Ghana

Kakum (Abrofo)
African Harrier-Hawk, Red-eyed Dove, Blue-spotted Wood-Dove (1), Tambourine Dove, African Green-Pigeon, Western Plantain-eater, Great Spotted Cuckoo (1), Senegal Coucal (1), Little Swift, African Palm-Swift, African Pygmy-Kingfisher (1), White-throated Bee-eater, Rosy Bee-eater, Blue-throated Roller (1), Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill (1), African Pied Hornbill, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird (1), Buff-spotted Woodpecker (1), Grey Kestrel, Black-winged Oriole (1), Velvet-mantled Drongo, Pied Crow, Fanti Sawwing, Slender-billed Greenbul, Grey-headed Bristlebill (1), Swamp Greenbul, Lemon-bellied Crombec, Grey Longbill, Yellow-browed Camaroptera, Whistling Cisticola (1), Spotted Flycatcher (1), Collared Sunbird (1), Copper Sunbird, Crested Malimbe, Black-necked Weaver, Bronze Mannikin, Black-and-white Mannikin

Cape Coast
Common Sandpiper, Pied Kingfisher (1), Kestrel (1), African Pied Wagtail (1), Royal Tern, Caspian Tern

Nsutu/Sekondi
African Harrier-Hawk, Red-necked Buzzard (1), Tambourine Dove, African Green-Pigeon, Yellowbill, Black-throated Coucal (1), Black-throated Coucal, Blue-throated Roller (1), African Pied Hornbill, Piping Hornb ill (2), African Piculet (1), Red-fronted Parrot, African Shrike-flycatcher (1), Chestnut-bellied Helmetshrike, Slender-billed Greenbul, Little Grey Greenbul (1), Lemon-bellied Crombec (1), Grey Longbill (1), Yellow-browed Camaroptera, Tessmann's Flycatcher (1), Grey Tit-Flycatcher (1), Collared Sunbird

Other Birds at various stop-offs etc.
Cattle Egret, Hooded Vulture, Common Fiscal, Barn Swallow, Black Kite

Kakum and surround (Antwikwa and Abrafo)

Little Egret, African Harrier-Hawk, Black Kite, Hooded Vulture, Congo Serpent-Eagle (1), Red-necked Buzzard (1), Rock Pratincole (pair and two juveniles), Laughing Dove, Tambourine Dove, African Green-Pigeon, Klaas's Cuckoo, Long-tailed Nightjar (1), Black Spinetail, Cassin's Spinetail, Common Swift, Little Swift, African Palm-Swift, Woodland Kingfisher (1), White-throated Bee-eater, Rosy Bee-eater (1), White-headed Woodhoopoe (pair), African Pied Hornbill, Brown-cheeked Hornbill, Bristle-nosed Barbet (2), Naked-faced Barbet, Speckled Tinkerbird, Red-rumped Tinkerbird (1), Yellow-throated Tinkerbird (1), Hairy-breasted Barbet, Fire-bellied Woodpecker, Red-fronted Parrot, Chestnut Wattle-eye, Bioko Batis (1), Chestnut-bellied Helmetshrike, Black-winged Oriole (1), Blue-headed Crested-Flycatcher, Black-headed Paradise-Flycatcher, Pied Crow, Barn Swallow, Ethiopian Swallow, White-throated Blue Swallow, Lesser Striped-Swallow, Preuss's Swallow, Forest Penduline-Tit (1), Tit-hylia (1), Slender-billed Greenbul, Yellow-whiskered Greenbul (1), Little Greenbul (1), Common Bulbul, Yellow-browed Camaroptera (1), Rufous-crowned Eremomela (1), Dusky-blue Flycatcher, Finsch's Flycatcher-Thrush (1), Copper-tailed Glossy-Starling, Little Green Sunbird (2), Collared Sunbird, Blue-throated Brown Sunbird (1), Johanna's Sunbird (1), Superb Sunbird, Red-vented Malimbe, Red-headed Malimbe, Vieillot's Weaver, Grey-headed Negrofinch, Chestnut-breasted Negrofinch, White-breasted Negrofinch, Black-and-white Mannikin

Kakum (Main Gate)

Cattle Egret, African Harrier-Hawk, Palm-nut Vulture, Black Kite, Tambourine Dove, African Green-Pigeon, Yellowbill, Black Spinetail (1), Cassin's Spinetail, White-throated Bee-eater, Rosy Bee-eater (1), White-crested Hornbill, African Pied Hornbill, Brown-cheeked Hornbill, Black-casqued Hornbill, Yellow-casqued Hornbill (2), Naked-faced Barbet, Speckled Tinkerbird, Yellow-spotted Barbet, Yellow-footed Honeyguide (1), Little Green Woodpecker (1), Fire-bellied Woodpecker, Rufous-sided Broadbill (1), Chestnut Wattle-eye, Sabine’s Puffback, Blue Cuckoo-shrike, Blue-headed Crested-Flycatcher, Shining Drongo (1), Velvet-mantled Drongo, Pied Crow, Tit-hylia (1), Slender-billed Greenbul, Honeyguide Greenbul (1), Red-tailed Greenbul (1), Western Bearded-Greenbul (1), Common Bulbul, Lemon-bellied Crombec (1), Grey Longbill (1), Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, Wood Warbler (1), Rufous-crowned Eremomela (1), Green Hylia (1), Violet-backed Hyliota (2), Forest Robin (1), Chestnut-winged Starling, Scarlet-tufted Sunbird (2), Blue-throated Brown Sunbird (1), Buff-throated Sunbird (pair), Johanna's Sunbird (2), Gray's Malimbe, Red-headed Malimbe, Yellow-mantled Weaver, Maxwell's Black Weaver, Preuss's Weaver (2), White-breasted Negrofinch (1), Mona Monkey, Red-legged Sun Squirrel (1)

Fowlmere

A record count of fifty-four Teal Today. Not a lot else: Barn Owl in the box, two pairs of Gadwall, and four Snipe in the snow.

Siskin, new for the garden

Title says it all. One Siskin on the niger seed feeder briefly mid-afternoon.

Hen Harrier

A ringtail Hen Harrier was seen around 5:30pm from the train near Little Shelford on my way home from Cambridge. Wonder if it could be the Fowlmere bird, though that normally is at Fowlmere by that time?

Fowlmere

An aborted morning attempt due to fog, so made an appearance at dusk. Pairs of Tufted Ducks, Teal, and Gadwall, as well as the lone Wigeon.

Fowlmere

A morning visit. Amongst the usual stuff was a male Wigeon next to a male Shoveler. Other ducks included four pairs of Teal and a pair of Gadwall.

Starlings

The Starlings have started nesting in our bedroom roof. Just above our heads. Rather noisy.

Amwell

Went to Amwell at dusk hoping to see the Great White Egret that roosted there yesterday. No such luck. Did see a Bittern and a Barn Owl whilst waiting. Then at dusk, two Bitterns circled the reedbed quite high. They made a sound I’ve never heard (described in BWP as a nasal ‘kau’). Apparently this is often performed before migration. Then, when almost dark, one of the birds flew strongly and high North-East. Presumably it had left for the summer.

Fowlmere

First time out for ages as have been busy, and not a bad morning. The highlight was a Red Kite, but it also seemed a bit more ‘birdier’ than usual. A female Shoveler was also a good sighting on the mere, along with over twenty Teal, and two pairs of Gadwall. The Cetti’s was also heard.