19 Februar 2019

Gambia, Bird Photography, January 2019, part 2

Tanji is an important fishing town in Gambia. In the mornings the beach is very busy, full of hundreds of people unloading the fish from the boats.
Tanji Beach
Kids catch falling fish

drying fish
iced fish is packed and exported to Senegal or upcountry
smoking fish for 5 days

At Balaba Camp we could shoot a few very good birds at a bird bath from a hide. Elisabeth and Lamin and their friendly staff made our stay there as pleasant as it is possible without electricity and running water. But of course this is the rural reality for most Gambians. Lamin took us on a bird walk that was very productive!

juvenile Honeyguide
Western Bluebill
Violet Turaco

Lamin and his son on the bird walk

Blue-breasted Rollers mating

4 Rollers in one tree!

around the campfire
Safi at work


two single rooms for our friends


Safi and her helpers
 

water from the well
 



our big hut

the new hide at Balaba Camp
bird bath

Laibo pick us up to drive back to Tanji

18 Februar 2019

Gambia, Bird Photography, January 2019, part 1

Wir reisten über Land aus dem Senegal ein. Eine Prozedur, die man nur mit viel Geduld und Ausdauer erträgt! Unser senegalesischer Fahrer Mbodj bringt uns an die Grenze, mit einer Scheibtruhe führen wir unser Gepäck auf die gambische Seite, dort lange Kontrolle. Schliesslich werden uns je € 55.- abgeknöpft, weil wir auf dem Landweg nicht von der Visapflicht ausgenommen sind. Kein Visum am Flughafen notwendig, hier schon. Nach der Grenze ein Stunde mit Taxi zum Hafen und dann Fähre nach Banjul.
Entering Gambia overland is quite a procedure. It cost us Austrians € 55.- each, although we are exempted from Visa on arrival at an aiport. So we had to pay for the luxury of wheelcart travel.




The ferry had just left so instead of waiting for hours we decided to take a local boat. We were carried aboard and so was our luggage.


On the Banjul side our guide Laibo is still waiting for us with a car! He and a boatman named Senghor load our luggage into Yaya's car.

We had booked in Tanji's Eco Lodge for the first few days, not far from the airport. Perfect setting in the forest, on a sand dune over the beach. Friendly staff and excellent kitchen. Mohammed served delicious fish or chicken, always nicely prepared and presented.



 The plastic problem is a worldwide one, but Gambia is a hot spot!


Fishing village, Brufut, Ghana Town
During the next few days Laibo took us round the birding sites in this region: Tanji Forest and Lagoon, Brufut Woods, Mariana Waterways, Abuko Forest and Farasuto, a bit farther off. Thanks to all the boys who are keeping an eye on these places and have the birds staked out for us lazy photographers! Here are some of the results:


Swallow-tailed Bee-eater at Tanji
 
Laibo also tried to teach me the doves: a difficult matter! I hope to get them right here, - any corrections appreciated!

African Mourning Dove, big, collar, red eye-ring, white sides on tail
 Here two similar Wood Doves, small, quick flight. Red underwings, black tails.


Blue-spotted Wood Dove, red bill, red underwings, no white on tail
Black-billed Wood Dove, flips black tail, red underwing.
Vinaceous, left, and Laughing Dove, right.


Green Turaco, Brufut Woodland
Cardinal Woodpecker, Brufut Woods
Long-tailed Nightjar, Brufut Woods
Standard-winged Nightjar, Brufut Woods
African Darter, Abuko
Fork-tailed Drongo, Abuko
Common Wattle-eye
Red-billed Firefinch
African Paradise Flycatcher, hybrid
African Paradise Flycatcher
Violet Turaco

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Tanji
Black-capped Babbler, Tanji bird bath
Yellow-throated Leaflove
Yellow-crowned Gonolek, Tanji

Broad-billed Roller catching insects in flight, Tanji

Shikra, Tanji

Pied Crow
Paradise Flycatcher
Green Turaco
Pearl-spotted Owlet, Brufut

Long-tailed Nightjar
Western Bluebill, Tanji
Little Greenbul, Tanji bird bath

Abyssinian Roller
Beautiful Sunbird
Oriole Warbler, Kotu bridge
at Tanji Lagoon