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Chandlers Ford “Falcons” |
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CAPE CREEK RD AND RICE FIELD
This site lies just outside Banjul and contains both Mangroves, tidal sand bank, rice fields and dry mudflats. We visited the sight area three times; once in the morning and twice after 16:00. The later trips were more productive.
It’s best to walk from the Banjul Highway to the Cape Creek entrance, thus having time to see the diversity of birds. Senegal Parrot roosted in the Baobab trees; we spotted four in one tree, Broad Billed, Ruferous Crowned and Abyssinian Rollers were always present on the wires. Little Bee-eater was numerous, and close views of Senegal Thicknees were had as Sacrid Ibis came in to roost!. Black Shouldered Kites were common, and both Pied-Winged, Red chested and Wire tailed swallow were numerous.
At the creek entrance waders were numerous; Wattled and Spur winged Plover were very common, Avocet and Black-winged Stilt,Grey Plover and Common Sandpiper were also present.
However on a first visit to the creek on 4/12 we spotted an American Golden Plover in winter plumage. The bird was very confiding being seen down to about 20m!. This was a one of a very few records for The Gambia, and we passed details on to Clive Barlow. The mangroves also produced Mouse-Brown Sunbird.
A visit to the nearby rice field yielded roosting Squacco Herons,White faced Whistling Duck and Grey Kestrel. |
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Fishing, Cape Creek |