A Gambian Experience
or Carry on Birding Norfolk Style!

Lamin Lodge

Tuesday 15th November 2005
Nineteen members met up at Gatwick before dawn and checked in, some going to get breakfast. As the dawn got lighter, the weather outside looked very grey indeed; six hours later we were in the hot sunshine of Banjul International Airport. Many of the group were getting their first taste of Africa and eyes were darting here, there and everywhere for views of new birds. First came a bird we were to see everywhere - Pied Crow - then great excitement when Red-billed Hornbills were spotted on a nearby tree and cattle egrets on the grass verges and we hadn’t even left the airport. As we were whisked off to the Senegambia Hotel, there was a profusion of birds on wires, buildings, trees, the ground and up in the sky - doves, rollers, kingfishers and raptors. This was looking good!

The following are a selection of birds captured on memory cards.

hammerkop	red billed hornbill
yellow billed shrike	Abysinian roller
pied kingfisher	great white egret
hooded vultures	great plantain eater

Dawn over mangroves from Lamin Lodge