Sierra Leone complete species list

BIRDS
Double-spurred Francolin	Pternistis bicalcaratus
Woolly-necked Stork	Ciconia episcopus
Hadada Ibis	Bostrychia hagedash
Striated Heron	Butorides striata
Western Cattle Egret	Bubulcus ibis
Grey Heron	Ardea cinerea
Purple Heron	Ardea purpurea
Great Egret	Ardea alba
Hamerkop	Scopus umbretta
Long-tailed Cormorant	Microcarbo africanus
African Harrier-Hawk	Polyboroides typus
Palm-nut Vulture	Gypohierax angolensis
Hooded Vulture	Necrosyrtes monachus
Long-crested Eagle	Lophaetus occipitalis
Lizard Buzzard	Kaupifalco monogrammicus
Shikra	Accipiter badius
Yellow-billed Kite	Milvus aegyptius
Red-necked Buzzard	Buteo auguralis
African Finfoot	Podica senegalensis
Black Crake	Amaurornis flavirostra
Senegal Thick-knee	Burhinus senegalensis
White-crowned Lapwing	Vanellus albiceps
African Wattled Lapwing	Vanellus senegallus
Greater Painted-snipe	Rostratula benghalensis
African Jacana	Actophilornis africanus
Common Sandpiper	Actitis hypoleucos
Collared Pratincole	Glareola pratincola
Rock Pratincole	Glareola nuchalis
Feral Pigeon	Columba livia
Red-eyed Dove	Streptopelia semitorquata
Vinaceous Dove	Streptopelia vinacea
Laughing Dove	Spilopelia senegalensis
Tambourine Dove	Turtur tympanistria
Great Blue Turaco	Corythaeola cristata
Western Plantain-eater	Crinifer piscator
Senegal Coucal	Centropus senegalensis
Levaillant's Cuckoo	Clamator levaillantii
Greyish Eagle-Owl	Bubo cinerascens
Standard-winged Nightjar	Caprimulgus longipennis
Mottled Spinetail	Telacanthura ussheri
African Palm Swift	Cypsiurus parvus
Common Swift	Apus apus
Little Swift	Apus affinis
Abyssinian Roller	Coracias abyssinicus
Blue-bellied Roller	Coracias cyanogaster
Blue-throated Roller	Eurystomus gularis
Grey-headed Kingfisher	Halcyon leucocephala
Blue-breasted Kingfisher	Halcyon malimbica
Woodland Kingfisher	Halcyon senegalensis
African Pygmy Kingfisher	Ispidina picta
Malachite Kingfisher	Corythornis cristatus
Shining-blue Kingfisher	Alcedo quadribrachys
White-throated Bee-eater	Merops albicollis
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater	Merops persicus
African Pied Hornbill	Lophoceros fasciatus
African Grey Hornbill	Lophoceros nasutus
Yellow-casqued Hornbill	Ceratogymna elata
Brown-backed Woodpecker	Dendropicos obsoletus
Senegal Batis	Batis senegalensis
Brown-throated Wattle-eye	Platysteira cyanea
Black-crowned Tchagra	Tchagra senegalus
Northern Puffback	Dryoscopus gambensis
White-crested Helmetshrike	Prionops plumatus
Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher	Bias musicus
Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike	Campephaga phoenicea
Fork-tailed Drongo	Dicrurus adsimilis
Western Square-tailed Drongo	Dicrurus occidentalis
African Golden Oriole	Oriolus auratus
Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher	Terpsiphone rufiventer
African Paradise Flycatcher	Terpsiphone viridis
Pied Crow	Corvus albus
Western Nicator	Nicator chloris
Common Bulbul	Pycnonotus barbatus
Yellow-throated Leaflove	Atimastillas flavicollis
Fanti Saw-wing	Psalidoprocne obscura
Red-chested Swallow	Hirundo lucida
Rock Martin	Ptyonoprogne fuligula
Lesser Striped Swallow	Cecropis abyssinica
Red-rumped Swallow	Cecropis daurica
Wood Warbler	Phylloscopus sibilatrix
Willow Warbler	Phylloscopus trochilus
Sedge Warbler	Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
Whistling Cisticola	Cisticola lateralis
Tawny-flanked Prinia	Prinia subflava
Red-winged Warbler	Heliolais erythropterus
Grey-backed Camaroptera	Camaroptera brevicaudata
Senegal Eremomela	Eremomela pusilla
Emerald Starling	Lamprotornis iris
Violet-backed Starling	Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
African Thrush	Turdus pelios
White-browed Forest Flycatcher	Fraseria cinerascens
Grey Tit-Flycatcher	Myioparus plumbeus
Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat	Cossypha niveicapilla
European Pied Flycatcher	Ficedula hypoleuca
Whinchat	Saxicola rubetra
Mangrove Sunbird	Anthreptes gabonicus
Green-headed Sunbird	Cyanomitra verticalis
Splendid Sunbird	Cinnyris coccinigastrus
Copper Sunbird	Cinnyris cupreus
Northern Grey-headed Sparrow	Passer griseus
Black-necked Weaver	Ploceus nigricollis
Village Weaver	Ploceus cucullatus
Yellow-winged Pytilia	Pytilia hypogrammica
Dybowski's Twinspot	Euschistospiza dybowskii
Orange-cheeked Waxbill	Estrilda melpoda
Bronze Mannikin	Lonchura cucullata
Western Yellow Wagtail	Motacilla flava
African Pied Wagtail	Motacilla aguimp
Plain-backed Pipit	Anthus leucophrys
Tree Pipit	Anthus trivialis

MAMMALS
Green Monkey	Chlorocebus sabaeus
Lesser Spot-nosed Monkey	Cercopithecus petaurista
Campbell's Monkey	Cercopithecus campbelli
Hippopotamus	Hippopotamus amphibious

REPTILES
Rainbow Agama	Agama lebretoni
Nile Monitor	Varanus niloticus

BUTTERFLIES
Danid Eggfly	Hypolimnas misippus
Plain Tiger	Danaus chrysippus
Nigerian Blue Forester	Euphaedra luperca
Soilder Pansy	Junonia terea
Forest Glade Nymph	Aterica galene
Veined Swordtail	Graphium leonidas
Angola White Lady	Graphium angolanus
Nemetes Sailer	Neptis nemetes
Forest Leopard	Phalanta eurytis
Lunulated Hairtail	Anthene lunulata
African Migrant	Catopsilia florella

DRAGONFLIES
Lucia Widow	Palpopleura lucia
Red-veined Dropwing	Trithemis arteriosa
Pied-Spot	Hemistigma albipunctum

Sierra Leone Day 8 08.04.2019

My final morning in Sierra Leone was an emotional one, with more goodbyes than I care to mention. This left little time for birding but did enjoy the company of a small group of Hooded Vultures which were lurking around the university canteen.

-Hooded Vulture

Once we arrived at the airport we went for a quick farewell drink, whilst overhead a few new birds were flying around, even at this stage of the trip. I enjoyed Red-chested Swallow, Mosque Swallow and Grey-headed Sparrow. A fitting end to a really enjoyable trip!

-Hooded Vulture & Pied Crow

-Pied Crow

Species List:

Lungi international airport: Hooded Vulture, Shikra, African Harrier-Hawk, Western Plantain-Eater, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, African Palm Swift, Pied Crow, Red-chested Swallow, Mosque Swallow, Grey-headed Sparrow,

Sierra Leone Day 7 07.04.2019

Today we headed to a swimming pool on the far side of town and as a result I did not birding, except the casual observations of common species that happened to fly overhead. Still it was a really fun chilled out afternoon. A Greyish Eagle Owl that we saw on our drive back in the dark was without doubt the birding highlight of the day.

Species List:

Apex Hotel: African Harrier Hawk, Shikra, African Palm Swift, Little Swift, Pied Crow, Rock Martin, Common Bulbul,

Sierra Leone Day 6 06.04.2019

Once I Returned from the park spent far more time being social than birding. Still, a chilled out morning at the house gave me chance to inspect the nearby vegetation for birds, such as Sunbirds and overhead the occasional raptor would pass by.

During the afternoon we headed out to a beach a few miles away. After a couple of swims I decided to explore the nearby vegetation for birds and found a few new species for me; Plain-backed Pipit, African Wattled Lapwing, Orange-cheeked Waxbill and Black-and-white Shrike-Flycatcher. A group of Great Blue Turacos also provided entertainment as they lumbered through the vegetation on the far side of the river.

-Great Blue Turaco

-Plain-backed Pipit

Species List:

University of Makeni, Fatima Campus: Hooded Vulture, Yellow-billed Kite, African Harrier Hawk, Shikra, African Palm Swift, Pied Crow, Splendid Sunbird, Copper Sunbird, Common Bulbul, African Thrush, Bronze Mannikin,

Beach No.1: Grey Heron, Cattle Egret, Long-tailed Cormorant, African Jacana, Common Sandpiper, African Wattled Lapwing, Collared Pratincole, Laughing Dove, Red-eyed Dove, Malachite Kingfisher, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Great Blue Turaco, African Palm Swift, Pied Crow, Common Bulbul, Black-and-white Shrike-Flycatcher, Yellow Wagtail, Plain-backed Pipit, Orange-cheeked Waxbill, Green Monkey,

Sierra Leone Day 5 05.04.2019

For my last morning in the national park we headed off into the savannah on the farm side of the river. The temperature was extremely hot, and consequently the birding quickly became limited but there were still a number of new species for me such as Yellow-throated Leaflove and Dybowski’s Twinspot. The route took us through a wide range of habitats including wooded savannah, farmland and forest. It was a really nice way to finish off my time at the park before heading back to Makeni during the afternoon.

-Yellow-throated Leaflove

-Lizard

Species List:

Outamba-Kilimi National Park: Double-spurred Francolin, Cattle Egret, Red-necked Buzzard, Long-tailed Cormorant, African Jacana, Common Sandpiper, White-crowned Lapwing, Red-eyed Dove, Vinaceous Dove, Brown-backed Woodpecker, African Pied Hornbill, Blue-throated Roller, Grey-headed Kingfisher, African Palm Swift, African Golden Oriole, Yellow-throated Leaflove, Common Bulbul, Violet-backed Starling, Square-tailed Drongo, Northern Puffback, Tree Pipit, Lesser Striped Swallow, African Paradise Flycatcher, Pied Flycatcher, Willow Warbler, Grey-backed Cameroptera, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Dybowski’s Twinspot, Yellow-winged Pytilla, Nile Monitor,

Sierra Leone Day 4 04.04.2019

I started my day at first light, knowing this would be my only chance at a full days serious birding and my best shot at finding the Emerald Starling. I headed straight out into the Savannah, which was far more lively than it had been the previous day. I had a number of new species before I struck gold with my number one target.

I had wandered off track through the grassland and had just encountered a new finch species that I was working out when I spotted a starling shaped bird perch up in the tree next to me. Pulse rising, I raised my binoculars to observe my target species perched out in the open. I began to make moves to get on the light side of the bird, when I spotted another individual also perched up but in direct sunlight, the green of the plumage glistening beautiful.

-Emerald Starling

Throughout the morning I birded around the camp; producing species such as African Black Crake, Greater Painted Snipe and another of my target species White-browed Flycatcher. Birding ranged through savannah, forest and along the river bank.

-White-browed Forest Flycatcher

-Green Monkey

-Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike

-Senegal Badis

-Greater Painted Snipe

-Dragonfly sp.

-Butterflies

-African Black Crake

In the evening we went on a river canoe trip to visit a small colony of Hippos that exist a few miles downriver. The Hippos were excellent, with maybe 15 individuals showing very nicely for us. The birdlife along the river was also brilliant, with many Rock Pratincoles being the highlight but also joined by White-faced Bee-eater, Senegal Thick-Knee and Yellow-casqued Hornbill.

-Rock Pratincole

-Senegal Thick-Knee

-African Pied Wagtail

-African Finfoot

-Long-tailed Cormorant

-Hippopotamus 

Species List:

Outamba-Kilimi National Park: Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Cattle Egret, Great White Egret, Striated Heron, Hammerkop, Long-tailed Cormorant, African Harrier-Hawk, Palm Nut Vulture, African Black Crake, African Jacana, African Finfoot, Common Sandpiper, Rock Pratincole, Greater Painted Snipe, White-crowned Lapwing, Senegak Thick-Knee, African Pygmy Kingfisher, Malachite Kingfisher, Shining Blue Kingfisher, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Blue-throated Roller, White-faced Bee-eater, African Grey Hornbill, Yellow-Casqued Hornbill, Common Swift, African Palm Swift, Mottled Spinetail, Pied Crow, Black-crowned Tchagra, White-crested Helmetshrike, Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike, Fanti Saw-Wing, Square-tailed Drongo, Fork-tailed Drongo, Senegal Badis, Emerald Starling, Violet-backed Starling, Common Bulbul, African Pied Wagtail, Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat, White-browed Forest Flycatcher, Pied Flycatcher, Willow Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Red-breasted Paradise Flycatcher, Red-winged Prinia, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Whistling Cisticola, Green Monkey, Lesser Spot-nosed Monkey, Hippopotamus,

Sierra Leone Day 3 03.04.2019

I had a quick walk around the campus in the morning before I set off to the Outamba-Kilimi National Park in the north of the country. The walk around campus produced nothing new but once again it was nice to familiarise myself with all the species I was seeing on a regular basis.

The travelling up to the park took a good few hours but along the way we saw a handful of nice species including Long-crested Eagle and White-crested Helmetshrike, both adjacent to the side of the road.

-Long-crested Eagle

By the time we arrived at the park it was already mid-afternoon and the sun was at its hottest. Still I ventured out into the savannah to try and track down the nearest thing Sierra Leone has to an endemic; the Emerald Starling. I had no idea if they were present here, but I gave it my best shot. Sadly the days heat had already taken its tole on the parks birdlife but there were still a number of nice new species for me; Blue-throated Roller, African Grey Hornbill and Violet-backed Starling.

-Blue-throated Roller

-African Grey Hornbill

Grey Tit-Flycatcher

-Fork-tailed Drongo

Species List:

University of Makeni, Fatima Campus: Cattle Egret, Red-eyed Dove, Western Plantain-Eater, Blue-backed Kingfisher, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Pied Crow, Fanti Saw-Wing, Common Wattle-eye, Common Bulbul, Pied Flycatcher,

Travelling: Long-crested Eagle, Abyssinian Roller, Senegal Coucal, White-crested Helmetshrike, Western Yellow Wagtail,

Outamba-Kilimi National Park: Hadada Ibis, African Harrier-Hawk, Red-necked Buzzard, Yellow-billed Kite, Palm Nut Vulture, African Jacana, Common Sandpiper, Levaillant’s Cuckoo, Tambourine Dove, Blue-throated Roller, Blue-bellied Roller, African Grey Hornbill, African Pied Hornbill, Fork-tailed Drongo, Violet-backed Starling, Common Bulbul, Western Nicator, African Golden Oriole, Northern Puffback, Senegal Badis, Whinchat, Pied Flycatcher, Grey Tit-Flycatcher, Red-winged Prinia, Senegal Eremomela, Campbell’s Monkey,

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,

Sierra Leone Day 1 01.04.2019

Although birding was not my primary reason for visiting the small west African nation of Sierra Leone, I enjoyed an excellent 8 days seeing friends and casually birding, as well as two intense days birding in the Outamba-Kilimi National Park in the north of the country.

My flight was a little late landing, but in the few hours travelling north to Makeni in the centre of the country, where I would be staying, I had a few new birds including crazy views of full wing pendant Standard-winged Nightjars.

Species List:

Travelling: Palm Nut Vulture, Woolly-necked Stork, Standard-winged Nightjar, Pied Crow, Village Weaver, Common Bulbul,

Germany; Black-bellied Dipper

Had a fun little jaunt out from the office to see a Black-bellied Dipper that was wintering on a small stretch of river near a housing estate not far from the centre of Husum. It was my first encounter with this subspecies, pretty cool to be able to study its features. It was present from the moment we arrived, and was always in view despite being a little cautious of our presence.

-Black-bellied Dipper

Species List:

Husum: Black-bellied Dipper,