEKED WAXBILL, Estrilda melpoda, Oranjekaakje
Fairly common at Mole NP and at the Atewa Range.

345.       BRONZE MANNIKIN, Lonchura cucullata, Gewoon Ekstertje
2 at the Winneba Plains, 4 at Axim and 20+ at Kumasi.

346.       BLACK-AND-WHITE MANNIKIN, Lonchura bicolor, Glansekstertje
6 at the Bunso Arboretum and 8 at the Atewa Range.

347.       MAGPIE MANNIKIN, Lonchura fringilloides, Reuzenekstertje
2 at Hans Cottage Botel.

348.       PALE-WINGED (WILSON’S) INDIGOBIRD, Vidua wilsoni, Wilsons Atlasvink
3 at Mole NP and 1 at the Atewa Range.

349.       PIN-TAILED WHYDAH, Vidua macroura, Dominicanerwida
5 near Kakum NP, 4 en route Axim – Kumasi and common at Mole NP.

350.       TOGO PARADISE-WHYDAH, Vidua togoensis, Togoparadijswida
3 at Mole NP.

351.       YELLOW-FRONTED CANARY, Serinus mozambicus, Mozambiquesijs
3 at Mole NP.

352.       CABANIS’S BUNTING, Emberiza cabanisi, Cabanis' Gors
2 at Mole NP.

SYSTEMATIC LIST MAMMALS

This list follows the sequence and scientific nomenclature of “The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals” by Jonathan Kingdon. Data are estimates of the minimum numbers seen.

The Dutch names follow "Elseviers Gids van de Afrikaanse Zoogdieren" by Haltenorth/Diller/Smeenk.

1.              GEOFFROY’S PIED COLOBUS, Colobus vellerosus,
Common at the Boabeng Fiema Monkey Sanctuary.

2.              OLIVE BABOON, Papio anubis, Baviaan
Small numbers at the Shai Hills and at Mole NP.

3.              PATAS MONKEY, Cercopithecus patas, Patas/Huzarenaap
A single one at Mole NP.

4.              CALLITHRIX MONEY, Cercopithecus aethiops sabaeus, Callithrix Meerkat
A few at Mole NP.

5.              LOWE’S MONKEY, Cercopithecus lowei, Lowe’s Meerkat
Common at the Boabeng Fiema Monkey Sanctuary.

6.              LESSER SPOT-NOSED MONKEY, Cercopithecus petaurista, Westafrikaanse Witneusmeerkat
A single one at Kakum NP.

7.              STRIPED GROUND SQUIRREL, Euxeres erythropus, Gestreepte Grondeekhoorn
Small numbers at Mole NP.

8.              GREEN SQUIRREL, Paraxerus poensis, Groene Eekhoorn
A single one at Kakum NP.

9.              SAVANNAH CANE-RAT, Thryonomys gregorianus, Grote Rietrat
Common at the Shai Hills.

10.          SLENDER MONGOOSE, Herpestes sanguinea, Slanke Mangoeste
3 at Ankasa Forest.

11.          COMMON CUSIMANSE, Crossarchus obscurus, Cusimanse
A single one at Mole NP.

12.          AFRICAN ELEPHANT, Loxodonta africana, Olifant
4 at Mole NP.

13.          COMMON WARTHOG, Phacochoerus africanus, Wrattenzwijn
Fairly common at Mole NP.

14.          RED-FLANKED DUIKER, Cephalophus rufilatus, Roodflankduiker
A single sighting at Mole NP.

15.          BUSHBUCK, Tragelaphus scriptus, Bosbok
Up to 4 a day at Mole NP.

16.          KOB, Kobus kob, Kob
Fairly common at Mole NP.

17.          WATERBUCK, Kobus ellipsiprymnus, Waterbok
10+ at Mole NP.

Other wildlife we did see:

NILE CROCODILE, DWARF CROCODILE, MONITOR LIZARD, AGAMA LIZARD & PYTHON

 

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