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Dave Williams's 2018 Big(Photo)Year!


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Dave Williams

133) Scarlet-chested Sunbird.

This one is changing coats.

40193463252_e3eb90ec6d_b.jpgScarlet-chested Sunbird Chalcomitra senegalensis by Dave Williams, on Flickr

and this is the female.

40193462962_43d57e4c92_b.jpgScarlet-chested Sunbird   Chalcomitra senegalensis by Dave Williams, on Flickr

Can't remember where I saw them though! I think it was inland from Pirang on my guided trip.

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134) Sandwich Tern

Taking a bath with a Royal Tern at Kartong. I should get better views in the UK during the summer but I didn't manage it last year so I'm putting this one in now!

28447054769_00b5a43f94_b.jpgSandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis by Dave Williams, on Flickr

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137) Senegal Coucal

 

Common, sometimes out in the open sometimes very furtive.

39515286114_7c903c140b_b.jpgSenegal Coucal   Centropus senegalensis by Dave Williams, on Flickr

They seem to like the dried up rice fields in Kotu.

39328817595_ba46d55581_b.jpgSenegal Coucal   Centropus senegalensis by Dave Williams, on Flickr

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138) Senegal Batis

A noisy little bird, this one was on my first guided trip, somewhere inland.

39515290884_de53887ef4_b.jpgSenegal Batis   Batis senegalensis 52018-01-29 by Dave Williams, on Flickr

Responded well to imitating Owlet calls!

40193475882_c5e0885c60_b.jpgSenegal Batis   Batis senegalensis by Dave Williams, on Flickr

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139) Senegal Thick-knee

Always seen near Kotu Bridge and the Creek area

39328810665_a93f6d04fd_b.jpgSenegal Thick-knee   Burhinus senegalensis by Dave Williams, on Flickr

They never seem to be doing too much though!

39328812155_e4f714fea4_b.jpgSenegal Thick-knee   Burhinus senegalensis by Dave Williams, on Flickr

A shake of the wings as good as it gets!

39328811745_91af97e6db_b.jpgSenegal Thick-knee   Burhinus senegalensis by Dave Williams, on Flickr

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140) Shikra

I saw this adult when it briefly landed in a tree in Kotu.

39328815985_8534a5718c_b.jpgShikra   Accipiter badius by Dave Williams, on Flickr

This juvenile was on the wires by the roadside when on our way to Kartong.

25355268607_ac9d7f8828_b.jpgShikra   Accipiter badius by Dave Williams, on Flickr

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141) Slender-billed Gull

Numerous at Kartong too, these were taken on the beach at Tanji.

Junior

39328823525_d81e67604b_b.jpgSlender-billed Gull    Larus genei by Dave Williams, on Flickr

Changeling

40226374831_681f4e8a23_b.jpgSlender-billed Gull    Larus genei by Dave Williams, on Flickr

Fully adult!

28447085179_62ae0e392b_b.jpgSlender-billed Gull    Larus genei by Dave Williams, on Flickr

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144) Speckled Pigeon

Two landed right in front of me, same spot as the Stilts,Greenshank,Marsh Sandpiper, Painted Snipe. Some pond!

40194902452_6ce377a360_b.jpgSpeckled Pigeon  Columba guinea by Dave Williams, on Flickr

A hot day and a thirst to quench.

39330344885_74ce04c6aa_b.jpgSpeckled Pigeon  Columba guinea by Dave Williams, on Flickr

Even a pigeon looks good in water!

40194902682_fc880d9917_b.jpgSpeckled Pigeon  Columba guinea by Dave Williams, on Flickr

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145) Spur-winged Plover

These birds seem to be everywhere in The Gambia and they can be really annoying to a photographer trying to sneak up on a subject as they are the first to fly causing everything else to go in to panic mode with their alarm calls.

26356809048_4be1af5a62_b.jpgSpur-winged Plover  Vanellus spinosus by Dave Williams, on Flickr

When you are just trying to photograph them they seem very co-operative. Maybe they get jealous!

40196324722_4bae540541_b.jpgSpur-winged Plover  Vanellus spinosus by Dave Williams, on Flickr

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146) Squacco Heron

For a change this one totally ignored me, coming within a few feet as it had had it's attention caught elsewhere.

40229419751_92636fc8ce_b.jpgSquacco Heron   Ardeola ralloides by Dave Williams, on Flickr

In flight they totally change becoming mostly white and a challenging photo in to the bargain on a bright day!

40229419981_e80564232b_b.jpgSquacco Heron   Ardeola ralloides by Dave Williams, on Flickr

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147) Striated Heron

In the same local pond as the Squacco but a lot more furtive.

40229419301_92bf67f580_b.jpgStriated Heron   Butorides striata by Dave Williams, on Flickr

I snuck up behind it and wasn't noticed lying on the bank!

26356814908_7cc5e79e40_b.jpgStriated Heron   Butorides striata by Dave Williams, on Flickr

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148) Village Indigobird

This female was the only one I saw, feeding at the Bird Guides hut at Kotu Bridge.

25358934517_b0225808fb_b.jpgVillage Indigobird  Vidua chalybeata by Dave Williams, on Flickr

Not a particularly memorable bird either!

25358935467_ac4dc311aa_b.jpgVillage Indigobird  Vidua chalybeata by Dave Williams, on Flickr

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149) Variable Sunbird.

The only one again, it was in a distant tree with so many other species that arrived to investigate our guides Owlet calls somewhere inland.

26357468768_2842dc938f_b.jpgVariable Sunbird  Cinnyris venustus by Dave Williams, on Flickr

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150) Village Weaver

So common I only took about 6 shots of the species and regret it now I have returned home!

25358929007_2ffc8dff33_b.jpgVillage Weaver  Ploceus cucullatus by Dave Williams, on Flickr

They are not unattractive.

25358929467_d907fb6386_b.jpgVillage Weaver  Ploceus cucullatus by Dave Williams, on Flickr

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151) Northern Red Bishop

This is the only shot I can find of this ever common bird. Out of breeding plumage not really worth spending time over but they are an additional number in the BY!

26357481968_7a90e7d809_b.jpgNorthern Red Bishop  Euplectes franciscanus by Dave Williams, on Flickr

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153) Tawny-flanked Prinia

This was seen on the local golf course adjoining our hotel.

40230282531_b347e66f8f_b.jpgTawny-flanked Prinia   Prinia subflava by Dave Williams, on Flickr

Easier to hear than see sometimes, they certainly let you know when they are around with their rasping calls.

40230283091_004261b7d0_b.jpgTawny-flanked Prinia   Prinia subflava by Dave Williams, on Flickr

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155) Wester Reef Egret.

Frequently seen anywhere with water, this one was in Kotu

38429805300_d963850c20_b.jpgWestern Reef Egret   Egretta gularis by Dave Williams, on Flickr

Unmistakably at Kotu Bridge on the old pillars.

40240614111_334dddc109_b.jpgWestern Reef Egret   Egretta gularis by Dave Williams, on Flickr

One of the nice things around Kotu is getting reflections of different colours on the water.

40240613901_21b21f0e30_b.jpgWestern Reef Egret   Egretta gularis by Dave Williams, on Flickr

 

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156) Whimbrel

A bit scarce in the UK and you can rarely get close but The Gambia it's different!

39529934774_e5481fd7ea_b.jpgWhimbrel  Numenius phaeopus by Dave Williams, on Flickr

Must be as good as anywhere to see them and they are immune to approach!

38429835850_4e180274e6_b.jpgWhimbrel  Numenius phaeopus by Dave Williams, on Flickr

40207316782_b552f5aa1a_b.jpgWhimbrel  Numenius phaeopus by Dave Williams, on FlickrWhimbrel  Numenius phaeopus by Dave Williams, on Flickr

Their favourite diet appears to be crabs which need handling with care.

39343006095_f9805a562b_b.jpgWhimbrel  Numenius phaeopus by Dave Williams, on Flickr

Sadly the poor crab suffers a brutal end with all the legs shaken from the body before being devoured.

 

 

Edited by Dave Williams
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