Sierra Leone Day 2 02.04.2019

I spent the day exploring the two campuses of the University of Makeni, where my friend Hannah was working. We started the morning with a tour of Fatima Campus, the main campus where she lived before heading off to Yoni, which was on the outskirts of Makeni.

In both regions there were ample new birds for me, although most are likely common African species. What was really enjoyable was the presence of wintering species more familiar to me on their breeding grounds in Britain. I found both Pied Flycatcher and Wood Warbler in the trees right outside Hannah’s house, feeding among the Splendid Sunbirds. There were also no less than three species of Kingfisher across Fatima campus; Woodland, Grey-headed and Blue-breasted.

-Woodland Kingfisher

-Grey-headed Kingfisher

-Senegal Coucal

-Whistling Cisticola

-Grey-backed Cameroptera

-Common Bulbul

-African Thrush

At Yoni there were fewer birds but we were present later in the day. An African Pied Hornbill that flew over was certainly the highlight, and with help from the local village we were able to get quite close

-African Pied Hornbill

Species List:

University of Makeni, Fatima Campus: Yellow-billed Kite, Shikra, Cattle Egret, Red-eyed Dove, Laughing Dove, Feral Pigeon, African Palm Swift, Woodland Kingfisher, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Senegal Coucal, African Golden Oriole, Western Plantain-Eater, Rock Martin, Fanti Saw-wing, Fork-tailed Drongo, Square-tailed Drongo, Pied Crow, Common Wattle-eye, Northern Puffback, African Thrush, Pied Flycatcher, Wood Warbler, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Red-winged Prinia, Whistling Cisticola, Grey-backed Cameroptera, Bronze Mannikin, Black-necked Weaver,

University of Makeni, Yoni Campus: African Harrier-Hawk, Lizard Buzzard, Woolly-necked Stork, Great White Egret, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Blue-bellied Roller, African Pied Hornbill, Pied Crow,