Wednesday 21st January, at 8.00 we loaded the bus and set off for our journey into Senegal. Driving into Banjul and then taking the ferry across the Gambia River to Barra.
The ferry journey took around an hour and the time was spent looking at the seabirds including Arctic Skuas, Lesser-crested Terns, Whiskered Terns and Gulls.
A 30 minute drive from Barra brought us to the border with Senegal where the formalities of leaving the Gambia were more complicated than entering Senegal. Another 30 minute drive into Senegal brought us to the Keur Saloum Resort Hotel. The rooms were set out in thatched Round Houses to a high standard. After checking in we had a lovely lunch over looking the river.
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| My Roundhouse |
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| Bedroom and lounge |
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| Lunch |
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| Tuna Pasties as a starter |
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| The local Senegal beer |
After lunch we took a short walk to the pontoon where we boarded a boat for a couple of hours cruise along the Keur Saloum Delta where our main target was a White-crested Tiger Heron.
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Keur Saloum Delta
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Birds were few and far between but we did find a flock of Whimbrel on a mud bank plus
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| Western-reef Heron |
A big surprise was this African Finfoot only my third ever seen,
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| African Finfoot |
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| Pied Kingfisher |
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| Purple Heron |
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| African Darter |
Just as we were thinking we were out of luck Chris shouted there it is and we watched the Heron skulking in the undergrowth. With the boatman carefully moving the boat around we were able to get excellent views as it walked into an opening.
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| White-crested Tiger Heron |
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| White-crested Tiger Heron |
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| White-crested Tiger Heron |
With every one highly delighted we headed back to the hotel for a shower and a lovely buffet dinner followed by entertainment of drumming and fire-eaters
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| Entertainment! |
Thursday 22nd, after breakfast we set off for Kaolack, a journey of just over a couple of hours stopping at Ndiaffate a dry grassy area on the banks of the River Saloum forming another part of the Saloum Delta. Here we spent the rest of the morning.
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| Ndiaffate |
Our main target were Bustards and we wern't disappointed as Saville's and Black-bellied were seen well plus a glimpse of White-bellied Bustard also.
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| Saville's Bustard |
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| Black-bellied Bustard |
Also seen were Cut-throat, Village Indigo bird and
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| Namaqua Dove |
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| Woodchat shrike |
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| Black-headed Weaver (non breeding) |
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| Speckled Pigeon |
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| Desert Cisticola |
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| White-rumped Seedeater |
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| Pygmy Sunbird |
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| Senegal Thicknee |
Around midday we left for our next hotel 30minutes away in Kaolack. A little confusion over the number rooms required but eventually we all got checked in.
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| Le Relais de Kaolack |
Lunch was had in the restaurant with a choice of Fish, Chicken or Beef with the same choice in the evening for dinner.
Later in the afternoon we returned to Ndiaffate to visit the island Foret Classee de Kousmar where thousands of Scissor-tailed Kites and Lesser Kestrels roost. To get to the island we had to go by boat that would only take 4 of us at a time.
Once every one was across we met the local guide who took us to an area where the Kites come into roost, slowly they started to appear and then more and more came eventually settling in a distant tree.
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| Scissor-tailed Kites |
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| Lesser Kestrel |
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| Kite Roost |
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| Kite roost heavily cropped |
With there being several other birding parties on the island we made the executive decision to leave ahead of the others so we were'nt waiting for the return boat.
Arriving back at the hotel as darkness fell dinner was at 8pm. A couple of expensive whiskies afterwards and another successful day in Senegal had been had.
Friday 23rd, today probably the worst day as it was spent travelling north however a couple of stops were made.
Out first main stop was a place near Mbar where we saw Blue-naped Mousebird, Longtailed, Chestnut-bellied, Lesser and Greater Blue-eared Starlings and Sudan Golden Sparrows.
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| Blue-naped Mousebird |
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| Lesser Blue-eared Starling |
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| Greater Blue-eared Starling |
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| Sudan Golden Sparrow |
Our second stop was at some farm land near Typ where Quail Plover had been traditionally seen, walking the harvested maize fields we flushed several Small Button-Quail and one possible candidate for Quail Plover but not confirmed. Also seen in the area Singing Bushlark, Desert Cisticola,Chestnut-backed Sparrowlark, Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin which gave far better views than the one did in Lesvos last year.
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| Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin |
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| Chestnut-backed Sparrowlark |
Our lunch stop was near Darou Mousti where we added Black Scrub Robin and Speckled-fronted Weaver to our list.
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| Black Scrub Robin |
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| Speckled-fronted Weaver |
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| White-billed Buffalo Weaver also seen |
Our afternoon stop was just before Louga where we saw a herd of Camels - it was good to get out the bus and stretch our legs. Little did we know we still had 3 more hours journey to our next hotel
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| Domesticated Camels |
Passing around the back of St Louis we headed up the N2 towards Richard Toll turning off at Ross Bethio onto a dirt track which seemed to go on for ever, in fact 45 minutes where we reached Campement Bidiel our accommodation for the next two nights. Unfortunately they had been double booked and so at 7pm we were taken to another lodge Campement Villageois Njagabaar where there were enough rooms if I was to share which I wasn't so I was put into an old staff room / cleaners cupboard.
Dinner was served at 8pm back at Campement Bidiel (at least they had beer)
Saturday 24th Breakfast this morning was also back at Campement Bidiel where we were told we couldn't stay another night at Villageois Njagabaar as they were booked. I was not happy to say the least about all this, but maybe where we do stay tonight must be better than last night.
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| Campement Bidiel where should have stayed! |
