The Gambia

During a sea-watch at Newbiggin, Graeme Bowman turned to me and said "Do you fancy The Gambia at Christmas?" Graeme and Ian Forsyth were having a two week jolly but could I get the time off?

Well as it turned out I could get the time off so off we jolly well went, 25 hours late but we still went unlike the numbties who checked in and even had the baggage on the plane before deciding that they were not going. So arrived at Banjul International a day and a bit late to be greeted by Tijan Kanteh who was to be our guide for the next two weeks and away we go. Graeme Iain and myself to our hotel that was booked as part of a package and Tony Bowman, who was only with us for a week, to a small guest house that Tijan had booked for him for the first and last night. During the drive from the airport I saw 14 species of birds of which 11 of then were new to me, what a way to start.

So coming soon lots and lots and lots of new pictures and the story of the trip as well so in the words of Tijan "stay tuned"

 

Red-rumped Swallow After an unsuccessful twitch to Swallow pond in the rain on the evening of the 28 April, success was very sweet on the moning of the 29th. This bird showed very well at times and I'm happy with what I got	Long-eared Owl Standing in a field in the growing dusk is not everyones cup of tea, but I was waiting for Long-eared Owl and I was having a great time. Not only Long-eared but Barn Owl as well and at least four Roe Deer. I like standing in a field in the dark
Red-breasted Goose Its always bad to be at work and be unable to get away, its even worse when your at work and news breaks of a potential county lifer. I've seen Red-breasted Goose before but not on the home patch so I was pleased that it hung around although of the shots I got the bird was always along way off. It had been with Greylags, not good, however I saw it with Pink-footed Geese, a bit better	Short-toed Lark News of a Short-toed Lark tempted me and a few others up to the Long Nanny in Beadnell Bay. In the end managed some decent shots of this skittish bird, at times it disappeared for ages so spent all of the day here. If you've already looked look again as there's some more on there
Pallas's Warbler Pallas's Warbler at any time is a good bird, but a spring singing bird, well I had to go and have a look for that. It took two attempts, but in the end it was well worth it. It even sat out on the edge of a tree and sang allowing for some decent shots to be had	High Brown Fritillary A second look at the White-tailed Plover when it was at Leighton Moss and while down this way a chance to see some butterflies that do not occur up here in sunny Northumberland