Report of an Ecotours trip to Ghana
26th January to 10th February 2008
White-necked Picathartes (Picathartes gymnocephalus) © Szabolcs Kókay
Seen near Assin Fosu on 31st January 2008
THE TRIP
Introduction
This report is a record of a bird watching trip made to Ghana for the 16 days from 26th January to 10th February 2008. Those taking part were Pam and John Smallwood.
Preparation
After an interesting and enjoyable birding trip to Hungary and Slovakia with Ecotours of Hungary Ltd in 2007, we decided we would like to go on one of their African trips. Our first choice was Ethiopia, but because of the kidnappings and other problems prevailing at the time we started to look elsewhere. Having spoken to Gabor Orban of Ecotours Ltd at the British Bird Fair, Ghana seemed a good alternative with its excellent list of sub Saharan bird species, exotic butterflies, a wide range of habitats together with friendly people and an established infrastructure for bird watching. Early in discussions with Ecotours we were informed that Attila Steiner, our guide in Hungary and Slovakia, would be leading the trip and so we decided to go for it. Attila provided all the information we required with a steady stream of e-mails passing between us.
Flights were booked by us using KLM from Birmingham, our local airport, to Accra in Ghana via Amsterdam. This flight was not the cheapest but had the most convenient timing which allowed arriving in the evening before the trip started the following day as well as making the most of our final day with a late return flight.
Although the trip had been well advertised by Ecotours there were no other participants on it and so we had in effect a private trip.
The Trip
We arrived at Accra about half an hour later than advertised to be met by Attila Steiner and our driver. The first night was spent in Accra before travelling west along the coast heading towards Cape Coast and on to the Hans Cottage Botel near Kakum National Park. We were to spend four nights there before heading north, stopping at Assin Fosu and Kumasi for one night each, prior to continuing further north to spend four nights in Mole National Park. Leaving Mole we headed south back to Kumasi and on to Atewa before finishing the trip back in Accra. More details of the tour are given in the Itinerary and Travel Notes.
Guides
As stated above, our principle guide for the trip was Attila Steiner, Ecotour’s Principle Guide and Tour Consultant. He was to be joined by a local guide, Robert Oteng-Appau, employed by the Ghana Wildlife Society. Roberts’s knowledge of the Ghanaian birds, particularly their calls, was to be an outstanding help in their identification. In addition to Attila and Robert, we were to have local guides, or rangers, in the majority of the parks and reserves visited. These local guides varied in their bird watching ability from extremely good to someone just to accompany us, sometimes with a gun to frighten off any marauding elephants or baboons should they get too close. Two very good guides worthy of mention were Zack at Mole National Park and Steven at Shai Hills.
In addition to the guides, we had a dedicated driver of the mini bus during the trip, Eric.
Accommodation
We slept at seven different hotels, one of them twice, which ranged from very good to just about acceptable but all allowed us to have a good nights sleep. The first night was in Accra at Sam’s Cottage Hotel; a nice hotel but not in a particularly attractive area. The next four nights were spent at Hans Cottage Botel near Kakum, which like so many of the hotels in Ghana had been allowed to deteriorate due to a lack of maintenance. This was a great shame as some of the hotels had obviously been very nice at some stage. The next hotel at Assin Fosu was so-so but as it was convenient to the Yellow-headed Picathartes site it was acceptable. The Engineering Guest House in the grounds of Kumasi University was by far the best hotel of the trip and we stayed there on the journey north as well as our return journey south.
Our most northern point was in the Mole National Park where we stayed in the Mole Hotel. This was such a superb position overlooking a number of large water holes that the few shortcomings in the accommodation could easily be overlooked. But we understand that the room in which we stayed, together with the other rooms in the terrace, were to be completely renovated upon our departure! During the four nights we were there they ran out of the staple vegetable yam and although it was freely available from every roadside seller or market, they refused to travel to Larabanga, the nearest village, to get some. This restricted the choice of vegetable to rice which became a little tiresome after a time. The Royal Blumich Hotel at Atewa had a grand promise on its display board that it failed to deliver, but again, as it was the most convenient hotel to Atewa and we were only there one night, it was acceptable. The last hotel was the Guest House at Accra University and this could have been very nice, but again this was spoilt by lack of maintenance.
While we travelled around the country, the choice of food served in the hotels generally seemed to get less and less the further we went. While there was a good choice at Sam’s Cottage, Hans Cottage and Kumasi, other places were more limited. At our final hotel we were offered the choice of rice, chips or yam with chicken (just chicken!) and when we all chose chips we were told that there was insufficient and we would have to have rice to make up the short fall; but at least it was filling and tasty.
Weather
The first few days of the trip tended to be very slightly cool early in the morning but it soon started to warm up and by midday, or even earlier in the north of the country, it was too hot to bird in comfort unless you were in the forest and in the shade of trees. The skies on all days up to and including the 6th were cloud free, but in the evening of the 6th on our return journey from Mole we were entertained by an electric storm in the south of the country and a few drops of rain. The 7th was overcast but still very warm with heavy rain and sudden high winds which lasted for a short time around lunch time. The 8th continued overcast but very warm, while at lunch time on the 9th a tropical storm, again with heavy rains and winds managed to soak us. These downpours lasted for just over an hour but soon cleared up to become pleasant and warm again. Around the coastal areas the air tended to be very humid but it became less so as we moved inland.
During our visit, the Harmattan, which is a dry and dusty north-easterly trade wind and which prevails in the winter, was blowing from the Sahara. On its passage over the desert it picks up fine dust particles and this resulted in a reduction in visibility down to between one and half and two kilometres. This had no effect on the birding but gave a slightly eerie affect of being enclosed by fog.
Conclusions
Ecotours billed the trip as ‘Ghana is your dreams come true’ and we would not disagree with that! All that they said in their write up for the trip: ‘sunshine, fantastic scenery, extremely friendly people, exotic butterflies and birds’ was right, although some of the birds mentioned did elude us.
Once it was confirmed that Attila Steiner would be leading the tour, as mentioned above, a steady stream of e-mails regarding various aspects of the trip flowed between us. Any questions we had were quickly and fully answered. On our arrival in Accra we were given check-lists of the birds, up to date itineraries and other relevant information.
The final number of birds seen was somewhat more than had been expected and with the expertise of our two guides and the assistance of the other guides and rangers in the various reserves visited the final list of bird species seen was an impressive 355, which included 32 raptors, ten kingfishers, eight bee-eaters and ten hornbills. In addition, ten species were heard but not seen. The ‘seen’ birds included a personal ‘new bird list’ of 134. In addition to the birds, a number of mammals and reptiles were seen, while insects, particularly moths and butterflies were well in evidence and we were able to get close enough to many of them to photograph them.
The success of any birding trip relies to a great extent on the skills of the guides and in this instance both Attila and Robert ensured a highly successful time was had by Pam and myself. Their skills in spotting and identifying the birds and ensuring we had the best view of them made for an enjoyable and worthwhile trip Our transport was a 15 seater 3 litre Ford Transit mini-bus which proved to be very satisfactory in terms of comfort, space and its ability to reach places which should have only been accessible to a 4x4. The driver, Eric, drove the mini-bus well giving the passengers a comfortable journey and when not driving or cleaning it out, willingly helped handle luggage and assisted where possible. Our thanks go to all three of them for 14 days of great birding.
Everything Ecotours had said about the trip had proved to be true and although we did miss out on the Congo Serpent-Eagle, African Pitta and Pel’s Fishing Owl we are quite content for these to wait for another day.
Any further information can be obtained from John Smallwood at johnsmallwood@blueyonder.co.uk.
REFERENCES
Tour Company
Ecotours Hungary Ltd. Villanyi 62, 1113 Hungary. Phone/Fax:00 36 1 2790 252. www.ecotours.hu
Books
Ian Sinclair & Peter Ryan. 2003. Birds of Africa South of the Sahara.
Nik Borrow & Ron Demey. 2004. Field Guide to the Birds of Western Africa
John G Williams. A Field Guide to the Butterflies of Africa.
Chris & Tilde Stuart. 2001. Mammals of Southern, Central and East Africa. (Best one available without paying a fortune)
Map
International Travel Maps. 2007. Scale: 1:500,000. Ghana. (Generally a good map but with some roads missing and some unexpected place names!)
ITINERARY AND TRAVEL NOTES
What follows is a summary of the places and various sites visited on our trip to Ghana together with details of some of the birds seen and heard. For complete details of all the birds seen, please refer to the Systematic Lists.
Day 1: Saturday, 26th January
Route: Flight from Birmingham to Accra via Amsterdam
A trouble free although very bumpy flight from Birmingham to Amsterdam and then a much smoother flight to Accra, both by KLM. We departed Amsterdam some 50 minutes late due to some passengers trying to load too much hand luggage into the overhead lockers and it having to be re-distributed. However, some of this time was made up on the journey and we arrived in Accra about 8 o’clock in the evening where we were met by Attila and our bus driver and taken to our hotel for dinner and our first night. As we had arrived in the dark we were unable to see anything of the town and no birding was done.
Night at Sam’s Lodge Hotel, Accra.
Day 2: Sunday, 27th January
Route: Accra – Sakumono Lagoon – Muni Lagoon – Winneba Plains – Lily Pond – Hans Cottage Botel, Kakum
Up before first light, out by 6.00am and driven to Sakumono Lagoon, an area of water alongside the coast road east of Accra, for our first taste of Ghana’s birds. Soon had ticked off Pied Crow, Laughing and Red-eyed Doves before we got to the lagoon where we were to see a good selection of water birds and waders. These included Little Grebe, Long-tailed Cormorant, Squacco, Black and Grey Heron, Intermediate, Great, Little, Western-reef and Cattle Egrets. There were also African Spoonbill, White-faced Whistling Ducks, Peregrine, Black-wing Stilts, as well as a good selection of waders both large and small. Terns were represented by Little, Black – many hundreds flying between the sea and the lagoon – Roseate, Common, Royal, Gull-billed and Sandwich. Others seen included Water Thick-knee, Little Ring Plover, Whimbrel, 2 Yellow-throated Longclaw and a very obliging Pied Kingfisher. An excellent start to the day, but that was not the end of it. We then drove around to the rear of the lagoon, away from the sea next to a Sports Club and climbed onto an observation tower platform where we had views of African Jacana, Grey Plover, Collared Pratincole, Little Bee-eater, African Grey Hornbill, Western Marsh Harrier, as well as some of the birds we had seen earlier. All the while we were seeing Pied Crows and lots of Yellow-billed Kites which we were to see in good numbers for most of the trip.
Dragging ourselves away we returned to the hotel for breakfast and then loaded up the luggage and drove west out of a crowded Accra towards the coastal lagoons at Muni near to Winneba. Birds seen here included Bar-tailed Godwit as well as a number of waders and water birds seen previously. From here we moved to the nearby Winneba Plains where we were to see our first land birds as opposed to water birds; these were a pair of Black-winged Kites, Lizard Buzzard, African Hobby, Black-billed Wood-dove, 2 beautiful Green Turacos giving us good scope views, Simple Greenbul, Whinchat, Red-winged Warbler, Red-faced Cisticola, Spotted Flycatcher, Woodchat Shrike, Brown-crowned Tchagra, our first Buff-throated Sunbird, Yellow-shouldered Widowbird, Pin-tailed Whydah and Bar-breasted Firefinch. From here we stopped en route to Hans Cottage Botel at a roadside pool known as the Lilyponds. Here the local children were collecting water but stopped on our arrival while we saw Squacco Heron, one female Comb Duck, Common Moorhen, Purple Swamphen, a nearby Malachite Kingfisher and a large flock of White-faced Whistling Duck.
After what had been an excellent first day’s birding we booked into the Hans Cottage Botel, had a good evening meal and retired to bed exhausted but happy having seen a total of 95 species.
Birds Seen Today: 95 New Birds: 95 Total To Date: 95
Day 3: Monday, 28th January
Route: Hans Cottage Botel, Kakum – Antwikwa – Elmina Fort – Brenu Beach - Hans Cottage Botel, Kakum
A late rising with breakfast at 7am with birdwatching from the balcony of the restaurant. Plenty of Hooded Vulture, Pied Crow and Yellow-billed Kite along with Cattle Egret, a large colony of Village Weaver, Vieillot’s Weaver, African Palm Swift, Lesser Striped Swallow, Grey Kestrel and various Splendid Glossy Starlings. We left the hotel after a leisurely breakfast at 8.20am, called into the reception at the Kakum National Park before driving further up the road to walk into the forest at Antwikwa. The forest is part of what remains of the Guinean Rainforest of West Africa and is one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems on the African Continent. Birds seen included Broad-billed Roller, Swamp Palm Bulbul, Green Hylia, Red-necked Buzzard, African Harrier-Hawk, Red-thighed Sparrowhawk, 2 Rosy Bee-eaters, Woodland Kingfisher, Chestnut-breasted Negrofinch, Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher, a very nice view of a solitary Long-crested Eagle plus Honey Buzzard, African Green Pigeon and Tambourine Dove. The forest track soon became overgrown and we had to turn back, which although disappointing, caused us to obtain good close views of one of the highlights of the trip when we were to see as many as 6 Black Bee-eaters. After lunch we drove to the coast and did our tourist bit by visiting the well known slave Fort Jago at Elmina. Here we were able to see the conditions in which the slaves were kept before being transported to the Americas. It was interesting to be guided around the fort and to learn of its history but it was nicer to leave and to continue with our birding.
Leaving Elmina we drove to the Brenu Beach Road which runs along the side of the Gulf of Guinea where we saw Striated, Purple and Western Reef Herons, Black-winged Stilt, Greenshank and Common Sandpiper, a nice pair of Green Turacos, a Marsh Tchagra, our last Whinchat of the trip, Copper Sunbird and a few Yellow-shouldered Widowbirds. Following this we drove back to Hans Cottage for our evening meal and an early night.
Birds Seen Today: 71 New Birds: 35 Total To Date: 130
Day 4: Tuesday, 29th January
Route: Hans Cottage Botel, Kakum – Kakum National Park and Canopy Walkway – Cape Coast Lagoon - Hans Cottage Botel, Kakum
An early start to get up onto the Kakum Canopy Walkway by 6.30am. With very few people around we positioned ourselves on one of the tree trunk perched platforms linking the suspended walkways which gave us spectacular views over the canopy of the rainforest. Birds were soon in evidence with plenty of African Green Pigeons, Levaillant’s and African Emerald Cuckoos, a pair of Forest Wood-hoopoe, Rosy Bee-eater, Black-casqued Hornbill and African Pied-Hornbill, Cassin’s Honeyguide, our first sighting of Naked-faced Barbet, Speckled Tinkerbird, Little Green and Fire-bellied Woodpeckers, Red-tailed, Slender-billed and Little Greenbuls, our only sighting of Western Nicator, a nice view of Lemon-bellied Crombec, Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, Chestnut Wattle-eye, Blue Cuckoo-shrike, plus many Glossy Starlings, Sunbirds, Weavers and other species. Viewing from the platform is a superb way to birdwatch in the rain forest if the birds are about. We were able to look down on them as well as seeing them at eye level which avoided the neck crunching ache usually associated with rainforest birdwatching.
After a very successful mornings birding we retired for a welcome breakfast at the Kakum Visitor Centre before continuing birding while we walked along the road for a short distance. Few birds apart from a White-tailed Alethe were seen, but we almost trod on a well concealed Black Cobra lying very still in the road-side grass.
After returning to the hotel for lunch we drove back into Cape Coast to visit the Cape Coast Lagoon. This stretch of water just off the coast road produced a good variety of water birds including among others Little Grebe, Squacco Heron, Intermediate, Little and Western Reef Egrets, Black-winged Stilts, Spur-winged Lapwing, Grey Plover, Sanderling, Ruddy Turnstone, Wood, Common and Marsh Sandpipers, Green Sandpiper, Redshank, Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Little Bee-eater and Yellow Wagtail.
We then drove back to Hans Cottage Botel along virtually deserted roads due to the fact that the Ghana National football team were playing that night in the Africa Cup and almost everyone would have been glued to a television set cheering on their team.
Birds Seen Today: 91 New Birds: 34 Total To Date: 164
Day 5: Wednesday, 30th January
Route: Hans Cottage Botel, Kakum - Kakum National Park and Canopy Walkway and Ebony Trail - Abrafo Village Palmnut Plantation – Hans Cottage Botel, Kakum
Another early rise to return for another walk on the Kakum Canopy Walkway. We were both feeling a little fragile this morning due to the occupant on the adjacent room running his air conditioning all night which created a great deal of noise and resulted in us having little sleep. Arrived at Kakum and immediately set off to climb up to the walkway. Once there we were surprised to find that the number of birds we were seeing was only a fraction of those seen yesterday. The reason for this was difficult to know but it was a little cooler than yesterday which could have made a difference. What we did see included Blue-spotted Wood-Dove, Grey and Red-fronted Parrot, 2 Brown-cheeked Hornbill, Didric and Klaas’s Cuckoo, Grey-headed Bristlebill and Kemp’s Longbill. After returning to the visitor centre for breakfast, we once again climbed up to the walkway, but this time walked onto the Ebony Trail which takes you through the forest at ground level. We saw White-crested Hornbill, a Blue-throated Roller, 2 Sabine’s Puffbacks and a Fraser’s Sunbird during the walk.
After lunch at the hotel we drove to the west side of Kakum Nation Park to the village of Afiaso and walked through Palmnut Plantation there. Here we were to see African Harrier-Hawk, Red-necked Buzzard, African Hobby, Fanti Saw-wing and Grey-headed Negrofinch amongst others.
Following that, we returned to Han’s Cottage Botel for the night.
Birds Seen Today: 71 New Birds: 19 Total To Date: 183
Day 6: Thursday, 31st January
Route: Hans Cottage Botel, Kakum – Twifo-Praso - Assin Fosu
Today we rose early – which day hadn’t we? – and left Hans Cottage before breakfast to drive to Assin Fosu. We first headed north towards Twifo-Praso but turned off the main road to head for the small village of Afiaso. From here we walked towards the west side of the Kakum National Park but turned back when almost at the boundary of the reserve as birds were proving elusive. Passing a plantation on our return we once again had some excellent views of Black Bee-eaters as well as African Cuckoo-Hawk and Blue-throated Roller so the journey was far from wasted.
Continuing on to Twifo-Praso and then to Assin Fosu, we had lunch and booked into our hotel before returning along the road to drive to the site of the White-necked Picathartes or Rockfowl. The site was some way from the road and having met two local rangers who were to accompany us, we walked through the hilly rain forest to be at the site before the birds came to roost. We were told that it was important that the birds must not be aware of our presence or they may not come close enough to be seen. After a relatively short wait we obtained excellent views of at least 4 birds that came very close to where we were sitting, while another one gave a brief distance view. By then the light was beginning to fade and we finished our return walk through the forest in the pitch black just by the light of torches. A tiring one hour walk to get there and an equally tiring and difficult walk back, but very well worth the effort to experience those unmistakable and strange looking birds.
Night spent at hotel in Assin Fosu.
Birds Seen Today: 71 New Birds: 7 Total To Date: 190
Day 7: Friday, 1st February
Route: Assin Fosu – Aboabo – Owabi Sanctuary – Kumasi University
Kumasi was our destination for today, but first we visited the Aboabo section of the Kakum National Park. Here we had a nice selection of woodland and forest birds including a perched Long-tailed Hawk, a pair of Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill, Black Dwarf Hornbill, Copper-tailed Glossy-Starling, Tit-hylia, Rufous-crowned Eremomela and a nice selection of Sunbirds including Green, Buff-throated, Olive-bellied, Blue-throated Brown and Western Olive.
Following this we headed for Kumasi and the delights of its ring road with its slow moving traffic before reaching the Engineering Guest House on the Kumasi University campus and booking in. We then set off to drive to the Owabi Wildlife Sanctuary. This is actually a bird sanctuary and was founded after a dam was built here to supply Kumasi with water. The permanent lake, which is constantly filled by the Owabi River and the quiet surroundings make an ideal place for birds and some other animals and reptiles. A number of herons were seen here including Striated, Squacco and Purple as well as the ubiquitous Little and Cattle Egrets. Others seen were 4 Ahanta Francolins, 4 African Pygmy Goose, a Malachite Kingfisher, White-crested Hornbill and as we were walking back to the bus to leave we had good views of a Giant Kingfisher. However, the bird we had most wanted to see, the Finfoot, eluded us.
With that we returned to the procession on the Kumasi ring road and headed back to the best hotel on the trip for an enjoyable evening meal and a good nights sleep.
Birds Seen Today: 91 New Birds: 19 Total To Date: 209
Day 8: Saturday, 2nd February
Route: Kumasi – Sunyani – Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary at Boabeng – Kintampo – Damongo – Larabanga - Mole Hotel
Up at first light to have an early breakfast and load up the bus for the long journey to Mole. Some time was spent birding just outside the hotel where views over the town gave us sights of a pair of Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher and some of the more common birds.
Due to extensive road works on the Kumasi to Tamale road we took an alternative route by travelling to Sunyani and cutting across country to join the main road at Techiman and while this was a longer journey is was quicker. To break the journey we stopped at the Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary at Boabeng, about 20 km north of Nkoranza, where we were shown Mona Monkeys of which they have about 500 and the Ursine Colobus Monkeys numbering about 200. The two communities of Boabeng and Fiema came together in 1975 to pass a byelaw, prohibiting harm to the monkeys. They revere the animals with the belief that the monkeys are the children of the God of the twin-community.
After stopping at Kintampo for lunch, we continued to Mole stopping only after crossing the Black Volta River at a couple of road side pools which produced an unexpected array of birds. These included Black-headed Heron, the only Spur-winged Goose seen, many Grasshopper Buzzard, Brown Snake-Eagle, Dark Chanting Goshawk, 2 Abyssinian, 6 Blue-bellied and 2 Rufous-crowned Rollers, Grey Woodpecker and Long-tailed Glossy-Starling. It is amazing what can be seen when you stop just to see one bird; we had obviously reached a different habitat!
Driving on to the Mole National Park, we arrived at the Mole Hotel about 8.00pm, too late to do any birding but just early enough to get a meal and climb into bed.
Birds Seen Today: 52 New Birds: 20 Total To Date: 229
Day 9: Sunday, 3rd February
Route: Mole Hotel – Samole Plains – Airstrip - Mole Hotel
At first light we were at the viewing platform on the edge of the escarpment overlooking the Samole Flood Plain. This was to be our port of call each morning before we set out and each evening on our return to look out to see the Elephants bathing in the pools and the birds gathered around the edges. We started the day with a multitude of Helmeted Guineafowl, Double-spurred Francolin and an unexpected Denham’s Bustard. A walk along the rim of the escarpment just inside our hotel produced Viellot’s Barbet, Familiar Chat, Lead-coloured Flycatcher, White-shouldered Tit, the first views of Pygmy, Beautiful and Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Little Weaver, Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-weaver and Red-cheeked Cordonbleu.
To travel anywhere in the park it is necessary to have an armed guide/ranger accompany you and so after breakfast we met up with Zack, one of the guide/rangers who Robert had insisted on having. Zack’s knowledge of the birds and their sites was very good and he was to lead us for the first two days we were in the park. Our first walk was down to the flood plain where almost immediately we were to see 2 Greyish Eagle-Owls and 2 Cinnamon-brested Buntings. Later on we saw our first and only Red-billed Hornbill and Village Indigobird of the trip. After a time the heat was beginning to get a little too much so we retreated to the hotel for lunch and then rested out of the heat until about 4.00pm when we all met up again and continued our walk on the plain. We spent more a very productive hour at some small pools that acted as a magnet for birds. A magnificent Saddle-billed Stork was flushed and we had good perched views of Hadada Ibis and Hamerkop. Kingfishers favoured the pools and we had prolonged views of a beautiful Blue-breasted Kingfisher. Also present was an African Pygmy Kingfisher and to our great surprise one specimen of the very rare and inconspicuous Shining-blue Kingfisher. A pair of Bateleurs was perched high in a tree, a Palm-nut Vulture flew by and Red-throated Bee-eaters were numerous. A Black Crake walked slowly at the edge of the water and Swamp Flycatcher hunted above the pools.
In the evening we drove to the hotel airstrip to try and find the nightjars that are regularly seen there. After searching for some time we had just quick glimpses of 2 female Standard-winged Nightjars. We must wait to see if a return visit will produce any more.
Night at the Mole Hotel.
Birds Seen Today: 88 New Birds: 43 Total To Date: 272
Day 10: Monday, 4th February
Route: Mole Hotel – Brugbani Road to Brugbani Flats and Boval – Asibey Pools - Mole Hotel
After spending a few minutes on the viewing platform to see Woolly-necked Stork, White-backed and White-headed Vulture and we again met up with Zack and headed out along the Brugbani Road to the Brugbani Camp. On the way we saw Stone Partridge, a Striped Kingfisher, 2 Black Scimitarbills and a few Roan Antelopes of which one carried a Yellow-billed Oxpecker. Around the camp we saw a good selection of birds including a Pearl-spotted Owlet, Greater Honeyguide, Bearded Barbet, White-crowned and Snowy-crowned Robin-chat, White-fronted Black Chat, African Blue Flycatcher, Senegal Batis, White-breasted Cuckoo-shrike, African Golden Oriole, the rare Black-faced Firefinch and Brown-rumped Bunting. After spending all morning there we headed back about 11.00am to have ‘brunch’ and escape from the heat for a time. About 4.00pm after the heat had relented a little we drove back along the same road but passed the camp to go on to a boval, where we saw several Sun Larks and to Asibey Pools and the Mole River. The lush riverside forest and the surrounding grasslands were teeming with birds and we saw Bruce’s Green Pigeon, Ethiopian, Pied-winged and Mosque Swallow, Oriole Warbler, Moustached Grass Warbler, Grey-headed and Sulphur-breasted Bush-shrike and Red-headed Weaver to name just a few. This had been an excellent day with the second highest daily count of birds, but the high-light was to wait until we were driving back to the hotel. As we drove along the Brugbani Road an Abyssinian Ground-Hornbill flew straight in front of the bus and landed in a tree about 25 metres away alongside the road. As we focused our binoculars on it another flew in and landed beside it, giving us really good views of both of them. Robert said that in his 20 or so visits to Mole this was the first time he had seen this species here. A very nice tick!
Back at the hotel we heard the Freckled Nightjar calling from the roof of room D2 and managed to see it as it flew off. We also watched up to 16 Elephants drinking and bathing in one of the pools on the Flood Plain before having our evening meal on the terrace while doing a spot of birding in the fading light.
Birds Seen Today: 98 New Birds: 33 Total To Date: 305
Day 11: Tuesday, 5th February
Route: Mole Hotel – Mognori Camp – Kananto Camp – Airstrip - Mole Hotel
As usual we met up on the viewing platform at first light before meeting our guide, but unfortunately we were to have another guide today as Zack was not available. This guide was not a birdwatcher and so we were reliant on the skills of Attila and Robert to find the best sites.
In the morning we drove out of the Park to Mognori before walking along the Mole River. We stopped a few times for birds seeing Green Wood-hoopoe, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater and a small flock of White Helmet-shrike. While walking along the banks of the Mole River in Indian Style with me at the back, I suddenly noticed that everyone had walked past a Black Spitting Cobra lying with its head held high about 50cm above the ground and no more than 2 metres to the side of the path. Needless to say, when I called out, we all froze at the sight of it but it took off rapidly across our path into the forest. Its speed was amazing and it could easily have outpaced us if it had wanted. Birding along the river produced a Violet Turaco, a distant perched Tawny Eagle, Fine-spotted Woodpecker, Ashy Flycatcher and noisy groups of Brown and Black-capped Babbler. Returning once again as the heat built up to have ‘brunch’ before it cooled off sufficiently for us to go out about 4.00pm. This time we again left the Park for Larabanga but headed west to Kananto. While the morning had been very good, the afternoon had been quieter for birds but we still managed a good list for the day including Red-headed Lovebird, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Brown-throated Wattle-eye, Tropical Boubou and Splendid Sunbird.
The high-light of the day again waited until the end when we made a return trip to the airstrip to have another attempt at seeing a nightjar. The last time we went there we drove several times up and down the strip but only managed to obtain the briefest glimpse of two birds. This time, however, things were very different. As we drove onto the strip in pitch darkness we disturbed a bird which flew for a few metres before dropping down to the ground again. We were then able to pick it up in the head lights of the bus which gave us views from no more than 10 metres of a male Standard-winged Nightjar. The bird was content to stay where it was and we watched it for a good 10 minutes before departing.
Following that we returned to the hotel and retreated to the restaurant to complete the day’s checklist and have what was to be our last evening meal at Mole – but with no yam!
Birds Seen Today: 92 New Birds: 18 Total To Date: 323
Day 12: Wednesday, 6th February
Route: Mole Hotel – Larabanga - Damongo – Kintampo Waterfalls – Kintampo - Kamasi Time before breakfast was spent loading up the bus and our final birding from the viewing platform seeing a Martial Eagle sitting atop a tree before we set off on the journey back to Kumasi. Leaving Mole we headed for Larabanga just south of the Park for a guided tour around the mud and stick mosque there which is reported to be one of the oldest mosques in West Africa and is the oldest in Ghana. The tour also included the story of the Mystic Stone which mysteriously reappeared each time it was moved and so eventually the road had to be built around it!
Once we had left the dirt roads and were on the main road to Kumasi we stopped a number of times to see the only Gabar Goshawk of the trip and groups of 6 Namaqua Doves, 3 Violet Turacos and 10 Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Larks among others. Which only goes to show that you can see birds anywhere if you just look.
To break the journey we stopped to have a look at the impressive Kintampo Water Falls for a short time before heading off to a local hotel for our lunch.
The journey back to Kumasi followed a similar route to that previously avoiding the road works on the main road. As we approached Kumasi we were entertained by an electrical storm in the south with a great deal of lightening but just a few drops of rain. This was the first rain we had seen during our time here and was the start of a change in the weather. Arrived back at the Engineering Guest House about 8.45pm, just in time to get our evening meal and do the check list before retiring.
Birds Seen Today: 65 New Birds: 8 Total To Date: 331
Day 13: Thursday, 7th February
Route: Kumasi – Bobiri Forest Reserve – Atewa Mountain Range Forest Reserve - Tafo
Birding at first light from the front of the hotel produced our only Chocolate-backed Kingfisher as well as some of the more usual birds. Having had an excellent breakfast we set off to go to the Bobiri Forest Reserve and Butterfly Sanctuary about 30 kilometres east of Kumasi. A walk along the road leading to the Reserve and then walking into the Reserve itself gave us excellent views of a Bat Hawk, African Harrier-Hawk and Red-chested Goshawk. Others included Yellow-throated Tinkerbird, Blue-throated Roller, Shining Drongo, Grey Greenbul and a pair of Preuss’ Weavers. While we were there work was being carried out in the Reserve and this may have had an effect on the number of birds seen.
Following lunch we travelled to Tafo where we booked into the Royal Blumich Hotel and immediately left to go to the Atewa Mountain Range Forest Reserve. This Reserve is located near Kibi town, to the west of the Accra-Kumasi road just a few kilometres from Tafo. This range of hills are steep-sided with more or less flat summits and it was our wish to get to this summit. Atewa is one of only two Forest Reserves in the country which are upland evergreen forest and were different to any we had encountered before.
Eric was able to drive the bus only as far as the gate at the entrance to the Reserve after which we walked up the rough and bumpy track until the light began to fade.
With that we returned back down and drove to the hotel with the hope that we would be able to climb higher along the track in the morning.
Birds Seen Today: 65 New Birds: 7 Total To Date: 338
Day 14: Friday, 8th February
Route: Tafo – Atewa Mountain Range Forest Reserve - Sakumono Lagoon - Accra
We set out at first light to return to the Atewa Range Forest Reserve, this time to see if we could get to the top plateau. As we now had the key to the entrance gate, Eric was able to drive the bus farther up the track, although it must be said that the track was far more suited to a 4x4. Having driven as far as he could we walked the rest of the way to the top. Birds were more plentiful today than they were yesterday and those seen on both visits included Palm-nut Vulture, Blue-headed Wood-Dove, Yellow-billed Turaco, 2 beautiful and rare Blue-headed Bee-eaters, Levaillant’s, African Emerald and Klaas’s Cuckoos, Yellow-spotted and Hairy-breasted Barbets, a pair of Yellow-rumped Tinkerbirds, Icterine Greenbul and Spotted Greenbul, as many as 6 Black & White Shrike-Flycatchers, Western Black-headed Oriole, a Grosbeak Weaver and good views of Red-vented Malimbe.
By this time Eric had driven the bus up to the plateau and much to our relief we were able to ride back down to the road. No sooner had we retreated to a local restaurant for a well earned brunch, than the heavens opened and we had a tropical downpour with high winds that would have soaked us if we had still been in the Reserve.
Once the rain had stopped we headed back towards Accra and a return visit to the Sakumono Lagoon. This time we went to the side of the lagoon away from the sea by the Sports Club and birded from the viewing tower there. Birds seen that were not seen on the previous visit included 6 African Spoonbills (we had seen these on our last visit but only 2), Northern Shoveler, Garganey, Black-tailed Godwit and Pintail.
With that we returned to Accra and to the last hotel for the trip. This was the Accra University Guest House and it was a disappointment when compared to the guest house at Kumasi University. However, as with all the hotels they provided a good night’s sleep, something to eat and a place to do the checklist.
Birds Seen: 101 New Birds: 12 Total To Date: 350
Day 15: Saturday, 9th February
Route: Accra – Shai Hills Reserve – Aburi Botanical Gardens – Accra Airport
Our last day in Ghana saw us travelling to the Shai Hills Resource Reserve which is situated on the Accra plains, about 50km NE of Accra. Upon arriving at the reserve we were allocated an armed guard who as soon as he realised we were birdwatchers, disappeared to get his binoculars. There were plenty of birds around and Steven, the guide, was quick to point them out and identify them. We walked for some distance before driving in the bus to the waterhole. Some of the birds seen in the reserve included Striated Heron, Lanner Falcon, African Harrier-Hawk, Lizard Buzzard, Double-spurred Francolin, Stone Partridge, Black-billed Wood-Dove, Vinaceous Dove, African Pygmy Kingfisher, Blue-bellied Roller, a pair of Vieillot’s Barbet, 3 Yellow-fronted Tinkerbirds, nice sighting of a Senegal Eremomela, 2 Croaking Cisticola, a small flock of Piapiac and an excellent view of a handsome male Red-shouldered Cuckoo-Shrike.
Leaving Shai Hills we travelled to Aburi Botanical Gardens by a rather contorted route to avoid what was deemed to be a dangerous direct route. Once at the Gardens, we drove to a restaurant just in time to be met with another tropical downpour, but this time with more gentle winds. However, it didn’t prevent us getting a soaking and we spent our time eating our lunch and drying out. Once the rain stopped, the sun came out and we continued our birding while walking around the gardens. Here we saw Shikra, Chestnut-winged Starling, Olive-bellied Sunbird, a flock of 6 Heuglin’s Masked Weavers and at least 8 Mottled Spinetail Swifts.
With that we returned to the University and the Guest House, showered and changed for the journey home, packed up the bus for the last time and departed for the airport. On the way we called into the offices of the Ghana Wildlife Society to settle some final details before saying our fond farewells to Robert and Eric.
While waiting in the airport lounge we experienced some of the fanatical enthusiasm the Ghanaians have for their National football team. They were playing in the play-offs for the 3rd and 4th positions in the Africa Cup and whenever Ghana scored a goal the airport simply erupted. As Ghana had hosted the games, it was good to see them win and get at least some of the glory.
The KLM flight back to Amsterdam took off more or less on time and we settled in for a long journey back. To help pass the time we tried to choose which had been the Bird of the Trip; Pam chose Red-headed Lovebird, I chose the Abyssinian Ground Hornbill and Attila the White-necked Picathartes, but they were all good!
Birds Seen: 65 New Birds: 5 Total To Date: 355
Day 16: Sunday, 10th February
Route: Amsterdam Airport – Birmingham Airport - Home
Arrived back in Amsterdam about 6.00am which gave us plenty of time in which to have breakfast and discuss the trip with Attila before catching our respective connecting flights back to Birmingham and Budapest. Once back at Birmingham Airport, we collected our car from the car park and were home by 10.15am to end a very enjoyable and productive but tiring trip.
SYSTEMIC LISTS
BIRDS
This includes all the species either seen or heard while in Ghana along with details of where they were observed.
The sequence, together with their English and scientific names generally follows the current Howard and Moore Taxonomy.
1 West African (Helmeted) Guineafowl Numida meleagris galeatus
Seen in large numbers at Mole and lesser numbers at Shai Hills.
2 Stone Partridge Ptilopachus petrosus petrosus
Seen at Mole and Shai Hills.
3 Ahanta Francolin Francolinus ahantensis ahantensis
Four seen at Owabi.
4 Double-spurred Francolin Francolinus bicalcaratus bicalcaratus
Few seen at Mole and at Shai Hills.
5 White-faced Whistling Duck Dendrocygna viduata
Flocks of around 50 or 60 birds seen at Sakumono, Lilypond, Owabi and Mole.
6 Spur-winged Goose Plectropterus gambensis gambensis
Just 1 seen en route to Mole.
7 African Comb Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos melanotos
One female at the Lilypond.
8 African Pygmy-goose Nettapus auritus
Four at Owabi.
9 Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata
Two on last day at Sakumono.
10 Northern Pintail Anas acuta
Nine at Sakumono.
11 Garganey Anas querquedula
Three at Sakumono.
12 Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis capensis
Seen in varying numbers at Sakumono, Cape Coast Lagoon and Owabi.
13 Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus microscelis
Two on the Samole Flood Plain at Mole.
14 Saddle-billed Stork Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis
One on the Samole Flood Plain at Mole.
15 Hadada Ibis Bostrychia hagedash brevirostris
A common bird at Mole.
16 African Spoonbill Platalea alba
Two on the first day at Sakumono and 6 on the return visit on the 8th.
17 Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax nycticorax
Seen on the Samole Flood Plain at Mole.
18 Striated Heron Butorides striata atricapilla
Sightings at Muni Lagoon, Hans Cottage, Brenu Beach Road, Owabi and Shai Hills.
19 Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides
Single birds seen at Sakumono, Lilypond, Cape Coast Lagoon, Owabi and Mole.
20 Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis ibis
Very common, seen everywhere even at Kakum Visitor Centre.
21 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea cinerea
Common.
22 Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala
One en route to Mole and 2 at Mole.
23 Purple Heron Ardea purpurea purpurea
Singles at Brenu Beach Road, Owabi, Mole and Sakumono.
24 African Great Egret Ardea alba melanorhynchos
Seen only at Sakumono on both visits and at Mole.
25 Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia brachyrhyncha
Seen only at Sakumono on both visits and at Cape Coast Lagoon.
26 Black Heron Egretta ardesiaca
One at Sakumono on first day.
27 Little Egret Egretta garzetta garzetta
Quite common at Sakumono, Muni, Cape Coast lagoon and at Mole.
28 Western Reef Egret Egretta gularis gularis
Ones or 2’s at Sakumono, Muni, Brenu Beach and Cape Coast Lagoon.
29 Hamerkop Scopus umbretta minor
A few at Mole.
30 Long-tailed Cormorant Phalacrocorax africanus africanus
Seen at most waters.
31 Eurasian Kestrel Falco tinnunculus rufescens
One at Winneba, 2 at Mole and 2 at Sakumono.
32 Grey Kestrel Falco ardosiaceus
Common with regular sightings.
33 African Hobby Falco cuvieri
Single sightings at Winneba, Lilypond, Kakum and Sakumono.
34 Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus abyssinicus
Two at Mole, 1 each at Larabanga and Shai Hills.
35 Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
One on each visit to Sakumono.
36 African Cuckoo-hawk Aviceda cuculoides cuculoides
Just 1 seen at Antwikwa.
37 European Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus
One at Antwikwa, 1 at Kakum and 1 on the way to Assin Fosu.
38 Bat Hawk Macheiramphus alcinus anderssoni
One at Bobiri.
39 Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus caeruleus
A pair on Winneba Plains and 1 at Sakumono.
40 Yellow-billed Kite Milvus migrans parasitus
By far the most common raptor, seen almost every day.
41 Palm-nut Vulture Gypohierax angolensis
One at Mole and 1 at Atewa.
42 Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus
Very common.
43 African White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus
Seen only at Mole where it was common.
44 White-headed Vulture Trigonoceps occipitalis
One at Mole.
45 Beaudouin's Snake-Eagle Circaetus beaudouini
One on the Samole Flood Plain at Mole.
46 Brown Snake-Eagle Circaetus cinereus
One while travelling to Mole and 1 on the return journey.
47 Bateleur Terathopius ecaudatus
A pair and an immature seen at Mole.
48 Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus aeruginosus
Two on first visit to Sakumono, 1 en route to Mole and 4 on second visit to Sakumono.
49 African Harrier-hawk Polyboroides typus pectoralis
Three at Antwikwa, 1 at Kakum, 2 at Mole, 1 at Bobiri and 1 at Shai Hills.
50 Dark Chanting Goshawk Melierax metabates metabates
One while travelling to Mole and 1 on the return journey.
51 Gabar Goshawk Micronisus gabar niger
One on the return journey from Mole.
52 Red-chested Goshawk Accipiter toussenelii macroscelides
One at Bobiri.
53 Shikra Accipiter badius sphenurus
Common, particularly in the second half of the trip.
54 Red-thighed Sparrowhawk Accipiter erythropus erythropus
One at Antwikwa and 1 on two days at Kakum.
55 Long-tailed Hawk Urotriorchis macrourus
One at Aboabo.
56 Lizard Buzzard Kaupifalco monogrammicus monogrammicus
Single sightings at Winneba and Shai Hills, plus several at Mole.
57 Grasshopper Buzzard Butastur rufipennis
Common in the Mole area.
58 Red-necked Buzzard Buteo auguralis
One at Antwikwa, 1 at Kakum, 3 on the journey to Assin Fosu, at least 1 each day at Mole and 2 at Shai Hills.
59 Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax belisarius
One near the village of Mognori in Mole.
60 Ayres's Hawk-eagle Hieraaetus ayresii
One at Antwikwa.
61 Martial Eagle Polemaetus bellicosus
One seen near water hole on the Samole Flood Plains at Mole.
62 Long-crested Eagle Lophaetus occipitalis
A nice view of one bird at Antwikwa.
63 Denham's Bustard Neotis denhami denhami
One on Samole Flood Plain at Mole.
64 Black Crake Amaurornis flavirostra
One on the Samole Floodplain and 4 along the Mole River near Brugbani, both at Mole.
65 African Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio madagascariensis
Two seen at Lilypond.
66 Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus chloropus
Two at Lilypond and 2 at Owabi.
67 Senegal Thick-knee Burhinus senegalensis
Several seen at Mole around water hole on the flood plain plus 2 at Sakumono on second visit.
68 Water Dikkop (Thick-knee) Burhinus vermiculatus buettikoferi
One at Sakumono on first visit.
69 Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus himantopus
Various numbers seen at Sakumono, Muni, Brenu Beach and Cape Coast Lagoons.
70 Spur-winged Plover (Lapwing) Vanellus spinosus
Few seen at Sakumono, Muni and Cape Coast lagoons.
71 African Wattled Lapwing Vanellus senegallus senegallus
Several every day at Mole and 2 on second visit to Sakumono.
72 Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola squatarola
Seen at Sakumono, Muni and Cape Coast lagoons.
73 Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula hiaticula
One or 2 seen at Sakumono and Muni Lagoon.
74 Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius curonicus
Seen only on first visit to Sakumono.
75 African Jacana Actophilornis africanus
Present at most wetlands visited.
76 European Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa limosa
Three seen on second visit to Sakumono.
77 Western Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica lapponica
One or 2 seen at Muni and Cape Coast Lagoon.
78 European Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus phaeopus
One at Sakumono and 4 at Cape Coast Lagoon.
79 Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus
Seen Sakumono, first visit and Muni Lagoon.
80 Common Redshank Tringa totanus tetanus
Various numbers at Sakumono, Muni and Cape Coast Lagoons.
81 Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis
Seen at Sakumono, Muni and Cape Coast Lagoons.
82 Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia nebularia
Ones and 2’s seen at Sakumono, Muni, Brenu Beach and Cape Coast Lagoons.
83 Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus
Singles seen at Cape Coast, Mole and Shai Hills.
84 Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola
Seen Sakumono, Muni and Cape Coast Lagoons.
85 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
Common, seen at nearly all areas of water.
86 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres interpres
Few seen on both visits to Sakumono and at Cape Coast Lagoon.
87 Sanderling Calidris alba alba
Various numbers at Sakumono, Muni and Cape Coast Lagoons.
88 Little Stint Calidris minuta
Only seen at Sakumono.
89 Temminck's Stint Calidris temminckii
Only seen at Sakumono.
90 Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea
Only seen on first visit to Sakumono.
91 Dunlin Calidris alpine
Only seen on second visit to Sakumono.
92 Ruff Philomachus pugnax
Seen on both visits to Sakumono.
93 Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola fuelleborni
Fifty or more on both visits to Sakumono.
94 Gull-billed Tern Sterna nilotica nilotica
Seen at Sakumono.
95 European Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis sandvicensis
Seen at Sakumono and Cape Coast lagoon.
96 Royal Tern Sterna maxima albididorsalis
Seen at Sakumono.
97 Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii dougallii
Seen at Sakumono.
98 Common Tern Sterna hirundo hirundo
Seen at Sakumono.
99 Little Tern Sterna albifrons guineae
Seen at Sakumono.
100 Eurasian Black Tern Chlidonias niger niger
Seen at Sakumono. Many hundreds flying between the sea and the Lagoon.
101 Feral Pigeon Columba livia 'feral'
Common.
102 Speckled Pigeon Columba guinea guinea
Just 1 en route to Mole.
103 Red-eyed Turtle Dove Streptopelia semitorquata
Common.
104 Vinaceous Dove Streptopelia vinacea
Seen only at Mole and at Shai Hills.
105 Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis senegalensis
Common.
106 Black-billed Wood Dove Turtur abyssinicus
Seen at Winneba, each day at Mole and at Shai Hills.
107 Blue-spotted Wood Dove Turtur afer
Singles at Palmnut Plantation, Antwikwa, Bobiri and Atewa.
108 Tambourine Dove Turtur tympanistria
Seen at Antwikwa, Kakum, Palmnut Plantation, Aboabo and Atewa.
108 Blue-headed Wood Dove Turtur brehmeri infelix
Heard at Antwikwa, Kakum, Aboabo, seen at Atewa only.
110 Namaqua Dove Oena capensis capensis
Six on the journey to Mole.
111 Bruce's Green Pigeon Treron waalia
Ten at Brugbani at Mole.
112 African Green Pigeon Treron calvus sharpie
Common in the South.
113 Rose-ringed (Ringed-necked) Parakeet Psittacula krameri krameri
Small flocks seen at Mole and at Accra.
114 Red-headed Lovebird Agapornis pullarius pullarius
Small flock at Kanantu in Mole.
115 Grey Parrot Psittacus erithacus erithacus
Three at Kakum and 5 at Bobiri.
116 Red-fronted Parrot Poicephalus gulielmi fantiensis
Up to 10 at Kakum seen but only heard in Antwikwa.
117 Senegal Parrot Poicephalus senegalus versteri
Seen at Mole, Shai Hills and Accra.
118 Green Turaco Tauraco persa persa
Two seen on the Winneba Plains and 2 at Brenu Beach.
119 Yellow-billed Turaco Tauraco macrorhynchus macrorhynchus
Two seen at Aboabo and 2 at Atewa.
120 Violet Turaco Musophaga violacea
One at Mognori and 2 at Kanautu, both in Mole, 3 on return journey from Mole and 2 at Shai Hills.
121 Western Grey Plantain-eater Crinifer piscator
Common.
122 Levaillant's Cuckoo Clamator levaillantii
A number of sightings including 2 at Kakum and 1 each at Palmnut Plantation, Aboabo and Atewa.
123 Klaas's Cuckoo Chrysococcyx klaas
One at Antwikwa, 2 at Aboabo and 1 at Atewa.
124 African Emerald Cuckoo Chrysococcyx cupreus cupreus
Singles at Kakum, Bobiri and Atewa.
125 Dideric Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius
One at the Palmnut Plantation and 2 at Bobiri.
126 Yellowbill Ceuthmochares aereus flavirostris
Seen at Kakum, Aboabo and Atewa.
127 Senegal Coucal Centropus senegalensis senegalensis
Common.
128 Greyish Eagle-owl Bubo cinerascens
Two birds giving superb views in tree on the Samole Food Plain at Mole.
129 Pearl-spotted Owlet Glaucidium perlatum perlatum
Just 1 seen at Brugbani at Mole.
130 Freckled Nightjar Caprimulgus tristigma sharpie
One heard calling and seen to fly from the roof of room D2 at Mole Hotel.
131 Standard-winged Nightjar Macrodipteryx longipennis
Two females seen on the 3rd and lengthy and good close views of male on the 5th on the airstrip at Mole.
132 Mottled Spinetailed Swift Telacanthura ussheri ussheri
Eight at Aburi Gardens.
133 African Palm Swift Cypsiurus parvus brachypterus
Most common swift.
134 Common Swift Apus apus apus
Few seen at Kakum, Antwikwa, Kumasi and Atewa.
135 Little Swift Apus affinis aerobates
Common.
136 Rufous-crowned Roller Coracias naevius naevius
Two en route to Mole and 2 at Mole.
137 Abyssinian Roller Coracias abyssinicus
Two en route to Mole and 3 at Mole.
138 Blue-bellied Roller Coracias cyanogaster
Six en route to Mole and 1 at Shai Hills.
138 Blue-throated Roller Eurystomus gularis gularis
Two at Kakum and 1 at Bobiri.
140 Broad-billed Roller Eurystomus glaucurus afer
Common.
141 Chocolate-backed Kingfisher Halcyon badia badia
One seen from the steps of the Hotel in Kumasi.
142 Grey-headed Kingfisher Halcyon leucocephala leucocephala
Few seen at Mole and 1 at Bobiri.
143 Striped Kingfisher Halcyon chelicuti chelicuti
Two at Brugbani at Mole.
144 Blue-breasted Kingfisher Halcyon malimbica forbesi
Two at Mole.
145 Woodland Kingfisher Halcyon senegalensis fuscopileus
Most common kingfisher.
146 African Pygmy Kingfisher Ceyx pictus ferrugineus
One on the Samole Flood Plain, 2 at Mognori, both at Mole and 1 at Shai Hills.
147 Malachite Kingfisher Alcedo cristata galerita
One at the Lily pond, 1 at Owabi and c.4 at Mole.
148 Shining-blue Kingfisher Alcedo quadribrachys quadribrachys
One on the Samole Flood Pain at Mole.
149 Giant Kingfisher Megaceryle maxima maxima
One at Owabi and 2 at Brugbani, Mole.
150 Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis rudis
Regular sightings at Sakumono, Muni, Brenu Beach, Cape Coast and Hans Cottage.
151 Blue-headed Bee-eater Merops muelleri mentalis
Two at Atewa.
152 Black Bee-eater Merops gularis gularis
Five on 28th and 6 on 31st at Antwikwa.
153 Swallow-tailed Bee-eater Merops hirundineus chrysolaimus
Two at Mole.
154 Little Bee-eater Merops pusillus pusillus
Singles at Sakumono, Hans Cottage, Cape Coast and Shai Hills.
155 Red-throated Bee-eater Merops bulocki bulocki
Seen at Mole only.
156 White-throated Bee-eater Merops albicollis
Common.
157 European Bee-eater Merops apiaster
One at Winneba.
158 Rosy Bee-eater Merops malimbicus
Two at Antwikwa and 1 at Kakum.
159 Forest Wood Hoopoe Phoeniculus castaneiceps castaneiceps
Two at Kakum but only heard at Bobiri.
160 Green Wood Hoopoe Phoeniculus purpureus guineensis
Three at Mole.
161 Black Scimitarbill Rhinopomastus aterrimus aterrimus
Two at Brugbani, Mole.
162 African Pied Hornbill Tockus fasciatus
Common.
163 African Grey Hornbill Tockus nasutus nasutus
Four at Sakumono, also seen at Mole and Shai Hills.
164 Northern Red-billed Hornbill Tockus erythrorhynchus erythrorhynchus
Three seen on the Samole Flood Plain at Mole.
165 Black Dwarf Hornbill Tockus hartlaubi hartlaubi
Two at Aboabo.
166 Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill Tockus camurus
Two at Aboabo.
167 Long-tailed (White-crested) Hornbill Tropicranus albocristatus macrourus
Singles at Kakum, Owabi and Bobiri.
168 Piping Hornbill Bycanistes fistulator fistulator
Two at Antwikwa.
169 Brown-cheeked Hornbill Bycanistes cylindricus cylindricus
Two at Kakum.
170 Black-casqued Hornbill Ceratogymna atrata
Four at Kakum.
171 Northern Ground Hornbill Bucorvus abyssinicus
Two flew in front of bus and landed in tree at side of road at Brugbani while driving back to Mole.
172 Naked-faced Barbet Gymnobucco calvus calvus
Seen in varying numbers at Kakum, Antwikwa, Assin Fosu, Kumasi and Bobiri.
173 Speckled Tinkerbird Pogoniulus scolopaceus scolopaceus
Seen in varying numbers at Accra, Kakum, Antwikwa, Aboabo and Atewa.
174 Yellow-throated Tinkerbird Pogoniulus subsulphureus chrysopygius
One at Aboabo and 1 at Bobiri.
175 Lemon-rumped (Yellow-rumped) Tinkerbird Pogoniulus bilineatus leucolaimus
Two at Atewa.
176 Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus chrysoconus chrysoconus
One at Mole and 3 at Shai Hills.
177 Yellow-spotted Barbet Buccanodon duchaillui
One each at Kakum and Atewa.
178 Hairy-breasted Barbet Tricholaema hirsuta hirsute
One at Aboabo and 1 at Atewa.
179 Vieillot's Barbet Lybius vieilloti rubescens
Two at Mole and 2 at Shai Hills.
180 Bearded Barbet Lybius dubius
Seen at Mole on 2 days.
181 Cassin's Honeyguide Prodotiscus insignis flavodorsalis
Just 1 seen at Kakum.
182 Greater Honeyguide Indicator indicator
Two at Brugbani and 1 at Kananto, both at Mole.
183 Fine-spotted Woodpecker Campethera punctuligera punctuligera
One seen on each of 2 days at Mole.
184 Little Green Woodpecker Campethera maculosa
Just 1 bird seen at Kakum.
185 Buff-spotted Woodpecker Campethera nivosa nivosa
Two at Kakum and 1 at Aboabo.
186 Cardinal Woodpecker Dendropicos fuscescens lafresnayi
Two at Brugbani and 1 at Mognori, both at Mole.
187 Fire-bellied Woodpecker Dendropicos pyrrhogaster
One at Kakum and 3 at Aboabo.
188 Grey Woodpecker Dendropicos goertae goertae
One on the journey from Kumasi to Mole and then at least 1 each day in Mole.
189 African (Red-eyed) Shrike-flycatcher Bias flammulatus flammulatus
Four seen at Aboabo.
190 Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher Bias musicus musicus
Two at Kumasi and 6 at Atewa.
191 Chestnut Wattle-eye Dyaphorophyia castanea hormophora
Just 2 seen at Kakum.
192 Senegal Batis Batis senegalensis
Seen in Mole at Mognori and Kananto.
193 Brown-throated Wattle-eye Platysteira cyanea cyanea
Two at Kananto at Mole.
194 White (Straight-crested) Helmetshrike Prionops plumatus plumatus
Four en route to Brugbani at Mole and 6 on the return journey from Mole.
195 Grey-headed Bush Shrike Malaconotus blanchoti blanchoti
Just 1 seen at Brugbani, Mole.
196 Sulphur Breasted (Orange-breasted) Bush Shrike Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus sulfureopectus
One at Brugbani, Mole.
197 Marsh Tchagra (Blackcap Bush Shrike) Bocagia minuta minuta
One at Brenu Beach.
198 Brown-crowned Tchagra Tchagra australis ussheri
One at Winneba Plains.
199 Black-crowned Tchagra Tchagra senegalus senegalus
Common.
200 Sabine's Puffback Dryoscopus sabini sabini
Two at Kakum.
201 Northern Puffback Dryoscopus gambensis gambensis
Various numbers seen at Kakum, Palmnut Plantation, Kumasi, each day at Mole and Shai Hills.
202 Tropical Boubou Laniarius aethiopicus major
Just 1 sighting at Kananto, Mole.
203 Yellow-crowned (Common) Gonolek Laniarius barbarus barbarus
Several sightings on the trip including each day at Mole.
204 White-breasted Cuckoo-shrike Coracina pectoralis
Four at Brugbani, Mole.
205 Blue Cuckoo-shrike Coracina azurea
One seen at Kakum and 1 at Aboabo.
206 Red-shouldered Cuckoo-shrike Campephaga phoenicea
Good sighting of 1 bird at Shai Hills.
207 Yellow-billed Shrike Corvinella corvina togoensis
Seen at Sakumono, Mole and Accra.
208 Common Fiscal Shrike Lanius collaris smithii
Seen in various numbers on several days.
209 Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator
Two on Winneba Plains.
210 Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus oriolus
One at Brugbani, Mole.
211 African Golden Oriole Oriolus auratus auratus
Seen on 2 days at Mole.
212 Western Black-headed Oriole Oriolus brachyrhynchus brachyrhynchus
Several at Atewa.
213 Black-winged Oriole Oriolus nigripennis alleni
Seen at Kakum, Antwikwa and Aboabo.
214 Shining Drongo Dicrurus atripennis
Just 1 bird seen at Bobiri.
215 Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis
Common at Mole.
216 Velvet-mantled Drongo Dicrurus modestus atactus
Sightings at Kakum, Antwikwa, Aboabo, Bobiri and Atewa.
217 Red-bellied Paradise-flycatcher Terpsiphone rufiventer nigriceps
A number of sightings at Antwikwa, Kakum, Hans Cottage, Aboabo and Atewa.
218 African Paradise-flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis ferretti
Seen just twice at Mole and Atewa.
219 Piapiac Ptilostomus afer
Not seen until Shai Hills when a flock of 8 flew by.
220 Pied Crow Corvus albus
Very common. Seen in large numbers every day except for 2 days at Mole.
221 White-necked Picathartes Picathartes gymnocephalus
Four birds gave excellent close views at nesting site near Assin Fosu.
222 White-shouldered Tit Parus leucomelas guineensis
Seen each day at Mole and at Shai Hills.
223 Tit-hylia Pholidornis rushiae ussheri
Four seen at Aboabo.
224 Fanti Saw-wing Psalidoprocne obscura
Just 1 seen at the Palmnut Plantation.
225 European Swallow Hirundo rustica rustica
Seen every day except at Mole.
226 Red-chested Swallow Hirundo lucida lucida
Seen only at Larabanga.
227 Ethiopian Swallow Hirundo aethiopica aethiopica
Seen only at Brugbani, Mole.
228 African Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii smithii
Seen only at Mole.
229 Pied-winged Swallow Hirundo leucosoma
Eight seen flying at Brugbani, Mole.
230 Lesser Striped Swallow Cecropis abyssinica puella
Common south of Kumasi.
231 Mosque Swallow Cecropis senegalensis senegalensis
Eight seen flying at Brugbani, Mole.
232 Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica rufula
Few seen at Hans Cottage.
233 Preuss's Swallow Petrochelidon preussi
Just 2 seen, 1 at Hans Cottage and 1 at Mole.
234 Sun Lark Galerida modesta modesta
At least 8 at Brugbani, Mole.
235 Chestnut-backed Sparrow-lark Eremopterix leucotis melanocephalus
About 10 seen on the return journey from Mole to Kumasi.
236 Red-faced Cisticola Cisticola erythrops erythrops
Just 1 on Winneba Plains.
237 Whistling Cisticola Cisticola lateralis lateralis
One at Antwikwa.
238 Croaking Cisticola Cisticola natalensis strangei
Two in the Shai Hills.
239 Tawny-flanked Prinia Prinia subflava melanorhyncha
Quite a common species.
240 Red-winged Warbler Heliolais erythropterus erythropterus
Two on the Winneba Plains and 1 at Brugbani, Mole.
241 Sharpe's Apalis Apalis sharpie
Seen only at Atewa.
242 Oriole-warbler Hypergerus atriceps
One at Brugbani, Mole.
243 Green-backed (Grey-backed) Camaroptera Camaroptera brachyura brevicaudata
Common.
244 Yellow-browed Camaroptera Camaroptera superciliaris
Seen at Kakum, Antwikwa, Palmnut Plantation and heard at Atewa.
245 Common Bulbul Pycnonotus barbatus inornatus
Common, seen every day.
246 Little Greenbul Andropadus virens erythropterus
Varying numbers seen at Antwikwa, Kakum, Aboabo and Atewa.
247 Grey Greenbul Andropadus gracilis extremus
Just 1 at Bobiri.
248 Slender-billed Greenbul Andropadus gracilirostris gracilirostris
Single birds at Kakum, Antwikwa, Aboabo and Atewa.
249 Yellow-whiskered Greenbul Andropadus latirostris congener
Couple seen at Kakum and heard at Antwikwa and Owabi.
250 Golden Greenbul Calyptocichla serina
One at Aboabo.
251 Honeyguide Greenbul Baeopogon indicator leucurus
One at Antwikwa, 1 at Aboabo and 2 at Atewa.
252 Spotted Greenbul Ixonotus guttatus
Just 1 at Atewa.
253 Simple Greenbul Chlorocichla simplex
Singles at Winneba, Palmnut Platation, Antwikwa and Aboabo.
254 Swamp Palm Bulbul Thescelocichla leucopleura
Seen at Antwikwa, Aboabo and Bobiri.
255 Icterine Greenbul Phyllastrephus icterinus
Only seen at Atewa.
256 Grey-headed Bristlebill Bleda canicapillus canicapillus
Seen in twos at Kakum, Antwikwa and Assin Fosu. Heard at Aboabo and Atewa.
257 Red-tailed Greenbul Criniger calurus verreauxi
One at Kakum and 1 at Atewa. Heard at Assin Fosu, Aboabo and Bobiri.
258 Western Nicator Nicator chloris
Just 1 seen at Kakum. Heard Antwikwa, Aboabo, Bobiri and Atewa.
259 (African Blue-) Blue Crested Flycatcher Elminia longicauda longicauda
One at Brugbani, Mole and 2 at Kananto.
260 Chestnut-capped Flycatcher Erythrocercus mccallii nigeriae
Two at Kakum.
261 Moustached Grass Warbler Melocichla mentalis mentalis
One at Brugbani, Mole.
262 Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta
One on 2 days at Mole.
263 Kemp's Longbill Macrosphenus kempi kempi
Seen only at Kakum.
264 Grey Longbill Macrosphenus concolor
Seen in 2’s at Kakum and Aboabo. Heard at Atewa.
265 Green Hylia Hylia prasina prasina
Common in the south.
266 Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus trochilus
Seen at Kakum and Atewa. Heard at Mole.
267 Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix
Just 1 at Atewa.
268 Senegal Eremomela Eremomela pusilla
Seen at Aboabo, every day at Mole and at Shai Hills.
269 Rufous-crowned Eremomela Eremomela badiceps fantiensis
1’s and 2’s at Kakum, Aboabo and Bobiri.
270 Northern Crombec Sylvietta brachyura brachyuran
Two in the grounds of the Mole Hotel.
271 Lemon-bellied Crombec Sylvietta denti hardyi
Seen at Kakum and Atewa
272 Black-capped Babbler Turdoides reinwardii stickilaema
One at Mognori, Mole.
273 Brown Babbler Turdoides plebejus platycirca
Singles at Mole, Shai Hills and Accra.
274 African Yellow White-eye Zosterops senegalensis senegalensis
Seen at Antwikwa, Mole and Atewa.
275 Bronze-tailed Glossy Starling Lamprotornis chalcurus chalcurus
One on the journey to Mole and 1 at Mole on the Samole Flood Plain.
276 Splendid Glossy Starling Lamprotornis splendidus chrysonotis
Common but not seen in Mole.
277 Purple Glossy Starling Lamprotornis purpureus purpureus
Common.
278 Long-tailed Glossy Starling Lamprotornis caudatus
Four on the journey to Mole and 1 at Mole on the Samole Flood Plain.
279 Copper-tailed Glossy Starling Lamprotornis cupreocauda
Two at Aboabo.
280 Violet-backed (Amethyst) Starling Cinnyricinclus leucogaster leucogaster
One or 2 seen at Kakum, Palmnut Plantation and Antwikwa.
281 Chestnut-winged Starling Onychognathus fulgidus hartlaubi
Seen at Kakum on 2 days and at Aburi Gardens.
282 Narrow-tailed Starling Poeoptera lugubris
Seen only at Kakum and Assin Fosu.
283 Yellow-billed Oxpecker Buphagus africanus africanus
Just 1 at Brugbani, Mole.
284 Finsch's Flycatcher-Thrush Stizorhina finschi
One at Aboabo.
285 African Thrush Turdus pelios chiguancoides
Seen each day at Mole and at Bobiri and Shai Hills.
286 White-tailed Alethe Alethe diademata diademata
One at Kakum.
287 Snowy-crowned Robin-chat Cossypha niveicapillus niveicapillus
Seen at Brugbani and Kananto at Mole.
288 White-crowned Robin-chat Cossypha albicapilla giffardi
Seen at Brugbani and Kananto at Mole.
289 Whinchat Saxicola rubetra
Two on the plain at Winneba and 1 at Brenu Beach.
290 Familiar Chat Cercomela familiaris falkensteini
One at the Mole Hotel.
291 White-fronted Black Chat Myrmecocichla albifrons frontalis
Two at Brugbani, Mole.
292 Northern Black Flycatcher Melaenornis edolioides edolioides
Two seen on the journey to Mole, on 2 days at Mole and at Shai Hills.
293 Pale (Mouse-coloured) Flycatcher Bradornis pallidus pallidus
One seen at Mole.
294 Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata balearica
Seen at Winneba and Shai Hills.
295 Ashy Flycatcher Muscicapa caerulescens nigrorum
Two at Mognori and Mole and 1 at Shai Hills.
296 Swamp Flycatcher Muscicapa aquatica aquatica
Two on the Samole Floodplain and 4 at Brugbani, both at Mole.
297 Dusky-blue Flycatcher Muscicapa comitata aximensis
One only at Aboabo.
298 Tessmann's Flycatcher Muscicapa tessmanni
One at Aboabo.
299 Ussher's Flycatcher Muscicapa ussheri
Two at Antwikwa.
300 Lead-coloured (Grey Tit-) Flycatcher Myioparus plumbeus plumbeus
One at Aboabo and 1 at Mole Hotel.
301 European Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca hypoleuca
Seen at Mole on 2 days and at Bobiri.
302 Fraser’s (Scarlet-tufted) Sunbird Deleornis fraseri idius
One at Kakum.
303 Western Violet-backed Sunbird Anthreptes longuemarei haussarum
Two seen at Brugbani, Mole.
304 Green Sunbird Anthreptes rectirostris rectirostris
One at Antwikwa and 4 at Aboabo.
305 Collared Sunbird Hedydipna collaris subcollaris
Common in South but none seen North of Kumasi.
306 Pygmy Sunbird Hedydipna collaris platurus
Seen each day in Mole.
307 Blue-throated Brown Sunbird Cyanomitra cyanolaema magnirostrata
Seen at Aboabo and Atewa.
308 Western Olive-sunbird Cyanomitra olivacea guineensis
Few seen at Kakum, Antwikwa and Aboabo.
309 Buff-throated Sunbird Chalcomitra adelberti adelberti
Seen in 1’s and 2’s at Winneba, Antwikwa, Kakum, Aboabo, Bobiri and Atewa.
310 Scarlet-chested Sunbird Chalcomitra senegalensis senegalensis
Seen each day in Mole.
311 Olive-bellied Sunbird Cinnyris chloropygius chloropygius
Various numbers at Antwikwa, Palmnut Plantation, Aboabo and Aburi Gardens.
312 Beautiful Sunbird Cinnyris pulchellus pulchellus
Seen on 3 days in Mole.
313 Splendid Sunbird Cinnyris coccinigastrus
Seen Antwikwa, Kananto at Mole and at Shai Hills.
314 Superb Sunbird Cinnyris superbus ashantiensis
Seen at Antwikwa, Palmnut Plantation and Atewa.
315 Copper Sunbird Cinnyris cupreus cupreus
Quite common, seen at Sakumono, Brenu Beach, Hans Cottage, Mole and Shai Hills.
316 Chestnut-crowned Sparrow Weaver Plocepasser superciliosus superciliosus
Only seen at Mole.
317 Grey-headed Sparrow Passer griseus griseus
Common.
318 Bush Petronia Gymnoris dentate
Quite common at Mole.
319 Grosbeak-Weaver Amblyospiza albifrons capitalba
Two at Atewa.
320 Little Masked Weaver Ploceus luteolus luteolus
Two at Mole Hotel.
321 Black-necked Weaver Ploceus nigricollis brachypterus
At Antwikwa, Hans Cottage and Atewa.
322 Heuglin's Masked Weaver Ploceus heuglini
Six in the Aburi Gardens.
323 Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus cucullatus
Common in the South.
324 Vieillot's Weaver Ploceus nigerrimus castaneofuscus
Various numbers seen at Hans Cottage, Palmnut Plantation and Atewa.
325 Yellow-mantled Weaver Ploceus tricolor tricolour
Seen at Kakum, Aboabo, Bobiri and Atewa.
326 Maxwell's Weaver Ploceus albinucha albinucha
Seen at Kakum and Aboabo.
327 Preuss's Weaver Ploceus preussi
Two seen at Bobiri.
328 Red-vented Malimbe Malimbus scutatus scutatus
One or 2 at Aboabo and Atewa.
329 Red-headed Malimbe Malimbus rubricollis bartletti
Seen at Kakum, Antwikwa, Aboabo and Bobiri.
330 Crested Malimbe Malimbus malimbicus nigrifrons
One at Kakum and Aboabo.
331 Red-winged (Red-headed) Weaver Anaplectes rubriceps melanotis
Seen on 2 days at Mole.
332 Black-winged Bishop Euplectes hordeaceus hordeaceus
Only seen at Brugbani, Mole.
333 Northern Red Bishop Euplectes franciscanus franciscanus
Two or 3 at Brugbani, Mole.
334 Yellow-mantled (shouldered) Widowbird Euplectes macroura macroura
Just 2 seen at Winneba and Brenu Beach.
335 Chestnut-breasted Negrofinch Nigrita bicolor bicolour
Seen in varying numbers at Antwikwa, Aboabo, Bobiri and Atewa.
336 Western (Grey-headed) Negrofinch Nigrita canicapillus emiliae
Seen in the Palmnut Plantation, Aboabo, Bobiri and at Atewa.
337 Bar-breasted Firefinch Lagonosticta rufopicta rufopicta
Seen Winneba, Antwikwa and Shai Hills.
338 Red-billed Firefinch Lagonosticta senegala senegala
Only seen at Mole.
339 African (Blue-billed) Firefinch Lagonosticta rubricata polionota
Two at Hans Cottage.
340 Black-faced Firefinch Lagonosticta larvata togoensis
One at Brugbani, Mole.
341 Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu Uraeginthus bengalus bengalus
Seen each day at Mole.
342 Red-tailed Lavender Waxbill Estrilda caerulescens
Seen only at Mole Hotel.
343 Orange-cheeked Waxbill Estrilda melpoda melpoda
Small numbers seen at Hans Cottage, Palmnut Plantation and at Mole.
344 Black-rumped Waxbill Estrilda troglodytes
Seen on roadside on journey from Mole to Kumasi.
345 Bronze Mannikin Lonchura cucullata cucullata
Common.
346 Village Indigobird Vidua chalybeata neumanni
Just 2 on the Samole Flood Plain at Mole.
347 Pin-tailed Whydah Vidua macroura
One sighting on the Winneba Plains and 1 at Mole.
348 Togo Paradise Whydah Vidua togoensis
On the Samole Flood Pain and at Brugbani, both at Mole.
349 Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava
Seen at Sakumono and Cape Coast.
350 African Pied Wagtail Motacilla aguimp vidua
A few at Hans Cottage, Owabi and Kumasi.
351 Yellow-throated Longclaw Macronyx croceus
Two gave close views at Sakumono.
352 Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis trivialis
One on the journey to Mole and 1 at Kananto, Mole
353 Yellow-fronted Canary Serinus mozambicus caniceps
Seen en route to Mole and every day at Mole.
354 Cinnamon-breasted Bunting Emberiza tahapisi goslingi
Just 2 on the Samole Flood Plain at Mole.
355 Brown-rumped Bunting Emberiza affinis nigeriae
Two at Brugbani and 4 at Mognori, both at Mole.
The following are the birds that were heard by members of the group but not seen.
1 White-spotted Flufftail Sarothrura pulchra - Antwikwa
2 Afep Pigeon Columba unicincta - Bobiri
3 African Scops Owl Otus senegalensis - Kumasi
4 African Wood Owl Strix woodfordii - Han’s Cottage
5 Yellow-billed Barbet Trachyphonus purpuratus - Kakum
6 Red-rumped Tinkerbird Pogoniulus atroflavus - Kakum
7 Western Forest Robin Stiphrornis erythrothorax - Kakum
8 Olive-green Camaroptera Camarotera chloronota - Kakum
9 Blackcap Illadopsis Illadopsis cleaveri - Atewa
10 Rufous-winged Illadopsis Illadopsis rufescens - Assin Fosu
MAMMALS
1 African Bush Elephant Loxodonta africana
Up to 16 seen from Mole Hotel on the Samole Flood Plains, also in the hotel grounds.
2 Mona Monkey Cercopithecus mona
About 3 at Owabi and also at Boabeng & Fiema Monkey Sanctuary.
3 Lesser Spot-nosed Monkey Cercopithecus petaurista
Few seen at Kakum.
4 Green Monkey Chlorocebus sabaeus
A common monkey at Mole.
5 Patas Erythrocebus patas
A common monkey at Mole.
6 Ursine (Black and White) Colobus Colobus vellerosus
Two seen at Kakum.
7 Olive Baboon Papio anubis
Very common in the grounds of the Mole Hotel.
8 African Straw-coloured Fruit Bat Eldolon helvum
A huge colony, reported to be up to 2000 strong, seen near the Military Hospital in Accra.
9 Bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus
Seen in Mole.
10 Roan Antelope Hippotragus wquinus
Two at Brugbani in Mole.
11 Kob Kobus kob
Seen every day in Mole.
12 Waterbuck Kobus ellypsiprimnus
Seen most days in Mole.
13 Feral Goat
Seen around all human habitation, sometimes in large numbers.
14 Striped Ground Squirrel Xerus erythropus
Quite commonly seen at Hans Cottage, Kakum and Mole.
15 Red-legged Sun Squirrel Heliosciurus rufobrachium
One seen at Assin Fosu.
REPTILES
1 Black Spitting Cobra Naja nigricollis
One seen in roadside grass at Kakum and 1 while walking near Brugbani Camp in Mole.
2 Lizard Agama agama
Generally common, became very common in the north.
3 Nile Crocodile Crocodylus niloticus
Four or 5 in the pool at Hans Cottage Hotel and a couple in waters at Mole.
4 Turtle species
Just a distant view of 1 on the Samole Flood Plains at Mole.
BUTTERFLIES, MOTHS & OTHER INSECTS
1 Red Forest Charaxes Charaxes boueti
2 Blood Red Cymothoe Cymothoe sangaris
3 — Cymothoe egesta
4 — Euphaedra themis
5 Blue Diadem Hypolimnas salacis
6 — Palla publius
In addition to the above there were various dragonflies, grasshoppers, bugs, mosquitoes, midges and other flies, beetles, spiders and ants; all un-identified.
