Friday 30th January
Our last morning of the trip, the group split with Chris, Jo and Clare opting to stay around the hotel and beach area. Paul, Bridget and Simon opted to go to Farasuto Forest to see the White-backed Night Heron a lifer for all and managed it just before taking flight.
Alan and I opted to visit Brufut Woods an area near Brufut and Ghana Town where in the past I have always seen plenty of birds. So we left at 9 am for the 20 minute journey there. I last visited in 2023 and since then the vegetation has grown substantially and the once dirt track is now a concrete road with a lot more traffic than in the past. I was surprised that as soon as we met the local guide he took us to a Green Turaco a bird I have only had one fleeting glimpse of before. It was high up in the canopy but we got reasonable views of the bird.
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| Green Turaco |
We walked the trails and found
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| Black-necked Weaver (female) |
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| Red-eyed Dove |
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| Stone Partridges |
A message came through that the Turaco was now at the drinking bowl so we went and had a much better view of it.
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| Green Turaco |
Our guide then took us to see a roosting Long-tailed Nightjar which was no more than 6 feet from the path.
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| Long-tailed Nightjar |
A mixed flock flew in close by which included,
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| Variable Sunbird |
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| Beautiful Sunbird |
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| Green Cameroptera |
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| Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird |
Also seen were Oriole Warbler, Singing Cisticola, Brown and Blackcap Babler, African Grey and Western Red-billed Hornbills. We returned to the area with the drinking pots and the Turaco had moved on, all that came to drink were a couple of Lavender Waxbills and a Laughing Dove.
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| Lavender Waxbills |
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| Laughing Dove |
Our local guide was also knowledgeable on the trees, insects and Butterflies.
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| Elegant Acrea |
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| African Tiger |
We returned back to the hotel around 11.30 giving us time to pack and leave for the airport at 12.30.
Arriving at the airport around 1.00 pm we said our goodbyes to Ebrima and Buba our driver.
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| Buba and Ebrima |
Checking in started not long after we arrived, our flight at 16.10 was on time and landed around 22.30 at London Gatwick. After collecting our luggage and saying goodbyes Clare and I headed for the Premier Inn for me to be told my room was not ready!! Reception sorted me another but before heading off to bed one final drink in the bar was had. Next morning I caught the 07.30 train to Ore arriving home 09.30 on the 1st February.
Summary - A pity about the accommodation hick ups. But I hope everyone enjoyed themselves.
Thanks to everyone who came and made the trip possible and especially to Paul for his expertise, and Alan for his spreadsheets.
A very good trip with all the target species seen. I saw a total of 242 species of which 24 were lifers.
Bird of the trip
Clare and Chris - Scissor-tailed Kite
Jo - Blue-naped Mousebird
Simon - Montagues Harrier
Bridget - Quail Plover
Paul, Alan and Myself - Golden Nightjar
Overall bird of the trip - Golden Nightjar
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| Golden Nightjar |
