As our tale of birding in Senegal continued and one of the spectacles we most wanted to see was the gathering of Lesser Kestrels and Scissor-tailed Kites. A roost site was discovered less than ten years ago. These birds gather in overwhelming numbers, over 15,000 kites and almost 30,000 kestrels have been counted in this roost. This a considerable part of these species’ populations which breed in Europe and North Africa overwinter in this important enclave.
Niokolo-Koba Park to Kaolack
With seeing this roost forefront in our minds, we crisscrossed most of the country from west to east, from Niokolo-Koba Park to Kaolack. We made occasional stops along the way and were able to see quite a few species. Black-headed Heron, Brown Snake Eagle, Martial Eagle, Exclamatory Paradise Whydah, the Pin-tailed Whydah and a host of other species kept us entertained along the way.
Perhaps one of the most amazing things we saw occurred just alongside the road. We witnessed a wildfire which had just crossed the road and hundreds of Abyssinian Rollers were taking advantage of the opportunity to feed on dead insects or those fleeing the fire. However, because of the smoke or the frenzy, many rollers ended up getting run over by passing cars. Within a stretch of a hundred yards, we counted fourteen laying dead on the shoulder. Surely there were more.
Kaolack
We continued en route to Kaolack. To reach the island you need to contact a local guide and cross a river by canoe. We approached cautiously and talked with one of the people responsible for carrying out the census this year and began our journey. We stayed a considerable distance from the roost to enjoy the birds as they approached from all directions. Although there were more kestrels, we saw a lot of kites (hundreds … thousands!). The kestrels increased in numbers as the sun began to set. We noticed some hyena tracks as we were leaving the area. We arrived in Toubacouta late into the night.
Saloum Delta
Toubacouta is the town located in the heart of the Saloum Delta. Of all the national parks in Senegal, Saloum is probably the most popular among birdwatchers. It is a key site for birding in Senegal. It is relatively close to Dakar, has an impressive mangrove area (180,000 hectares of which 76,000 are protected), and is a designated World Heritage Site by UNESCO containing considerable ornithological wealth.
The best way to get to know the delta intimately is by retaining the services of someone with a motorboat. Taking the tides into account is a must when looking for birds like the Goliath Heron and to witness the arrival of hundreds of birds at a roost site, including Western Reef and Intermediate herons, cormorants, anhingas and Pied Kingfishers There were dozens taking refuge beneath the mangroves!
Birding at Toubacouta
But the area around Toubacouta had even more species waiting for us, such as Pearl-spotted Owlet, Wire-tailed Swallow, African Thrush and Pygmy Sunbird. We were even able to see a Yellow-browed Warbler, a Senegal rarity, just outside town. However, the highlight of Toubacouta for us was seeing a rare yellow morph of Common Gonolek. Apparently individuals with this plumage are very difficult to find and are present in the region only during breeding season.
We would have liked to stay longer in Toubacouta. The days, hours, and minutes in the field flew by; there was barely even time for us to rest for lunch before we were back on the road. It was now time for us to think about heading back to Dakar.
Once there, we spent the afternoon with a telescope pointed toward the sea, from N’Gor Beach in Cap-Vert, the western most point of the African Continent. During our last hours in Senegal we enjoyed seeing Royal Terns, Pomarine Skuas, Gannets and a far-off group of Bottle-nosed Dolphins jumping in front of the setting sun. We collected our telescopes and cameras, and placed our binoculars in our backpacks. Until next time, Senegal.
To read more, check out the first and second parts of this amazing trip!
List of species seen during the trip
| Género | Especie | Common Name | |||
| 1 | Numida | meleagris | Helmeted Guineafowl | ||
| 2 | Pternistis | bicalcaratus | Double-spurred Francolin | ||
| 3 | Dendrocygna | viduata | White-faced Whistling Duck | ||
| 4 | Dendrocygna | bicolor | Fulvous Whistling Duck | ||
| 5 | Plectropterus | gambensis | Spur-winged Goose | ||
| 6 | Sarkidiornis | melanotos | Knob-billed Duck | ||
| 7 | Alopochen | aegyptiaca | Egyptian Goose | ||
| 8 | Tadorna | tadorna | Common Shelduck | ||
| 9 | Nettapus | auritus | African Pygmy Goose | ||
| 10 | Anas | clypeata | Northern Shoveler | ||
| 11 | Anas | querquedula | Garganey | ||
| 12 | Calonectris | sp. | Shearwater sp. | ||
| 13 | Tachybaptus | ruficollis | Little Grebe | ||
| 14 | Phoenicopterus | roseus | Greater Flamingo | ||
| 15 | Phoeniconaias | minor | Lesser Flamingo | ||
| 16 | Mycteria | ibis | Yellow-billed Stork | ||
| 17 | Ciconia | nigra | Black Stork | ||
| 18 | Ciconia | episcopus | Woolly-necked Stork | ||
| 19 | Ciconia | ciconia | White Stork | ||
| 20 | Ephippiorhynchus | senegalensis | Saddle-billed Stork | ||
| 21 | Threskiornis | aethiopicus | African Sacred Ibis | ||
| 22 | Bostrychia | hagedash | Hadada Ibis | ||
| 23 | Plegadis | falcinellus | Glossy Ibis | ||
| 24 | Platalea | leucorodia | Eurasian Spoonbill | ||
| 25 | Platalea | alba | African Spoonbill | ||
| 26 | Nycticorax | nycticorax | Black-crowned Night Heron | ||
| 27 | Butorides | striata | Striated Heron | ||
| 28 | Ardeola | ralloides | Squacco Heron | ||
| 29 | Bubulcus | ibis | Western Cattle Egret | ||
| 30 | Ardea | cinerea | Grey Heron | ||
| 31 | Ardea | melanocephala | Black-headed Heron | ||
| 32 | Ardea | goliath | Goliath Heron | ||
| 33 | Ardea | purpurea | Purple Heron | ||
| 34 | Ardea | alba | Great Egret | ||
| 35 | Egretta | intermedia | Yellow-billed Egret | ||
| 36 | Egretta | ardesiaca | Black Heron | ||
| 37 | Egretta | garzetta | Little Egret | ||
| 38 | Egretta | gularis | Western Reef Heron | ||
| 39 | Scopus | umbretta | Hamerkop | ||
| 40 | Pelecanus | onocrotalus | Great White Pelican | ||
| 41 | Pelecanus | rufescens | Pink-backed Pelican | ||
| 42 | Morus | bassanus | Northern Gannet | ||
| 43 | Microcarbo | africanus | Reed Cormorant | ||
| 44 | Phalacrocorax | carbo | Great Cormorant | ||
| 45 | Phalacrocorax | lucidus | White-breasted Cormorant | ||
| 46 | Anhinga | rufa | African Darter | ||
| 47 | Pandion | haliaetus | Western Osprey | ||
| 48 | Elanus | caeruleus | Black-winged Kite | ||
| 49 | Chelictinia | riocourii | Scissor-tailed Kite | ||
| 50 | Milvus | migrans | Black Kite | ||
| 51 | Milvus | aegyptius | Yellow-billed Kite | ||
| 52 | Haliaeetus | vocifer | African Fish Eagle | ||
| 53 | Gypohierax | angolensis | Palm-nut Vulture | ||
| 54 | Necrosyrtes | monachus | Hooded Vulture | ||
| 55 | Gyps | africanus | White-backed Vulture | ||
| 56 | Gyps | rueppellii | Rüpell’s Vulture | ||
| 57 | Gyps | fulvus | Griffon Vulture | ||
| 58 | Torgos | tracheliotus | Lappet-faced Vulture | ||
| 59 | Circaetus | gallicus | Short-Toed Eagle | ||
| 60 | Circaetus | cinereus | Brown Snake Eagle | ||
| 61 | Circaetus | cinerascens | Western Banded Snake-Eagle | ||
| 62 | Terathopius | ecaudatus | Bateleur | ||
| 63 | Circus | aeruginosus | Marsh Harrier | ||
| 64 | Circus | macrourus | Pallid Harrier | ||
| 65 | Circus | pygargus | Montagu’s Harrier | ||
| 66 | Polyboroides | typus | African Harrier-Hawk | ||
| 67 | Melierax | metabates | Dark Chanting Goshawk | ||
| 68 | Accipiter | badius | Shikra | ||
| 69 | Kaupifalco | monogrammicus | Lizard Buzzard | ||
| 70 | Butastur | rufipennis | Grasshopper Buzzard | ||
| 71 | Aquila | spilogaster | African Hawk-Eagle | ||
| 72 | Hieraaetus | wahlbergi | Wahlberg’s Eagle | ||
| 73 | Polemaetus | bellicosus | Martial Eagle | ||
| 74 | Falco | naumanni | Lesser Kestrel | ||
| 75 | Falco | tinnunculus | Common Kestrel | ||
| 76 | Falco | ardosiaceus | Grey Kestrel | ||
| 77 | Falco | chicquera | Red-necked Falcon | ||
| 78 | Falco | biarmicus | Lanner Falcon | ||
| 79 | Podica | senegalis | African Finfoot | ||
| 80 | Amaurornis | flavirostra | Black Crake | ||
| 81 | Porphyrio | porphyrio | Purple Swamphen | ||
| 82 | Gallinula | chloropus | Common Moorhen | ||
| 83 | Balearica | pavonina | Black Crowned Crane | ||
| 84 | Burhinus | senegalensis | Senegal Thick-knee | ||
| 85 | Haematopus | ostralegus | Eurasian Oystercatcher | ||
| 86 | Himantopus | himantopus | Black-winged Stilt | ||
| 87 | Recurvirostra | avosetta | Pied Avocet | ||
| 88 | Vanellus | spinosus | Spur-winged Lapwing | ||
| 89 | Vanellus | tectus | Black-headed Lapwing | ||
| 90 | Vanellus | albiceps | White-crowned Lapwing | ||
| 91 | Vanellus | senegallus | African Wattled Lapwing | ||
| 92 | Pluvialis | squatarola | Grey Plover | ||
| 93 | Charadrius | hiaticula | Common Ringed Plover | ||
| 94 | Charadrius | dubius | Little Ringed Plover | ||
| 95 | Charadrius | pecuarius | Kittlitz’s Plover | ||
| 96 | Charadrius | alexandrinus | Kentish Plover | ||
| 97 | Pluvianus | aegyptius | Egyptian Plover | ||
| 98 | Rostratula | benghalensis | Greater Painted Snipe | ||
| 99 | Actophilornis | africanus | African Jacana | ||
| 100 | Gallinago | gallinago | Common Snipe | ||
| 101 | Limosa | limosa | Black-tailed Godwit | ||
| 102 | Limosa | lapponica | Bar-tailed Godwit | ||
| 103 | Numenius | phaeopus | Whimbrel | ||
| 104 | Tringa | erythropus | Spotted Redshank | ||
| 105 | Tringa | totanus | Common Redshank | ||
| 106 | Tringa | stagnatilis | Marsh Sandpiper | ||
| 107 | Tringa | nebularia | Common Greenshank | ||
| 108 | Tringa | ochruros | Green Sanpiper | ||
| 109 | Tringa | glareola | Wood Sandpiper | ||
| 110 | Actitis | hypoleucos | Common Sandpiper | ||
| 111 | Arenaria | interpres | Ruddy Turnstone | ||
| 112 | Calidris | alba | Sanderling | ||
| 113 | Calidris | minuta | Little Stint | ||
| 114 | Calidris | temminckii | Temminck’s Stint | ||
| 115 | Calidris | ferruginea | Curlew Sandpiper | ||
| 116 | Calidris | alpina | Dunlin | ||
| 117 | Philomachus | pugnax | Ruff | ||
| 118 | Glareola | pratincola | Collared Pratincole | ||
| 119 | Chroicocephalus | genei | Slender-billed Gull | ||
| 120 | Chroicocephalus | ridibundus | Common Black-headed Gull | ||
| 121 | Chroicocephalus | cirrocephalus | Grey-hooded Gull | ||
| 122 | Larus | fuscus | Lesser Black-backed Gull | ||
| 123 | Sternula | albifrons | Little Tern | ||
| 124 | Gelochelidon | nilotica | Gull-billed Tern | ||
| 125 | Hydroprogne | caspia | Caspian Tern | ||
| 126 | Thalasseus | maxima | Royal Tern | ||
| 127 | Thalasseus | sandvicensis | Sandwich Tern | ||
| 128 | Sterna | hirundo | Common Tern | ||
| 129 | Chlidonias | hybrida | Whiskered Tern | ||
| 130 | Chlidonias | niger | Black Tern | ||
| 131 | Stercorarius | pomarinus | Pomarine Skua | ||
| 132 | Stercorarius | parasiticus | Parasitic Jaeger | ||
| 133 | Pterocles | exustus | Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse | ||
| 134 | Columba | guinea | Speckled Pigeon | ||
| 135 | Streptopelia | turtur | European Turtle Dove | ||
| 136 | Streptopelia | risoria | African Collared Dove | ||
| 137 | Streptopelia | decipiens | Mourning Collared Dove | ||
| 138 | Streptopelia | semitorquata | Red-eyed Dove | ||
| 139 | Streptopelia | vinacea | Vinaceous Dove | ||
| 140 | Spilopelia | senegalensis | Laughing Dove | ||
| 141 | Turtur | abyssinicus | Black-billed Wood Dove | ||
| 142 | Oena | capensis | Namaqua Dove | ||
| 143 | Treron | waalia | Bruce’s Green Pigeon | ||
| 144 | Psittacula | krameri | Rose-ringed Parakeet | ||
| 145 | Poicephalus | senegalus | Senegal Parrot | ||
| 146 | Crinifer | piscator | Western Plantain-eater | ||
| 147 | Centropus | senegalensis | Senegal Coucal | ||
| 148 | Tyto | alba | Barn Owl | ||
| 149 | Otus | senegalensis | African Scops Owl | ||
| 150 | Glaucidium | perlatum | Pearl-spotted Owlet | ||
| 151 | Caprimulgus | climacurus | Long-tailed Nightjar | ||
| 152 | Macrodipteryx | longipennis | Standard-winged Nightjar | ||
| 153 | Telacanthura | ussheri | Mottled Spinetail | ||
| 154 | Cypsiurus | parvus | African Palm Swift | ||
| 155 | Apus | affinis | Little Swift | ||
| 156 | Urocolius | macrourus | Blue-naped Mousebird | ||
| 157 | Coracias | naevius | Purple Roller | ||
| 158 | Coracias | abyssinicus | Abyssinian Roller | ||
| 159 | Coracias | cyanogaster | Blue-bellied Roller | ||
| 160 | Eurystomus | glaucurus | Broad-billed Roller | ||
| 161 | Halcyon | leucocephala | Grey-headed Kingfisher | ||
| 162 | Halcyon | chelicuti | Striped Kingfisher | ||
| 163 | Halcyon | malimbica | Blue-breasted Kingfisher | ||
| 164 | Ispidina | picta | African Pygmy Kingfisher | ||
| 165 | Corythornis | cristatus | Malachite Kingfisher | ||
| 166 | Megaceryle | maxima | Giant Kingfisher | ||
| 167 | Ceryle | rudis | Pied Kingfisher | ||
| 168 | Merops | hirundineus | Swallow-tailed Bee-eater | ||
| 169 | Merops | pusillus | Little Bee-eater | ||
| 170 | Merops | bulocki | Red-throated Bee-eater | ||
| 171 | Merops | orientalis | Green Bee-eater | ||
| 172 | Merops | persicus | Blue-cheeked Bee-eater | ||
| 173 | Merops | nubicus | Northern Carmine Bee-eater | ||
| 174 | Upupa | epops | Eurasian Hoopoe | ||
| 175 | Phoeniculus | purpureus | Green Wood Hoopoe | ||
| 176 | Tockus | nasutus | African Grey Hornbill | ||
| 177 | Tockus | kempi | Western Red-billed Hornbill | ||
| 178 | Bucorvus | abyssinicus | Abyssinian Ground Hornbill | ||
| 179 | Pogoniulus | chrysoconus | Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird | ||
| 180 | Lybius | vieilloti | Vieillot’s Barbet | ||
| 181 | Lybius | dubius | Bearded Barbet | ||
| 182 | Jynx | torquilla | Eurasian Wryneck | ||
| 183 | Campethera | punctuligera | Fine-spotted Woodpecker | ||
| 184 | Dendropicos | goertae | African Grey Woodpecker | ||
| 185 | Batis | senegalensis | Senegal Batis | ||
| 186 | Platysteira | cyanea | Brown-throated Wattle-eye | ||
| 187 | Prionops | plumatus | White Helmetshrike | ||
| 188 | Malaconotus | blanchoti | Grey-headed Bushshrike | ||
| 189 | Tchagra | senegalus | Black-crowned Tchagra | ||
| 190 | Dryoscopus | gambensis | Northern Puffback | ||
| 191 | Laniarius | barbarus | Yellow-crowned Gonolek | ||
| 192 | Corvinella | corvina | Yellow-billed Shrike | ||
| 193 | Lanius | meridionalis | Southern Grey Shrike | ||
| 194 | Lanius | senator | Woodchat Shrike | ||
| 195 | Oriolus | auratus | African Golden Oriole | ||
| 196 | Dicrurus | adsimilis | Fork-tailed Drongo | ||
| 197 | Terpsiphone | viridis | African Paradise Flycatcher | ||
| 198 | Ptilostomus | afer | Piapiac | ||
| 199 | Corvus | albus | Pied Crow | ||
| 200 | Elminia | longicauda | African Blue Flycatcher | ||
| 201 | Mirafra | cordofanica | Kordofan Lark | ||
| 202 | Galerida | cristata | Crested Lark | ||
| 203 | Eremopterix | leucotis | Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark | ||
| 204 | Eremopterix | nigriceps | Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark | ||
| 205 | Pycnonotus | barbatus | Common Bulbul | ||
| 206 | Riparia | riparia | Sand Martin | ||
| 207 | Hirundo | lucida | Red-chested Swallow | ||
| 208 | Hirundo | smithii | Wire-tailed Swallow | ||
| 209 | Delichon | urbicum | Common House Martin | ||
| 210 | Cecropis | senegalensis | Mosque Swallow | ||
| 211 | Cecropis | daurica | Red-rumped Swallow | ||
| 212 | Sylvietta | brachyura | Northern Crombec | ||
| 213 | Phylloscopus | trochilus | Willow Warbler | ||
| 214 | Phylloscopus | collybita | Common Chiffchaff | ||
| 215 | Phylloscopus | bonelli | Western Bonelli’s Warbler | ||
| 216 | Phylloscopus | inornatus | Yellow-browed Warbler | ||
| 217 | Acrocephalus | schoenobaenus | Sedge Warbler | ||
| 218 | Acrocephalus | scirpaceus/baeticatus | Eurasian Reed Warbler/ African Reed Warbler | ||
| 219 | Iduna | opaca | Western Olivaceous Warbler | ||
| 220 | Hippolais | polyglotta | Melodious Warbler | ||
| 221 | Cisticola | juncidis | Buitrón Común | ||
| 222 | Prinia | subflava | Tawny-flanked Prinia | ||
| 223 | Prinia | fluviatilis | River Prinia | ||
| 224 | Camaroptera | brevicaudata | Grey-backed Camaroptera | ||
| 225 | Eremomela | icteropygiallis | Yellow-bellied Eremomela | ||
| 226 | Eremomela | pusilla | Senegal Eremomela | ||
| 227 | Turdoides | reinwardtii | Blackcap Babbler | ||
| 228 | Turdoides | plebejus | Brown Babbler | ||
| 229 | Sylvia | curruca | Lesser Whitethroat | ||
| 230 | Sylvia | hortensis | Western Orphean Warbler | ||
| 231 | Sylvia | communis | Common Whitethroat | ||
| 232 | Sylvia | cantillans | Subalpine Warbler | ||
| 233 | Zosterops | senegalensis | African Yellow White-eye | ||
| 234 | Lamprotornis | chalybaeus | Greater Blue-eared Starling | ||
| 235 | Lamprotornis | chalcurus | Bronze-tailed Starling | ||
| 236 | Lamprotornis | purpureus | Purple Starling | ||
| 237 | Lamprotornis | caudatus | Long-tailed Glossy Starling | ||
| 238 | Lamprotornis | pulcher | Chestnut-bellied Starling | ||
| 239 | Buphagus | africanus | Yellow-billed Oxpecker | ||
| 240 | Turdus | pelios | African Thrush | ||
| 241 | Cossypha | niveicapilla | Snowy-crowned Robin Chat | ||
| 242 | Erythropygia | galactotes | Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin | ||
| 243 | Cercotrichas | podobe | Black Scrub Robin | ||
| 244 | Phoenicurus | phoenicurus | Common Redstart | ||
| 245 | Saxicola | rubetra | Whinchat | ||
| 246 | Saxicola | torquatus | African Stonechat | ||
| 247 | Myrmecocichla | aethiops | Northern Anteater Chat | ||
| 248 | Oenanthe | oenanthe | Northern Wheatear | ||
| 249 | Melaenornis | edolioides | Northern Black Flycatcher | ||
| 250 | Muscicapa | aquatica | Swamp Flycatcher | ||
| 251 | Ficedula | hypoleuca | European Pied Flycatcher | ||
| 252 | Anthreptes | longuemarei | Western Violet-backed Sunbird | ||
| 253 | Hedydipna | platura | Pygmy Sunbird | ||
| 254 | Chalcomitra | senegalensis | Scarlet-chested Sunbird | ||
| 255 | Cinnyris | pulchellus | Beautiful Sunbird | ||
| 256 | Cinnyris | venustus | Variable Sunbird | ||
| 257 | Passer | domesticus | House Sparrow | ||
| 258 | Passer | griseus | Northern Grey-headed Sparrow | ||
| 259 | Passer | luteus | Sudan Golden Sparrow | ||
| 260 | Bubalornis | albirostris | White-billed Buffalo Weaver | ||
| 261 | Sporopipes | frontalis | Speckle-fronted Weaver | ||
| 262 | Ploceus | vitellinus | Vitelline Masked Weaver | ||
| 263 | Ploceus | cucullatus | Village Weaver | ||
| 264 | Quelea | quelea | Red-billed Quelea | ||
| 265 | Pytilia | melba | Green-winged Pytilia | ||
| 266 | Amadina | fasciata | Cut-throat Finch | ||
| 267 | Lagonosticta | senegala | Red-billed Firefinch | ||
| 268 | Lagonosticta | larvata | Black-faced Firefinch | ||
| 269 | Uraeginthus | bengalus | Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu | ||
| 270 | Estrilda | caerulescens | Lavender Waxbill | ||
| 271 | Estrilda | melpoda | Orange-cheeked Waxbill | ||
| 272 | Estrilda | troglodytes | Black-rumped Waxbill | ||
| 273 | Amandava | subflava | Orange-breasted Waxbill | ||
| 274 | Euodice | cantans | African Silverbill | ||
| 275 | Lonchura | cucullata | Bronze Mannikin | ||
| 276 | Vidua | chalybeata | Village Indigobird | ||
| 277 | Vidua | orientalis | Sahel Paradise Whydah | ||
| 278 | Vidua | interjecta | Exclamatory Paradise Whydah | ||
| 279 | Vidua | macroura | Pin-tailed Whydah | ||
| 280 | Motacilla | flava | Western Yellow Wagtail | ||
| 281 | Motacilla | alba | White Wagtail | ||
| 282 | Motacilla | aguimp | African Pied Wagtail | ||
| 283 | Crithagra | leucopygia | White-rumped Seedeater | ||
| 284 | Crithagra | mozambica | Yellow-fronted Canary |
