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For many birders the first experience of Gambian, or even African, birds occurs in their hotel grounds, often along the Kotu strip. As an introduction (or as a memory) this film shows the following selection , beginning with those seen in the hotel gardens. Yellow-billed Shrikes perch on the ornamental shrubs whilst Grey Plantain-eaters compete vocally with various Glossy Starlings including Long-tailed, Greater and Lesser Blue-eared. Pied Crows are everywhere, with the one filmed displaying to itself! Watering the garden attracted both adult and juvenile Piapiacs. Occasionally a less expected species such as the shy White-crowned Robin-chat was in residence.

One of the first excursions is likely to be along the 'Cycle track' towards Kotu. The pathside scrub, although deteriorated of late, provides a good range of species. Smaller birds recorded here include Bronze Mannikin, Grey-headed Sparrow, Orange-cheeked and Lavender Waxbills and White-billed Buffalo-Weaver. A pair of Red-billed Hornbills 'bill clap', a Lizard Buzzard and a Black-shouldered Kite are in the nearby palms. The paddies towards the coast are usually good for water birds. African Spoonbills, a Black Egret doing its umbrella act and a Yellow-billed Oxpecker taking advantage of some 'oxblood', were filmed here. Water levels at Kotu Pond vary according to the season's rains but give a good introduction to herons and waders. The ever present noisy Spur-winged Plover, Cattle, Intermediate and Great White Egrets, Squacco Heron, African Jacana and an active (!) Painted Snipe were here. Kotu Stream and the Golf Course are the next areas. At the streamside wary Wattled Plovers contrast with the more confiding Little Bee-eaters and a Hooded Vulture. Two Piapiacs take advantage of an unusual lookout post against a background of more egrets and some Sacred Ibis. The rather less common African Silverbill and a Black Flycatcher were on the edge of the golf course, whilst running the gauntlet of irate golfers yielded a favourite Black-headed Plover on the 'fairway' in the mid-day sun. Finally in this area the Kotu Sewage Beds are a real mecca for waders and other water birds. Many Little Grebe and parties of White-faced Whistling Duck were on the 'water', with waders on the banks including Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper, Marsh Sandpiper and Black-winged Stilt. On an overgrown bed a Black Crake for once didn't make a quick exit, whilst a scarce juvenile Allen's Gallinule provided a lucky record.

Moving a little way south from Kotu the now rare coastal forest habitat is preserved in the Bijilo Forest Park. Despite notices some visitors still feed the Green Vervet monkeys although the more charismatic Red Colobus are less approachable.

Birds filmed here include Blackcap Babber, Fine-spotted Woodpecker,Grey Hornbill, Grey Kestrel, Palm Nut Vulture, the elusive Stone Partridge, a party of often transient White-throated Bee-eaters and one of the most colourful Gambian birds, the Yellow-crowned Gonolek.

Brufut Forest, a short distance inland, can be variable and again the water level in the small bird reserve at the end can be low. Here a Blue-breasted Kingfisher allowed close filming as it regurgitated a pellet.

Further down the coast the next protected habitat is Tanji. The shoreline here provided another selection of waders, gulls and terns, including a Common Sandpiper unsuccessfully chasing Fiddler Crabs, a Western Reef Heron, Turnstone, Sanderling, Grey-headed Gull, Slender-billed Gull and Caspian Terns. White Pelicans flight out to the Bijol Islands, whilst a pair of Crested Larks were in the dunes and distant views were obtained of a very wary White-fronted Plover.

Moving towards Banjul via the (in)famous Bund Road the ferry is taken across the River Gambia to Barra amidst all the colour and noise of the anticipated Tobaski celebrations. The quiet at Fort Bullen just outside Barra revealed a Red-necked Falcon inconspicuously perched in a palm. Travelling up the north bank of the river to Essau the common Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu and a Striped Kingfisher were filmed, together with brief views of a skulking Black-crowned Tchagra. The behaviour of a pair of Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Larks suggests the need for an 'adult' rating on the film although the area's speciality, the Northern Anteater Chat, proved as dull on the ground and on film as might be expected. Vieillot's Barbets were more colourful. The return to the Banjul shoreline found a Yellow-billed Stork seeking sanctuary on a mooring post. Travelling back to Kotu took in Camalou Corner where Yellow-throated Longclaws duly obliged.

Perhaps a less visited area is Marakissa. The remaining woodland and nearby river are still excellent habitats. Blue-breasted and Rufous-crowned Rollers, African Green Pigeon and the difficult to find White-breasted Cuckoo-Shrike were filmed on the woodland edge. Senegal Thick-knee, Purple, Long-tailed and Bronze-tailed Glossy Starlings provided some activity around the riverside restaurant during the heat of the day.

Moving up-country on the south side of the river a first stop is often the old shrimp ponds at Pirang. The bunds, when accessible, gave opportunities for Plain-backed Pipit, Wire-tailed Swallow, Namaqua Dove and the ever flighty Quail Finch. The most sought after species here is the declining Black Crowned Crane and a wary adult plus two young are shown in the late afternoon. Pirang can be linked with a visit to the Faraba Bush Track where the habitat is rightly popular for raptors. Village children were keen to point out an African Scops Owl nesting in Faraba village, whilst along the track Grasshopper Buzzard and an exciting immature Martial Eagle gave close enough views for filming.

Tendaba. One of the highlights of a visit to the camp is a boat trip across the river and up the bolons. Here, all too brief views were had of the highly sought after White-backed Night Heron and African Finfoot, both filmed from the moving boat! Around Basse stunning Abyssinian Rollers were recorded and that most wished for of Gambian birds, the Egyptian Plover, was filmed from the bank top.

Finally, back to Abuko where the nearby paddies and the Reserve itself are easily accessed from Kotu. Filming is most rewarding using the public and 'private' hides. A further 32 bird species were filmed here, together with other wildlife attracted to the drinking water. Introduced Bushbuck and a very nervous Maxwell's Duiker contrast with the brash Nile Monitors.

The attraction of fresh water at the 'private hide always produces surprises. A Green Mamba arriving to drink called for a steady camera and caused an increased awareness of the holes in the hide! Snowy-crowned Robin Chat, Pin-tailed Whydah, the Paradise Flycatchers, Pygmy Kingfisher, superb Western Bluebills, Green and Violet Turacos all provide high points in the conclusion to this snapshot of Gambian birds.

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