Huddsbirder

Well its been six years since we were last in the Gambia our visit dates were to be from the 12^th to the 26^th of November and we would be stopping well away from the Senegambia strip this time down at Tujering and at the Farakunku Lodges, see my trip details here

We had four days out birding

Abuko and Lamin Rice Fields on the 14^th

Kotu Creek/ Cycle Track and Fajara Golf Course on the 19^th

Kartong 20^th

Mandina Ba/Farasuto and Bonto Woods 24^th

Abuko and Lamin Rice Fields

Our first days outing was arranged thru Farakunku Lodge at a cost of £75 for the day lunch not included and the guide for the day was a Lamin K Njie, who turned out to be an excellent guide and is farakunku main guide, he was used by many people in the lodges that week and he was praised by all who used him.

We started at Abuko Nature Reserve a place we had been on all our Gambian visits and always turn out to be a good place, we had heard reports this time that it was now in the hands of some Europeans and was in the process of being tidied up, we could see the evidence of that when we hit the first pool by the bridge. It appears the pools have overgrown quite a bit and the evidence was in the lack of Herons and Egrets about the place, but there were plenty of dragonflies in evidence. Our first birds were around the Darwin Centre and these were Giant and Pygmy Kingfisher along with African Darter, Palm Nut and Hooded Vultures, a Hammerkop gave a us a brief encounter as it flew thru, Pied winged Swallows along with Blue Cheeked Bee eaters were overhead. On then into the forest were we were to see Little Greenbul, Snowy crowned Robin Chat, African Thrush to name a few, it was then onto dinner at Lamin Lodge.

Over dinner when I finally got it as the local Green vervet Monkey pinched half of it before I saw it so that had to be remade but we watched Cattle Egrets, Sandwich and Royal Terns with the odd Western reef Herons and plenty of Hooded Vultures overhead, Common Wattle Eye and Beautiful Sunbirds calling from the mangroves nearby it was then on to the Lamin Rice Fields nearby seeing Little Green Bee eaters  in the mangroves as we travelled from Lamin.

At Lamin we were blessed with an array of Herons and Egrets…. Black Egret, Cattle Egret, Great White Egret, Striated (Green Backed) Heron, Squacco Heron, Western Reef Heron, Purple Heron we were also blessed with Blue breasted Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, Woodland Kingfisher, Malachite Kingfisher, what a place , other waders about were Senegal Thick Knee, Common and Green Sandpipers, Greenshank, now lets add some raptors Shikra, Lizzard Buzzzard, Hooded Vulture, Red Necked Falcon, African Harrier Hawk and Osprey. What a day thanks to Lamin K Njie for being our guide for the day…..to see the full list visit the Trips Tab, Gambia and November 2014 or press this LINK.

Here’s a few photos of the day

Blue Breasted Kingfisher

Squacco Heron

Broad Scarlet Dragonfly

Our second birding trip was for a half day around the Kotu Bridge area taking in the sewage ponds, cycle track with Fajara golf course as well.

Our bird guide for the day was Muttar Barry a guide we came across thru a friend and I was suitably impressed with the guy, arrived on time for the pickup, always keeping a look out for birds, and pleasant to get on with.

So our first port of call of course was the bridge where we now have a raised platform to view across the mangrove/mudflat area, all I will say about this is watch the steps it is whats makes the Gambia for us lol!. Viewing across the flats we saw Ringed Plovers, Grey Plovers, Whimbrel, Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Senegal Thick Knee, Wattled Plover and Spur Winged Plovers, leaving the platform we picked up Pied Kingfishers, Wire tailed Swallows and Hooded Vultures overhead,  we made a brief stop by a well-known tree that attracts warblers and here we saw Namaque Dove, Beautiful and Splendid Sunbirds, Olivaceous and Willow Warblers, Oriole Warbler (heard), Grey backed Camaroptera, Northern Crombec and new for me for the Gambia Sedge Warbler.

We then made our way along the cycle track picking up a Subalpine warbler, Variable Sunbird, Blue Breasted Kingfisher and Blue cheeked Bee eaters overhead, around at the ladies pond a Western Reef Heron, Great White Egret and a Long Tailed Cormorant.

Over at the Sewage ponds we saw plenty of Spur winged Plovers, Black winged Stilts, Wood Sandpipers, Cattle Egrets and a white morph Western Reef Heron, Grey Heron, Black Egrets and a Little Grebe. We then made our way over to the golf course taking in a new pit stop, this place turned out to be a where you can get to sit and have a cold drink etc step up by the bird guides of the area a nice rest up, watered we moved on to the golf course where our highlights were Violet Turaco, African Golden Oriole, Lesser Blue Eared and Long Tailed Glossy Starlings and a Striped Kingfisher .

A great days birding with a good guide who I would happily use again, for a detailed list of all the birds seen that day see this LINK

Black Winged Stilt

Cattle Egrets at the Sewage Ponds

October appeared to finishing as it started off on nonseasonal temperatures due to the nice steady warm air flow hitting the UK from the South however the winds remained high. Today I had a day off and due to plan A not working out plan B came in to play so it was off to Old Moor. The car park was full when I landed, Oops half term forgotten about that, but once on the reserve you wouldn’t have guessed at all that it was a busy day most folk were hanging around the kids play area, so I decided on heading straight down to the Wader Scrape hide stopping off at the large pool hoping for a few Darters in one of their favourite areas, sure as eggs are eggs a couple of Common Darters were lounging on the fence taking in the October sun. After enjoying the Darters and taking in a few photos it was onwards past the family hide, another Common Darter seen on one of the seats as I past, Black headed Gulls overhead, Lapwings and Golden Plovers could be seen in the distance towards Wath Ings hide as I made my way down Green Lane.

So into the Wader scrape hide and on settling into the seat a lovely Little Egret was making its way in front of the hide, doing the paddling/vibration action with its legs, trying to stir up its next feed. Looking around there was also Shoveler, Gadwall, Teal and Mallard along with Coots, Moorhens, and Mute Swans. Cormorants, Black headed Gulls and a couple of Common Gulls could be seen on the mere lake from where I was sat and a Great Crested Grebe cruised past, Back on wader scrape lots of Wigeon now about in various places and Canada Geese also.

Wath Ings is where I headed next picking up as Gorse Shield Bug on one of the fence posts as I made my way to the hide. At Wath Ings there are now plenty of Golden Plover and Lapwing building up into a nice winter flock, I also caught site of 2 Ruff and a single Dunlin, alas the hoped for Greenshank wasn’t located, and a Sparrowhawk did a quiet fly passed settling in on one of the left hand bushes

Back then along Green Lane were I was buzzed by a Red Admiral Butterfly and a Common Darter Dragonfly neither stopping, coming back passed the Family Hide looking thru the gorse, as I usually do, I found a splendid looking Speckled Bush Cricket, photo opportunity was on hand, ten minutes passed before I moved on deciding then to try the new Bittern hide and in doing so found quite a gathering of Noon Flies [Mesembrina meridian] on one of the bridges, (a very distinctive large fly with a red/orange patch on the wings close to the body) I’ve noticed rather a lot of these flies about at the moment especially at work a rather common fly between April and late October especially around cattle areas but I’ve not seen as many as I have over the last week before. From the Bittern hide the Sparrowhawk, or another was seen, then a Kingfisher flew past, usual thing, and a Grey Heron was watched feeding along the water line.

My next stop for the day was at the Tree Sparrow Farm where I caught up with Reed Bunting, Chaffinch, Blackbird, Robin and of course Tree Sparrow. My final stop for the day was at the bird garden where I watched Greenfinch, Great Tit, Pheasant, Dunnock, Collard Dove and Bullfinch, that was my visit to Old Moor and of course I had to finish the splendid day off with—-coffee time

The Day List in no Particular Order :-

Kingfisher, Reed Bunting, Common Buzzard, Wren, Black headed Gull, Lapwing, Little Egret, Cormorant, Magpie, Coot, Magpie, Shoveler, Wigeon, Teal, Gadwall, Mallard, Mute Swan, Moorhen, Starling, Great Crested Grebe, Canada Goose, Ruff, Golden Plover, Dunlin, Sparrowhawk, Woodpigeon, Grey Heron, Chaffinch, Tree Sparrow, Blue Tit, Pheasant, Robin, Blackbird, Great Tit, Collard Dove, Greenfinch, Common Darter, Speckled Bush Cricket, Noon Fly, Green Shield Bug

Common Darter

Speckled Bush Cricket

Little Egret

Gorse Shield Bug

It’s been long overdue May 2011 was the last time I’d been in this part of Yorkshire the birds had been good all week so what the eck! But needless to say on arrival most of the migrants had  moved on. The first delight was a Great Grey Shrike near the canal scrape area but that was definitely camera-shy soon disappearing from view so I moved on and decided to walk down to the Old high lighthouse.

Walking along the tidal edge of the River Humber I was soon picking a few waders on route, Common Redshank were plentiful as were Curlew and Oystercatcher in and among you could pick up Dunlin, Sanderling, Turnstone and Ringed Plover, a nice surprise was a Little Egret bobbing up and down as it was walking along the creeks. 

Getting closer to the lighthouse (which is 3 mile down the spit) I was picking winter thrush Redwing and Blackbird mainly and I did happen on a single Fieldfare, there was also a few House martins making their way south along the spit heading on in to migration and warmer climes, thinking yep a few more weeks and I’ll be joining you.

As I came near to the chalk bank hide I found a very nice Golden Plover walking along the tide line in front of me, so watching and waiting it came closer my way and nicely played model for me as I rattled off a few photos, a beautiful moment

Golden Plover

On then to the lighthouse where I stopped for a while before heading back on the return journey picking up a few more species as I went North,  Shelduck were about and Brent Geese are back for the winter months. smaller species included Dunnock, Meadow Pipit, with Goldfinch and Linnet overhead there were also a few Stonechat about as well to take pleasure in watching

Stonchat

Not a bumper day out but a pleasurable one and it was good to see Spurn again maybe I won’t leave it has long before I visit again

Day List (in no particular order) :-

Starling, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Black headed Gull, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Redwing, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Willow Warbler/Chiffchaff, Great Grey Shirke, Linnet, Meadow Pipit, Stonechat, Brent Goose, Shelduck, Curlew, Redshank, Ringed Plover, Sanderling, Turnstone, Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Dunlin, Lapwing, Little Egret, Mallard, House Martin

Had a little walk today around the Sands Lane area mainly by the weir area and was surprised at how many domestic Geese and Ducks there are now there, signs of people feeding?? any wild stuff Black headed Gulls, Mallards and a pair of Kingfisher along with a pair of Grey Wagtails. The sun was playing out today and where there were still a few flowers about you could still find a few hoverflies I managed to see Eristalis pertinax, a few Syrphus Sp and a Episyrphus balteatus

Grey Wagtail

Episyrphus balteatus

Canal Path

I managed to get the trap up and running again, but apparently it was flicking in the early hours of the morning, my wife went to the toilet, looks like I’ll have to get the battery checked out to see if that’s at fault, cheapest option first,

Good moths were had with  Canary shouldered Thorn first seen and a first for the garden along with Brown spot Pinion and The snout also firsts for the garden, in support were Large Yellow Underwing, Middle barred Minor and Light Brown Apple Moths. Not a lot of moths trapped but three new for the garden

The Snout

Brown spot Pinion

Canary shouldered Thorn

B2B or back to birds and back to Old Moor RSPB to do it the waders are coming back thru so I decided on a change for this weekend leave the trap alone and catch up on some birding.

Bittern hide was the first port of call for the reported Kingfishers that were showing well , the hide was full needless to say, and within ten minutes of waiting one kingfisher gave good views and a few people got good photos, i didn’t. We waited an hour the bird reappeared to our left this time due to people leaving I was in a good place, it stayed in the reeds for a good ten minutes, needless to say at a distance, then took off flying out of sight, no landing on  the post this time, so we left.

After leaving the hide we caught up with an easier photogenic creature Dragonflies, there were Ruddy and Common Darters along with Migrant Hawker which unlike the Kingfisher gave us some wonderful poses, great models.

We walked then down to Wath Ings hide taking photos of the Darters as we went, on arriving at the Wath Ings hide we soon caught sight of a few wader species Black tailed Godwits, Dunlin (3), Green Sandpiper (5), Spotted Redshank (5), and Ruff (2) and along with the waders Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Shoveler, Teal, Gadwall, Mallard, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Black headed Gulls, Little Grebe, Starlings

We then walked back to the wader scrape hide and its whilst doing so I found a Female Common Blue Butterfly a well-worn individual but a first it was, and a long side the Argus a Common Blue Butterfly so a good comparison was made. Other butterflies for the day were there Speckled Wood these were seen in various places around the reserve and a Comma along Green Lane, eventually from the hide a nice surprise was seeing a Pintail. 

The family hide is where we saw plenty of Sand Martin and a Common Sandpiper, a couple of Stock Dove, plenty of Linnets. In at the bird garden Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Great Tit, Blue Tit, 

Species list fot the day :-

Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Little Grebe, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Teal, Shoveler, Gadwall, Pintail, Grey Heron, Blackbird, Starling, Linnet, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Woodpigeon, Stock Dove, Kingfisher, Magpie, Sand Martin, Spotted Redshank, Dunlin, Black tailed Godwit, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Ruff, Lapwing, Black headed Gull, Mute Swan, Pied Wagtail, Cormorant, BROWN ARGUS Butterfly, Common Blue Butterfly, Comma Butterfly, Speckled Wood Butterfly, Azure Damselfly, Migrant Hawker, Common Darter, Ruddy Darter

Common Blue Butterfly (♀)

One of the many Common Darters

Ruddy Darter

I must admit I’ve got behind due to life getting in the way and me having too much to do at this time of year, so this entry will be a two night moth night with last week’s towards the end. The weather forecast for the weekend of the 15^th wasn’t looking good only plausible night would be Friday into Saturday; I was going to be up early anyway due to the Rutland Water Birdfair so an extra hour would be okay. The before bed check didn’t hold any surprises this week with only Light Brown Apple Moths and Large Yellow Underwings taking to the light so far, unlike last week’s Orange Swift (0015). The early morning check at 6am (getting later now as we roll in to the Autum/Winter months) however did bring another new species for the garden, this time a micro moth called Udea lutealis (1388), and a worn one it was too. After the count we headed off the Birdfair where we met our hosts for this year’s holidays (watch this space) and also saw my first Deaths Head Hawkmoth (captive reared) on the Butterfly Conservation stand along with some caught moths from the previous night, Black Arches, Jersey Tiger and an old favourite Canary shouldered Thorn which I caught last year back in Dorset, here’s my list from the 15^th

1. Common Marbled Carpet – 1764 (1)
2. Common Rustic agg (3)
3. Dark Arches – 2321 (1)
4. Large Yellow Underwing – 2107 (11)
5. Lesser Yellow Underwing – 2112 (1)
6. Light Brown Apple Moth – 998 (3)
7. Middle barred Minor – 2340 (1)
8. Pug Sp (3)
9. Udea lutealis – 1388 (1)
10. Willow Beauty – 1937 (1)

And the list from the 8^th with Orange Swift being new to the garden

1. Cabbage Moth – 2154 (1)
2. Clay – 2193 (1)
3. Common Rustic agg (3)
4. Dark Arches – 2321 (1)
5. Large Yellow Underwing – 2107 (6)
6. Lesser Broad bordered Yellow Underwing – 2111 (1)
7. Marbled Beauty – 2293 (1)
8. Orange Swift – 0015 (1)

Udea lutealis

Orange Swift

Death’s Head Hawkmoth

Another night with the trap firmly planted in the back garden, forecast was good for Sunday into Monday which I didn’t want to do  due to work, I like doing the Friday in to Saturday but due to rain moving in for Friday/Saturday nights Sunday was the option, however this changed so it was a Saturday into Sunday, 3 new moths species for the garden (Definatly a Yellow theme to the night) so here is the list and a couple of photos to enjoy

1. Common Rustic agg (3)
2. Dark Arches – 2321 (3)
3. Dotted Clay – 2130 (1)
4. Garden Rose Tortix – 1048 (1)
5. Heart and Dart – 2089 (2)
6. Ingrailed Clay – 2120 (2)
7. Large Yellow Underwing – 2107 (17)
8. Least Yellow Underwing – 2112 (1)
9. Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing -2111 (1)
10. Lesser Yellow Underwing – 2109 (1)
11. Light Arches – 2322 (1)
12. Marbled Beauty – 2293 (1)
13. Middle barred Minor – 2340 (2)
14. Pug Sp (1)
15. Swallow tailed Moth – 1922 (1)

Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing

Least Yellow Underwing

Dotted Clay

Another Moth night this time back at home in the garden were its nice and safe from midges, we’d had a meal out so the trap was put out before hand and was in full swing on my return, so I had a sneak look, Swallow tailed was in and a Scalloped Oak, and then what appeared to be a thorn moth on the side so I was hoping this would be trapped by morning. Bright and early once again so heres the findings

1. Cabbage Moth – 2154 (1)
2. Common Rustic agg (3)
3. Dark Arches – 2321 (3)
4. Garden carpet – 1728 (1)
5. Garden grass Veneer – 1293 (1)
6. Grey/Dark Dagger (1)
7. Large Yellow Underwing – 2107 (15)
8. Marbled Beauty – 2293 (4)
9. Middle barred Minor – 2340 (1)
10. Riband wave – 1713 (1)
11. Scalloped Oak – 1921 (1)
12. Spindle Ermine – 427 (1)
13. Swallow Tailed Moth – 1922 (1)
14. The Uncertain – 2381 (1)
15. Water Veneer – 1331 (1)
16. Willow Beauty – 1937 (1)

Grey/Dark Dagger

Spindle Ermine

I was in a dilemma for this week’s night of Moth trapping, the Friday night into Saturday had a forecast of rain, however the Thursday night was good, warm night giving a min of 15° with a nice easterly wind at 5mph, the sting was work Friday morning getting in at 6am so I’d have to be up very early if the trap went out Thursday night.  The decision was to put out the trap Thursday night,  get up 30mins earlier than normal, empty the trap and then on to work aiming for a 6:30am start so I could be away for 10:30am, plan made.

Friday morning came, I was up on time and approached the trap for 5:15am, the first Moth seen was a Swallow tailed, smiley face, then I saw the rest it was full, looks like I was going to be in work later than planned. I started a quick count and to see what I could ID straight away, highlights were the Swallow tailed’ (5), Burnished Brass (2), Mother of Pearl (1), and a Willow Beauty. At the end of the session it turned out to be the best night’s moth trapping for me so far with 24 species trapped, that was ID, with near on a hundred moths (lots of none ID micros) not forgetting the none moth of a Boatman beetle (1)  PS I was in work for 6:35am

Italic are new for the trap, Bold lifers

1. Aphomia sociella or Bee Moth – 1428 (1)
2. Burnished Brass – 2434 (2)
3. Clay – 2193 (1)
4. Common Wainscot – 2199 (2)
5. Common Footman – 2050(1)
6. Common Rustic agg (6)
7. Dark Arches – 2321 (10)
8. Foxglove Pug – 1817 (1)
9. Garden grass Veneer – 1293 (1)
10. Gothic – 2136 (3)
11. Heart and Dart – 2089 (1)
12. Large Yellow Underwing – 2107 (11)
13. Marbled Beauty – 2293 (13)
14. Marbled Minor agg (1)
15. Middle barred Minor – 2340 (1)
16. Mother of Pearl – 1405 (1)
17. Riband wave – 1713 (9)
18. Scalloped Oak – 1921 (1)
19. Small Fan-foot – 2492 (1)
20. Smoky Wainscot – 2198 (1)
21. Swallow tailed Moth – 1922 (5)
22. The Flame – 2098 (1)
23. The Uncertain – 2381 (1)
24. Willow Beauty – 1937 (1)

Swallow tailed Moth

Mother of Pearl

Burnished Brass

Small Fan-foot