Birding The Gambia day 4 Kartong Observatory and River Trip

Monday 29th January Breakfast today was at a later time of 7.30 and we left Farakunku around 8.30 picking up Ebrimah at the bottom of the track before heading south to Kartong.

However half way down the track we stopped as another couple staying at Farakunku were with their guide who had spotted a Pearl-spotted Owlet so I had stop and have a look.

Pearl-spotted Owlet

Arriving 30 minutes later we first looked at the pools by the observatory finding Purple Swamphen, Allens Galinule and Moorhens, quickly followed by a Little Grebe. A flock of around 20 White-faced Whistling Ducks were being flushed by something probably an African Harrier Hawk. A walk along the track towards the sea in the disused sand mines that had become wetlands we saw the intensive ringing nets and were able to view Jacanas, Doves, and a Little Grebe being ringed.

Purple Swamphen

Allens Galinule (I hope)

Zitting Cisticolas (Fan-tailed Warbler)

White-faced Whistling Ducks

Long-tailed Glossy Starling

African Harrier Hawk

Abyssinian Roller

European Hoopoe

Ox with Oxpecker

Oxpecker

Kartong Beach

After enjoying an ice cold bottle of Coke Ebrimah and I set off for a walk along the beach noticing some waders in the distance we headed towards them seeing Grey Plover, Ringed Plover and onclose inspection turned out to be Kentish Plover plus a couple of White-fronted plover. Looking away from the sea Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters were flying over the mangroves and it was there Ebrimah spotted ! of 4 Northern Carmine Bee-eaters. A run up the beach and into the mangroves we eventually found one and then 3 others flew over. A bit of running around and then patiently waiting for them to re-appear I managed to see and get some record shots.

Carmine Bee-eater

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

 Walking back to the car this tagged Hooded Vulture seemed extremely tame

Hooded Vulture

Ebrimah was feeling very pleased that I had seen a bird that was not normally in this area. Our next stop was at the Kartong River Camp only a 5 minute drive away where we had lunch of Butterfish stew with rice. An hours rest looking over the river Allaheim a Mongoose was seen on the Senegal side of the river but disappeared before I got to the camera, Terns, Kingfishers, Gulls all passed the time. It was now time for a boat trip, where I had the boat to myself except for the 2 crew and Ebrimah. Heading down river and within 10mts of Senegal we passed Royal and Caspian Terns, Pink-backed and a single White Pelican, an African Darter whizzed by and then my first view of a Goliath Pelican standing close to a Grey Heron which showed the size difference. Coming back we were able to get a little closer to the Goliath Heron saw several Ospreys, then a Gull-billed Tern and Broad-billed Roller which was another 2 for my list.

Pink-backed Pelican

Caspian Terns Grey-headed Gulls behind

Grey Heron (left)  Goliath Heron (right)

Goliath Heron

Goliath Heron

Goliath Heron

Broad-billed Roller

Osprey

River Camp

Pied Kingfisher

Today was probably my favourite day of the week, seeing Africa away from the towns and tourists.
New species added to my weeks list :-  Little Grebe, African Darter, Great White Pelican, Goliath Heron, Sacred Ibis, Eurasian Spoonbill, African Spoonbill, White-faced Whistling Duck, Spur-winged Goose, Knob-billed Duck, Black-shouldered Kite, Beaudouin's Snake Eagle, Lanner Falcon, Allen's Gallinule, Purple Swamphen, Moorhen, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Black-winged Stilt, Kentish Plover, White-fronted Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit, Gull-billed Tern, Little Swift, Malachite Kingfisher, Northern Carmine Bee-eater, Broad-billed Roller, Hoopoe, Mosque Swallow, Tree Pipit, Common Whitethroat, Zitting Cisticola, Woodchat Shrike, Yellow-billed Oxpecker.